shrugged, but the knowing smile on her face said the little Egyptian knew exactly what was wrong. He glowered at his assistant. He hated not knowing things.
Especially in situations like this.
“What’s wrong, dear?” he asked his future bride.
Nero watched Hope chew her lip. “Nothing.” The poor girl cringed and corrected herself. “Nothing, sir.”
Her posture said otherwise. “Ah. You’re still afraid of me, then?”
“I can’t imagine why she would be afraid of you, Cardinal,” Kema teased. “You have such a sterling reputation, after all.”
“Quiet, Kema.” He tried not to snap at her. Hope seemed jumpy enough as it was. He looked down at the priestess—once again enjoying the view for a moment—before gently shaking her by tightening and loosening his grasp around her shoulders. “Relax, Hope. I’m not going to hurt you.”
“Maybe you should stop touching her. That might help.” Kema reached out a foot and kicked him in the ankle. Not gently, either. “Ever think that might be the problem?”
“Nope. Nobody’s ever complained before.” And besides, I don’t want to let her go.
“You’re a pompous fool.” Kema rolled her eyes. “She isn’t subject to your usual charms, remember?”
Nero grunted and looked back down to Hope. “See? I let my personal assistant and my slave talk to me that way. Kema here has been in my service for—how long?”
“Six years.”
“Six years! Fates be damned, I’m getting old.” Nero laughed. Hope still sat there silently, her posture rigid and frozen. But maybe, just maybe, a little looser than it had been a second before. “Six years, and I haven’t killed her for it. Or even raised the lash once. You can speak your mind around me, Hope. You always can. I never ask anyone to hold their tongues for my sake. Tell me. What’s wrong?”
Finally, the priestess said something longer than a few syllables. “I dislike you touching me.”
“I told you.” Kema grinned in triumph.
Nero frowned. “Why?”
“What do you mean, why?” Hope furrowed her brow.
“I asked you why, and I’m curious. Why does it offend you?”
“You scare me.”
“Why?”
“You’re…” Hope hesitated again and turned her face away. With a touch of his fingers on her cheek, he urged her to do the opposite. She allowed it, and that made him smile, though she could not see it.
Such a beautiful girl. She reminded him a bit of Hugo, the Cardinal of the West Wind Dominion, but not nearly so awkward. Hopefully, the intelligence was the only thing they shared, and the rest of the similarities stopped there. But there was also a profound sadness. Like a willow tree, with its long, beautiful, melancholy branches. He softened his tone. “Speak freely, Hope. Now and forever.”
Hope paused for a moment before speaking. “You’re not known to be the most predictable and gentle of people, Cardinal. And now…now you own me. You have bought me.”
“I’ve rented, that’s all.”
“That’s not what Sidonia told me.”
“The old bitch.” Nero grunted again, keeping an arm casually slung around her shoulders. “I told her not to.”
“I don’t believe she planned on it. I correctly assumed. It wasn’t hard to put together what had happened. And you do not seem like the kind of person who takes issue with the practice of owning slaves. Seeing as you have another one sitting in the car with me, I think my suspicions were right.”
“She has you pegged already, old boy.” Kema snickered. Nero glared at Kema, and she stopped laughing.
He shrugged, seeing no harm in admitting it. “Yes, fine, I bought you.”
“Why? I fear I do not wish to know. But I must hear it said aloud. For what purpose have you bought me?” Hope pulled away from him then, moving to the far end of the bench. There was such dread and horror in her voice that he let her go, and she seemed even more afraid now than before. What had he said? What was wrong?
What in the name of the seven hells did she think he was going to—
Oh.
Oooooh…
He burst out laughing. “No wonder you’re so afraid!” He howled with the silliness of it. Of course, that was what she believed he was after! Well. Okay. He was. But he was also after much more than that. “You poor thing. You think I’ve bought you to be a pleasure slave?” He cackled.
Her jaw ticked, and confusion flashed over her face, followed by shame and embarrassment. She turned her face away from him once more, hiding her expression. Her emotions rushed over her with easy flair. She must not know how to hide