House of Lust (6 page)

“Thanks,” Amne whispered, almost too nervous to speak.  She was trembling, partly through apprehension, partly through suppressed excitement.  She was tingling with the thought of Dragan making love to her, and the memories of previous occasions heightened her anticipation.  Her nipples hardened and she tried to ease the rubbing from the coarse fabric of her garments but it was no good.

She knocked on the black painted wooden door and looked up and down the street.  A few people were making their way along it, but nobody was close.

The door opened.  A male servant stood there.  “Yes?  What business do you have?”

“I am here to see Dragan Purfin – he sent for me.”

“Did he?  What business is that?”

Amne fought the urge to strike the insolent man.  She kept her face half-hidden.  “Tell him his contact has arrived.”

The servant’s lips twisted, then he allowed her entry.  “Wait here,” he said, pointing to the ground.  Amne stood in the entry vestibule and looked round to pass the time.  In a short while footsteps came to her and she turned to see Dragan approaching.  He took one look at her figure, grunted in amusement and gestured for her to follow him.  He led her up a flight of wide wooden steps to the next floor and into a room at the end.  It was well-lit with wide windows.  It was a bedroom.

Amne stood by the bed, hardly daring to breathe.  She watched as Dragan pulled the shutters to on the windows, lit a single candle, then came up to her.  He threw the hood back, revealing her familiar features.  “Nice touch, the disguise.  You got much on underneath?”

“A little,” she said, trembling.

Dragan smiled and unfastened the cloak which fell to the ground, then eyed her bursting dress.  “Nice.  Good choice of clothing.  Do I rip it off you or what?”

Amne unfastened the belt, then tugged her dress up, forcing it off her hips.  Her breasts fought against being freed but eventually, with Dragan’s assistance, it was off and he threw it into a far corner.  Now she had her undergarments on view and he unfastened them, revealing Amne in her full glory.  “That’s better.”

Amne grabbed his tunic and began unbuttoning it.  “I want you,” she breathed, perspiration beginning to appear on her body, a growing warmth threatening to engulf her.  He stood and allowed his clothing to be taken off.  Once he was naked he took hold of her and pushed her down onto the bed.

“I see you’re not going to be of much use to me until you’ve been satisfied,” he grunted.  “Well, so be it.”  He thrust deeply into her without further ado.  Amne gasped, her eyes going wide, then the waves of pleasure rippled throughout her body.  Her arms and legs came round his body, holding him to her.

Dragan went at her hard, not even waiting to get into a rhythm.  Amne shut her eyes, turned her head to one side and groaned.  It had been a few days since she’d enjoyed him, and that was too long, especially in her loveless marriage.  Her body was tingling all over and a warm feeling was rising within her that got bigger and hotter as Dragan continued to ravish her.  “Ohhh!” she couldn’t keep the feeling of pleasure hidden.  Even as she writhed underneath the man, her mind went to Lalaas, and she imagined it was him on top of her.  That only served to increase her euphoria and the rising feeling became intolerable.

Dragan was surprised at the shriek of ecstasy that burst from the princess, and her body shuddered against his sweaty torso.  He smiled, believing he had the power to make her do this, and suddenly stopped.

“Wh-what?” Amne gasped, her eyes opening.  Dismay filled her features.  “Carry on!”

“Not until you promise me something,” Dragan smirked into her face.

“Yes – anything!”

“The children you will have with me will take precedence for the throne over your two from Prince Elas.”

“Oh…ohh..” Amne shook her head and tried to gather her scattered thoughts.

Dragan withdrew abruptly.  He didn’t really want to as he was nearing his climax but now was the time – Amne was in the throes of the gods.  Amne tried to pull him back down but Dragan was much stronger and broke from her.

Amne cried out in dismay.  “Please!”

“No, not until you promise – and sign here,” Dragan grabbed a prepared document that had been lying close to the bed.  “Otherwise there’s no point in continuing with this liaison.  You want me rather than your husband, so naturally I want my future seed to have the throne, else why should I bother?”

