by Diana Ames
Mellissandra shifted uncomfortably in her seat. She shared Walinda’s opinion about modernizing their country, but she’d met the prince, and he’d been gentle with her. Maybe he’d acted like that because he wanted to bed her and get an heir, but at the time, his actions had been a welcome distraction.
“Maybe I can just tell them my husband was killed or something,” Mellissandra said a little desperately.
“Well, you can try, honey,” Walinda said. “And I wish you the best of luck with that. Do you have a back-up plan though?”
“No,” Mellissandra said miserably. “Everything has happened so fast, and I’m so tired.” Fighting back tears, she took a deep breath and straightened her spine. “I’ll just have to make it work,” she said with determination.
“Well,” Walinda said, drawing out the word, “if it doesn’t work, and you find yourself with no place to go…” She paused, glancing at her husband. “You can come back here. You can work for us, and room and board is included in the wages.”
“Oh, I couldn’t…that is, I’m not a—” Mellissandra stuttered and turned red.
Walinda just let out a hearty laugh, not the least bit offended. “There’s plenty of work here to be done that ain’t whoring, child. And this kitchen you’re in…well, the whole back side of the house is our home. You could have a room back here, so you wouldn’t be out with the working girls.” Walinda’s eyes danced with mischief. “‘Sides, girl, while we get all kinds out here, even some that have some pretty kinky desires, most men don’t want to hump on a girl all pumped up with some other guy’s kid.”
Ducking her head, Mellissandra was embarrassed by Walinda’s plain, bold way of speaking. Mellissandra couldn’t help but respect the woman though. If the village was as bad as they said, it couldn’t be easy to run this place.
“Ryan, get the car out of the garage,” Walinda told him. “This child ain’t walking all the way into the village.”
“Thank you so much, Walinda and Ryan,” Mellissandra said with tears in her eyes. Why is it that these people who have known me less than twenty-four hours are showing me more kindness and consideration than my own parents who raised me for nineteen years?
After Mellissandra excused herself to use the toilet before making the trip into the village, Walinda pulled Ryan off to the side.
“You stick around in the village, Ryan. We both know them snooty folks ain’t gonna let that girl in,” she told him.
“Didn’t plan on coming home without her, Wally.” He gave her a quick kiss on the cheek.
“Don’t hover though,” Walinda scolded him. “She’s gotta find out for herself.”
Mellissandra walked back into the kitchen to find Walinda and Ryan standing close together, talking low. A small smile played upon Mellissandra’s lips at the intimacy of the couple. Anyone with eyes could see how much they loved each other. Seeing real love like that made her envious but hopeful.
“Ready to go, Red?” Ryan grabbed Mellissandra’s bag before she could pick it up.
“As ready as I’ll ever be,” she replied and followed him out of the house.
***
“You are depraved!” Mellissandra yelled over her shoulder as she slammed out of the motel office.
Mellissandra was finding that this village was worse than Walinda and Ryan had said. The first boarding house had told her they couldn’t have a young single woman, even a widowed one, living there. The second and third had both said they were full even though they had vacancy signs clearly displayed. After that, she’d decided to try the lone motel at the edge of the village.
When the manager had told her he would give her a room, she’d felt so relieved. That was until he’d come around the desk and talked about room rates while running his hand up and down her arm. His suggestion that she pay her rent on her knees had angered her so much that she’d kicked him between his legs before she stormed out.
She didn’t know what she was going to do now. She had no place to sleep. If I can’t even find a home, how on earth am I going to get a job? And even if I do get a job, with no place to sleep, how will I ever have the energy to go to work? Mellissandra started walking, hoping to come across a miracle.
A miracle arrived in the form of Ryan walking out of a hardware store. When he saw her coming down the street, still carrying her possessions, he moved faster than she’d have thought the big man was capable. He ushered her into his car.
“Was Walinda serious about me working and living with you guys?” Mellissandra asked.
“Red, you just have to say the word, and we’re on our way home,” he told her.
“I’m not a weak person, Ryan,” she said. “I don’t want to depend on others for my well-being. I have a child to raise, and no offense, but I don’t know that a whorehouse is the best place to do that.”
“It’s not weak to accept help once in a while, Red. You’ll be earning your keep. Walinda wasn’t joking when she said there is plenty of work.” He sighed heavily. “And a whorehouse probably isn’t the best place to raise a child, but this doesn’t have to be permanent. No one is going to force you to stay when you feel it’s time to move on. If you keep an open mind…well, Red, you just might find that it’s not exactly what you think it is.”
“Then, take me home, Ryan,” Mellissandra said in a tight whisper.
She wasn’t choked up because she was sad that she was going back with him. She was choked up from the emotions this gentle giant was making her feel. Glancing over at Ryan, Mellissandra saw a small smile lighting up his face, and she started to feel like she had a father again.
***
“I need sex,” Anton told Damian. “I’m getting hard-ons from watching the maids fucking dust.”
“I have a client that comes into the club just to get his cock dusted,” Damian said with a grin.
