Vampire Enslavement (Lords of Bondage) (8 page)

“I would, but the prince would order her killed and I would be punished for violating the ban on humans. It would be different if I could find one worth biting, someone who could breed. You were very fortunate.”

“You never know what you may find on a raid. Keep looking. Perhaps you will get lucky as well.”

“Maybe I will. She is a lovely creature.” Seamus stared at Cassia’s breasts, prompting her to cover herself with her hands. “Why are those so large?”

Cabrian brushed her golden tresses out of the way and lifted one of her breasts in his hand. “Their infants are much larger than ours and require more sustenance. They only drink milk. They don’t feed on blood like our infants.” He lifted her other breast so that he held both in his hands. Human females were shaped differently than their own so it was no surprise that Seamus was curious. The other male openly admired her, which provoked his possessive instincts, but he knew that admiration was preferable to contempt and would help keep her safe from Diermont. He could use the support of his fellow peers, especially when trying to gain acceptance for mixed unions. Cabrian plumped up Cassia’s pale globes with his hands. “They are nice, aren’t they? So much rounder and heavier than the ones gracing our females.”

Seamus’ eyes dilated and his breathing quickened. “Can I touch them?”

“No, Seamus. I don’t want others stroking my pet.”

“I suppose I’ll have to get my own slave.” Seamus tore his eyes from her breasts with a strained effort. “How did she feel when you took her?”

“Unimaginably good, Seamus. Her sheath was impossibly snug and it acted like it was made for my cock.”

“A perfect fit. That is what they say about the humans.” Seamus groaned. “My cock hardens just thinking of it.”

Cabrian touched the pelt between Cassia’s legs. She was so soft there, but he knew that what lay below was even softer. He gripped her slave collar to hold her in place while his other hand explored her most pleasing area. “I’ve acquired many spoils from battle over the years but my little pet is by far my favorite.” Cassia tilted her head back and closed her eyes. She was warm to the touch and dampening, making him remember how good it felt to be inside her. “This one will only know my touch,” he said to Seamus. He knew he taunted the warrior lord, but he did it for a reason. He wanted him to rebel against Diermont’s senseless ban on human sex. If all the males rebelled, Diermont would have no choice but to back down. He couldn’t punish all of the nobles.

“You cannot fuck your human slave, can you? I know these humans aren’t in their fertile periods. How long must you wait?”

“Four years.” An impossible length of time to go without sex, especially when he had a slave in his possession. Her sex was slick, juicing up his hand. Her nipples were hard and pointed. Her breathing was shallow and he scented her arousal. She wouldn’t protest if he bent her over and took her from behind, but his hybrid seed would leave evidence between her thighs. If Diermont saw the stains, he could order her killed.

“You won’t last four days.” Seamus’ eyes filled with pity. “The prince tortures you.”

“He tortures us all with this ban on human intercourse.”

“You should take your slave to the breeding camps. They’ve had some success triggering early onsets of the fertile period. They do it with drugs.”

“It may not be safe. I’d rather let it happen naturally.”

“Why wait four years when you could be breeding her now?”

It wasn’t enough to touch Cassia. He wanted to be inside her. He needed it badly, in fact, despite his recent foray into her sweet body. Not that long ago, in the barn, he had told Cassia he wouldn’t have relations with her unless it was strictly for procreation. Now the idea of forgoing her pleasures was laughable. “Good point. I’d rather have her now.” Cabrian had never considered going to the breeding camps where humans were forced to produce hybrid spawn to fill their armies. The druids that ran the camps had discovered artificial means of making a woman fertile. In those camps, infants were being born yearly rather than every five years as was normal. “I will have to gain permission from the prince, of course.”

“He will give it if you pressure him enough. You are without heirs.” Seamus licked the droplets of blood that spurted from his lower lip where it had been pierced by his protruding fang. “Do it. Take her to the camps. A fertile female
has
to be fucked, deeply and often. It is the law and even the prince cannot interfere.”

It was tempting. Due to the declining birthrates and the looming threat of extinction of their species, all females had to submit to the seeding of their wombs when fertile. As Cassia’s owner, he had the right to seed her. And he did need heirs. He just hoped the prince would allow it. He needed to be inside Cassia again and he wasn’t willing to wait four years.

