A Gift for the King Read online

  Lana gazed back at him, taking in his young features. She worried about what he meant by servicing his needs. Images of his body over hers passed through her head once again.

  He was young and strong, carrying a confidence like she had never seen before. He looked like he was in his early thirties, but his powerful frame oozed a mild sense of arrogance as though he knew more than his young face revealed. She pondered about his life before she arrived on his home planet.

  “How old are you?” she asked brazenly.

  Dante crossed his arms and met her eyes. He held her gaze steady and she felt her body still, his power overcoming her senses.

  Her vision darkened and she thought she should be panicking, but his control calmed her of her anxiety. Everything went black, and then a soft white light began to glow brighter and brighter. As her eyes adjusted to the light, she found herself standing outside the instantly recognizable Roman Coliseum. Crowds yelled in the distance and people ran by her, desperate to get near whatever was happening in the stadium. She moved with the crowds, but no one seemed to notice her. Quietly, she climbed the stairs up into the stadium, and the sight that met her eyes shocked her.

  The audience screamed in anticipation, roaring for someone unseen. Every seat in the coliseum was taken, and hordes of people were standing, cheering, drinking goblets of wine, and eating different kinds of food. Everything about it was overwhelming.

  She made her way to the top of the stairs and looked down onto the scene below. One man stood at the center. His body seemed familiar. He wore a simple tunic, and held a large metal sword in one hand and a small shield in the other. With further inspection, Lana gasped. It was Dante in the center of the field.

  Lana’s vision blackened again, and she found herself back on the balcony outside the castle. Dante still held her eyes with his, his face a mystery.

  “I was born in the year 177 A.D. I am well over eighteen hundred years old.”

  Her jaw dropped, leaving her speechless.

  “How is that possible?”

  “Long ago, Terranovum was in a terrible state of civil war. Lords committed genocide and mass murder in order to attain power and as much land as possible. Many people died, and the world was left in a state of shock. A few nobles banded together, and decided none of them could rule the planet, as it would bring up the dangers of jealousy and greed for the throne. So in order to avoid the continuation of more war, they looked elsewhere across the universe for a just and fair ruler. They found me, fighting my way to survive in that coliseum. Using their advanced science, the nobles made me immortal, and were able to gift me the abilities that their species enjoyed. I was once born a human within the confines of Rome, but now, I am king of a planet many lightyears away. I am the oldest person here in this world today, which makes me the most powerful. With the advance of time, my abilities grow stronger, and have evolved differently than others. Now, I could kill an enemy with nothing but the power that is contained within me.”

  Lana shrank away a bit, her backside colliding with the tall stone ledge behind her. Dante saw her reaction and his face softened.

  “Lana, I’m not going to kill you.”

  She met his eyes and quickly looked away, skeptical.

  “Being as old as I am, I also have control like no other. You are safe in my hands.”

  He paused, moving closer to her. His hand rose and brushed against the sensitive skin of her throat, lingering on the healed skin of her new tattoo. Her breathing became shallow, a blaze rushing to every inch where his fingers made contact. Just by a simple touch, her body rushed to betray her.

  His eyes met hers. “Was it so terrible, Lana? Did I make you fear me?”

  Shaking her head softly, she watched as his eyes broke her gaze and fell to her lips. “No, I wasn’t afraid,” she hesitantly replied, her voice tapering off, the words forgotten.

  Deep within her, a fire began to burn for him, the feelings unbidden. Dante carried a decidedly alpha male quality about him, but regardless, a little piece of her was beginning to trust him. It felt strange, as all the times he had threatened her should make her fear him, but instead, she felt safe. Why was it all right for him to threaten to break her and to spank her? And why did it spark such a visceral reaction deep within her?