Amne groaned and rolled onto her side.  “Quick – get me a quill!”  Her mind was reeling.  Part of it was aware she was being used, and she also realised she had to go through with the shameful signing.  Once Dragan was disposed of the document would have no legality.  She found a quill pressed into her hand and Dragan guided it to the bottom of the yellowed sheet.  She rapidly signed it and threw herself back onto the bed.  “Now!  Please, give it to me!”

Dragan eyed the document in triumph.  Now all that remained was to dispose of the fool Elas in the palace and his retinue of followers.  He put the parchment on the side table and climbed on top of the panting woman again.  “Thank you – now here’s your reward,” he said with a growl, and plunged into her hard.

Amne cried out and wrapped herself about him and bit his shoulder.  Once again the waves of pleasure rippled through her and she forgot for the moment about the parchment and rode the moment, jerking in delight each time she came.  Finally she felt Dragan tense and grunt, then he spilled into her and held himself there for a moment before pulling free, a typical move of his.

He sat on the bed wiping himself down with a cloth, wetting it in a bowl of water on another side table, and looked at the sprawled figure of Amne.  “I notice you had that captain of the guard escort you here, Lalaas.”

“How-how did you know that?” Amne asked, suddenly afraid.

“I was looking out of the window.  He’s still out there trying to look discreet and failing.  He’ll have to go once I’m in the palace.”

“Oh, not Lalaas – he saved my life!” Amne sat up, distraught.  “He’s ever so loyal to me.”

“I don’t want that – I want people loyal to
me
, you understand?  You want my body and your children on the throne?  Then know your place.”

Amne gulped.  Dragan was just another egotist, a man who thought only of himself and used others accordingly.  He was not interested in anyone else or their opinions – it was only his that counted.  “Yes, Dragan,” Amne said in a small voice and bowed her head.

Dragan nodded and stood up.  “Good – you’re learning.  By the gods, you’ll be the perfect wife.  Sate my loins and I’ll treat you well.  Leave the running of the city and region to me – it’s far too complex for a woman, anyway.  You’ll have plenty to do bringing up our children and sitting by my side and backing my policies.  With a Koros by my side nobody will question my right to rule.”

Amne fell back, her arms out flung. 
Men!
  Arrogant porcines.  If Dragan wasn’t so good at making love she’d have Lalaas remove his organ and insert it….. she stilled that thought.  Elas was just as bone-headed but that was down to ignorance and a failure to understand people.  Dragan was just a boor and despicably arrogant.  She sat up again.  “So – when will it be?  I can’t wait for you to enter the palace again.”

“I bet – and I know what for.”  Dragan snickered.  He threw her the discarded clothing.  “Tomorrow.  You are to unlock the back gates.  The KIMM are to be neutralised, and I shall be sending in my men to do the job.  You are to arrange a drug to make them sleep, and my men will then sneak in and slit their throats the second watch after dark.  They will then enter the palace and kill all armed men they find.  I myself will be at my estates, out of the way, raising my private army to march on Kastan the morning after.”

“Why, Dragan?  Why not come to the palace tomorrow night?  I need you!”

“Desperate, are we?  Good, I want you desperate for my touch.  You wouldn’t be a proper woman if you weren’t.  I take care in my plans – just in case something goes wrong.  Should something mess up, then I won’t be anywhere close.  Those men are expendable.  They are to kill everyone they get resistance from and arrest certain people, ready for my arrival.  I personally shall remove the head of Elas, provided he has been captured.  If he is killed, so much the better.”

“And Captain Lalaas?”

“Him!  I’m saving my revenge another way for him!  Banning me from the palace – who does he think he is?  Pretty boy, show-off.  I’ll take care of that.”

“Oh, please, don’t hurt him, Dragan!”

“Bah, don’t be so sentimental, Amne.  Anyway, what does he think you’re doing here?  He clearly knows whose house this is, so is he in on your dirty affair with me?”

“He – he’s being blackmailed,” Amne made up a story furiously.  “I caught him with the daughter of a guest…. and threatened to report him to my husband unless he did as I told him.”

