Prince of Cats by Susan A. Bliler Read Free Book Online Page B

displeased.
    What does he expect me to do?  Perhaps this is a trick to get me to slip up so that he may punish me.  The thought had her second guessing her tone.  She forced her head down, “You sought me out.  Is there something I can do for you?”
    “There is a lot you can do for me,” Bray murmured not even attempting to veil the innuendo.
    Looking up, Neomee studied him for long seconds before she lifted trembling fingers to the strap of her gown.  She slid one strap off her shoulder and was reaching for the other when shock registered in Bray’s expression.
    “What are you doing?” he growled.
    Neomee’s hand froze in place.  “ Giving you what you seek.”
    Bray stepped closer forcing her back against the wall until she was crushed between his massive frame and the stone at her back.  “And who else have you given this particular gift to?”
    Her cheeks flamed in indignation.  “No one!”  Her tone was too harsh, but she couldn’t he lp being offended by the insult. “I have lain with no other man since I’ve been assigned here.”
    “And before you were assigned here?” 
    Aq ua blue eyes slid down to study his chest.  “No.  None in my prior service either.”  She knew her entire body flushed with the admission.  She silently prayed that he’d leave it at that.
    Instead, he stepped closer; his groin pressed against her belly as he gently grabbed her chin and lifted her face until her eyes peered up at his. 
    “ You have never experienced a man ’s touch?”
    How humiliating!   She tried to jerk her chin out of his grasp but he held her firmly.   Her cheeks actually stung with embarrassment over the topic.  “Of course I have Master.”  Since he refused to let her go she focused her gaze over his shoulder.  “Men hit me all the time.”
    Her admission evoked contradictory emotions in Bray.  While he was relieved to discover that her virtue might still be intact , he was simultaneously enraged at the fact the only touch she’d ever received from a male was that of pain rather than pleasure.
    She stopped breathing when he leaned down and brushed his lips across hers. 
    “Never again my sweet lily.”  Then just as quickly as he’d approached her, he turned and sta lked away.

Chapter 8
    The day of the Honoring of Osiris Festival had finally arrived . No one knew what Bray had done to the Slave Master but the day the Slave Master attempted to drag Neomee to the Priest was the last time he’d been seen. 
    The Priest had the Slave Master replaced quickly enough and the new Slave Master was just as ruthless as his predecessor.  Luckily, this Slave Master knew little of Neomee and ha d no cause to think she were different than any of the other slaves, which is exactly how she wanted it. 
    She did assume however that Bray had spoken to the new Slave Master for she was p ermanently removed from her station at the dining hall and p laced on the garden station.  Her new assignment saw her working alongside the slave women who tended the temple’s numerous garden plots and harves ted the crops there for the Cat s —and slaves—consumption.   It was a slave’s most desired station, as the fresh a ir was as plentiful as the food, and practicall y no interaction with the Cats or the Slave Master was required. 
    The garden was centered in the middle of the temple square and was surrounded by towering walls, which served to keep critters and thieves out while keeping the slaves in.  Regardless, while the slaves tended the garden , Cats were always posted on the wall to ensure no escape attempts or intrusions were made. 
    Usually the Cats on guard ended up dozing in the noon day sun or sneaking off with a willing slave for more adult enjoyments.  Luckily, none of the Cats propositioned Neomee .  She couldn’t help but wonder if the incident and Bray’s reaction in the dining hall had anything to do with it. 
    One day she was approached by one of the handsome Cats as she