to the corner of hers, then her jaw, teasing his way to the hard tendon of her neck. White teeth grazed dark flesh as his hands found the hollows of her body. He was pure perfection, seductive and powerful in ways she'd never imagined, but she only won if he didn't have control. She couldn't let him distract her, but he wasn't making it easy.
His thumbs moved to her breasts, sweeping over the hard peaks before every person in the room and she pressed into his hips. With a shift, her pubic bone slid higher, taunting the swelling, inciting it, showing how close he was to his prize, and she felt him harden just before he ground his erection into the soft skin beside her hip.
"Dismiss them," he breathed, his eyes catching Jaeda's. They were amber, like liquid resin, but not nearly as warm.
"Yes, my lord," Treb said. "Ladies, the Jackal thanks you for your service. Please follow the guard before you and we will find you something clean and respectable to wear."
The Jackal's mouth was on hers again, demanding, and Jaeda lifted her leg over his thigh. She was distracting him, doing everything she knew to keep that gentle girl safe, and he responded eagerly. Grabbing the back of her knee, he yanked her higher, using the stone to support her. Her leg trailed over his ass, her bare flesh spread before him, her chest raised to his face. He held her there, grinding the buttery leather of his pants against her, then let his burning eyes fall to her breasts. Slowly, each movement making her pant with anticipation, he kissed the dark tip, then licked. Finally, he suckled, his mouth a pleasure like she'd never known before. Jaeda let the air escape from her lungs.
His hand wrapped around her throat, he shoved himself against her once more, then he slid her body down his until she could stand. Only then did his other hand palm the back of her head, his thumb lifting her jaw, forcing her face to his.
The Jackal smiled. "Gold, I think. I do like it." His hands squeezed, and he hissed a single, strange word.
For the space of one heartbeat, she was sure he would kill her. His grip was tight, intense, then he released, but the weight didn't vanish. In its place was cold, hard metal. Jaeda pulled back, her eyes flaring open, and she grabbed at her neck.
The man before her watched with depraved amusement. "You thought you could stand before a dark mage and tempt me? You think you are strong enough to take me on? Well, prove it." His finger hooked under the weight around her throat. "It's gold. It's expensive, worth more than most of those women will ever see, but do not forget that it's a collar. You will come when I call." He smiled. "Both ways."
She swallowed and nodded.
"I will have men fuck you. Lots of them. You will even like it. Am I clear?"
"Yes, sir."
The Jackal laughed and shifted against her again, proving his interest hadn't faded. "You will suck them, fuck them, and cum, over and over. If you're good, I'll put a little stone in this collar for each orgasm." He trailed his nail around the base of her throat. "Diamonds? Do you like those, my wild little orchid?"
Slowly, she licked her lips and jiggled her head slightly, the barest hint of a nod.
His eyes narrowed. "But not as much as..." He looked between her eyes. "Emeralds? Sapphires? Rubies?" He kissed her again, hard and fast. "Answer me," he growled.
"I've never seen them, sir."
"It's lord," he corrected. "I am the Lord of Lust, my dear. The Empire wants to own the world, and to make that happen, I need to be recharged." His mouth worked toward her ear. "It's exhausting, ripping down walls. It's so much more exciting to make jewelry, don't you think?"
"Yes, my lord."
"Rubies," he decided. "Deep red ones, wonderfully dark like your skin." Gently, he caressed her braids. "My little dark orchid, I love your mouth. Hot, passionate, and demanding. I think I'll save it for myself. Treb?"
"Yes, sir?"
Jaeda's eyes flicked to the mage, wondering if there would be a correction. The Jackal noticed and moved against her, everything about him designed to make her drunk on desire. When she didn't look away, he nodded ever so slightly.
"He's allowed to call me sir. I won't abuse you if you forget, but it's lord. The people need to know who's in charge.