Wicked Beloved (8 page)

“
Toaster,” she
chirped.

“
What?”

“
Hmmm?” She’d said
something…maybe…but she couldn’t remember. That must be
some
painkiller. She
felt lovely, basking in his approval. His body and his words were
like being wrapped in a protective cocoon of acceptance or fondness
or suchlike.

He repeated his murmurs of praise. At some
point the words stopped, but she didn’t really notice. Peace had
seeped into her, soft and warm. She floated, just a cloud in the
lengthening silence.

When he eventually spoke, she was snuggled
so close against him she felt his voice rumble. “Don’t let me do
that again.”

“
Hmmm?”

“
Don’t let me hurt you
again.” His tone was dark and edged with
self-recrimination.

She groped for her thoughts. Her master was
punishing himself and there was no need. She knew how this planet
worked. He couldn’t help the rules of his civilization, or the way
his body was wired, any more than she could change her own innate
preferences.

She couldn’t figure out how to say any of
that, though. So she mumbled, “I don’t mind your initials on me,”
against the hot skin of his throat.

“
Don’t forgive me so
easily.” He swallowed and his skin moved against her mouth. For no
reason, her tongue darted out and licked him, catching the faint
taste of salt from his sweat. He tasted surprisingly
nice.

“
Why not?” She nuzzled his
neck, lightly kissing him and inhaling his scent. “You’re my
master.”

“
Precisely. I’m your
master. That means I take care of you. I don’t let any harm befall
you.” He spoke quietly but his voice was thick with condemnation he
directed only at himself. “Don’t let me break our pact again. You
obey me and I keep you safe.”

Tentatively she skimmed her hand up to cup
the opposite side of his neck. “I’m so going to Stockholm over you,
aren’t I?”

“
Pardon?”

“
Never mind.” She closed
her eyes, and was only barely awake when he carefully deposited her
on the floor.

Through half-closed lids, she watched him
take apart the couch to build her fort of pillows. She wanted to
tell him she wasn’t afraid of him anymore, that she’d share his bed
instead, but whatever medicine he’d used had sapped her strength.
Which was probably just as well. It was probably the drugs making
her feel this way anyway.

When he helped her relocate behind her
defensive cushions, he kissed the top of her head. She wished she
could grab him and keep him with her, but her leaden arms seemed
disconnected from her brain. So, with a whimper he was already too
far away to hear, she instead settled into sleep.

* * *

I’eke arrived with the sun. Dzer-Jin had
forgotten he’d invited her. His message to her hadn’t been that
long ago, but everything that had happened since he’d bought his
pet seemed like another lifetime.

He let I’eke in and watched her frown at his
missing couch cushions before excusing himself to finish washing
up. His pet was still nesting in the closet and he didn’t feel like
explaining that. With any luck, they’d be gone before she woke
up.

As he exited he washroom, I’eke’s normally
refined voice shrieked, “How’d you get in here?”

CHAPTER
NINE

“
What do you mean?” said
his pet. “I live here. How’d
you
get in here?”

Interesting how she wasn’t afraid.
More…irritated. He waited, curious to hear how the confrontation
would progress.

“
Dzer-Jin let me in. And
he does
not
live
with anyone.”

“
Yes, he does.”

“
No, he does not. He
doesn’t even allow overnight guests…Oh, you have a collar.” I’eke
laughed with relief. “You’re a
slave
. Naughty boy should have told
me he bought a slave.”

“
Told
you
? Who made you queen?”

“
What?”

“
Never mind. Where is
he?”

“
Your master’s in the
washroom. Fetch me a drink while I wait.”

“
No. We’re both staying
right here.”

There was a stunned pause
before I’eke said, “You’re giving
me
orders?”

“
He never mentioned you.
You could be a thief for all I know. You either leave now,
empty-handed, or we’ll wait right here ’til he comes
back.”

“
I’m his hetaira, you
little whore.” I’eke’s voice was brittle with anger. “You’ll obey
my orders if you know what’s good for you.”

