her. “You’re here to lose control. That’s what you really want—even if you can’t admit it yet.”
“That’s not true,” Alli protested, frowning up at him as they went down the hallway. Somehow they were walking hand in hand like lovers strolling on a boulevard or a beach, she saw. How had that happened? How was she walking so naturally—so easily—with her captor—with the man who had kidnapped her?
“I didn’t kidnap you, you came with me,” he said.
“Only because you gave me no choice!” Alli protested.
“Allisandra, there is always a choice. Ah—here we are.”
They had reached the end of the hall and Alli saw there was a tall, black door embedded in the dark gray wall. Twin globes of light glowed dimly, hovering on either side of it. Her name was written in flowing golden script across the top of the black panel. Allisandra.
“This will be your room while you stay with me and serve your term as my concubine,” the man informed her. He opened the door and ushered her inside. “Here you will find every amenity you could possibly desire. If I have neglected to provide something, you need only to ask for it and it will appear.”
“Really?” Alli looked around the room with wide eyes. It was dimly lit, as was everyplace in his huge, gloomy fortress, but there was no denying the amenities were luxurious.
A vast bed dominated the room—four ebony posts canopied in blood red. Soft, black carpet covered the floor—so luxurious she sank in almost to her ankles. A bookshelf held familiar looking titles and she realized all her favorite books had been collected and were displayed just for her. It was the same with movies and music and a large screen dominated the far wall. There was a long, low couch arranged in front of it.
There were no windows in the room, but portraits hung on the walls—pictures of women of all different ages and sizes and colors. Were these his previous ‘concubines’? Would Alli’s picture be hanging here for the next girl he kidnapped to see?
She didn’t ask the question aloud and her captor didn’t answer. Instead he turned to her and raised one eyebrow.
“I trust it’s to your liking?”
Alli nodded.
“All except for the lighting. Why do you keep it so dim in here?”
He frowned.
“My eyes are sensitive. If you want more light, call for it.”
“What just…ask for more light?”
The man nodded.
“Go ahead—try it.”
“Lights,” Alli said, expecting the floating globes that lit the room to get at least marginally brighter. That was how things worked on the Mother Ship, anyway.
Instead, a candelabra suddenly appeared, candlesticks flaming, right in front of her eyes.
“Oh!” she gasped, and jerked back.
“Are you all right, Allisandra?” Frowning, the man plucked the floating silver candelabra out of the air and sat it down on the low table which was suddenly there beside the couch.
“I’m fine, only—how did you do that?” She motioned to the candelabra which had appeared out of thin air.
He shrugged.
“Speech to matter transference. Don’t the Kindred of your universe have the same technology?”
“If they do, I’ve certainly never seen it.” Alli looked at the candles, which cast a soft, flickering light over the surrounding area. “Will that work for anything I want?”
“Within limits. You can’t ask for a door home, for instance—that won’t happen. Or a knife to stab me with,” he added, narrowing his eyes at her. “Why would you think something like that, baby?”
Alli flushed.
“Maybe because I just want to go home.”
“You are home—for now,” he said firmly. “Now, I’m going to go change. I’ll be back in a few minutes for your bath.”
“My bath?” Alli shook her head. “I had a shower already tonight.”
He frowned, his mirrored eyes flashing.
“I told you—I need to wash the stink of that other male off you. The unworthy one you let have access to your body.”
“Douglas is my fiancé,” Alli emphasized. “We’re going to get married.”
He shook his head.
“Why would you Join with a male who doesn’t take care of your needs, baby? That doesn’t make any sense.”
Alli felt her cheeks get hot.
“That’s none of your business! And Douglas does all right.”
“He leaves you wanting every time,” the man growled. “Don’t forget, I’ve been watching you for months. You haven’t had an orgasm with him once in all that time. And it’s not just that he doesn’t know how to make you come—he doesn’t care enough to learn. You’re not important enough to him to take the time to give you pleasure.”
Alli felt her temper rising.
“Is that