* * *

Cassia was fuming by the time they entered her chamber. Aroused by his touch, she was definitely that—but anyone could see that she was fuming mad nonetheless. Now finally alone, she intended to give that hybrid a piece of her mind. “How could you treat me that way?”

Cabrian sighed. “Be angry if you must, but what did you expect of me? Diermont could easily order you killed. I am trying to prevent that from occurring.”

“By parading me about on a leash and calling me your pet?”

“That was the prince’s order and all must follow his dictates. You are a slave, and although you belong to me, Diermont has a right to dictate how slaves are to be kept in this villa.”

“He means to deprive me of clothing.” She shuddered as she recalled the way the prince’s black eyes had devoured her. Those peepers had reflected revulsion and disgust mixed with a bizarre fascination. And those other hybrids—it was much the same, although some had also looked upon her with lust.

“Slaves are generally kept naked. That is the way I was kept when I was your slave. So don’t waste your breath in complaining.”

There was some truth to that. When he was her captive, she had enjoyed the unrestricted view of Cabrian’s body. She hadn’t thought to inquire about clothing for any of the hybrids. His purpose in that barn was to be milked and clothing would have gotten in the way. “Lucine kept all of you naked. That wasn’t my decision.”

“Clothing is a privilege, not a right. You must earn the privilege by demonstrating your obedience to your master. The prince expects slaves to be treated as slaves, so that is what I must do.”

She hadn’t expected him to treat her as a common house slave. “I expected more from you, my lord.”

“As did I. I expected you to refrain from making escape attempts, but you did not. We are both disappointed in each other.” Cabrian’s jaw tightened as he stared deeply into her eyes. “I have enemies who will report any signs of misbehavior to the prince. We must be careful. You do understand this, right? I’m not being this way because I want to be an asshole.”

“You will act the asshole toward me to appease the prince, that is what you’re saying. And I’m supposed to believe you’ll be completely different once we leave New Babylon.” Cassia knew better. He enjoyed keeping her collared, leashed, and naked. The former overseer, once responsible for the hybrid cows, was now under that cow’s control. Of course he got off on it. Could he put their past behind them, or would she forever be paying for her sins?

His eyes met hers and didn’t waver. There was honesty there, a strength of character that her former husband had lacked. “Correct. Things will be different when we are away from this place. I will make you my mate when assured of your loyalty, and in time, they will eventually accept you.”

She wanted so much to believe him, but she had been duped by males too many times in the past. “I don’t know. You are too afraid to acknowledge me as your mate. I don’t see how things will be different once we are in Asstrumnia.” She tossed the leather leash over her shoulder where it wouldn’t rub against her more sensitive flesh. “It may even be worse. Your family and friends will not accept a human as your mate. I will forever be the slave.”

“You will be what I want you to be, Cassia.” Cabrian blew out a frustrated breath and his eyes flashed red, showing his agitated state. “You cannot make demands of me. You are the slave. Please me, and I will reward you. Displease me, and you won’t like your circumstances.”

“You don’t have to remind me that you hold all the power now.” Cassia had preferred it when he was her possession. Now she was screwed, literally. “I don’t like the idea of the breeding camps. I don’t want to take experimental drugs.”

“And I don’t like the idea of not fucking you for four years,” he said in an irritable tone. “They’ll be examining your body for signs of staining. They’ll know if I take your body. We would both be punished, but you could pay with your life.”

“But I’m your slave.” Slaves were generally taken by their masters and used sexually. It was expected. Cassia was glad she belonged to Cabrian and not one of the other warriors.

“Diermont is prejudiced against humans. He is afraid that hybrid males will choose human mates over hybrid ones. So he forbids sex between our races, thinking that will solve the problem.”

“Except for compatible humans.”

“Diermont hates the idea of it, but the king supports the idea of population replacement by forced interbreeding. Anything to produce baby hybrids.” Cabrian frowned. “Unfortunately, most human females aren’t compatible for breeding. That is why so many of them are put to death.”

“And I was spared because I can breed hybrids.” Cassia stared down at the floor, horrified at the idea of being used that way. Like an animal. “And you are eager to begin now. Why the rush?”

“I have waited decades for a litter. Many of my peers have had dozens of them by now.”

