Taken by Passion: King of Hearts (Wonderland Book 1) (24 page)

On impulse, Alice hugged the naked sorceress. “Thank you,” she whispered as she brushed her mouth across Kalina’s soft cheek. “For everything.”

*

Jarronn adjusted his red ceremonial kilt, hoping his cock would behave and not tent the fine material through the duration of the ceremony. The fire in his loins would surely set the cloth aflame if his woman did not present herself soon.

He stood on the dais at the head of the castle’s private ceremonial chamber, beside the throne and ceremonial devices. He folded his arms across his chest as he surveyed the small crowd of twenty-six weretigers and weretigresses who had gathered to witness Jarronn taking his mate. Those in attendance were in various states of dress and undress, although everyone wore some kind of finery, whether it was a jeweled collar or silken kilt. Clothing was of little importance to the people of Tarok. If worn, it was in a manner that would be arousing to their partners.

Outside the castle, Jarronn’s warriors were on alert for any intrusion by Mikaela or her minions. He would not put it past the bitch to interrupt the day he would bind his queen to him. But he would not allow thoughts of his sister to ruin such a fine day. He and his brothers had put the strongest warding on the castle and all would be prepared if she struck again.

Soft light glowed from orbs placed around the room as well as from red and white candles. Blood-red carpeting covered the chamber’s floor, matching the red velvet divans and settees. Red velvet drapes shrouded the windows, ensuring that the events within would remain private, as was weretiger tradition.

In the back of the room, Ty had cornered a lovely brunette weretigress whom the youngest king would no doubt be taking soon enough. Darronn reclined on a settee with two wenches in his lap, and he alternately fondled and sucked on their breasts.

Karn stood in the wide doorway, his stance wide, his arms folded across his chest. As always, an unreadable expression masked his features as his gaze touched upon every person in the room.

Outside the doors, Kalina approached Karn, who straightened, then followed her out of the room. Jarronn’s gut clenched while he waited for his brother’s return.

It was time.

If Alice had thought she was nervous before, it was nothing compared to how she felt when Karn took her hand to lead her to the ceremonial chambers. He was bare chested as always, but clothed in black pants and boots, his hair falling across his shoulders and shimmering like the blue-black of a raven’s wing.

Kalina took Alice’s other hand and gave her a reassuring smile. The sorceress wore only her red leather collar and nipple rings, which made Alice miss her own even more. Funny how she’d become so accustomed to being naked that it felt strange wearing any kind of clothing.

Karn and Kalina interlocked their fingers with Alice’s and raised their linked hands so both of Alice’s were above her head. Her heart pounded faster and the butterflies in her belly decided to go ballistic.

They rounded the corner from the hallway, and a hush fell over the ceremonial room the moment the trio stepped over the threshold. Alice’s vision blurred and the relatively small number of guests faded from the edges of her sight so that the only person in the room she was truly aware of was Jarronn.

He stood upon a red-carpeted dais before a massive mahogany and red velvet throne. Jarronn’s gaze focused entirely on her, his powerful shoulders thrown back and his chin raised. He clenched his fists at his sides and his muscles gleamed like a bodybuilder’s, as if coated in oil. He wore a kilt that revealed his athletic thighs, and from the way it was tented, he was very pleased to see her.

Karn and Kalina started forward, startling Alice from her Jarronn-induced trance. As her bare feet sank into the thick carpeting, she was vaguely aware of murmurs and soft sounds of approval, but mostly her focus was on her king.

When they stopped before the bottom step of the dais, Karn and Kalina bowed and slipped away, leaving Alice alone before Jarronn. She shivered at the predatory look in his eyes, but she kept her gaze level with his. Without the symbols of his ownership around her throat and at her nipples, she felt lost, yet certain that at this moment she was not supposed to act her role as his sub. Not yet, anyway.

Jarronn stepped down from the dais and stood within a hairsbreadth from Alice. Her nipples tightened and the heat of his body radiated toward her. His masculine scent of sandalwood and spice filled her senses—she only hoped that he didn’t release any of his
tigri
pheromones, because crowd or not, she’d jump him in a New York minute.

