To Collar and Keep (3 page)

“I’m very worried, but I’ll save the questions till later. Remember it’s got to distract Mom, not Father. Try not to piss him off.” She dashed to the cupboard already going through the maid’s things.

“That truly wounds me, Bells,” he mocked, holding his hands over his heart. “Like I’d need to try and piss off dear old Dad. Now you have an hour, use it wisely. He’s up in the tower suite, so you’ll have to be clever about how you approach it. Not that you’re ever anything but clever.” He grinned as he ducked out the door.

She chose a dress suitable enough to her standards and quickly pulled it on. Wrapping her long crimson hair up in a bun, she pinned it out of the way. Her hair would be the one thing that could give her away. She checked a mirror to make sure every strand was tucked back and that she looked presentable. Satisfied, she pocketed her brother’s collar and stepped out the door, fighting the rise of excitement she felt.

Chapter Three

Harley looked out over the placid waters of the lake just over the main building of the hotel and sighed. The moon shone brightly above, coating the grounds and the house in an eerie glow as well as deep shadows. It was peaceful, quiet and serene. Those who were indeed out and about on the grounds of the resort were keeping to themselves and not marring the beauty and tranquillity that surrounded them.

He needed this, this down time. Since they’d arrived at the gates at the bottom of the mountain, it had been one thing after another. From Arturo refusing to chat with him about Bella’s dowry, to entering the hotel and watching Ben getting swamped by requests to meet with him from numerous Satyr clans. They were all trying to incur favour and even a few feral Satyrs were sniffing about to gain an audience. Neither Ben nor Harley had had much of a chance for anything.

And opportunities to meet with his intended Beloved were nil. He did see Minerva and Ben’s brilliant child and joined them for a light repast, catching up on the gossip of the day. His cousin’s Beloved had seen and spoken with his intended, and while Minerva assured him he would not be disappointed, he was still bothered that she had continued to elude him.

Karina was ensconced in the anteroom of his tower suite, making herself ready for the opening celebrations the next day. She had made sure his luggage had arrived unmolested, and even put his clothes away and his small trunk. She knew what treasures were locked in there, but also knew the possibility of her ever delving into its depths was slim to none.

No, the treasures residing in the locked parcel were waiting for their new mistress.

Karina understood her place and what would be her future, and she took to it like a duck to water. He knew she would listen to him, to get some rest and be refreshed for her debut tomorrow. She was a good girl and would be a good concubine, but who would receive her? Well, that was the question, wasn’t it?

His father had mentioned that the regent’s son from Clan Bourchest was in the market for a pet, and Boris wanted to curry favour. Apparently Rummer International had interests in some mineral in the region the Bourchest called home in
Romania
. So even Karina would be used for the glory of Clan Rummer. Which was fine, everything in this world had a purpose.

His thoughts flittered back to the object of his obsession for the past four years—Princess Arabella.

Minerva said she was comely, and much to his tastes, but not much else. He had been fantasising about her for so long, he was afraid she wouldn’t live up to his expectations, and that was dangerous territory. Of course, he was being paranoid, waiting this long for your promised concubine was like waiting for water when you’re thirsty. It got harder the closer it got to the ceremony time.

He sighed and tried to put his concubine to the back of him mind, with little effort.

The deck he was standing on was cloaked in darkness, and he could see the silhouettes of
Adirondack
chairs, rocking chairs and a few loungers. It felt wrong that he was on it alone… No, more like he wasn’t actually alone.

When he heard the creak of the side board coming from the stairway leading to the grounds, he realised that his musings were not his and his alone.

“Ben, is that you? You seriously have to stop sneaking up on people. It doesn’t become a prince or clan head,” he said quietly to the darkness beyond him. The voice that answered him back made his knees weak.

“Ben?” a silken voice purred. “No, sorry, Prince, no such person here. No matter how befitting it is or isn’t. There’s just me.”

