by Princess and Her treasure



  Chapter Fiteen  

    Allanah walked toward her study, mind and body were exhausted from the long day. The door was slightly ajar, and she took a deep breath before she entered. James looked up from the papers he had been going through from his briefcase.

His smile was only half complete when a look of worry flashed across his face and he spoke to her, “Something you'd like to talk about Princess?”

“I don't know if I can do this, James.”

“What are you unable to do? I wasn't aware there was such a thing”

She sighed heavily and closed her eyes for a moment, stopping just before him, her toes sinking into the heavy wool rug. He grasped her hand, pulling her into his lap.

She breathed in deeply and relaxed slightly. She could almost taste his spicy, musky scent. She had always loved the way he smelled. It reminded her of the first time he'd embraced her so many years ago. His hands warm and protective against her skin, the way her heart raced, the way he looked as if he wanted to devour her whole, but held back, waiting, urging, forcing her to beg for him. He had been able to read her from the start. Every move, every glance, every stilted breath spelled her thoughts out to him as clearly as billboards. Her love for him had been all consuming, frightening. It still was.

She felt him pulling her close, resting his chin on her head the way he always did when she needed to be comforted, and whispered softly to her, “Allanah, it is not up to them. You must remember that they are slaves out of choice. And for that reason, allowing any of them to use emotional blackmail will only make them feel more insecure, less loved, and more unhappy. I know Pablo has been with you longer than anyone, but you cannot allow him to rule your choices. In the end it will only spell disaster for both of you.”

She sat bolt upright, her face a swirling mix of wrath, confusion, and betrayal. Her words flew out in a harsh, cutting stream, “How dare you! Who the hell do you think you are, trying to come into my home and tell me how to treat my slaves! You have no right-”

His voice remained calm, even though there was a tinge of danger in his eyes that chilled her, “Oh, but I have every right, Princess. This is what you wanted, what you called for. You asked for me to come here and help you with these things. You needed to be rescued. Didn't you little girl?”

She trembled in his arms, the rage gone, replaced with fear and exhaustion, her lips quivering.

His voice became more demanding, “Didn't you?”

She nodded, eyes closing to avoid his piercing gaze.

“Verbally, Princess. You know that nodding is not acceptable to me.”

“Yes, James, I did.” Her voice quiet.

“You did what?”

“I needed you to rescue me.”

“Now,is this any way to treat your knight in shining leather?” His voice was teasing now, and she looked into his eyes, and promptly melted again.

“I'm so sorry James, I don't know what came over me. Please forgive me.”

He pulled her back into his arms, and held her for a moment, then said, “Of course I forgive you, Princess. But don't tell anyone, they'll think you've made me soft in my old age.”

“Come now, James, no one would ever mistake you for being soft.”

They shared a chuckle, then relaxed into a comfortable silence, he thinking, she allowing herself to be comforted.”

After a moment, she spoke, and said, “As always, you're right, James. But, after our week, I will return your collar. Any more than that, and I don't know if I'd ever be able to give it back.”

His voice didn't betray an ounce of what he felt, but his heart sank. He had been a fool to ever let her go in the first place, and had regretted it every day and night since. He knew she had to ask to come back to him, but sometimes the waiting was damn near impossible. His hunger for her was almost intolerable. She had been his one. His love, his companion, his slave. She had captured his heart in a single instant. The timecame, though, that he had to let her go. He had promised himself that he would never hold a slave back for personal reasons, and eventually the day came tha he felt he could teach her no more. She was ready for the next step. To keep her for his own selfish reasons would have been wrong.

And when she spoke those words, he knew... she would never, after this week, wear his collar or belong to him that completely again. With that knowledge, a piece of him began a slow trek toward death.

“Princess, I think we should delay your punishment until you've had a chance to rest, go on up to bed. I'll be up shortly. But be sure to chain that delicious little slave girl to the foot of the bed. I don't want her to have to miss the show if I need to use you in the middle of the night.”