by Diana Ames
“Care to explain?” Damian asked softly.
“I didn’t tell you everything about her,” Anton said awkwardly. “Our mother, I mean. Just before…” Anton paused and tried to steady his rapid breathing. “Just before her death, she started looking at younger and younger men.”
Damian held his breath. He was terrified of what he was about to hear. Anton had shared things about their mother before, in moments of drunkenness, but he’d never once indicated that she’d touched him or forced him to do anything sexual. Now Damian wasn’t so sure. It would certainly explain why Anton is so fucked up.
“She made inappropriate comments to me for years,” Anton said. “There were only a few minor touches across my chest and shoulders while she told me how much of a man I was growing into. There wasn’t anything else beyond what you already know.” Anton ran a hand through his hair. “But then, she started asking me if I liked to watch. Did I like to see men fucking her? I was still a virgin for fuck’s sake! She wouldn’t let me get far enough away from her side to ever get a taste of a woman.”
“You don’t have to say anything else, Anton,” Damian said. He thought he was going to vomit from what he’d already heard. He didn’t know if he could take anymore.
“I have to get it all out, Damian. I might not be able to do this again,” Anton told him.
“Continue then,” Damian said, swallowing the bile rising in his throat.
“I could have dealt with whatever she put me through,” Anton said. “She was my mother, and as sick as it might sound, I loved her. Then, I caught her eyeing another young man in the castle.”
“Were you jealous?” Damian asked with horrified revulsion.
“No!” Anton shouted. “I was furious. She started asking me if I’d like to join in. She made comments about how her two strapping boys needed to learn to do it right. Damian, she wanted you!”
Damian was barely controlling the nausea that was threatening to overtake him at any moment. He thought about the queen before he knew she was his mother. Yes, she’d made him uncomfortable, but she had been beautiful. About the time she’d died, he’d been a horny adolescent boy. If she succeeded in seducing me and then I found out she was my mother, who would I be today?
“I called Gilly at school and asked her to come home,” Anton said. “She sneaked home and brought me some poison that would make the death look like a heart attack. We waited until my mother was passed out from being worked over by one of her toys, and then Gilly gave her the shot between her toes.” Glancing at Damian, Anton could see his face turning a sickly combination of green and ghost white.
“Why didn’t you tell me this before? Why are you telling me now?” Damian asked a little desperately.
“I wanted to tell you, but you have to admit that we haven’t had the most trustworthy relationship, Damian. Also, it wasn’t just my secret to tell,” Anton said. “Gilly is the one who got the poison and injected her.”
“Why now?” Damian asked, his voice thick with emotion. “Why do I have to know this now?”
“I’m trying to get better, Damian. I want to get beyond what I’ve known. Who else am I going to tell? Those idiotic shrinks?” Anton gave a wry laugh. “They’d give me advice, and as soon as I was out of their sight, they’d call security to haul me away.”
Turning to Anton, Damian embraced him. “You are my brother, and apparently, you are also my protector. This information stays buried here on this dark road. I will make sure you heal from all the shit that nutcase did to you.”
When they pulled apart, both men had tears in their eyes. A bond that had begun a month ago with the exile of the woman they both loved was now complete, cemented by a secret that saved one and could destroy the other. From now on, come hell or high water, the royal princes would stick together.
“Uh, Damian?” Anton asked hesitantly, looking around. “Where the fuck are we?”
“I hope you wore your walking shoes,” Damian told him.
Both men were uncomfortable with the heartfelt exchange, and they were looking for some way to change the subject.
“We’re only a couple miles away from an old friend’s place, and I guarantee, brother mine, you will heartily enjoy her house.”
Side by side, two brothers walked off into the black night.
***
Mellissandra couldn’t believe what she was seeing. A band was playing on the stage opposite the bar. People were dancing, laughing, and talking. Sure, some of the women weren’t completely covered up, but Mellissandra didn’t see anyone fucking or doing anything even a little bit lewd.
She couldn’t figure out why Wally had been so adamant about keeping her away from the main floor during open hours. Although Mellissandra hadn’t been permitted to frequent bars in her former life, she thought it looked a lot like a regular bar back home, except for a few of the women wearing corsets that exposed their breasts.
She wondered if she would be in this situation if her parents hadn’t kept her quite so sheltered. If I were able to go out and socialize with other people my age, would I have been so quick to become the prince’s submissive? Would I be single and pregnant if I were allowed to grow and learn like the other people in my village?
She shrugged off the melancholy thoughts as the band stopped playing and Wally took the stage. Mellissandra opened the door a little wider to get a better view and to hear what Wally was about to say.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” Wally began, “it’s that time of night again at the Borderline Bordello!”
From the cheers erupting from the crowd, Mellissandra guessed that Wally wasn’t announcing last call.
“Everyone who paid the participation fee can check your clothes with one of the security officers lined up by the stage. For those who paid the viewing fee only, please make your way to the bar or a table.”
Wally paused her speech while people disrobed or found a seat.
“Now that the formalities are over, let’s get down to the rules of the game,” Wally said, making her voice husky and sexy. “Any first timers here tonight?” When it appeared no one was coming forward, she continued. “Rule number one, no one leaves without at least one orgasm. We like to think customer satisfaction is our number-one priority,” Wally said with a chuckle.