Harley stared into the inky blackness and perceived a feminine shape. His cock jumped in his pants, straight and at attention. What was a woman with a voice like that doing running around on her own? “Indeed. Well that’s not a bad thing at all. You seem to know who I am, might I enquire as to who you are?”

“No, you may not,” she answered matter-of-factly. “It wouldn’t bode well if you did. Besides, don’t you have another woman to be enquiring after?”

“All Satyrs have another woman to be enquiring after. Not that it should be a concern to you,” he said and smiled. “Unless you were sent here as a present?”

“Ah, of course, forgive me if I spoke out of turn. No I’m afraid I’m not a present for you… I just had to come and satisfy my curiosity.”

“Of?” he asked and turned fully to address her, his long frame resting in a relaxed manner against the balcony.

“Of the Rummer prince of course,” she answered brightly before sighing. “Though I can’t say I’m entirely satisfied, but at least for now my curiosity has been sated.”

“And why would you be interested in the Rummer prince, meaning, myself?” he asked and pulled out a cigarette. He lit up, and offered her one. “I must admit I’m equally intrigued as to why a woman with a collar is seeking me out, and she won’t step out of the darkness.”

“Why wouldn’t I be interested in you? You hold yourself in such low regard?” She took the offered cigarette, twirling it lightly in the darkness.

“Skirting the question?” He saw her move slightly, and he peeked at the maiden’s collar around her neck, one that had a buckle, not a seam. Harley could have this wench with the throaty voice that made his cock beg to be touched, and no one could stop him. “So you’re not a concubine. Will you be at the fox hunt tomorrow?”

“The hunt? No, I don’t believe so. I’m a little closeted at the moment. Not allowed out to mingle with the others, just in case something accidental happens.”

“So you
are
a present. Shame. And yet you came to find me, and won’t tell me why?” He smirked and took a drag of his cigarette. “Maybe you are just looking for a good fucking?”

She gasped quietly, and he could see her body tremor slightly. “Maybe I am.”

Harley nearly groaned at her response. If his Arabella was going to be anywhere near as responsive as this chit… “Then come here,” he said in a voice thick with lust.

“I…I can’t,” she stammered breathlessly. “At least I shouldn’t, I could…it would be so easy,” she whispered, struggling with herself, “and satisfying…but I shouldn’t.”

“I would say you are correct…on both counts. You shouldn’t, as you do belong to someone, and I would hate to ruin you for the Satyr that holds your leash.”

“And if you were to hold my leash?”

“You would be bent over this railing right now.” He stubbed out his cigarette.

“Pity I’m not then, great pity.” The disappointment was clear in her voice.

His cock begged him to take the seven steps to her and grab her, take her on the chairs, or the loungers or like he threatened, across the railing. That voice of hers was teasing him, daring him to come forward and take what he so desperately wanted.
Wake up man! You have a princess you need to maintain for! This girl, however sexy her voice is, isn’t yours…

“A great pity indeed. It would have been bliss to hear your sexy-as-fuck voice beg me to let you come while I fucked you and pinched those visibly straining nipples.” He smirked at her. “Sure I can’t tempt you to the hunt tomorrow?”

At his words her hands darted up, cupping her breasts, running over said nipples, thumbing them lightly. “You could tempt me into just about anything, Prince,” she breathed, “but I’ll have to pass on the hunt. Maybe some other time though?”

“Perhaps. Tell me, who holds your collar?”

“My collar? That would be telling, Prince. I’d hate to be punished.” She chuckled. “Well, I might enjoy it just a little, but I’d hate to get either of us in trouble.”

She was a sly one. “Umm, true. Then I suppose you should go. You’re not giving me a green light here, or any information, and I believe I have things to attend to.”

“Of course. I’ll be missed by now.” She nodded, making no move to leave.

“So miss…,” he asked with a sexy smirk on his face. “Was I everything you imagined? I would hate to disappoint.”

“You far exceed my imagination, Prince.” He could feel her eyes on him. “The only disappointment I have is with my own limitations. I hope I haven’t offended you?”

