After all, at the banquet she’d been forced to touch him because Empress the Third was touching the Emperor. And Selena didn’t think they really knew each other well enough for her to just start reaching into his shorts with no reason, other than that she wanted to touch him and be close to him. After all, they’d only known each other for two days.
But it doesn’t feel like only two days—it feels like forever! Selena thought, snuggling against his broad chest. That was the same thing Jess had said when Tolern had come to Claim her out of the blue. Selena had asked her friend how she could just go with him—just commit herself to a complete stranger so quickly and easily.
“It’s because he didn’t feel like a stranger,” Jess had said, getting that happy, dreamy look in her eyes she always did when she talked about her Kindred husband. “I felt like I’d known him forever from the minute I first saw him! Maybe because I was Dream Sharing with him.”
“Dream Sharing?” Selena had asked.
“Oh, a lot of times you’ll start dreaming of your Kindred and he’ll start dreaming of you before you even meet,” Jess had explained. “I know I didn’t tell you, but I had so many dreams of Tolern before he came to meet me and Claim me. I felt like I already knew him by the time we met!”
Selena didn’t think she’d been dreaming of Valen, but then, it was hard to tell since she never remembered her dreams. She wondered if he had dreamed of her at all, but she didn’t want to ask—it would sound too desperate.
He made a vow and he doesn’t want to break it. Also, all we have is a business relationship. You have to stop romanticizing your time with him and get back to reality, Selena scolded herself. The thing to worry about right now is, what’s the deal with the Pet Parade? What kind of pets are we going to be seeing and why does Valen seem to think it’s so dire?
In her mind, she was imagining dressing up in another provocative harness and dress outfit and going to watch some kind of fancy dog or cat show. She wondered what kind of domestic pets the Ma’shorkans kept. So far, she hadn’t seen any animals here, other than the huge glave they had ridden on that afternoon.
I wonder if the Pet Parade features glaves? But if it did, how could they hold it in the palace? Unless there’s some kind of huge pool we haven’t seen yet where they keep them…
“Valen,” she said, looking up at him. “Can you at least tell me what kind of pets the parade shows? Do the Ma’shorkans keep companion animals like dogs and cats, the way humans do?”
He frowned and shook his head as they drew up outside his house.
“I am afraid the parade is not about that kind of ‘pet’ at all.”
“It’s not?” Selena frowned. “Well then, what kind of pet are we talking about?”
The big Kindred gave her a direct look.
“You, little one. We are talking about Dependent Females—of which you currently are one. You will be one of the featured ‘pets.’”
“What?” His statement caught Selena completely off-guard. “Me? A pet?” she exclaimed.
“A highly sexualized one, I’m afraid,” Valen said grimly. “Come—I already have an outfit ready for you to wear.”
Selena still felt rather shocked, but she was beginning to get used to the idea—though she could certainly see why Valen had said it was “demeaning.”
“So, what…you’re going to dress me up in a naughty, next-to-nothing outfit and parade me all around, in front of a crowd at the palace? Is this like some kind of puppy or pony play?”
It was Valen’s turn to frown.
“Puppy or pony play? What is that?”
“It’s a type of BDSM,” Selena explained. “Where the submissive pretends to be a puppy or a pony or any kind of animal, really. The Dominant is their master—he might give them treats or take them on walks—things like that.”
Valen looked thoughtful.
“Actually, that is very like what the Pet Parade is about. I’m sorry it’s so demeaning, but according to your itinerary, you are required to participate.”
Selena lifted her chin.
“Well, I mean I’ve never done that kind of, er, scene before, but I don’t mind—as long as you’re by my side the whole time…Master,” she added shyly, looking up at him.
“I won’t leave you for a moment,” Valen swore, cupping her cheek. “But you’d better not write it off so easily. I am afraid there is more to it than you think.”
“More? What do you mean?” Selena asked. There was an uneasy flutter in her stomach—what was going on? What was about to happen to her?”
But Valen only shook his head.
“Come inside and you’ll find out,” he said, and opened the door of the car for her.