“
Nope. I obey him. I don’t
have to listen to anyone else.”

“
Fetch me a
drink!”

“
Bite me. You’re not my
master.”

I’eke’s affronted huffs punctuated the
silence before she screeched, “Where’s your whip? Get your whip,
slave! I’ll hit you with my hand if I have to.”

His pet let loose an
indignant laugh. “Oh,
hell
no you don’t. You hit me and I will bitch-slap
your skeletal ass back to your planet’s industrial age.”

A scandalized gasp issued from I’eke. “You
can’t talk to me that way.”

“
Just did.”

Dzer-Jin stifled a chuckle. No wonder she
had ended up at the shelter. Unbroken and no common sense. It was
probably time to intervene. He strode into the main room. “What’s
going on here?”

“
Your slave has not only
refused to serve me, she talked back in the most insubordinate
way.”

“
What did you wish her to
do?”

“
I only asked for a
drink.”

“
Bring I’eke a glass of
berry wine, Slave.”

At the first sound of his voice she had
dropped to her knees, head bowed. “As you command, Master.” She
rose, avoiding eye contact, and hurried to the kitchen.

“
She wasn’t like that for
me.”

“
Well, she’s my personal
pet. Not a servant.”

“
That doesn’t change the
fact that she spoke back. I want her whipped.”

He shook his head. “In all fairness, she
didn’t know you so detaining you was a reasonable decision. “

“
You were listening?”
I’eke’s eyes narrowed in accusation.

A burning heat rose in his cheeks. He folded
his arms across his chest. “I wanted to hear her interact outside
of my presence. I’ll tell her to be more polite in future.”

She returned with the drink as I’eke said,
“You’ll flay the hide off her, is what you’ll do. You’re allowed to
kill a slave for insubordination.”

He was getting cross, both with I’eke for
not letting it drop and with himself for having started this by
caring to hear what his pet might say outside his presence. “That’s
for insubordination against a master. I’m her master. She didn’t
talk back to me. Drink up and let’s be off.”

“
But she talked back
to
me
. Aren’t I
important to you? You would be offended on my behalf, if we were a
mating-pair.”

Now
that
was annoying. “Don’t make our
relationship about breeding. It was never about progeny, merely
entertainment. You knew that.”

“
All right.” I’eke’s voice
could have cut ice. “You whip her, right now, or I’m telling my
father to take his contracts elsewhere.”

Cold anger spiked at her words and he very
carefully controlled it. “That’s between your father and the Guild.
It’s of no consequence to me.”

“
It will be when you feel
the pinch of lost coin.” Her eyes glittered maliciously.

He hadn’t meant their relationship to end
like this. She was an enjoyable bed partner and their time together
was always pleasantly exhausting. But he didn’t respond well to
threats, and she should know better. “Attempting to manipulate me
into whipping my pet is not very attractive, I’eke. You should
leave.”

“
If I leave, I’m never
coming back.”

“
That’s
acceptable.”

Her perfectly-painted mouth dropped open. “I
can’t believe it. You’re acting like you don’t want to whip the
little beast.”

“
Good bye,
I’eke.”

With a string of curses, I’eke strode to the
entrance, punched the control panel and stormed out. Then the door
whisked shut and he and his pet were left in silence. Placing the
beaker of wine on the table with a soft clink, his pet shuffled
over to stand before him.

“
I didn’t mean to get you
in trouble, Master.” She licked her lips nervously. “I’m sorry.”
She took a deep, shaky breath and knelt in front of him before
continuing, “Please correct me.”

He remembered that phrase from the Tellurian
club and his mouth went dry. “What?”

“
I got you in trouble. I
never would have…I deserve to be punished.” She bowed her head.
“You can hit me or something. It’s okay.”