“Shut the fuck up,” Anton growled. “This is serious business. My hand isn’t doing the trick. The shrinks won’t discuss when they think it would be safe for me to even be alone with a woman, let alone a hot naked woman. I’m ready to lose it just from sheer frustration.”
Since he’d hurt Gilly and found out she was his sister, Anton had been abstinent. Contrary to the beliefs of a couple of his therapists, Damian’s threats of prison nor the fact that Anton had hurt Gilly weren’t the reasons he had convinced himself to get under control.
It was actually the two hours he’d spent with Mellissandra and the hope that he could someday be normal enough to be with her. She had been so sweet and so innocent with all those blushes. When he’d found the book she’d been reading and she’d shown him the picture that made her heart pound faster, he had begun to feel like she could really be the one.
He’d actually felt a little relieved when Damian had told him he’d sent Mellissandra out of the castle. After hurting Gilly, Anton was afraid he’d be too tempted by Mellissandra and end up hurting her as well. After Anton had begun therapy, he’d expressed a desire to find Mellissandra and court her properly. Then, Damian had explained what had happened between them. In a varying state of drunkenness since Mellissandra had been gone, Damian hadn’t been tactful when he’d told Anton just why he couldn’t have her.
“Damian, I want to find her,” Anton said, sitting next to his brother on the sofa.
“Who?” Damian slurred slightly, not bothering to open his eyes.
“Mellissandra. I want to find her, woo her, and marry her,” Anton said.
“So, it finally comes out.” Damian turned to glare at Anton this time. “I knew it was you who’d told her my name. I knew you were the only one bold enough to break the fucking rules.” Damian unsteadily rose to his feet. “This is all your fucking fault, my prince,” he said scornfully. “If you would have just stayed away from her—”
“What the fuck are you talking about, Damian? What is my fault?” Anton asked. “I admit it. Yes, I visited her. I spent almost two hours in her company, basking in the glow of her red hair and watching her face blush t
“You don’t want her, Anton. She won’t suit your particular tastes anymore!” Damian yelled furiously.
“I don’t want to hurt her, Damian. I don’t even want to dominate her. She was so delightful, just being herself—”
“I’ve had her, Anton!” Damian cut him off with a shout. “I took her virginity.” Collapsing in a heap onto the floor, he began to sob. “Then, I sent her away with an envelope full of money and a note telling her that she was a whore.”
“Do you love her?” Anton asked in a deadly quiet voice.
“I drink to forget how much I love her,” Damian said in between sobs. “I drink, and I drink, and I drink. You’d think I could forget, even for a little while, what it felt like to be inside her. You’d think I could forget, just for a minute, that I’ve fucked up my entire life. You’d think I could forget just how much I love her!”
It had taken every single control technique that Anton had learned in his many hours of therapy to walk away without landing a single blow to the man who’d just destroyed his reason for starting therapy in the first place.
Damian understood Anton’s need to get laid. It had been over a month for him as well. Although he’d been drunk for the majority of that month, his cock still got hard and yearned for a pussy to slide into. He could have had sex at any time, but he hadn’t felt like making the effort to even pick up the phone to have a woman come to him. He’d been in mourning for a woman who hadn’t died but was gone from him just the same.
“What do you want me to do, Anton?” Damian asked.
“This is going to sound…well, a little off,” Anton said, not meeting Damian’s eyes. “I need you to get me a woman and then stay in the room while I fuck her. I know if I get out of control, you can stop me.”
“I run a sex club, Anton. Being in the room while you fuck a woman isn’t a big deal. At any given time during open hours, at least three or four people are publicly having sex in some form. Between surveillance cameras and my time on the floor, I’ve seen more people having sex in more positions than you can possibly imagine.” Damian sighed angrily. “But I’m not a damn pimp! I don’t broker hook ups.”
“I need this, Damian,” Anton pleaded. “I can’t just go out and find a woman to fuck. Can you imagine the conversation? ‘Oh, this is my brother. He’s going to watch me fuck you just in case I lose control of my urges and beat you bloody.’”
Damian sighed and ran a hand through his thick hair. As he listened, Damian knew that Anton was right. No ordinary woman would due under the circumstances. Anton needed a pro or at least someone deep enough in the sex world that wouldn’t be turned off by having an audience.
“I will make a few discreet inquires around the club,” Damian told him. “But I’m not going to solicit a woman for you.”
“The women love you, Damian. They’ll do it for you,” Anton said a little desperately. “I don’t care if we have to tag team. I just need a warm woman with a hot pussy to fuck.”
“How do I let you talk me into this shit?” Damian muttered as he walked away from Anton. He couldn’t believe what he’d just agreed to do.
***
Gilly opened the box that had arrived at the castle two days ago. Pulling out the first strap on mock belly, she slid it under her blouse and turned to view her reflection in the mirror. The three-month pregnant belly looked small as it rested on her lower abdomen. She grinned at the swell that was just barely visible. She couldn’t wait to start wearing it.
She pulled out the six-month belly and tried it on next. Gilly decided she made a cute mother-to-be. When she told Anton that she was carrying the royal heir, she just knew he would sweep her into his arms and beg her to marry him, Damian be damned.
