Chapter Nine
Kari’s mind swirled with ways to get out of the “dining” room and palace as quickly as possible. She felt like she was walking into a bizarre porn movie.
The prince led her to the back wall where more pillows were stacked and trays sat waiting with what looked like fruit. Goddard assisted her with the pillows.
“Are you comfortable, Miss Tomlin?” he asked. He had returned to his charming self. As long as she did what he wanted, he seemed happy.
“I am, thank you,” she replied. As soon as he sat, soft Arabian music played and more women came out of a side door, carrying pitchers. The prince’s wine glass was filled first and hers next. The liquid was dark. He leaned toward her.
“This is wine from the finest vineyards in France. It is superb. I hope you like it.” When the ladies filling glasses left, he raised his glass. Everyone followed suit. “Welcome, all, to tonight’s feast and show. I see some of you have started your entertainment early.” He smiled to his guests. Maybe she had misunderstood what was going on. The prince nodded toward the couple where the lady had her head bobbing in his lap. Then again, maybe she had understood this too well.
And Goddard called her phone a distraction? He needed to get his shit straight.
He continued. “We have a special guest tonight.” He looked at her. “An American female visiting my lovely country.” The word “American” turned their heads. Her heart suddenly tripled its rate. “A beautiful woman like you is a treat in itself. For tonight, you are my stunning princess.” His head bowed toward her. If he was trying to win her over, it was working. He turned back to the group and spoke foreign words. Everyone took a drink and so did she.
The wine was surprisingly very good. She wasn’t a drinker. Had never acquired the taste for it. Guess she’d never had the good stuff. Side doors opened and women poured out, carrying steaming food on platters.
Those eating sat against the walls in a semicircle. Well, since the walls had corners, it was more like a semi-square. That left the middle open for the ladies to serve or even dance, it was so big.
The prince was kind and gracious, explaining what each item they ate and drank was. He paid no attention to the nearly naked women or the other men with ladies attached to their body parts. When they were halfway finished eating, he gave a nod to someone on the other side of the room and the lights dimmed even more.
From the ceiling in the middle of their semi-square a blue spotlight shined down. Now that she was looking up, she noticed a rack of stage lights and spots. This must be for the entertainment. The sensuous and slick Arabian music got louder and beautiful women dressed in draping material and shiny jewelry appeared under the light. As the floor filled with gyrating bodies, more lights shined down.
The men were entranced. They watched without eating. One man discreetly raised a finger, the prince nodded and the woman selected was directed to the man. That couple left the room. A disgusting little man with food on his face and shirt pointed a greasy finger at some poor female. Without complaint, she went to him. He remained seated, but pushed her head to his lap. Kari turned away.
The females didn’t seem to object. In fact, they looked quite happy to be there. Except one young lady in the back. Kari only caught sight of her occasionally. The lady didn’t know the choreography well and kept looking at the door. The woman was too far away for Kari to see her face, so she couldn’t tell what was wrong, if anything. Could be that she was new and didn’t know the dance and felt out of place. Sorta like she felt at the moment, staring at sexy women.
The prince didn’t look at the ladies either, but watched the men as they chose females. After a few minutes, the prince clapped his hands and the remaining women left. That’s when the familiarity of the show hit her. This was the prince’s harem, and this whole dinner was a ruse for men to get partners for the night. But a few men hadn’t chosen. Neither had the prince. A chill raced down her back. Did being his princess include her sleeping with him?
Panic seized her and she readied herself to bolt. That was not happening. He leaned over and whispered, “This is the part you and I will appreciate most.” He clapped his hands and the single spotlight appeared center stage again.
Doors opened in the dark, then a guy in painted-on leather pants and no shirt strolled into the light. His chest was slick, shiny with oil. His dark eyes drilled through her, sending shivers down her back. He came to a stop, feet shoulder-width apart. In his hand, he held a black strip of leather.
He skirted the circle of light showing those who watched his tight body and impressive hard-on. When he turned his back to her, she saw his ass cheeks were bare. Lines buried in his skin crisscrossed his entire backside. When he stood in front of her and the prince, the man swung his arm out, releasing the whip he held. It snapped in the air, startling her with a loud crack.
Other men came into the light. Some were dragged in with cuffs on wrists and ankles.
She asked, “Why are some restrained and not others?”
The prince didn’t take his eyes off the men. “It shows the level of play they enjoy.” She translated that to mean whips and chains were welcomed.
They filled the middle similarly to the females. And every one of them was to-die-for hot. The prince licked his lips. The panic in her quickly vanished once she realized she was not the prince’s dessert. The men were on the menu.
She let out a silent breath and watched the event before her. The other men were dressed in nothing but a small loincloth that in some cases did little to hide their willingness to participate. Oh my god. One was almost up to his bellybutton. How can they grow that long? He’d shove her uterus into her stomach.
Instead of dancing, the men stood on a turntable. The next man came into sight. She had never seen a chest so chiseled or abs so square. It was to the point that he looked . . . strange.
The table continued turning and men were taken out of the room.
“Where are they taking the guys?” she asked.
“Once chosen, they are taken to the guest’s room for preparation and quality time.”
She snorted. “Quality time” her ass.
The man coming into view was swaying slightly on his knees instead of standing. His head dipped forward, hands chained behind his back. Water dripped off the ends of his hair hanging in his face. He looked ready to fall over any second. Tingles spread throughout her body. That was strange. She’d never had that feeling before when seeing a man. She couldn’t even see all of him because he was slumped over. She leaned toward Goddard.
“What’s wrong with him?” she whispered. His head snapped up, and he locked eyes with her. Her breath stopped. This man was the most gorgeous thing she’d ever seen. There was something familiar about him. Beside her, the prince chuckled.
“I knew you’d like him. I’ve chosen this one for us tonight.” The prince’s eyes were consumed with red. He pointed and a couple guards grabbed the kneeling man and dragged him closer. He fought his captors. They stabbed him with a cattle prod. His jaw clenched; she jumped at seeing his pain.
“Stop that,” she yelled then slapped a hand over her mouth. She hadn’t meant to say it, but glad she had. No human should be treated that way whether they wanted the “punishment” or not. She had problems with BDSM that passed a certain pain threshold. How could people truly enjoy agony? She just didn’t understand.
The man was shoved to his knees in front of her forgotten tray of food. Air heaved in and out of his bedraggled body. The guard reached down, wrapped a fist in the man’s hair and yanked his head back.
Kari gasped.