“Undress for your king,” Jarronn commanded in his powerful voice, and Alice caught her breath.

Shivers scattered throughout her body and her nipples tightened. Even though she was aware that a roomful of people were watching, Alice didn’t hesitate to obey her king. She pushed down first one shoulder strap and then the next. The shimmering gown slid down her and landed in a silken mass around her feet.

A devastatingly sensual purr emanated from Jarronn. He raised his fist and opened it, and a long strand of alternating rubies and diamonds lay upon his palm, sparkling in the room’s soft lighting. It appeared to be a necklace, although there were small rings at each end, and attached to the rings were hearts made from rubies.

“As my queen, you will wear this symbol of my ownership,” Jarronn stated. “Do you accept my chain, Alice?”

“Yes, Milord.” Alice’s voice rang out clear with her conviction.

Jarronn pinched one of her rouged nipples and it hardened even more. Taking the strand of rubies and diamonds, he slid the ring at one end over her nipple and then repeated the process with her other nipple. The glittering strand draped from one breast to the other, and the hearts made of rubies dangled and bounced lightly against her breasts like soft kisses.

The nipple chain was beautiful, and Alice loved how it looked—an erotic kind of necklace for her breasts.

When Alice raised her head to look at Jarronn again, he kept his face expressionless as he held out his hand. She caught her breath at the gorgeous band of diamonds that appeared in his palm. It was at least an inch wide and as long as her leather collar had been.

Along the band were large hearts made from dozens of faceted rubies, and a very fine linked chain attached to it that spilled over his palm. The ring at the end swung back and forth like a pendulum, in time with the pounding of Alice’s heart.

“As my queen, my collar will grace your neck.” His voice lowered: “Do you accept my collar, Alice?”

She took a deep breath. “Yes, Milord.”

Jarronn moved behind her and she trembled from both nervousness and excitement as his kilt-covered erection brushed against her backside. He moved the loose ringlets of her hair aside and slipped the collar around her neck.

“You are my possession, Alice,” Jarronn’s voice rang out as he fastened the collar. The silver chain slid down her back and settled over her buttocks. “You are mine to cherish, protect, and love.”

Wow.
Alice tingled with excitement from head to toe.
Talk about one hell of a wedding ring.

“Face me,” Jarronn commanded, aching so badly he wanted to forgo tradition and just take her now. But that would come…just not soon enough to suit him.

When she turned, Jarronn folded his arms across his chest. “Kneel.”

Gracefully Alice lowered herself to the floor, and he was pleased to see that she assumed the position of respect automatically. He was aware of the excitement rippling through the weretigers in attendance and could smell their collective arousal.

“To show your submission to your king,” Jarronn said, “you will use your hands and your mouth on me until I spill my seed into your throat.”

He sensed her surprise, but she did not disappoint him and did not hesitate. Alice raised her head and pushed aside the opening to his kilt. Grasping him with one hand, she caressed his bollocks with her other. Her mouth slid over him, and by the skies, he thought he would come at once if he didn’t maintain his control.

Jarronn clenched his hands in her tresses and tugged at the turquoise ribbon. Her hair tumbled over her naked shoulders. He tilted her head back so that her eyes focused on him as he watched himself move in and out of her hot mouth. His collar glittered at her neck, and her nipple chain sparkled from breast to breast. The signs of his ownership of this woman, and her complete acceptance and trust in him, threw him into a fierce climax. Candle flame flickered around the chamber as he roared his release into his mate’s mouth, as though a wind had suddenly burst through the room.

Once Alice had taken his seed, he instructed her to stand. She eased to her feet and assumed the position of respect.

A part of Alice was amazed that she had just given Jarronn a blowjob in front of a roomful of people. But the incredible thing was how much it turned her on.

“You have pleased me greatly this day, Alice.” Jarronn reached up and caressed her face, and she leaned into his touch, needing it. “We will now perform the last act of the binding ceremony, and you will then be my queen.”

One more step. Okay, she could do this.

He stepped aside, and even with her lowered gaze she saw a golden bar hovering in midair beside him, one that she was certain hadn’t been there before. “Brace your hands on the bar,” he ordered her.

