The thought of Valen actually doing that to her made Selena weak in the knees.
Maybe her interest in Kink was somehow wound up with being a musician, she thought, as she followed her new “Master” through the echoing marble halls. After all, there was something masochistic in practicing for hours until her fingers bled, just to get a certain section of music exactly perfect. Maybe those same impulses led her towards submission to a stern, powerful Master.
Then the reality of the situation hit her all over again. Was she really going to live out some of her darkest sexual fantasies? And did she really want to? After all, some things were better left to the imagination.
No point in getting cold feet—you’re in it now and there’s no getting out, whispered a little voice in her head. You’re caught in the currents of the castle—like being dragged out to sea by an undertow—you’re stuck and no amount of flailing is going to change the situation.
Selena felt a shiver of apprehension, which she tried to shrug off. No matter what happened, this arrangement was only for a limited time, she reminded herself.
“I have sworn an oath before the Goddess never to call a bride!”
Valen’s words echoed in her head. He had been telling her, in no uncertain terms, that this temporary arrangement between them was absolutely not going to lead to anything more permanent. Despite the connection that seemed to be between them, he wasn’t going to call her as his bride, the way Tolern had called Jess.
Well, at least we have a few days together, Selena told herself.
And that was considerably more than she’d thought they had. So she wasn’t going to complain or wish for anything she couldn’t have, she told herself. And she wasn’t going to freak out about what they might have to do together. She was just going to have to submit and trust the bit Kindred.
Take a deep breath, she told herself. And just concentrate on making it to the gala in one piece.
Really, what else could she do?
23
The royal harness maker had a small workshop right in the middle of the palace. It was a busy place but the moment Valen relayed the Emperor’s message, that the chief harness maker should drop everything and make certain Selena had a breast harness fit to showcase her lovely breasts, the shop was cleared.
“Now then, now then,” the chief harness maker murmured, staring thoughtfully at Selena. He was a small male with bright, inquisitive eyes, one of which was hidden behind a jeweler’s monocle, which allowed him to see the fine detail of the delicate gold and silver chains he worked with. He had demanded that Selena stand on a small pedestal, which raised her several feet off the ground, and he was currently stalking around her, taking her in from all sides as he rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
“As you can see, she does indeed have lovely breasts,” Valen said to him. “And the Emperor wishes them to be showcased to the fullest for tonight’s banquet.”
“Indeed, indeed.” The chief harness maker nodded. “Well, first I’ll need to see her stripped,” he said and nodded to himself. “Yes, completely stripped.”
“What?” Selena’s cheeks flushed a dark pink and she looked at Valen imploringly. “But…isn’t it enough that my breasts are bare?”
“I’m afraid not, my dear.” The chief harness maker frowned. “You see, if the Emperor took special notice of you and says he wants you on display, I’m quite certain he isn’t just talking about your breasts. You’ll need special undergarments below, as well. So come on now—strip.”
“Really? I have to strip?” Selena gave Valen an appealing look but he frowned sternly back at her. She needed to understand what she had gotten herself into, asking him to be her Master at the palace, and it seemed to him this was a good learning opportunity.
“Strip,” he confirmed, nodding at her. And, when she was a bit slow in complying, he stepped over and began helping her out of the golden gown she’d worn for her audience with the Emperor.
Once the gown was removed, the curvy little Elite had nothing but a pair of black lace panties on. Valen could see that she was embarrassed, but she held her head high and didn’t try to cover herself. However, the harness maker’s next request made her bite her bottom lip.
“No, no,” he said frowning as he waved at the little black underwear. “We can’t have those on either—take everything off her, please.”
“My…my panties, too?” Selena asked uncertainly.
“Yes,” Valen said shortly. “Here—I’ll help you out of them.”
Kneeling before her, he slipped the little black undergarments down her generous hips, revealing her pussy mound. Then he folded them and put them into his pocket. He might give them back to her later…or he might not, he thought.