A vast bed dominated the room—four ebony posts canopied in blood red. Soft, black carpet covered the floor—so luxurious she sank in almost to her ankles. A bookshelf held familiar looking titles and she realized all her favorite books had been collected and were displayed just for her. It was the same with movies and music and a large screen dominated the far wall. There was a long, low couch arranged in front of it.
There were no windows in the room, but portraits hung on the walls—pictures of women of all different ages and sizes and colors. Were these his previous ‘concubines’? Would Alli’s picture be hanging here for the next girl he kidnapped to see?
She didn’t ask the question aloud and her captor didn’t answer. Instead he turned to her and raised one eyebrow.
“I trust it’s to your liking?”
Alli nodded.
“All except for the lighting. Why do you keep it so dim in here?”
He frowned.
“My eyes are sensitive. If you want more light, call for it.”
“What just…ask for more light?”
The man nodded.
“Go ahead—try it.”
“Lights,” Alli said, expecting the floating globes that lit the room to get at least marginally brighter. That was how things worked on the Mother Ship, anyway.
Instead, a candelabra suddenly appeared, candlesticks flaming, right in front of her eyes.
“Oh!” she gasped, and jerked back.
“Are you all right, Allisandra?” Frowning, the man plucked the floating silver candelabra out of the air and sat it down on the low table which was suddenly there beside the couch.
“I’m fine, only—how did you do that?” She motioned to the candelabra which had appeared out of thin air.
He shrugged.
“Speech to matter transference. Don’t the Kindred of your universe have the same technology?”
“If they do, I’ve certainly never seen it.” Alli looked at the candles, which cast a soft, flickering light over the surrounding area. “Will that work for anything I want?”
“Within limits. You can’t ask for a door home, for instance—that won’t happen. Or a knife to stab me with,” he added, narrowing his eyes at her. “Why would you think something like that, baby?”
Alli flushed.
“Maybe because I just want to go home.”
“You are home—for now,” he said firmly. “Now, I’m going to go change. I’ll be back in a few minutes for your bath.”
“My bath?” Alli shook her head. “I had a shower already tonight.”
He frowned, his mirrored eyes flashing.
“I told you—I need to wash the stink of that other male off you. The unworthy one you let have access to your body.”
“Douglas is my fiancé,” Alli emphasized. “We’re going to get married.”
He shook his head.
“Why would you Join with a male who doesn’t take care of your needs, baby? That doesn’t make any sense.”
Alli felt her cheeks get hot.
“That’s none of your business! And Douglas does all right.”
“He leaves you wanting every time,” the man growled. “Don’t forget, I’ve been watching you for months. You haven’t had an orgasm with him once in all that time. And it’s not just that he doesn’t know how to make you come—he doesn’t care enough to learn. You’re not important enough to him to take the time to give you pleasure.”
Alli felt her temper rising.
“Is that right? And you’re so much better? What am I to you other than just a victim?”
He took a step closer and raised her chin to look deeply into her eyes.
“You will be my treasured and much-beloved concubine, Allisandra. While you live with me, I will tend to your every need and pleasure you very, very thoroughly. You will come as you have never come before because I will make it my priority.”
“You…you will?” Alli didn’t know what else to say.
Slowly, he nodded. The strange, mirrored eyes went half-lidded with lust.
“Can’t wait to touch and taste every inch of your beautiful body, baby.” He leaned even closer, bending down until his cruel, sensual lips were just barely brushing hers and breathed, “Can’t wait to make you come.”
Alli felt suddenly breathless. Her heart was pounding as she looked up at him. Part of her wanted to kiss him and part of her wanted to slap him. She felt torn between the two impulses and so she froze in place.
“You…you…” She faltered, realizing she still didn’t even know his name.
“My name is Kane,” he said, drawing back a little, to look into her eyes. “But while you’re here with me, you’ll call me ‘Master.’ Is that understood?”
Alli didn’t know what to say.
“Yes,” she whispered at last.
Kane frowned.
“Yes, what?” he demanded, his gravelly voice dipping to a soft growl.
“Yes…Master,” Alli said at last. But inside she was thinking, You’ll never be my master! Never!
Kane’s cruel mouth turned up into a mocking smile.
“We’ll see about that, baby. Now get ready for your bath—I’ll be back soon.”
Eight
As soon as he was gone, shutting the big black door behind him, Alli went to try it. Locked, of course. She guessed she shouldn’t have expected anything different. And even if it had been unlocked, where could she have gone?