Taken by Passion: King of Hearts (Wonderland Book 1) (23 page)

“Wake, Alice love,” Jarronn murmured in his deep, rumbling voice.

She lifted her eyelids to find she was in Jarronn’s comfortable bed. She was locked in his embrace, their legs tangled and her breasts pressed tight to his chest. “Good morning, Milord,” she murmured, and gave him a sleepy smile.

“Will you forgive me?” His eyes studied her, a serious expression upon his face. “It is my job to protect you, and I failed. Your injuries—I am sorry.” This clearly was one of those times when he wished her to speak with him as an equal.

“Hey.” Alice reached up and caressed his stubbled jaw. “I saw you go after Mikaela. You chased your sister away and then fought those weretigers. I sort of passed out after that.”

He gritted his teeth and his eyes flared with heated fire. “My arrogance allowed me to believe you would be safe in my realm during the day. I never believed she would penetrate my kingdom and physically attack you. Until now her war with us has been through the dreams of my people.”

Alice put her fingers to his lips. “Shhh. You came for me, just like I knew you would.”

His heart swelled with pride and love for his woman. Clasping her hand in his own, he brought it to his chest. “Your faith and trust in me surely saved your life and the future of our kingdom. Without your trust, the mind-bond would not have worked. She would have spirited you from me and done away with you, and my heart would have died with you.”

Her eyes were large and luminous. “You have shown nothing but faith, love, and caring to me. How could I not trust you? No matter what your sister said, I know your reasons for your choices must have been important.”

Squeezing her hand tight within his own, Jarronn pressed a kiss to her forehead and drank in her sweet smells and the orange blossom scent of her hair and skin. “What did she say to you?” he asked as he pulled away and studied her expression.

“That you purposefully brought me here from my world.” Alice’s gaze was steady as she looked up at him. “And that your only intention was to have me serve as breeder for your cubs.”

A low growl rose up within Jarronn at the words Mikaela had used to attempt to hurt Alice. Yet he saw no anger or concern in Alice’s features. Instead her expression remained calm and trusting.

“I did bring you here,” he said. “And I would do it a thousand times over again.” Jarronn knew it was time to tell her all. He explained the sorceress’s prophecy and how Alice had been chosen as his mate.

“The draw of a card?” Alice smiled. “I’m glad. If you hadn’t, then I wouldn’t be here and I wouldn’t be as incredibly happy as I am now.”

“How could I have been blessed with such a perfect mate?” he murmured, and brought her hand to his mouth and kissed her knuckles. “If you agree, it would be my greatest joy if you would bear my cubs. It is your free choice, Alice. In this I will not command you. No matter, I will love you.”

Alice didn’t think it was possible to be so happy, to feel so safe and loved and cherished as she did with Jarronn. “If I was pregnant with your child,” she said, “I would probably explode with happiness.”

He crushed her to him in a grip so tight that all her air left her in a startled gasp.

Air. Can’t breathe.

“Apologies, my love.” He released her and smiled. “That you would bear my children is the greatest of gifts.”

“You said once that I have to be in heat to conceive.” She moved her hand along his biceps. “Am I in heat now?”

“No.” He made a low purring sound as his mouth moved from her throat to her breasts. “However, I do believe we could use the practice, wench.”

She laughed. “Lots and lots of practice, Milord.”

Alice shivered and moaned as his thigh slid between her legs. He started to move down her body but paused and looked at her with concern. “Your wounds. They have been tended to, but they must still cause you pain.”

With a smile, she replied, “I feel nothing but desire for you.”

Alice slid her hands into Jarronn’s hair and she whimpered as he teased her breasts, circling her nipples and flicking his tongue against her heart dangles. When he finally laved one nipple she arched her back, begging for more. “My pleasure, wench,” he reminded her as he raised his head and gave her a sexy grin. “Do not climax without my permission.”

“Yes, Milord.” Alice trembled with excitement as Jarronn took control as her Master again. She loved it when he called her wench and when he dragged out her climax, making her so hot that she had the most spectacular orgasms when she was finally allowed to come.

“Grab the bar above your head and spread your thighs for me,” he demanded as he licked a trail down her belly. “As wide as you can.” He crouched between her thighs as she reached for the bar across the wooden headboard of his bed and spread herself open to him. “Wider, wench. Do not let go of the bar until you have my permission.”