  Dante dropped his hand and pulled away, looking out into the distance. A look of sorrow came over him and was gone so quickly, she almost missed it. Lana narrowed her eyes slightly, sensing his sadness. She wondered about everything he had experienced in his long life, and if he would ever share it with her. Deciding not to pry, she let it go. A strange boldness came over her and she reached for his hand. Slightly startled, he looked back at her, glancing down at her outstretched fingers. A soft smile played at the corners of his mouth, and his large palm enveloped hers.

  “Come, let me show you more of the castle. I will introduce you to some of the members of my court as well.”

  “Is Wes one of those people?” she thought aloud, her face flushing hotly as she remembered what he had done to her in the bathhouse.

  “Wes is very special to me. He is the hand of the king, my most trusted ally. He’s like a brother to me.”

  “He’s the one who took me,” she said softly.

  “Wes knows me well,” Dante replied, keeping his eyes low. Suspecting there was more to the story, Lana pushed a little more.

  “How long have you known him?”

  “Too many years to count.”

  “I imagine you two have been through a lot together then,” Lana pressed, hoping he would open up about whatever he seemed to be hiding.

  “He’s always been there for me in times of need,” Dante replied, his voice oddly neutral.

  He pulled her along off the balcony. Slightly frustrated, Lana let the subject drop. Clearly, he didn’t want to tell her anything else. She was left to wonder about what made this man tick, and what he had been through in his supernaturally long life. She’d have to do some exploring on her own to figure out whatever it was that was bothering him.

  They entered the castle, back into the grand foyer. Dante turned left and sauntered down another hallway, dragging Lana along. He opened a door off to the side, and they walked into a massive dining hall, complete with crystal-laden chandeliers and a massive long oak table in the center of the room. People sat around the table with goblets. Upon closer inspection, Lana could see both Terranovum people and humans. Her eyes focused on Wes and the human girl he had taken. She was sitting next to him, quiet and demurely awaiting his every word.

  Lana narrowed her eyes and watched the two interact. Wes oozed dominance, and the girl gave off a submissive, slightly fearful response to him. His fingers lazily rose to her throat, and Lana noticed a black leather collar on the girl’s neck. Fidgeting on the hard wooden bench, the girl was quickly admonished by Wes, who whispered something in her ear.

  The girl’s eyes went wide, and a hand flew back toward her bottom. Her eyes dropped as she struggled to keep her body still. A soft nod followed, and Wes looked away from her to see Dante and Lana joining them.

  Dante led her to the head of the table next to Wes and sat her in one of the two chairs there. He followed suit, relaxing into the heavy wooden throne-like chair.

  Wes’ eyes lingered over Lana’s body before settling onto her throat.

  “Haven’t broken this one yet, huh? I figured you’d want to right away, especially with that pretty face of hers. There’s something strangely familiar about it…” He paused, emphasizing his last few words. His face turned thoughtful. “You know, I can help you if you want,” Wes said, his eyes twinkling dangerously. Lana looked at Dante, worry passing over her face. What did he mean?

  “Wes….” Dante said, his voice low with warning. Wes smirked at the two of them, and gestured toward the blond woman with the black collar sitting to his right.

  “Have you met my new pet? Her name is Emma, and she is divine!” Wes said.


  Emma kept her eyes on the floor, but a soft smile came over her lips.

  “She started off a little feisty, but after some quality time over my knee and then in my bed, she turned into a submissive little kitten,” Wes continued, to which Emma’s pale skin blushed beautifully.

  “I promised her that her pretty little bottom would always have a hint of color. She protests, but I told her she doesn’t have any choice.”

  A soft pout developed at the edges of Emma’s lovely lips as she again fidgeted on the wooden bench, but she remained silent. Lana watched the interaction between the two. As much as she wanted to hate the man for stealing her and this woman away from her world, she couldn’t. She could even overlook the fact that he spanked her as well. Frustrated, Lana couldn’t put her finger on what it was that made her feel that way. Lost in her thoughts, she jumped slightly when Dante cleared his throat.

