The Captive Flesh (20 page)

‘This prize is mine!'

Leyla smiled and dropped to her knees in front of the jewel merchant. She assumed the submissive posture but raised herself up so that her pelvis was thrust towards Selim. The thin silk clung to her pouting sex, outlining its shape and fitting closely to the indentation made by the slitted lips. Selim was breathing fast. Leyla wriggled her hips invitingly. The heavy breasts jiggled.

‘Impatient for me, eh? You beauty,' he said thickly.

‘Not so fast. Selim knows how to pleasure a woman.' His meaty hand stroked her soft flat belly, toying with the gold chain at her waist. Then his big fingers strayed down to the halter of silk that cupped Leyla's sex. Two fingers reached between her legs and gathered up the silk halter into a thin ribbon shape. Selim pulled on the halter to loosen it a fraction from the waist chain, so that Leyla's sex was freed. He made a slight adjustment, bringing the ribbon down the centre and tightening it again. Grasping her flesh-lips where they joined her groin he exerted pressure so that they opened and then settled back. Now the naked lips were parted around the narrow strip of fabric, pouting out one to either side.

Selim began moving the ribbon slowly up and down, exerting a subtle pressure on Leyla's clitoris. With one finger he caressed the strip of thin silk, stroking softly in an upward motion. Soon there was a slight, but definite, bulge against the thin fabric. A little longer, and the silk grew dark with Leyla's moisture. Selim sighed with pleasure.

‘Ah, see how the kernel of delight swells against the silk. Why, it is extraordinary! So firm and swollen. Never have I seen such a one. I must taste it. My tongue demands this woman's sweetness. I cannot wait.' Selim flashed a glance at Kasim, awaiting his approval and getting it as he expected.

‘Of course,' Kasim said smoothly. ‘You may have the use of this slave. Any others you wish also. And I may have the use of one of yours?'

Selim's glistening eyes were fastened between Leyla's thighs. He did not seem to have heard Kasim. Now he drew the silk halter slowly, so slowly, through Leyla's legs. At last the pouch of her sex was free. The rim of red flesh, visible between the swollen outer lips, was moist and shiny.

‘Spread for me,' he ordered hoarsely.

Leyla complied, using her fingers to open the flesh-lips. She pulled them up slightly, so that her remarkably developed pleasure bud stood out hard, glistening redly. Selim was transfixed. His eyes narrowed with pleasure. His full cheeks trembled as he moistened his lips with his tongue. He pressed the musk-scented silk fabric to his face and inhaled deeply.

‘Perfume of the Gods!' he groaned. ‘Forgive me Kasim. I was quite overcome for a moment. This woman is a treasure. Take whichever of mine you wish. All my women are well trained and submissive. Their delight is to serve.'

Kasim stood up. An enigmatic smile was printed on his hard face. Across the room Marietta gave a shiver of apprehension. Claudine was watching Selim, who had gripped Leyla's waist and was lapping at her sex like a dog. Everyone in the room seemed to be watching the little scene. Leyla's head was thrown back. Her buttocks trembled. She began to moan as her fingers
stroked Selim's thinning hair. Some of the other merchants were also being pleasured. While they thrust into willing slaves, or lay back accepting the attentions of lips and tongues, their eyes were fastened on Selim and Leyla. Sounds of skin on skin, rustles and sighs, filled the opulent, shadow-painted chamber.

Only Marietta, alert to Kasim's mood, noticed the determination in his gait as he walked some distance from the erotic tableaux. She followed him with wide eyes, knowing his destination even before he stopped. The moment before he reached Gabriel, he looked full at her.

He makes this decision to punish me, she thought. He knows that I desire Gabriel and he will use this occasion to humiliate him. Kasim reached Gabriel. He pinned him with a glance.

‘You heard your master,' he said. ‘Take off your clothes and spread yourself for me.'

Realisation flooded Marietta. Kasim was not going to lash Gabriel, as she had expected. He was loosening his belt, freeing his strongly erect penis.

‘I'll have your mouth first. Then I want your arse,' Kasim said crudely. ‘And if you do not please me it will be the worse for you.'

She could not stand it. Kasim was doing this because of her. He meant to humiliate Gabriel utterly. Already the other guests were showing interest. They were all going to watch. Gabriel got to his feet slowly. A deep flush stained his cheeks but he began to disrobe as Kasim ordered.

