Free Master of Desire by Lacey Alexander

sun.
    He almost felt sorry for the naïve little wanton  as they left the beach to return to thefort. She was smiling, happy, thinking somehow  that his expensive gifts spelled love, orforgiveness. But soon enough she would understand that nothing had been forgiven, that her indiscretion could only be  forgotten through punishment, learning to obey.
    The feast was grand, every person in Charelton there to celebrate his marriage.
    Ralen  made  an  effort  to  smile  through  it  all,  to  pretend  he  was  as  happy  as  he’d  hopedto be on this night. No one knew his stomach churned with a fear of betrayal—a betrayal that might take place if he didn’t quickly get his vixen bride in line.
    How many men have touched you already, my little wanton?   He cast her a sideways glance as they dined on every manner of beast and fowl, fruit and sweets—thenswallowed back his disappointment along with  a swig of dark wine, deciding it was  of no matter. Soon enough she would know only him.   Only him.   Nothing else would exist in her world.
    As usual for a wedding of such circumstance, the region’s residents had turned out in their most revealing garments of fur and  leather, awaiting the Rituals of Passion they thought were to come. He caught Laene’s eye, where he stood flirting with a girl who wore only two strategically placed strips of thick brown leather, and waved him over.
    “We are dispensing with the Rituals of Passion this evening,” he said when  Laene arrived.
    His servant and friend of ten years blinked his shock. “What did you just say?”
    “You heard me. There will be no Rituals of Passion following the feast.”

    39

    Lacey Alexander

    Laene gave his messy blond mane a short shake, his eyes narrowing in confusion.  “Then how  shall she be  made ready, Ralen?  She is more than just  a virgin, you recall—she’s a   royal   virgin. You know full well how clueless such girls are kept.”
    Ralen shook his head and spoke with low confidence. “Not   this   girl. She knowsmore than she’s supposed to, trust me on this. She’s ready enough for what I have instore. So carry forth with whatever entertainment was planned and if that does not please the crowd enough, find some willing  females who might engage in a seductive dance for them. They expected Rituals of Passion, give them at least   some   passion,whatever you can devise to excite them.”
    Laene still persisted in questioning him. “It’s unheard of to forsake such tradition, Ralen.”
    Ralen’s reply came in a matter-of-fact tone.  “My bride does not need the rituals, myfriend. She  needs to be punished. No rituals  necessary for that— I  can handle  it on  my
    own.”

    * * * * *

    Teesia flinched as Ralen’s hand latched tight onto hers,  his large fingers squeezing her smaller ones. “Let us go, bride.” His piercing look, along with his sharp delivery of the words, stunned her. Who   was   this man? He’d seemed so content during dinner—happy  even— but  now,  in  the  time  it  took  to  blink,  he’d  turned  cold  and  harsh  once
    more.
    As he pulled her up from her seat, her emotions swung from pleasant to fearful—again. The dress he’d commissioned for  her was lovely, as were the extravagant wedding jewels that adorned her, yet his fluctuating moods made it impossible to knowif he had perhaps started to forgive her—or if he simply hated her.
    As he practically dragged her toward the great hall’s exit, she realized the crowd looked stunned to see them departing so  soon. “Where are we going?” she asked. The large wooden doors  fell shut behind them, leaving her alone  with him  in a widehallway—much like the one where they’d first met.  Even now, she shivered at the memory, her pussy tingling.
    “To begin your training,” he said, never slowing their stride.
    Her chest went hollow. “ Sexual   training,” she said to