Pirate's Price Read Online Free

up and swung her fist at his
angry face. This farce had gone on long enough! He caught her wrist
and crawled onto the divan, kneeling between her thighs. “Let go of
me.” She mimicked her mother’s imperious tone, thanking god he was
still wearing pants.
    He laughed. “Save your queenly airs for
someone who gives a shit. The only pleasure you will ever know,
from this day forth, will be given to you by me.”
    Rather than argue, she glared into his eyes.
As soon as she got out of this room, she intended to pack her bags
and return to Devaunt. His threats held no power over her.
    “How did you like being the king’s whore?”
He tweaked one of her nipples. “I know you didn’t come, because I
made damn sure you didn’t. But it doesn’t have to be like
that.”
    “What do you want?” She ignored his touch as
he turned his attention to her other breast.
    “I want you to understand the reality of
your position.” He pinched her viciously and she cried out despite
her clenched jaw. “Look at me when I’m speaking to you. In a few
weeks you will be queen, but you will also be a whore. You will
suck my cock whenever I crook my finger and raise your skirts
whenever I feel the need for your pussy or your ass.”
    “And the king will have nothing to say about
it?”
    “The king is a sniveling fool. I can make
him whimper like a baby with the swirl of my little finger. Imagine
what I can do with my cock.” He paused for a cruel smile. “Vega
will allow me to do whatever I want with you as long as we play his
ridiculous game.”
    Pride blasted through her caution. She
despised bullies. “What’s to keep me from telling the king you’re
threatening me?”
    “The well-being of your precious people.” He
arched his brow in challenge. “Unlike Vega, I take time to learn
everything there is to know about my adversaries. If you seem
hesitant at all, I’ll convince him to abolish the treaty. And we
both know how badly the people of Devaunt need the promised
reforms.” He leaned in, his lips brushing her cheek as he added,
“That’s the beauty of this arrangement. I will have both king and
queen at my beck and call.” He crawled off her and snatched his
discarded shirt off the floor. “I won’t make you suck me tonight.
Consider it your wedding gift,” Umar said as he left the room.
    She scrambled off the divan and donned her
chemise as Kashi rushed into the room.
    “Are you all right?” her handmaiden
cried.
    “I’m fine.” She was fighting back tears and
her hands were shaking so badly she couldn’t fasten a button, but
she would not let Umar get the upper hand.
    “You don’t mean to go through with this do
you?”
    “Of course not.” She shuddered, drawing calm
from her renewed purpose. Her people must be protected, but never
again would she consider sacrificing herself in the process. “I
need time to figure out what to do about Mother.”
    “Say the word and I’ll arrange --”
    “I’m not going to murder my mother.” She
finger combed her hair away from her face. “Not even if she
deserves it.”
    “She doesn’t have to die. We can just make
her disappear.”
    Rana rubbed her temples and shook her head.
“If there is any doubt about her fate, the cabinet will appoint a
regent. After her dreadful rule, they are not anxious to empower
another empress.”
    “They want a man on the throne?”
    With a stiff nod, Rana focused on strategy.
“Her cabinet is even more corrupt than she is. I need the backing
of four of the six great houses before I make my move. I can’t do
this alone. I’m not sure I can do it at all, but this is not
an option.” They said nothing as Kashi helped her dress. Rana
slipped her feet back into her shoes and washed her mouth out with
the rest of her wine. “I can use this wedding as a stall tactic
while I set things in motion, but how do I avoid the actual
marriage? No one can suspect anything is amiss until it’s too
late.”
    Kashi’s hazel eyes gleamed with