She knew her pussy dripped with wetness. Could he see the arousal and swollen folds begging to be touched? A faint moan slipped past her lips. She never meant to tell him of her arousal at all, let alone hint at it. Why give him the satisfaction?
"Say it." James grew impatient waiting for Aria's subordination. His hand came down again. Her bottom grew raw, the pain much fiercer as he tried to get his point across.
Aria blinked through her misty vision as tears threatened her eyes. Why had he turned her on? That was worse than the spanking itself, knowing he'd aroused her. The maid walked away, retreating down the hall, no longer interested. Had she seen this display of punishment before?
"No," Aria refused to do as he ordered.
Another blow to her rear, and she squealed with a mix of delight and pain. Her bottom had grown raw, and his lashes weren't easing up anytime soon.
"I can go all day," James said in warning. "Do you want another spanking? Or perhaps I should get the belt?"
"No!" Aria shrieked. "I'll do whatever you say. I won't hit you." Somehow it seemed ironic what was happening, considering she'd barely touched him and he had lashed out on her body.
"Get up," he commanded.
Aria climbed off his lap, and he lifted her panties back around her waist. His fingers lingered over her hips. Aria swallowed and took a tentative step back as she smoothed down her dress and wiped the tears away. Is this what her life would be like in Brayleigh? How long would she survive here?
The prince escorted Aria to her bedroom. Grateful she didn't have to share it with eleven other young women as she didn't want them to know of her punishment. Aria doubted she'd be able to sit again tonight.
"You'll be able to mingle with the girls, and I'll come find you and the others around dinner," he said.
Aria had barely eaten anything all day. She didn't want to wait until tonight, but it seemed there was little choice in the matter. Would she have to dine with him and his other mistresses?
She climbed beneath the covers, lying on her stomach, and shut her eyes to take a nap.
The door between her room and the royal harem squeaked open, and she heard her name. "Aria," a young girl said.
"I'm trying to sleep," Aria's voice answered into the pillow with a groan. She turned her head and noticed the girl wasn't more than ten or twelve, with blonde hair and blue eyes. She poked her head into the room, staring wide-eyed at Aria. "What do you need?"
"Is it true you're twenty-three?"
Aria rolled onto her back and grimaced, coming to lie on her side. It looked like she wouldn't be sleeping after all. "Yes. Come on in." Unlike the eleven women of the royal harem, Aria felt no ill will from this young girl.
Light on her feet, the child slipped into the room quietly and closed the door behind her. "I'm not supposed to be in here."
Aria didn't wish to get the child into trouble but didn't know why she'd come to visit her. Surely, she wasn't a courtesan for any of King Gideon's sons. "What's your name?"
"Jasmyn," she said. "My mother named me after a flower that became extinct in the last war."
"It's a beautiful name," Aria said, gesturing for her to sit at the edge of the bed. "How did you come to live at the palace?"
Jasmyn frowned. "I've always lived here. Since the day I was born."
"What do you mean?" Aria didn't understand. Could Jasmyn be a daughter to one of the princes? She seemed too old for it, but August was quite a few years older than Aria. Or perhaps she was King Gideon's daughter, a princess of Brayleigh.
A sigh slipped past Jasmyn's lips. "My mother owed a great debt to King Gideon. In order to absolve her of the debt, she was forced to become a slave. Since he owns my mother, he also owns me. That's how slave debt works. I don't mind it; King Gideon is nice enough, allowing me to roam the palace without question."
"Roam the palace. Do you mean you've never gone beyond the gate?" Aria asked.
Jasmyn shook her head. "I can see as far as the highest tower will reach. It looks like a lot of grass out there, but in the distance, there appears to be something else. What is it?"
Aria had lived most of her life in her home, near the river and away from the public eye. She'd never traveled farther than across the river to Ethan's cottage. "I have no idea. One day, I shall take you there with me."
The young girl's eyes lit up, and a smile grazed her face. "I'd like that very much. Do you think King Gideon would agree to it?"
Aria knew he wouldn't, but she didn't know how to tell this child the news without disappointing her. "I think it has to be our little secret." Aria reached for her arm, glancing at her hands. There were scars, old, thick white marks etched to her skin. "What are these from?"
She pulled her arm back and stood up, her eyes downcast on the floor. "I should go. You wanted rest, and I've bothered you enough already."
Before Aria had time to stop her, Jasmyn retreated from the room and slipped out the same door she had come in.
Aria stared up at the stucco ceiling. It matched her mood, rough and filled with turmoil. Desperately, she wanted to go home, but she didn't know how to get out.
Chapter 2
The maids served dinner in the royal harem, among the courtesans. Prince James stopped in to pay the girls a visit after dessert. Grateful to spend the least amount of time with him as possible, Aria tried to avoid his stare and hide in the shadows, not wanting his attention or his affection. He mingled with Adalyn. Her hand fell to his arm and then his chest as she tipped her head forward, laughing at his every word.
Aria had spent enough times with James to know Adalyn could act, and it had probably been what had kept her beside him for so long. James didn't seem like one to make a joke or have an ounce of humor in his body. He whispered something into her ear and kissed her cheek before retreating.
Each step he took toward Aria, she felt painstaking sadness. She didn't wish to be here, and his presence was a constant reminder that she was entirely under his control.
"Aria." He smiled as he approached.
She didn't return the sentiment, still bitter from her earlier spanking.
"What is it?" he asked, and the smile fell from his face. "This sadness, it's different."
"I can forget the fact that you humiliated me earlier, but I can't forgive you taking a child as a slave!"
The girls had all grown silent. They must not have been used to courtesans speaking their mind to the prince.
"Slave?" James repeated and raised an eyebrow. "We have a lot of slaves in the kingdom, Aria. You're going to have to be more specific."
Aria's jaw tightened. Had it been no big deal to him, because they stole people's freedoms every single day? "Jasmyn, the girl who is ten, maybe twelve. Her mother's a slave to King Gideon."
The prince exhaled a loud sigh. Everyone's eyes were on him. He took a step closer, and Aria moved a step back. She had no intention of getting spanked again. It was horrifying enough to have happened in the hall with a maid witnessing. She would never live it down among the courtesans.