  “She looks like the perfect pet for you, Wes. I’m happy that you have Emma. I knew you would pick her out of the bunch; she’s definitely your type.” Pausing, he gestured toward Lana and proceeded to introduce her.

  Wes laughed softly.

  “She didn’t tell you? We’ve already met. I’m the one who found her for you all alone on a beach in Mexico, and I was the first to spank that lovely bottom for not following my command.”

  Lana gasped, blushing hotly.

  Dante turned to face her, his expression one of clear amusement, and something else hidden deep in his eyes. Lana couldn’t bear to meet his eyes.

  “Lana,” he paused, his voice shaking with enjoyment at her plight, “so, I won’t be the first to spank you then…?”

  Lana wanted the world to swallow her up at that moment, and did her best to control the raging embarrassment that threatened to take over her features. She opened her lips to respond, only to find her mouth dry and her words forgotten. She looked down and wrung her hands in her lap. Humiliation flowed over her as she remembered what it felt like when Wes had spanked her. Her body heated. Confused, she didn’t know what to feel or think.

  Placing a hand on her shoulder gently, Dante broke her out of her inner turmoil. The expression on Wes’ face was one of entertainment at her expense. With a soft look of understanding, Dante offered her a decadent-looking silver goblet, and she took it hesitantly, peering inside the glass. To her surprise, it was sweet-smelling red wine. Cautiously, she took a sip, and nearly moaned as the flavors washed over her tongue. It was delicious. She looked up at them, but the two men had turned away and were discussing something together.

  Dante and Wes talked in hushed tones, so low that Lana could not understand what they were saying. She wondered if supersonic hearing or something was another special power she didn’t know about. Glancing up at Emma, she reached across the table and touched her arm.

  “Are you really alright, Emma?” Lana whispered. Emma met her eyes, a certain sense of sadness making her look even more beautiful.

  “I miss my home. I miss my sisters.”

  “Has he hurt you? Did he tattoo you too?”

  Emma slipped the neck of her halter aside, revealing a unique mark that differed from the one on Lana’s own body.

  “The first thing he did was tattoo me, but it was oddly calming because he held me and took all the pain away. He spanked me, but that’s really the only thing that makes me nervous. When he looks at me, it’s like he wants to take care of me.” She paused, her gaze flickering from Lana to Dante, and back. “How is it with you? I’ve heard scary things about the king from the other servants here.”

  “What have you heard?” Lana asked, her alarm peaking.

  “Well,” Emma looked at the men who seemed deep in conversation about something important, “he’s ruthless. He’s killed many. I was told never to anger him, or else suffer the consequences. Some called him a monster.”

  “A monster?” Lana repeated, her voice breathless. Emma turned her eyes away.

  “They said he usually kills anyone who angers him, or even the women he chooses from. He’s been that way ever since losing a woman long ago. They said that he loved her, and I asked about the circumstances involving her loss, but no one would tell me anything about it. I thought that was a little strange.”

  Dante lifted his head and looked at the girls, narrowing his eyes. A flash of anger and something much darker crossed over his features. His hand slammed down on the table, and they jumped. He pointed at Emma, looking like he was about to pounce. She cowered back at his reaction.

  “You are never to speak of this to anyone again. It is forbidden,” he growled. A red hue appeared in his eyes, growing brighter and brighter with every second. The entire room grew silent, and even the servants stilled. The air grew heavy with tension. It almost seemed like everyone was holding his or her breath. Lana watched him, and every fiber of her being told her to run, but for some reason, she didn’t.

  Something deep in her heart called out for Dante. She knew he was hiding something, and whatever it was caused him pain to just think about it. Instead, she moved closer to him and reached for his hand. His glare slowly drifted in her direction as her fingers gripped his. His anger dimmed from a roaring fire to a simmering flame, and then diminished into nothing. Bright livid red eyes slowly faded into ice blue, and she looked up at him. Her simple gesture seemed to have brought him back from the edge.

