by Randi Darren
“Yes… she’s a good attack dog,” Valeria said with a sneer.
“Now, that’s uncalled for,” Alex said before Carla could respond. “I think I’ll punish you for that behavior, though I’m not sure how yet.
“First, do you wish to deal? Time is up.”
A smirk spread across Carla’s face at Alex’s remark about punishing Valeria.
“Yes. I’ll deal. Though I’m sure you’ll just want me to bend over and grab my ankles for every ‘deal,’ as they are.”
“Hardly. First… how’s your food?”
Valeria tilted her head to one side, regarding him.
“Barely enough. If I were doing any sort of training, I’d be wasting away,” she grumbled.
“How about I start by providing you a meal equivalent to what we could get at an inn? And before you get lost in semantics, I’ll specify my point,” Alex said. “A meal that could be purchased at a reasonable middle-class inn here in the capital, with nothing hidden or missing.”
The assassin said nothing.
“Would you be interested in that?” Alex pressed.
“Yes… but… what price would you ask?”
He’d thought on her personality for a while. Or at least what he’d observed of her personality, since he didn’t know much.
He’d have to win her over through his deals, twist her into looking forward to his arrivals.
With Riley, it would be kindness and compliments. She was more a question of time than intent.
With Sylvia, if he could manage to trap her, it would be by playing to her desire for a game. A challenge.
Only to outplay her into a permanent position.
Carla he would need to simply batter into submission until she didn’t fight anymore. Through patience and without anger, with a hint of kindness.
But Valeria… was different. And Alex wanted to test his theory about her.
“I’d get to spank you several times on your ass, as hard as I like, with my hand, for every meal you consume. Though you’d dictate the frequency of your meals.
“If you wanted five meals in one day, you’d get five meals. But I’d get to turn your ass red with fifteen swats when I like, as I like. With my hand, of course.”
Alex hadn’t stopped petting Carla the entire time, stroking her neck and shoulders in a calming fashion.
He did focus in on Valeria as he spoke, though. This was his gateway into her mind if she accepted it.
She might hem, haw, or bicker, but if she accepted it, then he knew he had her pegged.
You’re a masochist, my little Valeria. You enjoy pain, because otherwise you’re empty.
It lets you feel. Feel something, anything. You’re a void of emptiness, aren’t you?
Nothing is completely real unless you’re in pain. It reaffirms you.
You need a firm, cruel hand to guide you.
Valeria blinked, then put on an act of looking annoyed.
Alex knew what to look for. He saw the momentary widening of her eyes. Her breath catching for the barest of seconds. Her fingers clenching into her arms.
He doubted anyone else would have interpreted it as complete interest, though.
“Three? That seems… abusive. Especially if I don’t get a say in how hard…” Valeria said.
“You have two options. Agree and swear it on your oath, or say no and I leave. No harm, no foul.”
“Fine, I agree. And I’d like a meal immediately,” Valeria said, letting her legs hang over the edge of her bed. “I’m starving.”
“I hoped you’d agree. I have a meal just so ready.
“Now… how about you turn around and bend over for me? I’ll take my three and leave you to your meal.”
Valeria blushed a deep, dark red—similar to embarrassment but he’d bet on it being excitement—and slowly stood up. She turned around, placed her hands on the bed, and bent over for him.
Reaching behind with one hand, she pulled the tunic up until her rear end was completely exposed.
In doing so, she exposed her nether region to him completely, her slim nature making it quite visible.
It was delicate looking, and her skin was starting to unmistakably flush red.
Valeria wasn’t looking at him, though, but facing the wall. He imagined she was doing her best to hide whatever emotion was on her face.
And there’s our gateway. I look forward to turning you and having you work for me, my little pain jockey.
***
Alex smiled at the pretty woman across from him.
“I’m sorry, I just don’t think I could do that,” she said.
“Understandable. I do appreciate you coming, though. Please, enjoy yourself out there, meet some people, or if you like, feel free to head home.
“Whatever you’re comfortable with, of course,” Alex said.
She ducked her head and left the well-furnished interviewing room without another word.
Carla sighed and shifted her weight from one foot to the other.
“They’re all so prissy. It’s not like you’re asking them to fuck every guard in your employ.”
“They’re noble women, Two. Finding someone willing to bend herself to my whims and yet remain intelligent enough to be useful, while also being politically convenient, is a bit tough.
“We’ll see what happens, though. Lots more women to talk to. I’m sure we’ll find one I can deal with, work with.”
Carla sighed, then lifted her mace up out of the loop and let it fall back down.
“Whatever. So long as you’re banging them and not trying to bed me.”
“All you have to do is ask and I’d be happy to bend you over a desk, Two. You don’t need to play coy about it. You were pretty great.”
“You wish, Master. You wish.”
“Uh huh. Speaking of wishes, I’d like to offer you a deal. I’ve been thinking that maybe we need to hire someone else to partner with you. Give you a chance to take breaks, use the bathroom, sleep more than a few hours here and there. A day off.”
