Read Online Asteria In Love with the Prince by Tanya Korval - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Tanya Korval
Tags: Erotic Romance
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room, I did a little spin and looked at Stavo and Hahn. “What do you think?” I asked.
They both nodded solemnly but neutrally. “It’s fine,” said Stavo.
I should have left it there, but something about their silence during the journey had frustrated me. “Really? Do you think it’s okay at the back?” and I turned and looked over my shoulder, showing him my ass. I’d liked to say I smiled coquettishly at him, but I can’t pull off that sort of thing – that’s Gwen territory. I gave him some sort of look, anyway.
The only reaction I got was a shrug and a “Sure” from Hahn. Neither of them seemed to be able to look me in the eye: they were shifty and almost angry. The only time I’d seen that sort of reaction before was when a straight male friend was inadvertently hit on by a guy. Even the store owner was picking up on their discomfort. I started to worry that it was me , that I was ugly or fat – why else would they be so reluctant to examine a woman in a dress?
I think that’s why I did it: I mean, this is me – I’m about as far from being an exhibitionist as it’s possible to be. I just wanted some reassurance. A polite comment; maybe a smile. I tried to channel Gwen and, turning to face them, leaned forward just a little. “You don’t think the neckline’s too low?”
Nothing happened and everything happened.
Stavo and Hahn didn’t move; didn’t take even a single step toward me. They didn’t say anything or shrug like before. They just… looked .
I thought they’d been looking at me before and not liking what they saw. I was wrong: they’d been half-glancing. They’d been deliberately not looking. And now they both turned their attention on me, like being pinned by two searchlights. The solemn, neutral expressions were gone. I could feel a wave of heat cross the space between us, my whole body bathed in their lust. Their gaze raked down my body, stopping at my cleavage and then continuing over my waist and hips, my ass and legs. I actually gasped and took a half-step back. The feeling was overpowering: it wasn’t anything as delicate or beautiful as being desired. It was being wanted , in the same way an animal wants food. It was basic and ugly and raw, like being punched. I wasn’t Lucy, in that second. I wasn’t the Prince’s aide. I was just a woman, pure and simple. A woman as they were seen in Asteria.
I suddenly understood what had been going on all afternoon. They hadn’t been being rude; they’d been being incredibly polite. They’d been clamping down on every feeling they had and studiously avoiding talking to me or looking at me, until I’d taunted them into it. Just a few seconds of that feral lust left me literally shaking: like when you go to cross the street and a truck thunders past, inches from your face. It had another effect, too. The wave of heat soaked in and coalesced deep inside me, winding straight down into my groin. I could feel myself throbbing and – God – beginning to get wet.
This was what Asteria would be like, I realized, only without the veneer of respect and disinterest. Jagor had no doubt picked these men for their ability to mingle with the outside world, to remain cool. Asterian men, who’d never even been outside the country: God, it would just be raw, unashamed lust.
As quickly as it had happened, it was gone. None of us said anything: they regained their composure, sullen and annoyed, realizing they’d made a mistake but – justly – blaming me. I told the store owner I’d take the dress and fled back into the changing room. I wanted to get out of there and back to Jagor as quickly as I could.
Chapter Five
The casino was at once both alien and strangely familiar. I’d never been to a casino before – not even Vegas, let alone somewhere like this. But I’d seen plenty of Bond movies and this place, with its marble columns, polished wood floors and chandeliers, was straight
They both nodded solemnly but neutrally. “It’s fine,” said Stavo.
I should have left it there, but something about their silence during the journey had frustrated me. “Really? Do you think it’s okay at the back?” and I turned and looked over my shoulder, showing him my ass. I’d liked to say I smiled coquettishly at him, but I can’t pull off that sort of thing – that’s Gwen territory. I gave him some sort of look, anyway.
The only reaction I got was a shrug and a “Sure” from Hahn. Neither of them seemed to be able to look me in the eye: they were shifty and almost angry. The only time I’d seen that sort of reaction before was when a straight male friend was inadvertently hit on by a guy. Even the store owner was picking up on their discomfort. I started to worry that it was me , that I was ugly or fat – why else would they be so reluctant to examine a woman in a dress?
I think that’s why I did it: I mean, this is me – I’m about as far from being an exhibitionist as it’s possible to be. I just wanted some reassurance. A polite comment; maybe a smile. I tried to channel Gwen and, turning to face them, leaned forward just a little. “You don’t think the neckline’s too low?”
Nothing happened and everything happened.
Stavo and Hahn didn’t move; didn’t take even a single step toward me. They didn’t say anything or shrug like before. They just… looked .
I thought they’d been looking at me before and not liking what they saw. I was wrong: they’d been half-glancing. They’d been deliberately not looking. And now they both turned their attention on me, like being pinned by two searchlights. The solemn, neutral expressions were gone. I could feel a wave of heat cross the space between us, my whole body bathed in their lust. Their gaze raked down my body, stopping at my cleavage and then continuing over my waist and hips, my ass and legs. I actually gasped and took a half-step back. The feeling was overpowering: it wasn’t anything as delicate or beautiful as being desired. It was being wanted , in the same way an animal wants food. It was basic and ugly and raw, like being punched. I wasn’t Lucy, in that second. I wasn’t the Prince’s aide. I was just a woman, pure and simple. A woman as they were seen in Asteria.
I suddenly understood what had been going on all afternoon. They hadn’t been being rude; they’d been being incredibly polite. They’d been clamping down on every feeling they had and studiously avoiding talking to me or looking at me, until I’d taunted them into it. Just a few seconds of that feral lust left me literally shaking: like when you go to cross the street and a truck thunders past, inches from your face. It had another effect, too. The wave of heat soaked in and coalesced deep inside me, winding straight down into my groin. I could feel myself throbbing and – God – beginning to get wet.
This was what Asteria would be like, I realized, only without the veneer of respect and disinterest. Jagor had no doubt picked these men for their ability to mingle with the outside world, to remain cool. Asterian men, who’d never even been outside the country: God, it would just be raw, unashamed lust.
As quickly as it had happened, it was gone. None of us said anything: they regained their composure, sullen and annoyed, realizing they’d made a mistake but – justly – blaming me. I told the store owner I’d take the dress and fled back into the changing room. I wanted to get out of there and back to Jagor as quickly as I could.
Chapter Five
The casino was at once both alien and strangely familiar. I’d never been to a casino before – not even Vegas, let alone somewhere like this. But I’d seen plenty of Bond movies and this place, with its marble columns, polished wood floors and chandeliers, was straight
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