Kept: An Erotic Anthology (13 page)

She was thankful K’marr was absent as she hurried into her huge closet and selected the most modest of dresses she could find—no bra or panties, she sighed. Another dress hugging her curves, but this time she felt sexy, almost queenly.

“Hair brush…where is a hair brush?”

“Your highness?”

A feminine voice made her twirl around. A woman a size larger than Ashlyn stood at the entrance to her closet.

“My name is G’mere. His Highness asked me to come and see if I can be of assistance helping you get ready.”

Her warm brown eyes smiled shyly. She wore a lovely, flattering, two-piece dress in soft pink and white accentuating her rounded curves. She was a beautiful woman, and clearly comfortable with her appearance. It made Ash feel so much better, soaking in the woman’s friendliness and confidence.

“Help, I would love. I have no idea where to find a hair brush.”

G’mere giggled, moving forward, “Let me show you the hair arranger.”

It wasn’t long before the wonders of Spiri technology made her feel wonderful and like the Queen she became. Her hair, artfully arranged, fell in soft tendrils around her face.

“Truly beautiful, your Highness.” G’mere smiled.

Despite Ash’s prompting, G’mere refused to call her Ash, saying it was not protocol to call the Queen by her first name.

G’mere wore similar golden bands around her wrists. She explained it was all a part of the claiming. Once the bonds were placed on the wrists, they would never come off until her death. G’mere was bonded to one of the King’s shadow guards.

G’mere showed her through the rooms into the King’s office where several men stood around his desk. G’mere bowed and silently left.

Her smile fell as she saw the deep, angry scowl on her husband’s face. Fear shot through her when she automatically assumed she had done something wrong. Maybe, he thought he made a mistake in marrying her.

He glanced up as if sensing she was standing there. She met his gaze and his face morphed into a proud smile.

Everyone in the room turned to stare at her, the men bowing low.

All her silly fears melted away. He beckoned her forth, and she hurried across the room, straight into his open arms.

“My soul bond, you are truly beautiful.” He kissed her forehead.

“Thank you for sending G’mere to help; I almost got lost in my wardrobe.”

He chuckled. “I’m glad.” He sat down and pulled her onto his lap. “My love, some matters have arisen which I think you should know about.”

She glanced at her husband, and then to the men. She recognized them from when they assisted in, well, rescuing her from her stepsister's devious, party plans.

“V’star, tell your Queen what you discovered.”

The tallest of the five guards stepped forward and bowed, meeting her gaze when he addressed her.

“Your highness. Since Lance knew you were our future Queen, he had your stepfamily followed and observed. Only recently did we review the information recorded. What we uncovered was…” He glanced at the King who nodded his approval to go on.

“We uncovered an assassination plot on your highness's life.”

“Assassination? As in someone trying to kill me? He’s joking, right?”

“I am afraid not, sweetheart. Show her the compiled file,” the King ordered.

The room darkened, images replayed almost as if the people were in the very room with them.

Scene after scene played and Ash held in her gasps of surprise, but her body shook from a mixture of shock and rage by the time the images faded, and the lights came back on.

“Sweetheart, are you alright?” Her husband rubbed soothing hands up and down her arms, concern in the beautiful, blue depths of his eyes. He held her until she thought clearly again, easing the aching pain in her chest knowing what it meant for those she cared about.

“You are, of course, safe. No one can harm you, but what do you want to do about the rest? Should we arrest them?”

V’star addressed his question to her. Everyone in the room held their breath, waiting for her answer.

She and her father were played for fools, but no longer. She wasn’t the same, bitter, shy girl who came to Vegas; she was a woman bonded to a strong, supportive man, giving her all the strength and courage she needed.

She rose from her husband’s lap. “I need to confront them. Can this recording be played on Earth computers, or television?”

V’star nodded. “It can be arranged.”

“Please do so.”

V’star nodded and turned, issuing orders to the other men.

“I want to go to Earth to make sure my father is safe and the others are put in their proper place. Can we do this?”

She hesitated, unsure of the limits of her new powers as Queen, and turned to her husband, seeking his approval.

