Surrendered Read online

  She saw the other Mistress yank on the leash again, forcing the slinker to kneel forward on its long, awkwardly jointed legs until its face was nearly at her crotch. Its slitted nostrils flared and it yanked backwards, clearly repelled by her in some way.

  Maybe it was reacting to the new perfume Lady Wraith’neck was wearing. That odd, musky odor wasn’t very attractive but then, nothing about Lady Wraith’ neck was attractive, Neh’sa thought.

  “What was that all about? You think she was trying to give you a message?” Thorn demanded in a low voice. His mismatched eyes blazed as he watched Lady Wraith’neck make a bow to the assembled Mistresses and go to find her seat at the low tables scattered around the banquet floor.

  Neh’sa sighed and shook her head.

  “I have no idea—anything is possible with Lady Wraith’neck. I think the most likely thing is that she’s going to try and sue me somehow. Actually, I’m surprised I haven’t heard from her barrister yet.” She looked up at him. “I think it’s also safe to say she’s been spreading some pretty nasty rumors about what happened at the Devotion Ceremony—about you in particular, Thorn.”

  He snorted. “Yeah, that’s what it sounds like. Don’t worry, Mistress—we’ll prove her wrong.”

  “We have to,” Neh’sa told him earnestly. “And you mustn’t lose your temper, no matter what awful things Lady Wraith’neck says. She wants to make a public scene. We can’t let that happen.”

  “I’ll be the perfect body-slave,” Thorn promised her gravely. One corner of his mouth twitched up in a charming, lopsided grin. “Aren’t I always?”

  “My Lady,” whispered the herald, before Neh’sa could reply. He was an older male who had been announcing for the club for as long as Neh’sa had been a Mistress. “Are you and your body-slave ready for your announcement to the banquet?”

  Neh’sa straightened her dress with both hands and ran her fingers through her hair. Rather than making her long, dark tresses into an elaborate updo for the banquet, she had decided to let her hair fall naturally around her shoulders and down her back.

  “Are you ready?” she asked Thorn, feeling just a flutter of nerves, as she always did during her first announcement with a new body-slave she was training. “You remember the protocol?”

  “Perfectly, Mistress,” he growled softly. “Don’t worry, I can manage.”

  “Good. Then let’s do it, just the way we practiced.” She looked at the herald and nodded her head. “We’re ready.”

  “Very good, my Lady.” The herald bowed his head respectfully and then lifted a silver, twisted mula-horn to his lips and blew a thin, echoing blast. “Please come to attention for one of the Sacred Seven—Mistress Neh’sanna,” he called importantly.

  As Neh’sa stepped beneath the golden archway which led into the grand banquet hall, she was keenly aware that all eyes were not on her, but rather on Thorn who was standing behind her.

  She was certain there were all kinds of rumors about her new Kindred body-slave—not many of them complimentary. Lady Wraith’neck would doubtless be trying to paint him as a brutal, untrained savage who disrespected other Mistresses and refused to be submissive. Much of Neh’sa’s reputation as a trainer would be riding on how Thorn behaved tonight.

  Thorn seemed to be aware of this fact because he ignored the scrutiny of the crowd of Mistresses and dropped gracefully to his knees before her.

  “Mistress,” he rumbled with just the right note of submissiveness in his deep voice. “May I make obeisance to you?”

  Neh’sa was relieved at how well he was playing his part and she couldn’t help the fluttering she felt around her heart when she looked down into those lovely, mismatched eyes.

  “Yes, Thorn. You may,” she murmured.

  She spread her legs slightly, allowing him enough room to get between her thighs and kiss the golden materials of her panties.

  But when he pressed his lips to her flesh, it wasn’t her panties he kissed. Neh’sa was surprised to feel his hot mouth first on her left thigh, and then on her right. Goddess, what was he doing?

  Looking down, she realized that the big Kindred was pressing kisses to her body in a kind of pattern—hips, thighs, belly…he was slowly and reverently moving inward, showing his utter dedication to her as he did, by taking his time to get to her panties.

  Neh’sa wanted to make him stop but somehow she seemed to lack the willpower. Besides, she told herself, if she tried to stop him, it would seem as though this display was not her idea and Thorn was being disobedient. Whereas if she allowed him to continue, his actions would appear to be a display of devotion.

  Right?

  Oh, Goddess—right. That has to be right, her mind moaned as the soft, gentle kisses continued to work their way inward.

  This was nothing like the hungry, almost animal way he’d gone down on her the night before. The burning desire was still there—Neh’sa could sense it in the tight set of his shoulders and the possessive way his big hands cradled her ass. But the burning was now tempered with respect and gentleness.

  She couldn’t help wondering what it would be like to let Thorn taste her while he was in this mood—this sweet, tender mood where he seemed determined to show her how very much he cared for her through these slow, heated kisses.

  And then, abruptly, she didn’t have to wonder. Because finally, after kissing his way all around her thighs and placing his lips on the mound of her pussy, Thorn at last pressed his mouth to the center of her panties—which was bare, clearly showing her naked slit.

  “Thorn—” she started to protest involuntarily but her breath was stolen by the sweetness of his kiss.

  Softly, gently, he kissed her—almost as though he was kissing her mouth. Then he teased along the edges of her slit delicately with just the tip of his tongue, as though asking for entrance.

  With a low moan she couldn’t quite contain, Neh’sa gave him permission by spreading her thighs, just a little wider.

  The first, slow slide of his tongue into her pussy made her bite her lip and grasp his broad shoulders for support. Oh Goddess, she shouldn’t be allowing this! And yet how could she stop him without making him look disobedient and casting shame on her own reputation as a trainer?

  Can’t help it, Neh’sa told herself, gripping his shoulders even tighter for support as the big Kindred continued his slow, lingering and increasingly deepening kiss. Just have to let him finish.

  But Goddess, it seemed like he never would! His long eyelashes had fluttered down and his grip on her ass and hips was firm and unbreakable as he continued to kiss deeper and deeper, his tongue swirling expertly around the tender bump of her clit, sending electrical tingles of pleasure through her entire body. He had the look of a male completely immersed in an intensely pleasurable activity—one he might never want to stop.

  Never should have worn these panties, Neh’sa told herself deliriously. Not after finding out how Kindred need to taste their females.

  Though she would have thought that the marathon session the night before would have at least blunted his desire, Thorn showed no inclination to stop tasting her. Neh’sa could feel the tip of his tongue sliding deeper, seeking to find her entrance and then sliding up again to bathe her clit with his warmth and desire.

  “Oh!” she moaned aloud—she couldn’t help herself. “Oh, Thorn…” If he didn’t stop soon, she was going to come—come right here in public! She was certain of it…

  Her voice seemed to waken him from a trance he’d somehow fallen into. He blinked and looked up at her, pulling away at last.

  “Forgive me, Mistress if I carried my obeisance to you too far.” His deep voice was hoarse with passion and his lips were shiny with her juices. “You taste so good—I couldn’t help myself.”

  “That…that’s all right, Thorn,” Neh’sa murmured faintly. In fact, she sort of wished he hadn’t stopped. Though it would have been embarrassing to come in public, at least it would have eased the tension she now felt between her thighs.