He said simply, “I hate sharing.” He was about to say something else when they heard his phone ring from the outer room.
When a frustrated look flittered over his face, she asked, “What is it?”
“A call from one of my men. They are the only ones who know my number.” Reluctantly, Alexandru pulled away from his pet, leaving one knee on the bed as he straightened.
The sudden distance between her Master and her was painful. She wanted to call him back to him but bit her lip to keep the words inside her. A thought occurred to Zari, and sitting up, she asked, “So…when you wrote the note about something needing your attention, you really weren’t lying?”
He flicked her forehead. “What do you think?”
“I think you like avoiding giving me straight answers, Master.”
He rolled his eyes. “Between you and me, which of us do you think utters more lies?” He shook his head in exasperation. “Of course it was true.” His voice gentled. “We had been parted for a long time. I wouldn’t have given up the time I have with you if it was not something important.” He paused, as if realizing what he had just said.
Dammit! What had he just said?
She gasped. “Master, you’re blush—-”
“Don’t. Say. Another. Word.” He glared at her. “I think you’re also a bully yourself, pet. You like making me say the most ridiculous things.” Turning away and walking to the door, he said over his shoulder, “I must leave the room for a while and let the headmaster know that I’ve received the call we’ve been waiting for.”
“I don’t want to,” she said automatically.
But he only laughed and closed the door behind him.
Alone in his bed, she tossed and turned but couldn’t make herself fall asleep. She opened his bedside drawer, hoping to find something to read, but instead she found a piece of parchment with her name written below.
It took her a while to understand the words since it was written in Chalysian. It was a contract of claiming, with her name and Alexandru’s – but unsigned. Did it mean she was not his pet, after all?
Chapter Six
“Can I read the next item, Master?”
Alexandru groaned. He was lying on his back on one of the sun lounges, the two of them enjoying a rare vacation at Alexandru’s secret island retreat. Taking off his dark sunglasses, he looked at his pet in exasperation. She was floating lazily on his private pool, lying on the inflatable bed. Her bikini-clad body made him think of more other interesting things to do than talking about her proposal.
“Did we not agree this would be a work-free vacation, pet?”
“I know, but it’s just one item. Please, Master?”
Alexandru scowled. “You won’t be always to get your way just because you say ‘please’.”
“Please.”
Dammit, his pet knew he was lying.
With a sigh, he dove into the pool, creating a huge splash that had Zari shrieking. “Master, unfair!”
When he surfaced from the water, the paper she held was completely wet, the ink smearing and making the words illegible.
“Sorry.” He swam to her side, floating in the water.
She beamed. “Good thing I’ve already memorized that one item.”
He grimaced and wondered if he should drown his pet next.
Zari was saying, “A pet must have the freedom to perform duties other than her obligations to her Master.”
He frowned. “Duties? Do you mean work?”
She nodded. “Like what I do as a soul seer—-”
“Which I still disapprove of.”
“And I still consider under negotiation.”
They glared at each other.
She broke down first. “There must be a way to compromise about this, Master. I can’t just ignore my visions—-”
“You can.”
“I’m one of the few soul seers left—-”
“Exactly,” he said flatly. “There are still other soul seers, but there is only one Zari Baltimore, only one girl who could be my pet.”
Her cheeks burst with color.
Ah, too cute.
He reached for his pet.
“Master, no, we haven’t stopped…” Zari moaned as Alexandru untied her bikini top.
“It’s your fault for blushing.”
“But YOU were the one who made me blu—-” This time, she could no longer speak, not with his mouth on her nipple.
When he lifted his head, he asked, “Your choice. Should we talk now or do we continue with this?”
“Continue,” she whispered.
“I can’t hear you, pet.”
“Continue please.” She was blushing hard now.
“Mm…still not hearing you. Maybe you should just offer your breast to me if you want us to continue.”
She cupped her breasts.
His smile turned sly.
“Bully.”
He kissed her hard. “Good pet.” And he kissed the rest of her, starting with her breasts.
“Master Alexandru is gone?” Zari echoed dumbly the next day after her classes. She felt like wilting on the spot. She knew that a Master did not owe his pet any explanations, but he had always told her before when he was about to leave her.
“I’m sure it was for very important reasons he has left you so suddenly,” Sir Richard said helpfully.