She forced her legs wide, feeling deliciously exposed to his gaze. Being forced to hold on to the bar was like being bound, and it made her so hot.

When Jarronn lowered his mouth, he licked her with one broad stroke of his tongue. Alice cried out and arched her back at the exquisite sensations. He slid his hands under her ass and raised her to his mouth.

“May I come, Milord?” she asked when she was so close to the peak she wasn’t sure she could hold back.

“No.” Jarronn reared up and placed himself at her core’s entrance. He hooked his arms under her knees and raised her up, opening her even wider to him.

“What do you want, wench?” he said, holding himself perfectly still while he waited for her answer.

“Take me, Milord.” Her chest rose and fell and her heart pounded. “If it would please you, I wish to be taken by you.”

“It pleases me, wench.” Jarronn growled and drove into her.

She held on to the headboard bar, her breasts bouncing with every thrust. He clenched his jaw as he plunged in and out of her, his eyes never moving from her face.

Her body started to flush with heat and she knew her climax was fast approaching. “May I come, Milord? Please!”

He thrust into her again and again, ignoring her request, and she was close, so close, when he finally said, “Come for me, Alice.”

Heat and fire burst through her as she came, and Jarronn’s growl of release joined hers. His hot come squirted inside her core and Alice thrust her hips against his, wanting more, giving more, until neither could take any more. Jarronn rolled onto the bed taking Alice with him, her hands still clinging to the headboard bar.

Jarronn chuckled as he nuzzled the sweaty skin between her breasts. “You may let go of the bar now.”

The room spun as Alice replied in a breathy whisper, “I don’t know if I can.”

AT LEAST A TRUCKLOAD OF BUTTERFLIES TUMBLED around Alice’s belly as Kalina helped her prepare for the ceremony. It was Alice’s wedding day—or rather, in the Land of Tarok it was referred to as her binding day.

After a hot bath in orchid-scented waters, Alice now lay on her back upon a comfortably padded table in the sorceress’s private chambers. Kalina had just finished shaving Alice’s mound until it was smooth and completely hairless again.

“Do not fret, Milady.” Kalina massaged Alice with special oil created from a rare jungle orchid. “The ceremony is beautiful and you will only experience joy on this day.” Clearly the sorceress sensed Alice’s nervousness.

The tingle in Alice’s belly made her bite her lip and she could only nod in response. Today the wait to see Jarronn would be agonizingly long because everything had to proceed according to this country’s traditions.

Damn tradition, anyway.

A smile curved Kalina’s full lips and her amber eyes glittered while she massaged more of the fragrant oil over Alice’s skin.

While she enjoyed Kalina’s massage, Alice’s thoughts turned to the day’s activities that would start in just a few short hours. During a mysterious binding ceremony that no one would fully explain, Alice would be presented to the people as High Queen of Tarok and as queen over the Kingdom of Hearts. She only wished she knew what the binding ceremony was all about.

The sorceress’s small, soft hands and her sensual touch as she massaged Alice’s body was relaxing. When Kalina finished working the orchid oil onto Alice’s legs, belly, breasts, and arms, Alice turned over so she was facedown on the table. Kalina’s hands were truly magic as she methodically massaged Alice from her neck and shoulders, along her back, butt, and legs, and all the way down to her feet and toes.

Alice was grateful for Kalina’s magical oils and potions that had ensured no lasting scars had been left from the whip marks. As a matter of fact, there were no marks left at all—it was as if the flogging had never happened.

Jarronn’s faith and love made the whole thing nothing more than an unpleasant memory, with none of the trauma that had accompanied the experience.

When the massage was finished, Kalina helped Alice to her feet and told her to sit on a blue-velvet-covered stool in the center of the room. “The king prefers your tresses long and loose,” Kalina said as she began brushing out Alice’s long, silky blonde hair. “However, for the ceremony I will arrange it in a different fashion.”

Alice smiled as she thought about how much Jarronn enjoyed her hair down. Yeah, he loved to wrap his hands in her hair when she sucked him or while he was taking her, and she loved how masterfully he handled her.