‘No! Kasim … please … don't …' The cry left Marietta's throat before she could swallow it.

She froze at once. There was no help for Gabriel. She knew Kasim never responded to pleas for mercy. She cursed herself for being a fool. But the damage could
not be undone. With a face like thunder Kasim refastened his belt. Suddenly he was at her side.

He slapped her face, almost playfully. Then took hold of the chain and jerked her upright. For her ears alone, he whispered:

‘Still so rebellious? I judged you well. You have not disappointed me. Come then, my treasure, you shall watch. It will add to my pleasure.'

Marietta realised too late that she had been manipulated. Kasim had wanted her to protest. He had sensed that there was a deep attraction between herself and Gabriel. Now he would use that fact to his advantage. Never would he waste such an opportunity to humiliate them both. Her throat burned. How heartless Kasim was.

The blackness inside him was deep and fathomless. Ah, but his sensuality burned so brightly. She could not help but be drawn in by it, to find the reflection of herself in him. Even as part of her recoiled, another part responded, reaching out, aching for what was to come. One day she would punish him for this, for his piercing insight. She hated him for having such power over her, even while she longed for him. If ever she penetrated that reserve, the coldness that he wore like a cloak, she would take her revenge.

As she was pulled to her feet, her sore breasts swayed. The movement of her thighs chafed her oiled flesh-lips. The hungry sex awoke, demanding release. Despite her churning thoughts, her fears, the spicy oil still worked its sensual spell over her. She caught her breath at the sight of Gabriel's body. He was naked now except for a leather pouch that fitted tightly over his already swelling cock.

Gabriel was perfect in his male beauty. He was strong, defiant as she was, and proud. Even as she had
seen him last, slimed with sweat, marked by the lash, and shuddering in the aftermath of sexual release, she had been impressed by that stubborn pride of his. It had taken a lot to break Gabriel. Perhaps she did not need to fear for him; he must have endured much in all his years of slavery.

But deep inside her heart she knew that Kasim's personality, incandescent for her like a darkly glowing jewel, eclipsed Gabriel's beauty, his strength, like the sun burnt out the moon. Kasim, dark and slim and dangerous, was a past master in the subtleties of chastisement. Inside him was a rod of iron. Cold, unbending.

Gabriel, and she too, would be spared nothing.

Marietta felt a stirring within her that was not entirely sexual. It seemed that she was at the apex of this forced triangle, and in that there was a sort of power. With a defiant set to her mouth she allowed herself to be led into the centre of the room.

Gabriel's hands reached for the leather thong that encircled his waist and kept the leather pouch in place.

‘Leave it,' Kasim rapped from across the room. He was bending close to the chained slave, whispering to Marietta as he freed her from the pillar.

Gabriel allowed his arms to fall to his sides. He stood with his shoulders back, his strong legs slightly apart. Kasim made a movement of his hand and Gabriel sank into the submissive posture, taught him by Selim.

He was not afraid of what Kasim would do to him. Selim had trained him well. There could be no act, however debased, that would shock him. He thought of those early times, when Selim had broken him to service the way a horse is broken to the saddle.

He had been required to stay naked at all times. To
wait on his master, sleep curled up on the floor beside his bed, and to clean Selim's then hard-muscled body from head to foot, daily, with his tongue. While he learned to use his hands and mouth to coax pleasure from Selim, he must suffer his stem and balls to be bound with thongs. Sometimes he thought he would explode with the sweet pressure. All pleasure, even self-inflicted, was denied him until he had proved that he deserved to be rewarded. It had been a time of torture. The harness around his waist, which held the ivory phallus in his anus, had chafed and maddened him.

But oh, the joy, the feeling of hot and willing surrender, when Selim allowed him his first climax. Then Selim had allowed him women to pleasure. And he must hold himself back as before. At the time he had hated his master. But now that he had acquired the taste for sensual pleasures he looked back on those times with affection.

Kasim advanced towards him, leading the blue-eyed woman behind him. The old memories faded. All Gabriel could think of was his joy in the moment. He had eyes only for her. Her face was as he remembered it: perfectly oval, with a small straight nose and a sensual mouth. The eyes were as blue as flax flowers, bluer than any eyes he had ever seen. As for the rest of her – nothing could have prepared him for the wonders hidden under the black robes she wore that day.