His proud, breathtaking grin made her heart pound in her chest and, at the same time, wanting to jump his bones. She licked her lips at the thought. His gaze darkened, sensing her rising desire.

“You are Queen, my love, and have my backing and the backing of the entire Spiri army. Do whatever you feel is right and just.”

She smiled, loving his support, and how easy it was to fall in love with him. Turning to V’star she told him, “Thank you.”

“You have nothing to thank me for. I will do anything for my Queen. We would gladly lay down our lives to see you happy and protected.”

The King’s rumbling confirmation met her ears, making her heart overload with emotion.

“Well, men…" K'marr nodded at the guards. "…you heard your Queen. Make haste—we’re going to Earth.”

He pulled her into his arms, drawing her close as the men exited, and then he leaned down, whispering in her ear, “Look at me like that again, my love, and you’ll find yourself tied to my bed for the next few years.”

Erotic chills ran down her spine at his sensual promise. “You may get to command the armies, but remember who gets to command you.”

“Of course, your Highness.” She grinned. She wouldn’t have it any other way.

Chapter 6

“What do you mean, you don’t know where she is!?” a man's angry bellow came from the casino’s wedding chapel when they approached.

Two guards in front and three at their back, the others easily melting into the background to provide additional back-up if needed.

The shrill voice of Ashlyn’s stepmother was equally as loud.

“Darling, how should I know where your daughter is? We invited her to all the events, tried so hard to include her, but she just went off with some strange man We’re here for Lillian’s wedding, not hers. I’m sure she’s out somewhere and she is fine.”

How easily lies fell from the woman’s lips.

K’marr wondered at the man’s judgment in marrying such a vicious, underhanded, and loose woman as her. Beside him, his wife tensed. He gripped her hand and smiled down at her in support. She relaxed, smiling sweetly back. Her gaze fell to the doors and she squared her shoulders, drawing in a deep breath, no doubt gathering her resolve for the storm she brought to the party.

The King nodded to his men and the guards flung open the doors, marching in, and making way for them.

All eyes turned to stare at them when they entered.

“Ashlyn!” The five-foot-eight man's hair was peppered with gray, his eyes the same hazel color eyes as his daughter's. He rushed forward, but the guards held him back before he reached her.

Ashlyn’s stepmother sneered in disgust, at
seeing her alive and well. She was, no doubt, fuming over the payment she squandered on someone who did not keep the deal.

Ash's father glanced from the Spiri males to her, and then directly at K’marr, who still held her hand.

“It’s okay, let my father through.”

V’star nodded, falling back.

“Ash, honey, what’s going on, who is this?” Her father came forward with cautious steps.

“Daddy.” Ashlyn smiled with clear love for her father.

K’marr let her go, and she flung her arms around her father. “I’m glad you arrived safely; I have so much to tell you.”

He wrapped his arms around his daughter, but his gaze was on K’marr while he stood watching them. She pulled back, turning to smile at K’marr.

“Daddy, I’d like you to meet K’marr—my husband.”

“Husband?” More than one person gasped.

“An honor, sir.” K’marr gave a bow of respect, and then held out his hand for the other man to shake as Earth custom dictated. He and Ash agreed to keep the alien issue out of the conversation until other matters were resolved.

“See?" Jillian ranted. "I told you she had run off with some strange, mafia boss. Your daughter is nothing, but a slut looking for trouble.”

The stepmother tried to barge forward, but V’star grabbed her arms, pushing her back.

Ben Sawyer was plainly a good man worried for his daughter. “Ash, are you out of your mind? Who are these other men?”

“They are a part of my security team, sir,” K’marr explained. “I am of royal blood and they take their duties seriously. I met your daughter the other night, and she blessed me in agreeing to be my wife.”

“Royal? Wife?” Ash's father continued to gape in disbelief.

“Daddy, please don’t freak out, yet. There are some more important matters to talk about.”

He glanced from K’marr to his daughter.

“Daddy, I need to tell you Jillian has been unfaithful and, thanks to K’marr’s security team, I found out the money I allowed her for the wedding preparations all went to a hit man she hired to try and kill me.”

“That’s a lie!” Jillian screamed. “You, bitch! You're only trying to ruin Lillian’s wedding, you ungrateful whore!”

