King of Spades (11 page)

Faster!
she wanted to scream, but the gag held her cry back.
Harder!

She was so close, so damn close, but not quite there. But the moment Darronn said, “Come for me, firecat,” it was like a match set to a bonfire. Her orgasm roared through her, the flames hot and wild. She screamed behind her gag as he continued plunging in and out of her pussy, drawing her climax out for an eternity.

Moments later Darronn purred as he came, his cock throbbing inside her as he released his semen into her core. How he held back his normal bellow, she didn’t know, because she sure as hell couldn’t hold back hers.

After Alexi enjoyed a rather erotic bath with the gorgeous hunk of a king, he escorted her to the private dining chambers where a table for two had been set with golden plates, flatware, and goblets bearing the Spades crest. It was now evening and the buttery glow of candles filled the room. Candlelight flickered from the candelabra at the center of the black tablecloth and from several sconces upon the walls.

Like every other place in his château, the room was gorgeous. This one was filled with oil paintings of men and women, and she wondered who they all were.

Once he had seated her at the table to his right, and then had seated himself, servants appeared bearing platters of roasted fowl and roasted vegetables, along with several other delicacies. Kira appeared for only a moment as she poured amber ale into their goblets, and then she quietly slipped out of the room.

Alexi was in a good mood and dug into the meal with enthusiasm. Unlike her sister, Alexi never had to watch her weight. She’d always thought Alice was beautiful just the way she was, but her twin had struggled with accepting herself. Since she hadn’t had to face what Alice went through, Alexi could only be supportive and did her best to try to make her twin realize that she really was gorgeous, inside and out.

As usual, thoughts of her missing sister dampened her mood. To get her mind on something else, she gave a sweeping gesture and asked, “Who are all these people?”

“In the portrait above the fireplace are my parents, the former High King and Queen of Tarok.”

He pointed to the one beside it. “That is Jarronn. He and his new queen are now the High King and Queen of Tarok as well as King and Queen of Hearts. Jarronn is my twin, the eldest by several hours.”

“I didn’t realize he’s your twin.” Alexi studied the black-haired man in the portrait and noticed the heart tattoo on his biceps. “You’re obviously fraternal twins like Alice and me. The two of you don’t look anything alike, except for your eyes.”

Darronn seemed disinclined to discuss his elder brother, and gestured past his own portrait to one of another dark-haired man with penetrating black eyes. He was bare-chested and positioned in a side-view so that the diamond tattoo at the back of his right shoulder was visible. “My younger brother Karn, King of Diamonds.” And then he pointed out a blond man with a club tattoo and a devilish smile. “The youngest, Ty, is King of Clubs.”

Alexi’s eyes moved to the portrait of a blonde woman who had a captivating smile, but something about her eyes seemed dark. “Who is she?” Alexi asked when Darronn didn’t volunteer the information.

Darronn gave a casual shrug. “The youngest of the Tarok clan.” His voice grew soft as he said, “The portrait was done a long time ago, before the sister I knew and loved died.”

“I’m sorry, Darronn.”

He shook his head. “Do not be. It was of her own doing.”

Suicide?
Alexi wondered, but did not ask aloud. It was obvious from the look in his expressive green eyes that he did not want to discuss his sister, so she changed the subject. “My cousin Annie is an artist, but she primarily does landscapes.” Alexi frowned at the thought of her cousin who would be worried sick by now.

Darronn actually smiled as he glanced back to the picture of the former High King and Queen of Tarok. “My mother was the artist of all that you see. Even the one of her and my father.”

Alexi smiled as she admired the paintings. “She was incredibly talented.”

When they finished eating, and Alexi had downed a good two goblets of ale and was feeling fiiiiiiine, Kira appeared with a platter of strawberry tarts. Alexi glanced up at the picture of the King of Hearts and almost sniggered. Was Darronn the knave who stole the King and Queen of Hearts’ tarts?

While they each ate their share of tarts, Darronn asked her questions about her life and her career in San Francisco. He seemed particularly interested in her law practice. “In Spades we have need for a new arbitrator…” He broke off and leaned forward, his green eyes focused on her. “What happened, firecat, to make you so distrustful of men?”

