permission. You may ask, but I will not always allow it.”
Alice’s lower lip trembled and she glared at him, but she remained silent. That silence was a good sign indeed.
“The fourth rule is that you will follow my orders without question.” He watched the flare in her eyes and he almost purred. “And the fifth rule, when in my presence and when within the castle walls, you will wear only these.”
He held out his palm and watched as Alice glanced at his hand. Her eyes widened and her jaw dropped. Her gaze shot back to his, but he gave her a look that meant he would brook no argument from her.
Alice’s chest burned with heat as she stared at the heart nipple rings and the collar with its long, fine-linked silver chain that matched Kalina’s. She cut her gaze to that arrogant sonofabitch who watched her with one eyebrow raised as if he was waiting for her to argue.
She trembled and it grated on her pride as she asked, “Permission to speak, Milord?”
He gave a single nod. “Granted.”
“I am not a dog,” she said through clenched teeth. “Milord.”
The bastard smiled. “Thank the spirits you are not.” He gestured toward a pair of silver bracelets lying on the table. The bracelets reflected the warm glow of candlelight yet appeared cold and unforgiving. They were actually manacles like the ones Kalina had worn when the men had taken her.
“If you do not wish to add those to your wardrobe,” Jarronn said in a tone as deadly as the sharp edge of a knife, “you will clasp your hands behind your back again and widen your stance. Now.”
Alice glared at him, her lower lip trembling and angry tears pricking at the back of her eyes. She wanted to tell him to shove the collar and its chain up his finely muscled ass, and those stupid nipple rings, too. Hell, she wanted to jam them all up there herself. The silver leash glittered as it dangled over his palm, reminding her of who had the power at this moment, and it held her back as if she were a dog barking at the end of her chain.
A muscle twitched in Jarronn’s jaw, and Alice knew this was a battle she wasn’t going to win—at least not yet. Raising her chin, she moved her hands behind her back and clasped them together so tightly her fingers ached. In a last bit of rebellion, she flipped him the bird. He couldn’t see, but it made her feel a little better.
Jarronn gave a nod of approval. “Always thrust out your chest when you are looking at me, so I might better view your beautiful treasures.”
She bit the inside of her cheek. She had to get out of this loony bin soon, even if he was sexy enough to make her damn near orgasm with just a look.
He glanced toward the manacles and Alice arched her back.
“Lovely,” he murmured as he raised his hand and caressed one of her large breasts.
A moan threatened to spill from her lips, and she had to struggle to keep it back. His touch was so firm and his fingers callused. Everything about the way he touched her was completely sensual. He retrieved one of the red crystal hearts and Alice caught her breath as he dipped his head and laved her nipple with his rough tongue.
Jarronn rose up and gently pushed the ring over her hardened nipple, and Alice almost let loose a groan from the exquisiteness of his touch. He pushed a slide up until the ring felt snug but comfortable, and damn if it didn’t turn her on even more. Thank God it wasn’t a clamp. She could live with the rubber-like ring around her nipple that the heart dangled from.
He repeated the same motions with her other side, caressing her breast and licking her nipple, and then slipping the second ring on.
The lust spiraling through Alice almost wiped out all thoughts of anything else. But not quite. I’ve been kidnapped—but God, it’s like somebody kidnapped me and threw me into my wildest fantasy. He’s an ass, but I want him. Why? What the hell’s wrong with me?
Kalina remained silent beside them, but Alice thought she caught the
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