“Nnnngh. Would be nice. So far it hasn’t been too hard protecting you, but… that can’t last. You’re too much of an ass.”
“Yep. I wasn’t sure on what to assign as a price, though. I mean, would it be worth sleeping with me once a week to get two days a week off?”
“What?” Carla growled, her hot glare landing on him.
“Two days off a week to spend a night with me? It wasn’t that bad, was it? I thought you were great. I’m eager to have another go at you,” Alex said, smiling up at her.
The month had ended the other day, and his crystal was as clear as glass.
Last time it’d turned black from Carla. He imagined this deal might just turn it solid black again.
“You’re an asshole. Why are you so intent on turning me into your private whore? Can’t you offer me something more reasonable?”
“I don’t want to turn you into my private whore; I want to have sex with you.
“Let’s be honest. There are few women I can sleep with who wouldn’t put designs on me. I could go seek out a professional, but that comes with its own risks.
“Then there’s you. The lovely and charming ex-bandit personal bodyguard.
“Why not press to have you in my bed more often?”
Carla looked like she was considering bashing his head in with her mace.
He knew she was tired, though. Knew she was already starting to fray at the ends.
She needed time off and some down time, or she was going to break. If she did, she had no way of knowing what he’d do to her.
Half of her anger was more than likely at the fear of not knowing the outcome.
Offering her an out for something she’d already paid with once might be palatable.
“I want you to wipe out my debt to you. And start paying me regularly for my salary. That and the two days off.”
“And you’ll have sex with me once a week?”
“Still going to buy me Mother’s
Bane?”
Alex weighed the deal in his head. It wasn’t perfect, but it was a perversion of her morals.
He’d also made no mention of hiring another person, only giving her time off.
“Fine. I’ll swear to that. Two days off, you spend a night in my bed each week, I wipe out your debt and start your salary, and keep buying you Mother’s Bane.”
“Done, I’ll swear to that.”
“I agree, and swear as well.”
The original oath on Leah’s name was enacted and settled.
“So, when do we hire another guard?” Carla asked, smiling at him.
“About that—I never said anything about hiring another guard. Only about giving you two days off. We can talk about another guard later, and what you’d be willing to pay with.
“Did you know your mouth is rather pretty, Two?” Alex said innocently.
“Ah, our next interviewee is coming,” he said, dismissing her before she could react.
Carla let out a strangled grunt, leaning towards him menacingly.
She was a cold-blooded killer of innocents. A woman who took lives for coin and thought nothing of it.
He’d have to batter her down relentlessly if he wanted to own her completely. She’d seek out any weakness he gave her and press it.
If she’d simply taken his original offer and not pressed for the gold and Mother’s Bane, he’d have been kinder.
Gotta crush any type of independence.
A young woman with an impressive bust walked into the room. Her hourglass figure obvious, it was easy to see she would only get prettier, since she looked as if she’d just hit eighteen.
She was dressed rather simply in soft brown and had a sweet smile on her face.
Brown curls tumbled down over her shoulders. And her clear brown eyes looked… partially empty, fastened to him. She scurried over to him, bouncing the entire way.
Another idiot. Great.
“Oh, you’re rather handsome,” the woman said, leaning across the table and touching his face with delicate fingers. “I had no idea.”
Her smile became a wide grin as she sat down in the chair across from him.
“Ah… Anna?” Alex asked, glancing down at his paperwork. “Anna Ules? Branch family to a count?”
“That’s me!” Anna said excitedly.
“Before we begin, I’d like you to swear an oath of secrecy.”
Anna nodded her head.
Whatever. Let’s just dive in. She’ll leave quick and I can move on.
“On Leah’s name, on pain of your life and soul, that you’ll protect my secrets,” Alex said.
“Ok. I swear on Leah’s name to keep your secrets or lose my life and soul.
“Now what? Are we engaged?” Anna asked.
Alex opened his mouth and closed it once.
“Uh… it doesn’t have a dowry listed here—”
“That’s easy. Daddy is paying ten-thousand gold to whoever my husband is. He didn’t want it on the paper though because he said paper has a habit of leaving trails.
“It’d be held in trust for my own expenses, but I could share with you. You have a nice smile.”
What in the high hells…
“Errr… I’ll make this easy, Anna. I’m not a good person, and I do bad things.”
“So does Daddy. What do you do?”
“I made the woman next to me sleep with me to get a day off.”
“Oh? That’s nice that you gave her a day off.”
“I came inside of her when I was done with her.”
“Did you help her clean up after? I hear men are messy with their stuff. I’ve never been with a man in any way, so I wouldn’t know. I usually have escorts with me. Though they said I could come in here by myself.
“Which was odd, but I’m happy about it.”
Pausing for a beat, he wasn’t quite sure if he wanted to respond to her question.
“I have two women locked in my dungeon that I’m planning to turn into sex slaves and make work for me.”
“That’s nice of you to give them jobs. Daddy was saying unemployment is going up and it’s affecting business.”
Alex was completely dumbfounded.
“If I told you to stab the woman next to me, what would you do?”
