“Of course, Master.”She smiled his way, leaning against his palm.
Kris frowned at the display of tenderness.It was disconcerting to see the man who’d smothered her in sometimes unwanted attention pouring affection onto someone else.
Silly.She scolded herself.Who cares if he shares affection elsewhere?It doesn’t matter to me.
But deep down, that wasn’t true.Watching them together was grating precisely because itdidmatter to her.
“Well done.”He leaned closer, planting a chaste kiss on Shelley’s crown.“Let me introduce you to my newest mortal, the lady who’ll be replacing you.”He shifted sideways, one of his large arms waving in Kris’ direction.“This is Kristina.”
Shelley’s gaze was on her again, her expression sympathetic.Kris stared at her, wondering how long she’d been forced to stay there with Kronos and how in God’s name she’d got through the ordeal.
Ordeal?
Her gaze lowered at her analysis.Based on the orgasms she’d enjoyed and the impudent cheekiness she’d risked with Kronos, could she truly call what she’d experienced so far an ordeal?
Yes, she’d been taken without her assent.She’d been bound and ordered around and punished, and she’d had to deal with being trapped in her cell.But based on how horny much of his treatment had left her, and the way he’d held and consoled her, could she really designate herself as a victim?
A true victim wouldn’t seek her captor’s touch.
She wouldn’t have been attracted to her abductor, and she sure as hell wouldn’t have come at his hand.
She swallowed back her wounded pride.What the hell was wrong with her?She shouldn’t have done anything to lead him on, shouldn’t have surrendered to any of his perversities, but there it was; therewassomething about the mysterious Kronos that consistently turned her head.
It wasn’t only his incredible, muscular body, either, although he had the most impressive physique she’d ever seen.It was the quiet air of authority he commanded that roused her.Kronos had an energy that stirred and quelled her at the same time.She wanted to tell him to shove his damn orders up his backside, yet simultaneously, she longed for his approval, to hear his praise again while he created more fireworks in her mind.
The contradiction was a source of constant confusion.How could she both resent and revel in the actions of the same man?
“And Kristina.”Kronos’ voice splintered her internal monologue, his gaze colliding with Kris’ as her chin rose.“This is Shelley-Ann.”
“Hi, Kristina.”Shelley offered Kris a tentative smile.
“Hi.”She had no idea what else to say in reply.
What was the etiquette for small talk amongst women who’d been captured by the same hulking giant?
“We’re here to send Shelley on her way.”Kronos’ voice echoed around the immense space while the two women stared at each other.
Shelley’s eyes were large, as though there was something important she wanted to convey, but Kris couldn’t tell what the message was.Did she have advice for the woman who, as he’d so eloquently put it, was set to ‘replace’ her, and if so, what would that guidance have been?
Would she have told Kris to comply and make Kronos happy?Was that, in Shelley’s experience, the fastest and easiest way out of the hole she’d fallen into?Or was Shelley’s stare intended to convey another message, a warning, perhaps?Was the intensity flickering in her brown eyes telling her to run, to take any opportunity she could to get away from him?
“I want both of you on your knees.”Kronos clicked his fingers and pointed to the floor by his feet, where a large emerald-colored rug had suddenly appeared.
Kris shook her head at that, but Shelley obeyed at once, stepping forward and falling gently to her knees.Settling in her place, Shelley’s head lowered, as though she’d performed the deed hundreds of times before.A familiar dread seeped into Kris’ limbs at that idea.She had no clue how long Shelley had been caught in his trap.Perhaps she had acted that way for him hundreds of times.Maybe thousands.
The numbers bloomed in her head, their impact conjuring disturbance and despondence in equal measure.She supposed Shelley had done what she had to do to survive.Any woman would.Kris was willing to bet, though, that the brunette hadn’t found herself turned on by her captor’s actions.That twisted fate, she suspected, was hers to bear alone.
“Kristina.”
His clipped tone sent her pulse racing, and hurriedly, she scrambled toward him.Her knees crashed onto the rug next to Shelley in an ungainly display of compliance.
“Clearly, we still need to work on your obedience.”
His voice was sardonic, but its gravelly resonance sent a chill along her spine.She recognized that timbre, and it usually preceded either her pain or pleasure.
“Sorry, Master.”
She mumbled the response, painfully aware of the woman kneeling beside her.It was bad enough referring to him that way at all, but doing so in front of Shelley was agonizing.Being excited by her humiliation was one thing, but admitting her alleged deference to him in front of someone else seemed like a stretch too far.