“A litter,” Cassia said dumbly. “You do know I’m human, right?”

“Yeah, I know that. I’ll have only one at a time,” Cabrian said as if just realizing that fact. “The breeding camps make even more sense if I wish to create a family of a decent size. You will need frequent reseeding.”

She was eager to participate in the sexual aspects of breeding, but the thought of giving birth to a hybrid infant was a bit frightening. Hybrids were taller and larger in build, and although they looked like humans except for their dark hair and unusual eye color, they were part extraterrestrial. Not to mention they had fangs. “You’re just going to breed me like some kind of animal? Like a broodmare or a bitch in heat?”

“Yes, that’s the idea. But I plan to make one my heir. The strongest one of the bunch.”

“Not the oldest?”

“No, the strongest. The others will be provided for, of course.”

“I don’t know that my body can survive constant pregnancies.” Cassia knew there must be a reason nature made human females fertile every five years rather than yearly.

He took her hand and gave it a light squeeze. “I wouldn’t risk your health. I will have you cleared by the best healers before taking you to the camps for the treatment.”

Cabrian had lost his freaking mind if he thought she would let him do that to her. “No. Absolutely not going to happen.”

“If the idea frightens you so badly, perhaps I won’t do it every year. But five years is much too long to wait. Warriors need heirs, plural. If I should die with only one it would be problematic.”

Does he want me for more than my ability to breed? Is that all I really am to him, a walking womb?
She wanted more from him. She wanted him to care about her, dammit. “Maybe a great lord such as yourself should stay away from the battlegrounds. Then you wouldn’t have to worry about heirs.”

“I must do as the king bids. And right now I must do my duty and assist the prince. And you must do your duty and obey me. And if I wish to breed you sooner rather than later, you will comply.” His tone was harsh, severe.

Flustered, Cassia focused on the familiar wall hangings that graced her bedchamber’s stark white walls. The bright, cheery colors had barely faded with age even though the cloth had been embroidered and painted a hundred years ago. The simple designs of her childhood comforted her, reminded her that this was her territory, not his. “You told me once you would not touch me again until I was fertile. I thought you were willing to wait the four years.”

“I cannot wait that long. Seamus was right when he said I wouldn’t last four days.” Cabrian grasped the ridge that tented his trousers. “I am on the verge of exploding. And thanks to Diermont, I have to look at you and touch you constantly while having no outlet for my own needs.”

“I’m sorry about that.” Right now she wanted to tend to his needs. She wanted to climb on his lap and take him inside her warmth.

His breathing was ragged. “The prince is doing this on purpose to torment me. He’s a sadistic son of a bitch.”

Cassia’s eyes locked onto the bulge that continued to expand inside his trousers. Her mouth dried as she remembered how he had taken her with such passion. He used to deny his attraction to humans but he no longer bothered to hide it. At least not from her. Her nipples hardened under his stare and her sex clenched from just looking at him. She grasped his waist and he pulled her closer to his body. His scent was earthy, masculine, and exotic. Breathing it in made her feel lightheaded and almost euphoric. His mating fangs extended yet he made no move to make her his. He never did. His hand lowered from her stomach to her sex, rubbing her in a rhythmic motion that made her crave a deeper touch. She closed her eyes and moaned as he continued to minister to her. The pressure built until she had no choice but to grasp his shoulders as her knees buckled and the spasms racked her body.

Cabrian groaned and placed her hand securely on his trousers to press against his heavy shaft. “Touch me through my clothing, but do not risk skin contact.” He planted a quick kiss on her forehead. “You know what to do, milkmaid.”

Technically she hadn’t acted as his milkmaid, although she had wanted to at times. She lifted her mouth to his, taking his tongue in the same manner she wished to take his cock. She wished she could touch his bare skin, but that could leave brown stains on her hands. Then all would know that she had serviced the male. She clutched him through the thick material of his clothing, moving her hands along his length until he lost it inside his trousers. He sighed in pleasure and fell backwards against the bed. Cassia stared at him with greedy eyes, wishing he was naked. He had a spectacular body. Despite her orgasm, her sex clenched in need. Maybe the breeding camp wasn’t the worst idea. She didn’t want to breed but she did want to fuck. And that was the only way it was going to happen for her.