  “Dante? Would you like to show me some more of the castle?”

  His face once again calm, he nodded.

  “I have much to show you,” he said, and then turned to face Wes. “See to it that this conversation never occurs here in this castle ever again. I expect you will take care of it.”

  Wes dipped his head in recognition. He placed a hand on Emma’s shoulder and whispered something in her ear. Her face fell and her shoulders slumped as her hands dropped to cover her already sore backside. Lana heard Emma beg for mercy from Wes before Dante pulled her away and out of the room.

  Her curiosity had seemed to cause her new friend to get in trouble, but that wasn’t what truly upset her. Dante’s anger had been terrifying and unnatural, but she had been able to break him out of it—and being able to do that was alarming.

  Back in the hallway outside the dining hall, she paused. “Dante?”

  He simply looked back at her, his eyes somewhere far away. Sadness seemed to envelop him to the very core, and she was unsure how to proceed. Gently, she prodded him to see if he would open up to her.

  “Is everything alright? Why did that make you so angry?” she asked, her voice as soft as she could muster.

  “Lana, even for you, this is not up for discussion.”

  “But why?”

  “Ask again, and we’ll return to my bedroom and I will spank your little bottom until it’s red as a tomato.”

  Lana quieted, afraid that he might actually do it. She had only been with him a day, and he had already threatened to spank her twice. Her body warmed with yearning and she blushed, her emotions betraying her once again. Desire pumped deep in her core. Why did he have such an effect on her?

  “What if I want you to spank me?” she whispered in a daze, unaware she had actually spoken aloud. When she realized she had, she gasped, her hand flying to cover her lips and her eyes gazing into his. It was obvious he had heard every single word.

  He stared at her, his sadness long gone and something decidedly more dominant and firm masking his face. Dante pulled her toward him, cupping her face and looking down into her eyes. She felt his power take hold of her and her body stilled.

  “Just by meeting your eyes, I can tell what you’re thinking. I sensed your reaction the first time I threatened you with a spanking, and it was written all over your face when Wes revealed that he had already punished you in that manner. Isn’t that right?”

  “Yes,” Lana breathed shakily.

  “Yes, what?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Good girl. Now since you asked me so nicely, we’re goi
ng to go to my bedroom, and I’m going to spank you. And you will obey my every word, my pet.”

  “But Dante!” she begged, suddenly aware of how dire her situation was becoming. “Please! You can’t spank me! I’m a grown woman!”

  “Shall I start your spanking in the dining hall? Many humans are spanked in front of an audience. In fact, it’s often expected. You wouldn’t be the first.”

  “No, sir,” she responded meekly.

  “Then, you will follow me, and think about how your bare backside will soon be over my knee. Am I understood, young lady?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Dante broke her gaze and walked off briskly. She followed quickly, not wanting to incite him further. Everything he did exuded dominance. His gait was strong and firm, and when he looked back to make sure she was following, a small smile appeared at the edge of his lips; dangerous, but intoxicating at the same time.

  Lana’s mind whirled, fearful, but oddly excited. She was going to get spanked.

  Visions of Dante lifting her skirt and pulling down her panties danced through her head. Involuntarily, she began to feel wetness pool between her legs. Why the hell was she reacting like this? She wanted the floor to suddenly swallow her up.

  Far too quickly, they returned to Dante’s bedroom. He opened the door and ushered her inside. The door closed behind them with such a deafening finality that Lana stiffened almost instantaneously.

  She didn’t say a word.

  His presence said everything. He stood behind her, not touching her, not saying anything. She was to obey in whatever he wished. There was something in that thought that made her feel completely safe, but nervous at the same time.

  She jumped when his fingers brushed her hair to the side and lingered over the place where he had tattooed her. Warm lips kissed her there, and a soft moan escaped her throat. Strangely enough, she didn’t feel any pain. He dragged his teeth across her skin, and a glimmer of fear splashed over her. His lips settled next to her ear.