His question caused her strawberry tart to stick in her throat. She grasped her goblet and swallowed a large gulp of the smooth ale. From all the ale she’d had, she felt loose and relaxed enough to talk with him about one of the worst times in her life. When she set the goblet back onto the black tablecloth, her gaze met his.

“During my last year of law school, I started dating a guy from one of my classes. His name was Larry.” She dabbed her lips with a napkin. “He was intelligent and gorgeous, not to mention the sex was great.” She almost laughed at the scowl that darkened Darronn’s handsome face. But then she frowned, too, as she thought back to those days when she’d been so naïve. “I really thought he was perfect for me. And I thought I’d fallen in love.”

“What did he do to you?” Darronn asked through clenched teeth. “If the bastard harmed you I will track him down and kill him.”

Alexi almost smiled again at Darronn’s protectiveness. “Larry didn’t harm me. At least not physically.” She turned her gaze to the goblet and trailed her fingers up and down the slender shaft as she became lost in her thoughts.

“He used me,” she said. “I was the top student in law school and he was second only to me. I later found out that he had been taking my class work and copying it.” Anger and hurt swelled up within her at the memories. “I was so stupid. It wasn’t until we were close to graduation that I found out. One of my papers had vanished. I discovered that Larry had turned it in as his own.”

The fury that struck her at the memory was almost surprising in its intensity. “I talked to the professor, but he sided with Larry who claimed that I had stolen it from him. Seems the old boys club didn’t like a woman being valedictorian.”

She gripped the goblet’s stem so tight it was a wonder it didn’t crumple in her hand. “When I confronted Larry about it, he just laughed and said he’d been using me all along. That I’d better learn quick not to be so damn trusting if I was going to make it in law.”

The corner of her mouth quirked in a wry smile as her gaze met Darronn’s furious green gaze. “I thanked Larry for the lesson and then taught him to guard his nuts.”

Darronn winced.

“Yeah, that bastard was walking and talking funny for about a week.” Alexi picked up her goblet. “You should feel lucky. I blackened both his eyes, broke his nose and rammed his balls up his throat.”

The king snorted and Alexi could tell he wasn’t sure how to react. Whether to be pissed at the asshole who had hurt her, or to laugh at her revenge on him.

“Larry taught me a lesson all right, and so did the class professor.” Alexi swirled the ale in her goblet. “I showed both of them, though. I aced absolutely every final exam and wrote an award-winning paper that more than replaced the one Larry stole from me. But I’ve never trusted a man since.”

Darronn reached out and placed his palm on top of her free hand. “I would never hurt you intentionally, firecat. Know that you can trust in me. I do what I believe is best for you as well as my subjects.”

Alexi tipped her head back and downed the last of her ale. She thunked it onto the tablecloth and gave him a direct look. “I’ve heard that one before, Darronn. I trust no one but myself, my sister, and my aunt and cousin. I don’t trust my scum of a father who ran off with some bimbo and left me and Alice. And I can’t trust my mom because she’s been gone mentally for a very long time.”

She tried to pull her hand away from Darronn, but he wouldn’t let go. “Trust me,” he said, his words intense and fierce, like a command.

Slowly she shook her head. “Trust is earned. Not given.”

Chapter Eight

Three more weeks passed before Alexi finally found the opportunity to make her escape. She woke in his bed knowing that now was her chance. It was dark in the bedroom, with only a sliver of moonlight slipping through a gap in the drapes—and Darronn wasn’t in bed with her. No doubt he was out prowling the forest behind the château, something he did most nights. She hated that she missed him when he wasn’t in bed with her and it was time to make those feelings go away.

She crawled out of bed and hurried to the balcony doors. With one tug they opened. Just like in her dream.

Alexi hurried to her trunk to put on some clothing. She’d been in Spades for almost two Earth months. Long enough that she no longer missed her morning caffeine ritual. The morning ritual of having great sex with Darronn had been far more stimulating…and she would definitely miss him. Or rather the sex.

