Wicked Empress: The Onic Empire, Book 4 by Anitra Lynn McLeod Page A

scratched in the direction of his face, but he swam backwards out of her reach.
    She followed him, then her eyes went wide as she sank. When he realized she couldn’t swim, he came up from underneath her, cupping her body to his chest as he swam backwards toward the sweeping underwater steps. His hard cock pressed into her curvy bottom, and he thought for a moment about lingering her rescue, just long enough for him to find release against the pleasure of her bottom packed in the tight dress. It wouldn’t take long. Not with everything that had happened today. But he relented. Damn Drahka for putting it in his head that to do so would waste his essence!
    After a moment to gather her wits, Bithia glared over at him. “Get. Out. Now.”
    Viltori figured he was in for a long night of torture, and probably not the good kind. He opened his mouth to apologize, but the fire in her gaze silenced him. Head down, he exited the pool, quickly dried off, and pulled on his mondi trousers.
    Slogging her way out of the pool, Bithia removed her shoes, dried herself as best she could, then squished her way along the polished hallways with Viltori following in her wake.

Chapter Ten
    Bithia held her head high, despite her drenched state. Her plans for the evening now ruined, she marched her slave back to her suite as quickly as she could stride in the sopping dress. Rarely did she put forth effort on her appearance and the one time when she had, her new servant destroyed all her hard work. And yet, curiously, she was not angry. Oh, she would let him follow behind her and think her the most vengeful creature ever, but in truth, what he’d done had shocked her almost into a fit of giggles.
    She hadn’t been on Diola for long, but she’d never met anyone like Viltori. He was not only intelligent but also thoroughly wicked. He had captured her attention like no other man, not even her chosen. Although, to be fair, her opinion of Drahka had changed considerably after one lesson with Viltori. Carefully, Viltori crafted his threats to silence her, and she’d allowed him that power, for he’d promised her a great release. She swore that if he failed, she would punish him. After what he’d accomplished, she was determined to keep him for her very own.
    Spinning suddenly, she halted Viltori mid-stride and demanded, “What is the meaning of the mark upon my consort’s face?”
    His brows lifted, curiosity filling his gaze. “I know not, my lady.”
    “You never thought to ask?” Exasperated, she placed her hands on her hips. Her angry pose did not have the desired cowering effect, not when her nipples, which were now tight and hard from the cold, wet dress, distracted him. Much like Drahka, Viltori seemed enamored with her chest.
    After a moment, he whispered back, “You never asked his name.”
    She could have acted if she had not heard him, but she chose not to. “You dare to talk back to me?”
    He stepped close. “I do.”
    A shiver went down her spine that had nothing to do with her wet clothing. “I could have you punished.”
    Viltori took another step closer. “Why not punish me yourself?”
    Pressing her palm to his naked chest, she pushed him against the nearest wall. Leaning in, lifting her face tantalizingly close to his, she breathed, “I fear you would enjoy such punishment far too much.”
    Darting his gaze up and down the length of the hallway, Viltori grabbed her upper arms, reversing their positions with one great lift and swing of her body. Bithia found herself pressed against the wall, Viltori’s body pressing warmth into her, his cock hard and hot against the cool of her belly. Never had she known a man willing to risk her wrath by taking command of her, not on Beserrah and certainly not on Diola. Secretly she thrilled inside, even though she purposely made her face convey nothing but shock and fury.
    Before she could falsely berate him, Viltori lowered his face, kissing her silent. He kissed her as if she were his