Read Online The Pleasure Slave by Gena Showalter - Free Book Online
Authors: Gena Showalter
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pointed down the hall “—is mine.”
“I removed my weapon. Now you will spend the night with me.”
Jeez, for a man who catered to the desires of women, he sure needed constant instruction. Her exasperation must have given her strength, because shemanaged to say quite forcefully, “We’re not sleeping together.”
“Julia,” he muttered softly, all traces of ire melting from him as swiftly as ice cubes in a desert. His lashes swept low over his eyes and his lips parted. “There is never a good reason to deny ourselves pleasure.”
“I told you, I’m not interested in you sexually.” She sounded strong and self-assured, like a woman who knew what she wanted and what she didn’t. So why didn’t she feel that way?
“I have already proven your words for the untruth they are. You became liquid fire when I touched you. Your legs wrapped around mine, locking me against you, your lips to mine, your body to mine. Were I to touch between your thighs now, you would be wet for me. So do not tell me you want nothing to do with me sexually.”
Because her tongue was now glued to the roof of her mouth, Julia opted for the coward’s way out. She didn’t offer a reply; she simply turned and ran to her room, shutting the door firmly behind her.
Closing her eyes, she sank onto the bed. What had she gotten herself into?
Trouble, her mind immediately answered. You’ve gotten yourself into a whole lot of trouble.
CHAPTER FIVE
You Have Only Two Words To Offer Any
Conversation: Yes And Master
T RISTAN PACED the small hallway for a long while. And with every step, he cursed women everywhere for their fickleness. He cursed himself, as well. He hadn’t remained detached. He wanted Julia, had tried to force her to see his way. A small sin, really, when compared to hers. She had made his body burn for completion, and then turned him away.
This would not have happened on Imperia, where women flocked to his side.
Imperia . Just thinking the name caused a wave of loneliness and loss to crash through him, cutting so deeply it nearly cleaved him in two. Never again would he see his home, the billowing white grass, the multihued sky. The soaring dragons. Never would he watch the four suns rise separately and the moons rise together. Never would he know if his friend Roake had taken a wife, if he had children.
Never would he know the life—and death—his dearest friends and family experienced. Or rather, had experienced. They were dead to him now, for they’d lived over a thousand years ago in his other life. The people and places that had been so important to him were now like mist in his mind—sometimes thick and tangible, and at others so sheer he would not know they were there if not for a lingering, ever-present fragrance.
Still he ached at their loss. Ached because he would never again know true friendship or have a home of his own, but would know only the whims and ever-changing desires of his guan rens.
Bitterness roared to life, an emotion he rarely allowed but could do nothing to stop now, wrapping him in despair so absolute he almost moaned in physical pain. With a virulent expression, he gazed at the empty area surrounding him—an emptiness he found mirrored within himself but usually managed to hide. He’d lost his future. His loved ones.
Mayhap even his soul.
What did he have now except an eternity of slavery? Hopelessness joined ranks with his bitterness, waging a desperate war against his resolve, each emotion clawing inside him, leaving him raw and wounded. Only his pride kept him from capitulation, kept him defiant and prevented him from crying out to the heavens and begging Zirra to free him. Not that she would hear him, but the desire sometimes remained. Aye, only pride stopped him, a thing that had earned him so much despair…yet the only thing that had kept him sane.
As he continued to pace, his steps became agitated,clipped. His very bones burned with the torment of emotions he felt. He had to
“I removed my weapon. Now you will spend the night with me.”
Jeez, for a man who catered to the desires of women, he sure needed constant instruction. Her exasperation must have given her strength, because shemanaged to say quite forcefully, “We’re not sleeping together.”
“Julia,” he muttered softly, all traces of ire melting from him as swiftly as ice cubes in a desert. His lashes swept low over his eyes and his lips parted. “There is never a good reason to deny ourselves pleasure.”
“I told you, I’m not interested in you sexually.” She sounded strong and self-assured, like a woman who knew what she wanted and what she didn’t. So why didn’t she feel that way?
“I have already proven your words for the untruth they are. You became liquid fire when I touched you. Your legs wrapped around mine, locking me against you, your lips to mine, your body to mine. Were I to touch between your thighs now, you would be wet for me. So do not tell me you want nothing to do with me sexually.”
Because her tongue was now glued to the roof of her mouth, Julia opted for the coward’s way out. She didn’t offer a reply; she simply turned and ran to her room, shutting the door firmly behind her.
Closing her eyes, she sank onto the bed. What had she gotten herself into?
Trouble, her mind immediately answered. You’ve gotten yourself into a whole lot of trouble.
CHAPTER FIVE
You Have Only Two Words To Offer Any
Conversation: Yes And Master
T RISTAN PACED the small hallway for a long while. And with every step, he cursed women everywhere for their fickleness. He cursed himself, as well. He hadn’t remained detached. He wanted Julia, had tried to force her to see his way. A small sin, really, when compared to hers. She had made his body burn for completion, and then turned him away.
This would not have happened on Imperia, where women flocked to his side.
Imperia . Just thinking the name caused a wave of loneliness and loss to crash through him, cutting so deeply it nearly cleaved him in two. Never again would he see his home, the billowing white grass, the multihued sky. The soaring dragons. Never would he watch the four suns rise separately and the moons rise together. Never would he know if his friend Roake had taken a wife, if he had children.
Never would he know the life—and death—his dearest friends and family experienced. Or rather, had experienced. They were dead to him now, for they’d lived over a thousand years ago in his other life. The people and places that had been so important to him were now like mist in his mind—sometimes thick and tangible, and at others so sheer he would not know they were there if not for a lingering, ever-present fragrance.
Still he ached at their loss. Ached because he would never again know true friendship or have a home of his own, but would know only the whims and ever-changing desires of his guan rens.
Bitterness roared to life, an emotion he rarely allowed but could do nothing to stop now, wrapping him in despair so absolute he almost moaned in physical pain. With a virulent expression, he gazed at the empty area surrounding him—an emptiness he found mirrored within himself but usually managed to hide. He’d lost his future. His loved ones.
Mayhap even his soul.
What did he have now except an eternity of slavery? Hopelessness joined ranks with his bitterness, waging a desperate war against his resolve, each emotion clawing inside him, leaving him raw and wounded. Only his pride kept him from capitulation, kept him defiant and prevented him from crying out to the heavens and begging Zirra to free him. Not that she would hear him, but the desire sometimes remained. Aye, only pride stopped him, a thing that had earned him so much despair…yet the only thing that had kept him sane.
As he continued to pace, his steps became agitated,clipped. His very bones burned with the torment of emotions he felt. He had to
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