“Welcome, Princess,” a sultry feminine voice said from behind her.
Alyssa jumped, her cheeks burning at being caught studying the erotic painting. She whirled to see a young woman about her own age with hair so long, it brushed the ground. Her dark hair cascaded around her with small braids sprinkled throughout, each adorned with multi-colored beads. She wore nothing but a white gauzy half top and string bikini underwear. Her coral nipples poked against the thin cloth and the creamy bottom curve of her breasts were visible just underneath the short top. Alyssa couldn’t help but stare. The woman stood the same height as Alyssa and had the same full hips, rounded stomach and thighs that she looked at in the mirror every day. Yet, this exotic woman looked sexy, enticing and comfortable with her body. Something Alyssa had wished for all her life.
There was more. The woman’s aura was electrifying and drew Alyssa in like a moth. A breath caught in her throat. She wanted this woman to touch her. Wanted to feel her petite hands on her body. Wanted to try out every fantasy.
Must be the effect of that damned painting!
“I’m Sasha, your lady’s maid. I’ve waited a long time to be able to fulfill my duties.” She bowed and then stepped forward to link her arm with Alyssa’s as if they were lifelong friends. “Come this way and I’ll show you the pool. I’m sure you’re exhausted and in need of some energy before meeting your parents.”
Alyssa walked with her willingly, instantly comfortable with this beautiful woman, even despite the sudden attraction. “I’m actually a little hungry,” she admitted, noticing her growling stomach for the first time all day.
Sasha frowned. “The prince knows to take better care of you than that. You are precious to all the Klatch.” She led Alyssa into an open room with only a chair and dressing table. Its gleaming white stone surface was covered with brushes, beads, combs, perfumes and assorted makeup.
“Stone took very good care of me,” she said, suddenly defensive. She wanted to defend the man who’d saved her from her previous life.
Sasha laughed. “Believe me, I know the prince would not be able to keep his hands off you after all this time. But if you are hungry, he let you orgasm, which means you lost energy. Until the ceremony, he’ll have to exercise more restraint.”
Alyssa’s mouth dropped open and her cheeks burned. Did everyone know she and Stone had been fooling around?
“Don’t mistake my meaning, Princess. I know from personal experience what a good man Prince Stone is, and how honorable his intentions. But until the ascension, he needs to have a care with you.”
Sasha’s words caused a trickle of ice down her spine as jealousy spurted through her. The exotic woman obviously knew Stone quite well. Alyssa couldn’t help but wonder how well. She tried to keep her voice nonchalant as she studied the maid, ready for her reaction. “What type of personal experience…if you don’t mind me asking?” She held her breath while she waited for an answer.
Laughter filled the room and Sasha’s eyes danced with amusement. “Oh, Princess. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to imply anything like that.” Sasha’s features suddenly seemed strained as if she were thinking of unhappy memories. “When I was but twelve years old, my mother and I had gone to an outlying village while the queen was there visiting. I wandered away chasing a kitten, as young children do.”
A sudden flash of pain filled her eyes before she masked it. “Several Cunt warriors came through a portal in front of me and well…They would’ve raped me if Prince Stone hadn’t stopped them. As it was, I was merely bruised and frightened. He was severely injured from the encounter, and could have died. The fact that he was willing to risk his life for mine, a mere daughter of a lady’s maid, has always stayed with me. He will always have my complete trust and loyalty.”
Alyssa could picture a younger version of Sasha, frightened and alone until Stone put himself at risk to save her. It explained why Stone was so bitter toward the Cunts and also why he was so protective of her. This new insight about Stone gave Alyssa a greater understanding of the man she’d only known through dreams for the past decade. She promised herself it wouldn’t be the last she found out about her mysterious betrothed. “Thank you for telling me, Sasha. I’m sure it’s something Stone would never tell me, but I’m glad you did. I still don’t know very much about him.”
Sasha’s gaze softened and a small smile tugged at her lips. “Don’t worry, Princess. Now that you are back where you belong, the two of you have a lifetime to get to know one another. I know it’s difficult to put your trust in new people after what you’ve been through, but Prince Stone won’t let you down.”
Alyssa returned her mind to their previous conversation and curiosity pushed her to ask, “You said that Stone let me orgasm and it made me lose energy. You don’t mean that all Klatch women have to forego orgasm before their coming-of-age ceremony?”
Sasha turned to face Alyssa with a sexy half smile that made her pulse jump. “Not at all. It just means they must eat more to maintain their sustenance. Think of sexual energy as another food group, but the most important one for our people. While we need water and food, sex can cover for both of them for a time.” Her kohl-lined lavender eyes sparked with amusement. “I have a feeling many of our human sisters wish it were the same way for them.”
Alyssa thought about all the women she knew who either complained about not getting enough sex or went without it altogether. “I think you have a very good point.” She smiled at Sasha, who grinned in return. “I feel completely out of my element here, so you’ll have to tell me what I’m supposed to do.”
“As your lady’s maid, I’m here to be your companion, your confidant and your friend. Not to mention, I’ve always been curious about the human world. How about you answer my questions and I’ll answer yours?” She smiled, her pink tongue darting out to moisten her bottom lip.
Alyssa found herself fascinated with the small action and longed to feel the woman’s pink tongue exploring inside her mouth.
“Let’s get you out of these clothes and into a bath.” She pulled Alyssa’s shirt up and after a moment of shock, Alyssa raised her arms, so the shirt could continue its path over her head.
She opened her eyes in time to see Sasha fold it carefully and lay it on the chair. She raised each leg dutifully as Sasha pulled off her boots and placed them on the floor next to the chair.
“I understand humans are modest. But here on Tador, where sex is a needed staple, modesty only gets in the way of your well-being. I will try to keep your discomfort in mind and explain what’s happening, since I know this is all new to you.” Sasha stood and faced her. “How did you keep up your sexual energy among the humans—besides your dreams with the prince?”
Alyssa swallowed hard. She’d spent her whole life trying to hide her body, and now it looked like it was expected that she show it freely. Resisting the sudden urge to grab for her shirt, she balled her hands at her sides. This is my real home. I need to get used to who I am supposed to be. “I didn’t know I needed the sexual energy, but I did, uh, take care of things myself quite a bit.”
“You’re a Klatch. That’s perfectly normal.” Sasha stepped forward and reached both arms around Alyssa’s waist to unfasten the button and zipper of her jean skirt, their full breasts brushing against each other. Heat coiled in her stomach and she wondered how it would feel to have this woman’s soft breasts pressed against hers with nothing between them but skin. At the thought, a rush of energy flowed through Alyssa’s body and she bit back a moan.
Now that she was paying attention to it, she could see the energy as a direct result of the sexual stimulation. No wonder I always felt as if my energy drained away when I had my sessions with the showerhead!