“Stab her. Then see if I could help her, I think. She looks pretty, and you didn’t say to kill her after all. Especially since you’re using her for your sexual needs.”
“Alright… ah… Anna… I think. I think I’ve heard enough.”
“Great! When can we get married? It’ll be nice to get away from Daddy. He’s too domineering,” Anna said, pouting.
“I’ll… have my people contact you for a follow up… meeting.”
“Great! Bye dear!” Anna said, standing up.
She quickly leaned over the table and kissed him on the cheek. Bouncing out of the room in the same way she arrived, Anna left him there.
“Uh… I think I’d marry her myself if she’s always that upbeat about everything,” Carla said. “She said I was pretty.”
“Well. She definitely… had that going for her. And yeah, you’re attractive, Two.
“Ok, I guess… we wait for the next one?”
Before he could worry about how long that’d take, the door opened again and a woman walked in.
The first thing he noticed was how tall she was. Her build was athletic, and an aura of power came from her.
Short blond hair framed a delicate, oval-shaped face with cold blue eyes.
She gave him a predatory smile and sauntered up to him.
“Hello. I’m Eugenia McDermot. Daughter to the Baron McDermot,” she said, taking the seat across from him without being invited to do so.
“Ah. A pleasure to meet you, Lady McDermot. I’m—”
“Alex Brit, Count of Brit. Sponsored by the king, unbound and unattached.
“No children, bastard or otherwise,” she paused, as if ticking things off a list. “And your county is trending towards becoming extremely wealthy due to a series of recent changes in tax, import, and export law. Some of which I admit I had not expected to work.”
Blinking, Alex laid the quill down into the holder and looked at her. Truly looked at her.
She was dressed immaculately, everything about her put in place.
On top of that, she’d clearly taken the time to figure him out to a T, even going so far as to study his recent changes.
Which makes her desperate or dangerous.
“I see you’ve done your homework. Extensively,” Alex said after letting the silence grow for a few more seconds.
“Indeed. Even going so far as to know your bodyguard there is a recent addition, and actually had a fairly high bounty on her head. Which you paid off anonymously through a third party.
“You’re a bit of an enigma. I enjoy solving them.”
And that would be a red flag we can’t have. I can’t imagine her swearing her soul away on secrecy.
Though…
“I’ll simply list my own qualities for you so we can move to the next phase. I have no dowry, as my father has bankrupted our lands. And though we’re of a lower title than a count, I do believe our barony is worthy amongst its peers.
“I need not comment on my looks, as you’ve seen them, and I do believe I’ve demonstrated my intelligence already as well. Or at least, my ability to use my intelligence to prepare myself for a situation.
“Beyond that… I can read, write, sing, dance, use arithmetic, and know three languages. I do believe I’d be an asset to any man.”
Ok… that’s… yeah. Desperation and danger all in one.
Leaning back, Alex gave her a wide and appreciative smile.
“You’re right. You are. I’ll be honest though; you might be more than I can handle.
“What if I asked you to swear yourself to secrecy? On pain of death and suffering? Losing your soul? That you might have to keep secrets dark enough that you’d be sickened, with your morals being sol
d?” Alex asked.
Eugenia’s pretty mouth thinned as her mind turned inward.
“Think on that. I’m going to definitely put you down to have another meeting with, though, if only to enjoy your company.
“Would that be alright?”
“Hm? Oh, yes. That’d be acceptable. Thank you for your time, Count Brit,” Eugenia said. She got up and glided out of the room without another word.
“Shit,” Carla said after the door closed. “A real beauty in mind and body there, but I think she’d carve out our secrets faster than a drunk finishing a bottle.”
“I think you’re right. I’ll keep her close though. Worst case, I pick her up and stick a secrecy oath in as part of the marriage vows. She can take it or leave it. She needs money for her father.
“All depends on how far she’ll broker herself.”
Carla opened her mouth, then shut it as the door creaked open.
A young woman of average height peeked in.
Dark-brown hair, bordering on black, spilled across one shoulder when she turned her head to find Alex sitting at the desk.
She’s… Asian?
Canted eyes, dark almost to the point of being simply black, watched him for a second before she stepped into the room.
“Ahhh… I am…” she began, then stopped abruptly with a jump as the door shut beside her.
She was dressed in a red dress that covered her up modestly but didn’t hide that she had some figure.
Not as much as Anna or Riley, but she wasn’t flat or lacking.
Alex grinned and then held a hand out towards the seat across from him.
“Why don’t you take a seat? I’m Alex. Alex Brit.”
She gave him a small smile and came to take the seat he’d indicated.
“I’m Holly. Holly Lin,” she said, her hands dipping down beneath the desk towards her lap.
“I wonder if you cou—”
“I’m here because I choose to be,” she said interrupting him. “Not because I need to be, but…” She paused to look at Carla, then back to him. “I… I have things that I must do for my family, and one of those is marry into a higher-ranking family.
“I am not the firstborn daughter, nor the second or third. I must be married off to secure position, rather than alliances.
“We are a very small barony in the east. We have potential, but we also have needs.”