Gilly couldn’t decide if she should tell Anton before he left for his village-to-village trip or if she should wait until he returned. If she told him before, Damian would have a chance to talk Anton out of marrying her. If she waited until he returned, she would already be wearing the baby belly. If he demanded to see her naked stomach or if he wanted sex to cement their connection, her whole plan would be blown apart. Decisions, decisions.
She also had yet to decide what she would do about Damian and his interference. She wanted to just kill him and be done with it. As a doctor, she had the knowledge and access to many poisons that could make his death look unexplainable but natural. But with Anton about to acknowledge Damian’s royal blood, if she were caught, she would receive an immediate death sentence. Not that she thought she’d be caught should she decide to poison him, but sometimes it only took the slightest misstep for a plan to go awry.
Gilly packed the bellies back into the shipping box and hid it in the back of her closet. With Anton leaving in three days, she had serious planning to do.
***
Sitting in a room full of head doctors, Damian discussed Anton’s request. He understood Anton’s need for a woman, but Damian wasn’t about to do anything to hinder Anton’s progress. Over the last month, the changes in Anton had been so profound that Damian, even when he had been drunk, had been able to recognize them for what they were.
Since Anton had told him about the trip and his intent to acknowledge Damian as his brother, Damian had made the effort to be sober. Without any alcohol to dull it, the pain was constant in his chest, but supporting his messed-up brother was worth the suffering he was going through. Truth be told, Damian felt like he deserved to suffer.
He was the one who’d robbed a girl of her virginity. He was the one who’d ripped her pride to shreds and then hadn’t had the decency to even escort her home himself. He was the one who’d realized too late that the woman he’d called a whore was the first woman he’d ever felt love for.
“His frustration could be a trigger to a setback,” one of the therapists said.
“But putting him into a sexual situation might also trigger a setback,” another therapist responded. “Even with Damian there to prevent any damage to the woman, if Prince Anton’s urges are set loose, it is all back to step one.”
Damian stood up and paced the room. They’d been going back and forth for nearly an hour, and his frustration was pushing him to new limits of control.
“He will have sex again at some point,” Damian snapped at them. “He isn’t going to remain celibate for the rest of his life, and he does have to reproduce for the sake of the royal line.”
“This isn’t about sex, Damian,” the only female therapist in the bunch said. “It’s about control.”
“Look,” Damian said, plowing his fingers through his hair, “I know all about control. I know all about domination. It’s my job, remember? What he did to women, what we’re trying to fix, isn’t about control. It’s about losing control.”
“This isn’t a normal domination situation,” she told him. “This isn’t about what gets him off.”
“Then, let’s completely take the control away from him. I’ll strap him down to a bed and have the woman fuck him,” Damian said through clenched teeth. “My brother is begging me to get him a woman. He is asking me to stay while he fucks her to make sure he doesn’t hurt her. This is a proud royal man who is begging me.”
All ten therapists quietly contemplated Damian’s suggestion. With the way their eyes met as they glanced at one another, Damian could have sworn they were having some kind of silent conversation.
“That might be the perfect next step in his therapy,” one man said, standing up. “Putting him into a situation where he has no control and no say in what is happening to him might allow him to put himself into his victims’ places.”
“I’m not talking about getting my brother raped or beaten,” Damian said scornfully. “And if that’s what you’re thinking, then you’re all as sick as he is!”
“That’s not what we’re saying at all,” the woman said. “We just want him to be able to empathize with his victims.”
“I’ve seen the guilt he’s carrying around!” Damian shouted. “Believe me, he does not lack feeling for what he has done.”
“You don’t understand—” she began.
“Here’s what I understand, lady,” Damian said with disdain. “You people are supposed to be helping him figure out how to control the urge to draw blood and damage women. You all just sit here and want me to arrange for him to be abused, so he can feel what his victims have felt. I don’t know who hired you freaks, but I’m telling you this now. If you cause my brother any more damage than has already been done to him, not only will you be fired, but I will personally see to it that none of you treat another patient!”
Furious, Damian slammed out of the room. Those damn quacks hadn’t even bothered to try to find the root of Anton’s anger. While Anton needed to learn self-control, even Damian knew that if Anton didn’t deal with the damage their mother had done to him, he would never get well.
Damian used the intercom strategically placed outside the office doors to call for his car to be delivered to the front of the castle. He was going to his club to find his brother a woman.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
“Melanie, you need to head back to the house,” Wally told her. “We’re getting ready to open up for the night, sweetie.”
Mellissandra had been living and working in the whorehouse for nearly a week and she was still surprised at the compassion Wally and Ryan kept showing her. It was hard for her to believe that these virtual strangers might actually care for her, but there really was no other explanation for their actions. Of course, if Mellissandra were going to be honest, she’d become closer to these strangers in a week than she’d been with her own mother.
When Mellissandra had returned from her trip to the village, Walinda had instructed Mellissandra to call her Wally, saying Walinda was just too damn fancy. The older woman’s plain way of speaking only endeared her more to Mellissandra. She never had to guess with Wally. Mellissandra always knew where Wally stood.
-->
