Uncharted Read online

  Elaina nodded mutely, her throat still too tight to speak, even if she was supposed to—which she wasn’t.

  “All right—you’ve made your point,” Terex growled. “Now go and leave my slave alone—you’ve traumatized her enough for now.”

  The guard saluted but before he even finished, Terex was shutting the door in his face. The minute he did, he turned to Elaina.

  “Are you all right? You look frightened.”

  “I…I thought he was going to drag me off to the dungeon just for trying to get dressed! For trying to put these stupid things on!” She held out the nipple rings again and put a hand to her chest, trying to still her pounding heart.

  “Never. I never would have let him take you.” Terex’s eyes flashed. He gathered her into his arms and held her close. “You’re trembling.”

  “I can’t help it.” The whole encounter had been so shocking—like having the police come to your door and threaten to drag you to jail for a crime you didn’t even know you were committing! Elaina gave a little sob and pressed her face to his broad, bare chest. His warm, spicy scent was incredibly comforting.

  “It’s all right.” Terex rubbed big, warm hands over her back until she stopped shaking. “It’s all right, sweetheart,” he murmured again. “I’ll keep you safe—I swear it.”

  “Thank you.” Elaina pressed herself against him and breathed him in. God, he smelled so good! It was enough to make her mouth water. To make her want to get closer and closer to him. Her eye—the one which had been bothering her earlier—suddenly began to itch again.

  Elaina rubbed it, frowning. Then a tingling began in her nipples and pussy that seemed somehow related, although that didn’t make sense. How could an itchy eye have to do with those other parts of her body feeling sensitive?

  “Elaina? Are you all right now?” Terex pulled back, looking down at her with a frown.

  “I…I think so. Except I still have to put these things on somehow.” She looked ruefully down at the gold and ruby nipple rings. “Although how I’m supposed to do that without touching myself, I don’t know.”

  “I’ll do it.” Terex took them from her and steered her towards the bed, which was had broad, low mattress with a full golden canopy soaring over it.

  “You…you will?” Elaina wasn’t sure about that. About letting him touch her in such an intimate way.

  “I have to—there’s no other way.” Terex sat her on the side of the bed and knelt in front of her. “Besides—I’m your Master, Elaina.” That strange intensity had returned to his eyes—the same look he’d had when he was putting on her collar. “Do you know what that means?” he murmured.

  “No, I…I’m not sure.” Her voice came out sounding breathless but she couldn’t seem to help it.

  “It means that while we’re here, your body is mine. Don’t worry.” He stroked her cheek gently. “I’ll take good care of you.”

  Elaina knew that she ought to protest this—to say that they were just playing parts and she wasn’t really his slave. But somehow, she couldn’t. Hearing him say he was her Master—hearing him claim her body in no uncertain terms—sent a shiver of pure desire through her. It was almost as though someone had touched a tiny vibrator to her clit and sent a shockwave of pleasure throughout her entire body.

  Why am I feeling this way? she asked herself. What’s going on with me? She had no answers, she only knew she wanted to give Terex what he was demanding—complete access to her body with no questions asked. Wanted it so badly that even the thought of it brought her intense pleasure.

  “Master…” she whispered, really meaning it this time. “I understand. I…I’m yours.”

  “Yes, you are, Elaina.” He stroked her cheek. “Now let me see your breasts so I can put these on.”

  Blushing and trembling, Elaina brushed the long, silky fringes aside and thrust out her bare breasts, giving him access to her naked nipples.

  Terex frowned when he saw them.

  “Elaina,” he rumbled. “Forgive me, but are your nipples darker than they were before?”

  “Before when?” Elaina looked down at herself, frowning. Were her tight peaks just a little darker pink? No, surely not. “I…I don’t think so.”

  Terex looked like he wanted to say something else but just then there was a rapping at the bedroom door and someone called out, “Master Valdor—this is your five minute warning. I need to bring you to the banquet hall.”

  “Very well,” Terex called without looking up. “Give us a moment more and we’ll be out.”

  “Yes, Master Valdor. I’ll wait for you.”

  Whoever it was—probably one of the many male servants Elaina had seen going busily around the palace—was silent again, although it was a waiting silence.

  “We’d best hurry,” Terex murmured, looking up at her. “I want to savor this but we don’t have time.”

  Elaina bit her lip. “You…you did?”

  “Of course I do. Touching your beautiful body so intimately—you must know it’s all I’ve been able to think of from the moment I first laid eyes on you.” Terex’s voice was a hoarse growl.

  “I…no, I didn’t know that,” she whispered as he uncurled one of the nipple rings and prepared to put it on her right peak.

  “Does it bother you?” Terex murmured, still looking at her.

  “No,” she whispered. “No, I…I guess I kind of like it.”

  “I’m glad my attentions aren’t unwelcome,” he murmured. “Especially considering the situation we find ourselves in now. Elaina—I think I’m going to have to squeeze your nipple—it needs to be nice and hard for this ring to fit.”

  “Oh!” She bit her lip again, her heart pounding. Then she looked at him directly. “Yes, Master—do what you have to do,” she whispered.

  “Good girl,” Terex murmured, just as he had when he’d put the collar on her. Then he took her right nipple between his thumb and forefinger and squeezed, pinching her tight little peak to make it even tighter and more sensitive.

  At the slight pain, a bolt of pure pleasure ran through Elaina like nothing she had ever felt before.

  “Oh!” She threw back her head as the sensation raced through her. It was like a mini orgasm but one that came from her nipple instead of her clit. What the hell was going on? She’d never come from having her breasts played with before and it wasn’t like her ex, Miles, had never tried—he’d always loved her breasts.

  “Elaina?” Terex released her nipple and looked at her with concern. “Are you all right? Did I hurt you?”

  “Yes,” she whispered. Reaching for his hand, she put his big, warm palm on her bare breasts. “Do it again.”

  * * * * *

  Terex wasn’t sure what was going on with her…or with himself, either for that matter.

  They seemed to have fallen into their Master and slave roles again, just as they had for those few, brief moments when he was putting on her collar. Only this time he was handling a much more intimate part of her than her throat and Elaina seemed to be loving it.

  “Elaina?” he asked again, frowning uncertainly. His cock was hard as steel and his fangs were out and aching but he didn’t want to hurt her. His memories of the past, of Solange, were still too real for that.

  “Master…” She pressed her bare breast into his hand. “Please…do it again. Hurt me again.”

  “Like this?” Terex pinched her nipple again, more firmly this time and she threw back her head and moaned. Gods, if he didn’t know better he’d think she was actually coming just from him touching and pinching her nipple! Could she be acting again, just playing her role? But no—her scent was unmistakably hot. His sensitive Kindred nose told him she really was aroused and not just that—very aroused.

  “Master!” she cried as he pinched her other nipple at the same time, tugging gently on her stiff peaks to make them stand out for the ruby and gold jewelry. “Master, I think I’m going to…think I might…”

  Gods, was she really going to come?