“Rule number two is for the gentlemen. We have a few ladies that enjoy our little floorshow here, so make sure you boys only grab one of our working girls. The ladies who have paid to participate want to interact with the working girls and not you horny men. And the most important rule, have fun and get your fuck on!”
Mellissandra was astonished at what happened next. The whores were the only ones on the main floor wearing any clothes, but those clothes left their breasts, pussies, and asses completely exposed. In moments, Mellissandra saw at least twenty couples, sometimes in groups of three or four, licking or sucking or fucking.
After about ten minutes of the orgy, although Mellissandra felt like she’d been watching for hours, Wally stepped off the stage and onto the main floor with a microphone in hand. She really stood out in her bright red sequin gown that had a slit running all the way up to her thigh. As Wally made her way around the floor, sidestepping arms and legs, she began calling out instructions.
“George,” she said into the microphone, “fuck that pussy harder!” Placing one stiletto-shod foot on his ass, she pushed him up and down.
As the microphone picked up George’s groans of pleasure, cheers filled the room again.
One by one, Wally went around to all the groups and got involved in some small way. She encouraged some and heckled others; she even went so far as to suck on the nipple of a female customer. Mellissandra had long since sunk to her knees to watch. Her heart was racing, and her panties were drenched. She had no idea this kind of thing happened. It was both appalling and stimulating at the same time. She was so tempted to undo her jeans and slip a hand inside, wanting to feel as amazing as everyone down on the floor felt. Just as she was about to do it
, she realized Wally was wrapping up the festivities.
Hurriedly, Mellissandra got to her feet. Peeking again, she saw the people lying on the floor, naked and exhausted. She shuddered a little at the thought that she had to clean that floor tomorrow. Although she wasn’t worried that anyone would notice, she gently eased the main bedroom door closed and went back to the hidden door.
Mellissandra rushed down the steps and made her way to her bedroom. She didn’t want to explain why she was still up when Wally and Ryan came home. Undressing and leaping into bed, Mellissandra couldn’t hold back the giggles that burst forth from her chest. She felt so naughty watching all those people have sex, especially when she wasn’t supposed to. She giggled again and again until she felt pain in her side. Wanting to see it all up close, Mellissandra was definitely going to find a way to get down to the main floor to watch the show.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Damian and Anton walked in a comfortable silence, never straying far from the road. Since Anton’s revelation, they felt at ease with each other.
“Damian,” Anton said in frustration, “how much longer until we get to your friend’s place? As a royal prince, I have never walked this much my entire life.”
“It’s right up around the bend,” Damian said, chuckling. “We should see the lights anytime now.”
A few minutes later proved Damian correct. Anton stopped dead in his tracks when he saw the flashing neon sign spelling out Borderline Bordello.
“Your friend owns the biggest whorehouse in the country?” Anton asked, sounding more than a little stunned. He’d heard of this place; there wasn’t anyone in the country that hadn’t. But he’d never expected to come here or to find out that his brother knew the owner.
“Well, not exactly,” Damian said, throwing Anton a grin. “I own the biggest whorehouse in the country. My friend has a lifetime position as the manager. She and her husband live in the house portion on the back of the building.”
“The bondage club on the castle grounds isn’t enough?” Anton asked incredulously.
“This place wasn’t enough,” Damian told him. “I had this one first, but my tastes tend to run to the darker side of sex. Besides…” Damian smirked, “sex is everywhere, big brother. Why shouldn’t I profit from it?”
Anton just shook his head at Damian and followed him onto the long porch. The two men walked into the crowded whorehouse to see a full-blown orgy taking place. Those not participating were avidly enjoying the show. Wally was doing a play-by-play while walking through the naked bodies gyrating on the floor.
Damian pulled Anton over to the bar, and the two men grabbed stools near the end. The view of the show wasn’t good as most of the tables were situated in front of them, but Damian knew this was a nightly occurrence, and he figured he could introduce Anton to it tomorrow night. Damian wasn’t concerned about Anton’s inner demons being triggered by anything happening at the Borderline. Publicly, it was straight sex. Just bodies coming together to feel good.
“Damian,” Ryan said, coming over to him. “It’s been too long, my friend.” Ryan leaned over the bar and hugged Damian.
“Ryan,” Damian said cheerfully, hugging the man back. “I’d like you to meet my brother, Anton. Anton, this is Ryan,” Damian said, gesturing between the men. “Ryan and his wife, Wally, the woman in red, run this place.”
As Anton stuck out his hand, Ryan just scoffed and pulled him into a hug. Anton was uncomfortable with the affectionate display, especially when it was another man hugging him. He didn’t want to embarrass Damian, so he tentatively hugged the huge man. Ryan just laughed.
“Looks like Wally’s getting ready to throw them all out,” Damian remarked, glancing at Ryan. “Think she’d mind a couple of houseguests?”
“I think she’d be damn pissed if you stopped in and didn’t stay a couple of days,” Ryan told him. “It’s not like we see you very often. It’s been almost eighteen months since the last time you were here.”