“V’star, shut her up,” K’marr growled.

The head guard grinned, relishing his task. He pulled out what K’marr knew to be a vocal inhibitor. He yanked the woman down, and slapped the device over her throat. Her eyes widened with shock and her mouth flapped, but nothing came out. All the while, V’star kept his hand on her shoulder, pinning her to the seat.

“Mommy’s right. She’s jealous because it’s my wedding, not hers,” Lillian added, her words worthless.

“Oh? Is this why Frank is fucking your mother and strippers, as well as you?” Ash directed her glare at the stepsister who resembled a withered tree covered in human skin with artificial, blond hair. An ugly sneer tugged her lip. How anyone found her attractive was beyond him.

“You can’t prove that!” Frank stormed forward.

Another of K’marr’s guards moved into his path, glaring down at the smaller human, daring him to try something.

“Oh, no?" Ash glared at the woman. "V’star, would you be so kind as to display the recording on the screen above the altar?”

“Of course, your Highness.”

“Your highness?” her father parroted, staring at his daughter in confusion.

V'star pulled a
comdeck
from his jacket and fiddled with it. A moment later, the screen came to life.

“We’ll explain later, Dad, please watch this.”

Ash held her father’s hand as everyone watched the footage of Jillian and Frank fucking in Jillian’s hotel room. Ben’s hand tightened on his daughter's while the couple talked. Jillian pulled out the pre-loaded credit card Ash gave her, showing it to Frank.

“The perfect wedding present, don’t you think? Ashlyn dead and all her inheritance coming to me. Then, all we need to do is arrange a little accident for my husband. After that
all I have to do is dream up ways of spending the millions of dollars coming our way.”

“You bastard!” cried Lillian, and she slapped Frank so hard across the face everyone in the room winced.

A new scene came up showing Jillian telling Lillian of her and Frank’s plan to murder Ashlyn, and then her father. Lillian smiled, agreeing it was the best thing she heard of since her mother hooked a wealthy, stupid man.

The recording moved to Jillian, this time in a seedy looking bar, talking to a sinister-looking man with tattoos all over his neck and arms.

“Six thousand down payment and make it look like an accident. Oh, and I’ll double this if you get it done before she leaves Vegas on Monday.”

Jillian pushed a wrapped-up bundle towards the man.

“Easy money, sugar. Don’t you worry. It’ll be done.”

Of course, the hired assassin was already apprehended by K'marr's guards and disposed of, but his wife didn’t have to know this. The scene faded to find Frank again fucking a female stripper from his bachelor party.

This time, Lillian kneed him in the balls. Frank howled in pain, cursing and ranting what a fucking bitch Lillian was.

“I agreed to have her killed, not you fucking every fucking piece of tail you found!” shouted Lillian, putting her foot directly into her own mouth.

K’marr wondered if all criminals on Earth were this stupid. He shook his head.

More images played, this time of Lillian on her hands and knees fucked by one of the male strippers from the show while she sucked the cock of another.

“You’ve been spying on us!” Lillian screamed, running full tilt in her too-high heels at Ashlyn. K’marr hid his grin when his guard easily tripped the enraged female, sending her sprawling to the floor. The guard picked her up, placed her next to her mother, and quickly slapped a second, vocal inhibitor on her throat to shut her up.

“It seemed he was only into you for the money as well,” Ash told Lillian.

There was no glee, or perverse pleasure in her tone, as the ugly truth of who these humans really were came to light. K'marr felt the weight of his wife’s sadness.

She glanced at her father, who stood stock still, unmoving as screen faded to black.

“Daddy, are you okay?”

“I…I think I need to sit down, honey.”

K’marr nodded to his guards. “Escort Mr. Sawyer and his daughter to our casino suite. Once there, we can talk. If you please, sir.”

“Yes, yes, thank you. I think that would be wise.” Her father nodded.

“Come on, daddy.”

His wife smiled sweetly at K’marr while she helped guide her father from the room.

“The rest of you go now!” K’marr ordered the stunned wedding guests.

They scrambled out, but when Lillian, Jillian and Frank tried to move, the guards stopped them.