“You could order him anyway, Amne,” Dragan said silkily, dressing.  “But a blackmail hold is good.  Is he known to – dally with guests?”

“Oh yes, women find him very appealing.  This guest was quite important, though….” 

Dragan snorted with disgust.  “And he was so high-and-mighty with me that time.  What a hypocrite.  That’s a weakness that is too risky to keep, Amne.  He goes once I take over the governorship of Frasia.  I have a few men of my own I can rely on, and I want nobody in such a position of importance when I’m in charge, understand?”

“But – what will happen to him?”

“I’ll see to that.  Nothing for you to concern yourself with.  As I said, you won’t have the problems of worrying about organising anything.  Your function will be to stand by my side and support my orders and edicts.  That, and to bear me sons.”

“Yes, Dragan,” Amne said in a simpering tone.  “Anything you say.”

The nobleman smiled openly.  “That’s my woman.  Glad to see you know your place.  Now, the details of the coup.  I won’t bore you with anything that doesn’t involve your part.  Get that captain out of the way – I hear he’s something of an expert with the blade.  Give him some menial task that gets him out of the way… I know, tell him you’re aware of a possible rebel meeting at the corner house on the Street of Cloth with the main thoroughfare, and it’s going to be attended by three prominent men of the city.  That’ll bring him to my clutches.”

“Is – is that one of your houses, Dragan?”

“Nothing for you to concern yourself with, Amne.  Rest assured I’ll have men waiting for him there.  Now, the KIMM.  I’m sure you’re able to access a suitable potion to give those clean-cut nauseating youths and their hook-nosed Tybar turncoat at dusk.  Do it then and by the time my men are ready, they should be sleeping like the innocents they’re not.  Withdraw to your chamber and do not open it to anyone until you hear the password ‘new spring’.  That will be the signal the palace is secured.”

“And then, what?”

“You appear to assume control.  Take up the administrative function your soon-to-be-late husband does at present.  See visitors, write the orders.  I will arrive soon enough by midday with my retainers and guards to take up my duties, and I’ll give you further instructions then.”

“My children will be safe, yes?”

“Yes, I will not touch them, but this document,” and he pointed to the newly-signed parchment, “is legally binding once I affix the seal to it.  Even if I meet some unforeseen end, your daughters will be excluded from the succession.  I may even marry them off to secure more alliances in time to come.  No matter, your part is to ensure my men can get into the palace without hindrance.  They know their job, so do not venture out of your room, is that clear?”

“Yes, yes.  And we’ll be together, then, won’t we?”

“Of course, Amne, and I will enjoy your body whenever I wish it.  You will give me sons.”

Amne bowed her head.  “I should go and prepare for your success.”

Dragan took hold of her and kissed her roughly, forcing his tongue into her mouth.  Amne melted into his arms and returned the kiss.  She held onto him tight, and Dragan had to exert some force to push her away.  “Later, you passionate woman.  Now I must go and give my final orders.”

Amne walked to the door and flung her cloak about her, tucking her curls into the hood.  She smiled at him and preceded him down the stairs.  Dragan stopped halfway down.  “To success,” he said.

Amne nodded, then, with the servant opening the front door, she left and crossed the street.  Lalaas was waiting, cleaning his fingernails with one of his knives.  He spotted her and quickly slid the blade into its sheath and stood up straighter.  “Well, ma’am?”

Amne walked on and Lalaas stepped hurriedly into line alongside her.  “He’s in a rush; tomorrow evening it starts.  You’re first on his hit list.”

“Ah.  No doubt you agreed to that,” Lalaas said thoughtfully.

Amne sucked in a deep breath and was about to spit her denial when she saw the half-smile on his face.  “Oh, yes, I told him you were utterly useless and pathetic.  No good to man nor beast.”

Lalaas grinned, then went serious.  “So what’s his plan?”

Amne told him, giving him the main points.  They had reached the rear gates by the time she had finished.  Lalaas knocked on the door and gazed into infinity over Amne’s head.  “I’ll have to tell Prince Elas right away.  This is one heck of a situation.  Best you go to your quarters, change, and resume your princessly duties.”