Kalina’s chamber had a kind of mysterious air about it, just like the black-haired sorceress. The walls were cobalt blue and hundreds of candles flickered and danced from the breeze coming through the window. Countless smells filled the room as always, but today the most prevalent were plum spice and hazelnut mixed with the massage oil’s orchid scent.

After Kalina finished arranging Alice’s hair, she moved behind her and murmured, “You no longer need this,” and then Alice felt the red leather collar fall away.

“Why?” Alice put her hand to her bare throat, feeling somehow more naked without the symbol of Jarronn’s ownership. “Won’t Jarronn be upset?”

The sorceress touched her own collar with her fingertips as she moved in front of Alice. “I, too, will miss mine when it is taken from me.” Kalina paused and with quick movements plucked the dangling heart nipple rings from each of Alice’s nipples. “And these, too.”

Alice gasped but resisted the urge to clap her hands to her breasts. Okay, it sounded ridiculous, but with the collar and nipple rings on she hadn’t felt as utterly naked as she did now. But it was more than that. She felt somehow disappointed, too.

In her disappointment, she’d missed what Kalina had said, but then it hit her. “What do you mean, when yours are taken?”

With a shrug of one delicate shoulder, the sorceress lowered her eyelids that were covered with the red glitter eye shadow she always wore. “As sorceress I serve the oldest unbound male heir to the High King’s throne.” She raised her gaze and tossed a strand of her black hair over her shoulder. “Darronn will now be the oldest unbound male in Tarok. After the ceremony I will remove King Jarronn’s symbols and accept King Darronn’s and leave with him for the Kingdom of Spades.”

A little of Alice’s joy faded. “You mean that you won’t be around anymore? You—you’re my friend.”

Kalina smiled and cupped Alice’s cheek. “It pleases me to hear these words from you.” She pressed her lips against Alice’s cheek and gave her a soft, sweet kiss.

Alice felt more than a little dazed as the sorceress moved away and retrieved a stack of cloth from on top of one of the room’s many crowded tables. Alice forced herself to focus on what Kalina was doing, instead of the kiss.

The cloth she picked up was a turquoise-colored material that glittered like starlight. The sorceress held on to part of it and let the rest fall toward the floor, and Alice saw that it was an exquisite dress. “Your ceremonial gown, Milady,” Kalina murmured.

“Oh, my.” Alice sighed with delight as she stood and reached out to touch the material. “It’s like a Tarok cloud.”

“Milord believes it is like your eyes.” Kalina smiled. “It is a traditional Tarok ceremonial gown, but he had this one designed especially for you.”

With giddy excitement, Alice slipped into the sleeveless ankle-length dress. When she had it on, she was sure the gown had to be on wrong, because the neckline scooped so low that it was
under
her breasts. Not only that, but it also supported them from beneath so her breasts were high and thrust out as though they were being served on a platter. The dress couldn’t be on backward because it was backless and dipped all the way to the top of her ass.

Alice glanced up from her platter of boobs to look at the sorceress. “Where’s the rest of the dress?”

Kalina retrieved a small pot from a nearby table and dipped her finger into the substance. “It fits perfectly,” she said as she dabbed the creamy rouge onto one of Alice’s nipples, causing it to harden at once. “Of course you will not be wearing it for long.”

Heat infused Alice’s cheeks as it hit her that she was meant to show off her, ah, assets and that Kalina was making them more obvious.

Once Kalina finished fussing with Alice’s dress and hair, the sorceress drew her into a dark corner of the room, in front of a large, ornate mirror. “You shall make such a lovely queen, Milady.”

Alice hardly recognized herself.

She looked like a princess—a queen, even. Her white-blonde hair was piled high on her head, with a few ringlets arranged beside her face and tumbling to her shoulders. A turquoise ribbon was woven through the curls piled atop her head.

Her almond-shaped eyes were still her best feature, and the dress she wore made them look even larger and more luminous. Of course she was still full figured, but now she realized her voluptuous shape was perfect. Her full breasts and sumptuous curves were made for Jarronn to hold tight in his arms. The glittery, almost sheer fabric of the dress’s skirt showed a hint of her ample thighs.

When she turned from the mirror to look at Kalina, the sorceress looked as proud as Alexi would have if she’d been here.

Although as far as Alexi was concerned, the boob-lift and nipple exposure would have needed some explanation, not to mention the rouge.