He leaned forward and she flinched. Moving
slowly, he cupped his hand under her chin and raised her head. She
would not meet his gaze. Her eyes were shut tight and her lashes
were wet. She trembled, eyebrows knitted, wincing at his every
sound or motion, anticipating a blow.

He rubbed the pad of his thumb across her
sealed lips. She quivered at the first contact but very slowly
relaxed into his touch. He increased the pressure until she parted
her lips. Then, shifting his grip, he crouched down and captured
her mouth with his.

At first she started, her hands flying to
his chest, but she didn’t push him away. He kept kissing her,
chaste, soft kisses, while running his thumb along her jaw, along
her cheek, encouraging her to open more to him. She surrendered
with a tiny willing sigh.

His hands moved to cover hers, still pressed
against his chest, while his tongue flicked inside her mouth.
Caressing her with incessant little strokes that hinted at
connection rather than satisfied, he provoked her response, waiting
until her tongue brushed his with increasing enthusiasm before he
pulled back. She leaned forward, her mouth chasing his kiss. This
time when he caught her chin, she looked up into his eyes.

“
I promised you I would
not hurt you. So hitting you would
never
be okay. Have you got
that?”

Her eyes were shiny with unshed tears, but
she smiled. “Yes, Master.”

“
Now please put my couch
back together.”

* * *

By mid-morning, Lagi showed up at the door.
Dzer-Jin sent his pet down to the corner shop for snacks, more as
an excuse to get her out of the way than for any need of
comestibles. He knew Lagi had come for the gossip on his break with
I’eke, and would probably have his own bloody advice on how to deal
with his pet’s misconduct. Those descriptions she didn’t need to
hear.

Slouched on the couch, Lagi swigged from the
flagon of frothy sloe Dzer-Jin handed him. “I’eke told me how your
slave acted toward her. How do you do that? Break ’em yet keep ’em
so fiery? This gets out, everyone’s gonna to want you to train all
their females. Is she wild in bed?”

Dzer-Jin paced behind the couch where Lagi
couldn’t see him. “I wouldn’t know.”

“
What do you use? Cane?
Razor?”

“
Nothing like
that.”

“
Wait, go back, what do
you mean you don’t know?” Lagi swiveled on the cushion to face him,
eyes widened in surprise. “You haven’t bedded her yet?”

He shrugged, hoping he appeared more
detached than he felt. “She was injured.”

His friend frowned. “Surface stuff.
Certainly nothing to get in the way of a good rutting.”

“
Leave it alone,
Lagi.”

“
What’s her purpose if
you’re not fucking her?”

“
Leave it.”

Lagi ignored the warning growl in his tone.
“I’m just saying. You feed her and clothe her and give her shelter.
You should get something in return.”

“
Don’t worry about
me—”

“
But you should get
something
—”

“
I do,” Dzer-Jin snapped
before realizing that was not the way to end this
conversation.

“
What? What do you get?”
Disbelief dripped from Lagi’s tone and he raised an
eyebrow.

Dzer-Jin strode around to the front of the
couch and flopped onto the cushions beside Lagi. He tried to
contain his irritation, as it would be more appropriately directed
at himself than at his friend. What did he get, indeed? He liked
having her around. But companionship wasn’t a valid answer. You
could pick up a companion anywhere, you didn’t have to buy one, let
alone bring her home. Although her thoughts were unique. That was
something.

“
Tellurians provide
fascinating conversation,” he offered.

“
They can provide a lot
more than that,” Lagi scoffed. “And she should be.”

“
I don’t wish to rush her.
Her former master didn’t handle her right. I want her to come to me
when she’s ready.”

“
You want more than her
compliance,” said Lagi slowly, narrowing his eyes. “You want an
attachment.”

Dzer-Jin glanced away, debating how to
answer Lagi and at the same time realizing his failure to
immediately deny the allegation was tantamount to an admission of
guilt. “Yes,” he murmured, then turned to his friend with a fierce
snarl. “And if you tell anyone, I swear I’ll kill you. Very
slowly.”