The fine silver chain attached to her new collar slid over her shoulder as she leaned and grasped the cool metal bar. Jarronn instructed her to stretch farther from the bar and to widen her stance as far as she could. Her breasts hung down and the ruby and diamond nipple chain swung between them.

Alice was highly aware of the fact that an entire roomful of people had a view of her ass and her shaved mound, but again it excited her. She’d never thought she could be a closet exhibitionist, but she’d just reformed that opinion.

Jarronn moved out of her line of sight. Her skin tingled in anticipation of the flogger against her ass and she was so turned on that she was afraid she would come at once. She wouldn’t do it, though. She would
not
disappoint him in any way.

His erection pushed against her core, and he said, “You are my possession, Alice. And you are my queen.”

With those words he thrust into her. A cry of sheer ecstasy escaped her.
Omigod,
Jarronn was taking her in front of a roomful of people.

And she loved it.

Her king gripped her hips and plunged in and out of her hot core. Sensation after sensation rippled through her. Everything swirled and blurred—sights, sounds, smells, and the feel of her king as he took her as his queen.

Just as she was about to beg him to let her come, Jarronn murmured, “You may come, Alice.”

Her cry was a choked sob, a sound of pleasure experienced that was so sweet it bordered on pain. Spasm after spasm rocked her body and if she hadn’t been clinging so tightly to the bar she would have crumpled into a boneless heap on the rich carpeting. Jarronn’s roar was followed by the hot rush of come in her core.

As she struggled to find her breath, Jarronn wrapped his arms around her waist, leaned close to her ear, and whispered, “I love you, Alice.”

Jarronn slid from his mate, scooped her in his arms, and stood at the head of the ceremonial chamber. Alice wrapped her arms around his neck and clung to him, snuggling against his chest.

“I present you with the High Queen of Tarok and queen over the Kingdom of Hearts.” His gaze swept the room. “If you trust me as much as my queen, our kingdom will thrive once more.”

Everyone in attendance applauded and gave enthusiastic shouts as Jarronn carried his queen from the room. The celebration of the king and queen’s binding would go well into the night. The event would include much pleasures to be had by all.

Jarronn had no intention of sharing his woman beyond tradition. Now that the ceremony had been completed and Alice had passed every test required of her, she was his to keep as his own. He wasn’t about to share her again. He never would have shared her with his brothers in any way if it hadn’t been necessary for her protection.

When he reached the king’s chambers, Jarronn placed Alice on his bed and immediately positioned himself between her thighs. She clasped her hands behind his neck and smiled up at him. She was so beautiful he could barely speak.

She slid her fingers in his hair and caressed his nape. “I’m so happy you found me, Jarronn.”

He gave her a soft kiss and pulled back. “If I could grant you any wish, what would it be?”

Alice bit the inside of her cheek as she was wont to do when she was considering something. “I have two wishes. Although I don’t know that either can be granted.”

Jarronn brushed his lips over her cheek. “Tell me, my love.”

Alice looked a little sad as she replied, “If it is somehow possible to let my sister know I’m okay, or to bring her here, my happiness would be almost complete.”

“This may be difficult, as you expected, but I promise to see what I can do.” With his magic, he retrieved an item from the vault and then brought his hand between them so she could see what lay on his palm.

“My bracelet!” She grinned. “May I keep it? Alexi gave it to me for our eighteenth birthday.”

“I was merely keeping it for you until after your training and the ceremony.” Jarronn pulled one of her arms from around his neck, then slid the bracelet onto her wrist. He kissed the tip of her nose, delighted in the happiness in her eyes. “What else would please you?”

Alice moved her arm around his neck again and he felt her bracelet slide over his skin. She bit her lip as she hesitated, but when Jarronn raised one eyebrow she plunged ahead. “You’re a weretiger, and our children will be, too, so you will all live far beyond my lifetime.”

She dropped her gaze, and when he hooked a finger under her chin and forced her to look up at him he saw that her eyes glittered with tears. “I wish,” she said very slowly, as though it was difficult for her to speak, “I wish I could live long enough to see our children grow up and have children of their own. And I—I wish I could be with you throughout your days.”