“No, no, you have not. And when you go back to Arabella, please convey my deep and sincere wishes to have her under me as soon as possible.”

“Arabella?”

“Don’t play coy, sweetness. I’m sure she either sent you to check me out or to see what I would do with a woman so close and comely as you. Make no mistake. While I will have my princess, tonight, while I’m fucking the sweet hell out of my pet, I will be thinking of you.” He winked at her, pushed off of the railing and strode to the double doors in front of him. “I do hope I have made quite the right impression.”

“A long and very lasting one. I wish your pet well for the evening. I expect her to thank me sometime.”

He chuckled and shook his head. “Can’t thank someone you don’t know, sweetness. Enjoy your night.”

He growled his frustration as he traversed the sitting room and made it to the bank of elevators that lead to the tower rooms. His vision was hazy, his mind immersed in lusts he couldn’t shake. That creature downstairs toyed with him, but didn’t deny she was part of Arabella’s entourage. He hoped to unsettle the princess with the knowledge that he knew she was spying. He supposed he couldn’t blame her, he was curious as well, but to send such a woman as that. Her voice nearly made him come like a randy youth.

He boarded the elevator, and when it opened on his floor, almost ran down the hall to his room. He threw the door open, then slammed it almost as quickly.

“Karina? Attend me.”

She was by his side in an instant, kneeling before him. “What would you like, Master?” she peered up inquisitively at him, her hands reaching for his pants.

“You know damn well what I want. Stand. Turn the fuck around.”

“Yes,” she half-sobbed, doing as she was told, standing and turning her back to him. A fine tremor of anticipation ran through her.

He grabbed her around the waist and pushed her forward, and she stopped herself from falling by placing her hands on the Queen Anne chair in front of her, grabbing the arms. “You know the drill, pet.”

“Take me please, Master.” She thrust back, grinding against him.

“You’ll get what I give you when I’m good and ready,” he said and slapped her ass. “You have permission to enjoy this, but don’t you dare come till I tell you to.” He unzipped his pants and released his cock, running it along her quivering flesh.

“I understand,” she nodded, keeping her death grip on the chair.

Harley gazed down at the girl awaiting his pleasure, and his imagination took over, making the room dark like the porch and her silhouette turned to that of his sexy little temptress.

He entered her hard, like he wanted to do with the woman with the throaty, sexy voice and growled as he worked her slick pussy, hearing her moans. She would have loved this, loved him taking his pleasure from her body.

The unknown tease cried out, pushing back into him undulating her hips to meet his every thrust. She welcomed him. Her slick body gripping and pulling him deeper and deeper into her. Her soft smoky moans grew louder and more insistent until, “That’s it, Master, harder, please,” Karina begged, smashing apart the fantasy.

He reached down and pinched her clit. “Don’t talk…moan.” He thrust harder and rolled the little nub between his fingers, feeling her falling to her release. “And don’t you fucking come till I say.”

She cried out, her whole body shaking, the fantasy weaving its way back together. Once again it was the girl from the porch who was slick and willing beneath him, her body trembling for release. She held herself barely in check just waiting for his word.

He pounded into her still, pushing her to the very edge of the precipice, then leaned in and growled, “Now.” He let himself go and came into her, panting as he heard the sexy moans of his mystery woman under him.

She screamed out his name as she tipped over the edge crashing into the beyond. Her orgasm rocked them both as her tight sheath milked him, drinking him down with force.

He hissed and kissed her back. “That’s it, sweetness,” he murmured as his panting slowed, and the world came back to itself. He reared off Karina and pulled out. “Good girl. Go back to bed.”

She nodded, smiling brightly. “May I clean you? Please?”

Harley was going to say no, but few out there sucked a good cock like Karina did, and he was going to miss it soon enough. “Indeed. Be quick about it.”

Karina sank to her knees, instantly drawing him into her mouth and cleaning him thoroughly.