Yeah, that’s it. The sex.

Hell, who was she kidding? She’d miss the big oaf, too.

But it’s time to get back to San Francisco and find my sister.

Over the past weeks they’d played a variety of sexual games with him always dominating her. It was exciting to let him command her—but in bed only. And the fact that he stuck with his promise and didn’t try to dominate her in front of anyone else meant a lot to her.

Alexi found a leather outfit that didn’t expose her quite as much as the others did, and tugged it on as her thoughts continued to center on Darronn. During the day he took her with him most places he went, whether it was around the château to speak with servants, or into the village to meet with his subjects. It was obvious in all his dealings that he was good to his people, listening to them, ensuring their needs were met. He was fair in all that she’d witnessed since she’d arrived in Spades. She admired him, and he made her feel somehow alive and vibrant, and almost happy.

Almost, because she needed to find Alice before she could truly be happy again. Besides, she knew better than to trust men.

It’s time to leave.

Every single night for about a Tarok month she’d had the same dream where she was in the meadow, standing before the mirror. But tonight was the first night she’d actually seen herself slip out of the château, onto the balcony, down the trellis, through the terraced gardens, then into the village. Her dream had taken her all the way through the village, the forest, and finally to the meadow.

And tonight was the first time she had seen her cousin and aunt in the dream.

After Alexi had slipped on the dress, she quickly braided her hair into a single plait to keep it out of her face, and tied the end of the braid with one of the leather straps that Darronn had left at their bedside. While she fixed her hair, she turned the dream over and over in her mind. She had seen the mirror right where it had been when he captured her and brought her to Tarok. Through its surface she could see her apartment, still in immaculate condition.

But this time her cousin Annie had been leaning against the doorframe of the bedroom, a sad look in her eyes. It had been an even bigger surprise when Aunt Awai slipped by Annie and into the bedroom. Awai’s slim form had been clothed in a tight leather mini dress, and she’d been wearing boots that reached her thighs—and Alexi could swear her aunt was carrying a whip in one hand. Talk about an unusual dream—Awai wore only tailored business suits to work, and when not at her job she always wore expensive and chic slacks and sweaters.

In her dream, Alexi couldn’t hear what Awai and Annie were saying to one another. But when Annie had gestured to the carpet, Alexi had seen the can of mace right where she’d dropped it. She even saw the indentations from her stilettos that led through the plush carpet and straight toward where the mirror had been.

Or where it is right this minute
. She was certain it was there.

When Alexi finished with her hair, she hurried to the balcony doors. Her heart beat faster as she slipped through the opening, into the moonlit night. She quietly shut them behind her, forcing herself not to look back, as she left Darronn and his world behind.

With the doors being unlocked, just like in her dream, Alexi knew the vision of her escape had been an omen. Darronn never forgot to lock her in, and she didn’t think it was a coincidence that he had forgotten tonight. Even though he treated her with respect and caring, he’d known she would attempt an escape, and he always took care to check the locks.

Of course the old Alexi would think the new Alexi was nuts. But since she’d been in Tarok she’d seen enough crazy things to make her a believer of just about anything.

The granite balcony floor was cold beneath her bare feet as she hurried to the trellis, and she wished she had shoes. But her red stilettos just weren’t going to cut it for making a quick getaway, and her hiking shoes were always left at the back entrance of the château. Probably to keep her from attempting this very thing and escaping.

Ravenwood thorns pricked at her flesh the moment she climbed onto the solid wood of the trellis. The normally purple blooms were an odd shimmering black in the moonlight, and their scent was thick and ominous rather than soothing like normal. With every step down, thorns scraped against the bared flesh that her skimpy leather outfit didn’t cover. They abraded her belly, the exposed parts of her breasts, her shoulders, her face, her legs, her feet. Blood soon trickled from several of the wounds and they itched like mad.

Her fight against the thorns, and to reach the bottom of the trellis without falling and killing herself, kept her mind occupied. And then, when she finally felt soft grass beneath her feet, she turned and fled into the terraced gardens.