“I’m a busy man,” Damian told Ryan with a grin.
“Yeah, and I know just what you’ve been busy with,” Ryan said, grinning back. “We’ve got a couple of empty beds at the house. Heads up though, we took in a girl. She’s about nineteen, and she’s not a working girl. She’s staying in the house. Wally keeps giving her chores to do, so the girl feels like she’s working for her keep.”
“That’s not a normal thing for you guys,” Damian said. “What’s with the charity?”
“It’s really not charity,” Ryan said. “The kid works her ass off around here. The bar has never been so clean.” Ryan swiped at spill on the bar with a wet rag. “She’s had a rough road. Her parents kicked her out and just dropped her at the border with a bag and a good luck. By the time she got here, she was dead on her feet and fainted flat on the floor.”
“Ah, I get it now. Wally saw herself in this girl,” Damian said. “Well, not to worry. We won’t bother her.”
“I can sympathize if the poor kid had to walk all the way from the border,” Anton piped in. “We only walked a couple of miles, and I’m ready to drop myself.”
Ryan flipped up the gate on the bar and ushered the men back through. He didn’t bother escorting them over to the house since Damian knew the way. Ryan had to make sure to warn Melanie about the other men staying in the house for a few days. Wally would have his hide if one of them scared the girl.
Knowing it was a long shot, he picked up the phone and dialed the extension for the house. Mel was probably already asleep for the night, but he wanted to be able to tell Wally he’d tried to alert her. After ten rings, he hung up. He just hoped the two men would sleep late the next day, so he and Wally could talk to Melanie about their guests before she ran into them.
***
Gilly stood in the autopsy room with the head of security. With the new day, the driver’s body had been found. Gilly was getting ready to make a guess at the cause of death. If she weren’t supposed to be solemn and professional, she’d giggle. She already knew the cause of death. It was a fucking whore who’d dared to touch Anton.
“This isn’t going to be pretty,” she told the captain while snapping on her gloves. “If you have a weak stomach, I’d suggest you get someone else in here. I do not want to clean up vomit.”
“I’ll be fine, Doc,” he told her in a cool tone. “You just do your job, and I’ll do mine.”
Gilly got the feeling he thought he was better than her. She decided he’d be the first to go after she married Anton.
“To conserve time, I’ve already taken the liberty of draining the body fluids and washing down the body,” Gilly began, keeping her tone cool and impersonal. She picked up the chart from the instrument table. “He lost more than sixty percent of the blood in his body. No extraneous hairs or fibers were found on the body.”
Again, Gilly smiled to herself. She’d made sure she was the one to remove the clothing from the body, so any hairs that she might have left behind could be explained away.
“Wounds were found at the base of the skull on the left side, indicating a right-handed attacker and a flat, blunt object. There appears to be one wound that came up from underneath while the others came from an above position. Given the fractures in the skull, I would say that the attacker connected with the victim approximately twenty-three separate times.”
“So, you’re saying that the person was shorter, right-handed, and extremely pissed?” the captain asked her.
“The person could have been shorter or possibly crouching. It is also a possibility that this man had his attacker cornered, and the first blow was defensive. Right-handed, definitely. Pissed off, no doubt about it.” Gilly recalled just how angry she’d been and knew pissed off didn’t even come close.
“That’s all I need for now,” the captain said. “Just send me the report when you finish.”
He stalked out of the room, and Gilly turned and saluted him with a sneer on her face. She would make sure that arrogant bastard got what he deserved a
s well.
Gilly waited until she knew he was gone before she started filling in the autopsy report. She wasn’t about to waste her time actually doing a full exam on the body in front of her. He wasn’t worth the effort. When she finished the paperwork, she pushed the wheeled table over to the body freezer in the corner. She shoved the body onto the cold slab sticking out and then slid the body tray back into place.
Leaving the room, Gilly grinned. Now, she just had to wait for the whore to be found, and all the loose ends would be tied up nice and tight. Until then, she was going to check on her baby.
***
Mellissandra was still giddy when she woke up the next day. Being naughty had left her with a feeling of excitement that she hadn’t felt since Damian had joined his body to hers. It gave her hope that she could get over him and remove him from her mind for good someday soon.
When she entered the kitchen, she was surprised to find it empty. Wally usually joined Mellissandra in the morning before she started her chores, and she was a little disappointed to find that Wally wasn’t waiting for her. Mellissandra was beginning to think of Wally and Ryan as substitute parents. They actually accepted her for the way she was and didn’t judge her for her mistakes.
Skipping breakfast, Mellissandra made her way over to the main floor to begin her daily chores. As soon as she walked in, the memories of what she’d watched the night before came flooding into her mind. She hadn’t counted on her body becoming flushed and aroused at the now empty room. Mellissandra tried to push aside the feelings, so she could get on with her chores, but it was harder than she’d ever imagined possible. With each swish of the mop she remembered the way the bodies had copulated in enjoyment. Every stain and sticky spot on the floor, she now knew, hadn’t come from spilled liquor as she’d previously assumed.
“Hey, girlfriend,” a voice called from the balcony. “Did you get to slip over last night?”
