Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 85794 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 429(@200wpm)___ 343(@250wpm)___ 286(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85794 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 429(@200wpm)___ 343(@250wpm)___ 286(@300wpm)
Now they were standing before the enormous, gleaming gates that guarded the front entrance of the palace. They were made of some kind of green metal and frosted green glass, making it impossible to see what was on the other side.
There were two guards standing in front of the gates. Both of them had on long green uniform coats that fell to their knees and tall black, conical hats that were topped with fans of purple feathers.
Sirex went up to the first guard and cleared his throat.
“I am Sirex, a merchant with valuable weapons technology to sell. I would like to see if the Shining One wishes to use it to benefit his vast armies when they are at war.”
The guard frowned.
“Many long for a Royal Audience with the Shining One but few actually get to see him.”
“Nevertheless, I would like an opportunity to try to meet with him,” Sirex said firmly.
“We can let you into the palace, but whether or not you get to see the Shining One depends on what Lord Thruck, the Emperor’s Royal Advisor, thinks of you,” the other guard said.
Sirex nodded.
“I understand. Please let us pass.”
“Not so fast—first we have to check you for weapons! Nothing lethal is allowed in the dwelling of the Shining One.”
The first guard came forward and patted Sirex down. He removed his blaster and produced a tag which he handed to Sirex.
“Here—keep this and we’ll give you back your blaster when you leave the palace.”
Sirex didn’t look very happy about this, Phoebe thought, but he took the tag and tucked it into an inner pocket of his vest.
“And now for your female…” There was a greedy look in the guard’s face as he reached for her. Phoebe shrank back but Sirex was suddenly between them.
“I don’t think so. No one touches my woman but me.”
His voice was a low, menacing growl and the way he was glaring at the guards was enough to make them both take a step back.
“Fine, but we need to see that she doesn’t have any weapons on her,” the first guard objected.
“Any number of lethal objects could be hiding beneath her strands,” the second guard said, though his eyes didn’t appear to be searching for lethal objects—unless he thought the points of her nipples, visible through the golden wires of the three-point harness, were lethal, she thought grimly.
“I will remove her clothing—but not her harness,” Sirex told them both. “She is wearing a green collar, as you see, so you can look as much as you want but if you lay a single finger on her, you’ll lose it.”
Then, without hesitating a second, he stepped behind Phoebe and pulled open the wide green band of her top and then the band around her hips that held up the skirt part of her outfit. Before she knew it, she was standing naked in front of the two guards with nothing but the gold wire bikini on.
Her first instinct was to cover herself with her hands and arms, but Sirex gave her a stern look and shook his head.
“No, Phoebe. It’s my wish that you show yourself. Lower your arms and let them look.”
Biting her lip, Phoebe did as he said. Having the two strange men looking at her body was excruciatingly embarrassing…but for some reason, she also felt incredibly aroused by their lustful attention.
It made her think of one of the books she’d read. In it, the heroine had a humiliation kink and her Dom was always making her strip naked and showing her off or making her do sexual things in front of a crowded BDSM club. This treatment never failed to turn her on.
Phoebe wondered if the mixture of embarrassment and lust she felt was what she’d been reading about. She hadn’t understood it at the time, but she thought she got it now. Though she didn’t exactly like the two guards leering at her, she did like it that Sirex was showing her off. It made her feel even more that Sirex really was her Dom and she was his willing sub—she was his to show off whenever he wanted to.
At last the guards finished their rather lengthy inspection.
“Very well—you can go into the palace.” The first guard stepped back and pulled a lever to one side of the enormous glass and metal gate which caused it to swing open smoothly.
Sirex nodded at them as Phoebe fumbled to get her top and skirt back on—the long strands kept getting tangled together and she felt like her fingers were clumsy and slow.
“Here—let me.” Sirex took the top from her and fastened it in place with the magno-tabs.
“You’ll be doing a lot of that once you get in the palace,” one of the guards remarked, watching as Sirex helped her get dressed.
“Yeah—Lord Thruck doesn’t allow slaves without non-con bracelets on to see the Shining One,” the other remarked.