What a marvel her hair was! So pale, almost silver. It tumbled over her shoulders in a riot of curls. The gold collar, set with moonstones, was a perfect foil for her colouring. He had to admire Kasim's taste. The woman's body seemed perfect to him. Her limbs were long and gently rounded. She was not opulently curved like the dancing girl who had so captivated his master;
rather, she was almost slender. The deepest curves were where her waist flared into generous hips. Her breasts were not over-large, but very high and round. There seemed to him to be a wonderful symmetry to her form. And between her thighs was another wonder still. He had glimpsed, but briefly, the pink shell-like sex, surrounded by more curls of silky blonde hair. Kasim had dared to break with tradition and leave hair around the pubic lips of this choice slave.

Gabriel found the sight almost overwhelmingly erotic.

Kasim clapped his hands and slaves ran to remove Gabriel's pile of clothes and bring a small low table.

‘Bring more lamps too. I want to see everything clearly,' Kasim rapped. He had unclipped the chain from the woman's collar and was feeding it idly through his fingers.

‘So, Marietta, we have Gabriel to ourselves this day. There is no crowd to interfere with our enjoyment of this rebellious slave.' He grinned. ‘But perhaps he is obedient after his public lashing. Shall we test his obedience?'

Marietta. Gabriel absorbed the name. Marietta. She looked uneasy. Her hands hung at her sides. She glanced through lowered lashes at Kasim, obviously unsure whether to assume the usual submissive posture. Gabriel sensed the tension between them. Why does Kasim not order me to pleasure him at once? he thought. Then he understood.

Kasim was punishing him and Marietta. He had seen the looks that passed between them.

Gabriel began to feel uncomfortable. It was unwise to provoke this man. He knew Kasim's reputation. It was said that this man could stir you to pleasure until you felt that your soul was peeled bare. And after, you
would be gasping for more. It was also said that Kasim's passions ran deep, and he was reputed to have shown an extraordinary amount of restraint where Marietta was concerned. The gossip amongst the slaves was that Kasim had not yet taken her to his bed. Gabriel did not believe that. Such a thing was unknown.

But the stories he heard about Kasim must contain a grain of truth. He was an enigma and he would be an implacable enemy. A muscle ticked in Gabriel's jaw. He waited, aware that the spice of danger had fanned his excitement. At his groin the leather pouch grew tighter as the fabric strained to contain his erection. He found the thought of being spread for this man, of having to take his cock into his mouth, more disquieting, more arousing, by the moment. His earlier bravado seemed foolish now. This was not a man who would be ensnared, weakened, by the power of his senses.

Selim was one thing. Kasim was quite another.

‘Move closer to Gabriel,' Kasim said to Marietta. ‘Does his strength not make you afraid? But you need not fear. For this is a well-trained slave, docile and willing to offer himself for his master's pleasure. Is that not so, Gabriel?'

Gabriel answered. ‘Yes, lord.' His voice was deep. Marietta thought she detected the slightest trace of a tremor in it. She felt an answering response. He is wary of Kasim, she thought, as well he might be.

Marietta stood looking down at the kneeling slave. Close to, he looked enormous. His powerful shoulders were pulled back, showing the planes of his chest and belly off to advantage. The thighs, wide apart, were taut and corded with muscle. He was as tall as Kasim but more strongly built. It was odd to see a man in the
submissive posture. In the harem all the slaves were female. The only males in Kasim's household were guards and they were refused access to the private apartments.

Gabriel's calm grey eyes stared back at her. There was no sign of that earlier intimacy in his direct gaze. She felt an almost unbearable urge to touch him, to stroke back the unruly hair which tumbled over his brow. There was an innocence in Gabriel's remarkable face. The high cheekbones, the straight brows, and the deep-set eyes were those of a man who had suffered and triumphed. But in the set of the jaw, the curiously soft mouth, she detected traces of the pure young boy he had once been.

The poignant insight promoted a curious tenderness in her – something she had never felt, nor expected to feel, for Kasim. Perhaps the feeling was prompted partly by the sight of this powerful young man holding himself in check. Gabriel looked as if he could crush Kasim between his two hands, but he did nothing. He just waited. He was a prisoner of his flesh, she realised, as were all the women of the harem. For surely Gabriel had been trained by his master to do exactly as he was bid and to savour the pleasures of submission. Surely he felt that delicious retraction of will which gave a peculiar freedom to the senses and imparted power to a slave.