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When I woke the following morning, the sun slanted brightly into our window. I felt
Helios wrapped around my body, his head over my heart, legs twined with mine. The position
was childlike but oddly protective. His hair spread out over the pillows behind him, catching the
early-morning light. I felt rested, my body sated and only slightly sore from the night s sexual
excesses. Given our recent activities, I should have been very sore in several places.
That thought made me grin. That wine cost a king s ransom, and well it should. The
Somian prized the rare fluid and rarely sold it. Instead chalus was generally a gift. I could readily
imagine getting carried away, drinking and fucking until death took the lovers away on a soft,
sensual cloud.
Helios came awake slowly, stretching one limb at a time. He arched like a cat, then winced
as a muscle in his calf caught and cramped. He pushed himself upright and looked at me through
sleepy eyes. He lazily rubbed at his leg.
 Good morning. Does your ass hurt? Mine doesn t. He gave me a lopsided grin.
I laughed at his greeting and then laughed even harder when he glared at me.
He rotated his head slightly, stretching the muscles of his neck. I watched in fascination.
His neck was long and graceful and currently peppered with strawberry-color marks. I reached
out and ran my finger over one of the spots. As I did, the heavy sapphire bracelet slid down my
arm and off into the bedding.
 The catch is loose. Here. Helios slipped it back on my arm and secured the latch.
110 Belinda McBride
 You ll need to wear your jacket today, I said. He looked like a teenager with the hickeys
on his throat.
 You too.
I reached up, touched my neck, and flushed, remembering him nipping and sucking. The
memory brought blood rushing into my half-erect cock.
 Don t care, anyway. He slid from the bed and stood naked, watching me as I pushed
myself up against the headboard.  Anyone who was paying attention knows where we went last
night.
His smile was free and happy, more natural than I d seen in days. It brought a smile to me
as well.
 Today we ll know. We re supposed to wait here until they send a messenger. So for me,
it s a shower and then breakfast.
 A bath. I rose from the bed and headed for the door, and I beat him by mere inches. I
shut the door in his face and laughed at his curse. Once I d finished, I let him into the room, then
started the water while he attended his needs.
 You know, my uncle had attendants for everything. I heard the commode flush.
 Everything? I looked up as he emerged from the small room.
 Virtually. I loved him, but he was losing touch with the common man and woman. His
servants dressed and fed him. Bathed and shaved him. My nephews followed his example. I do
not believe that is a healthy way to live.
I d known that about late king, but still, the idea occupied my mind as I slid into the
steaming water of the bath. Within seconds, Helios slipped into the other end, his hair knotted on
top of his head. He stared at me gravely.
 There are too few of us remaining to indulge in such vanity. I hope to offer an example to
those who follow me. I d hate to see our people ruled that way in the future.
I lay back in the water, studying his face. He was no naive youth. He was still learning and
remembering, but Helios was aware of the importance of every decision he made. How many of
us could bear the weight of that responsibility?
An Uncommon Whore 2: When I Fall 111
 Now today you can take actions that will shape the future. You can protect our people
from future despots. You can create standards of behavior for your heirs.
He laid his head back against the edge of the tub and let his eyes slip closed.
 Helios, do you have a contingency plan? If our application is rejected?
He lifted a single brow and opened his eyes.  Yes. Unfortunately it s dangerous. I haven t
yet decided how to broach it with our people. He sighed.  We will begin to sell candar. We will
buy our own protection. We will become our own cartel and control its distribution with an iron
fist.
I cursed.  You know a hired army can turn on its employer.
 I do know that. Somehow they must be integrated into our culture. If they have a stake in [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]