I sat on the ground, several fluffed cushions of different colors were laid across the small room. They seemed a little filthy and a bit worn-out, but I did not complain. Before me was a plate of various nuts, honey, and bread. I had eaten quietly while the girls emptied the contents of my stolen pouch, they tried on the earrings, bracelets, and my jewelry while I watched them in silence.
Their eyes darted in my direction every now and then, especially when I had reached for the bread, and I knew it must have been because of how pale my hand was. I was not bothered, I was used to these questioning looks my whole life.
Once I was done eating I just sat there while a couple of 'customers' walked in and out. The man who had brought me there was nowhere to be found, however. He was taking way too long. I could feel the blood rushing to my hidden face, if any of the women could see me they would probably laugh at how frustrated, and embarrassed, I looked. My cheeks were probably the color of the deepest red. Just what on earth was he doing?
I glanced around, scanning the place. It was a small room with a tiny wooden table, some old rugs, and several shabby cushions. The room was dim with only a couple of candles scattered all across the room, illuminating the place with faint, orange light.
I yawned. It was almost the break of dawn, and I fell asleep and began to take over. I glanced up and found a strange man coming down the stairs. Finally! I practically jumped to my feet, a little too eagerly if I was being honest.
"You're still up?" He raised a brow whilst fixing the single piece of linen wrapped loosely around his waist. My eyes darted to his face, and my skin heated beneath my cloak. He ran a hand through his hair, further disheveling the wavy brown locks.
"I can not sleep here." My lips curled up. I sounded like the spoiled royal I knew very well I was, but I did not care. There was no way I was sleeping there, not on the floor, not in a brothel, for god's sake!
"I never said you had to," he walked towards me, his dark skin glistening with a layer of sweat that reflected the faint candlelight, he looked down at the nearly empty plate of food, then back to me again, "Let's get out of here." He began heading to the door. I turned towards one of the girls, she was the one who had given me the food, I bowed my head slightly, quickly muttered a thank you, then followed him.
Once outside, the stranger gazed at me, he brought a single slim finger up to his lips, "Don't make a sound, and stay right where you are." He then headed to the back of the house. I studied him closely, he was silent at night, his body was lean and strong, and his toned muscles clearly were a result of hard training. He then slipped out of my gaze and into the shadows and was gone for a brief moment before he came back with a horse.
"You must be kidding me," I whispered so that no one would hear us, "are you really stealing their horse?"
"Would you rather walk?"
I sighed, the sun would rise in a few minutes and I would have to walk with the scorching-hot desert blowing in my face. When I was silent he continued,
"I didn't think so, now quit complaining and get on the horse, princess." I did not think twice, I walked over to him and I gently caressed the horse's mane before I easily mounted the mare. Her white coat gleamed brightly in the dark.
The man hopped right behind me and I found my lower back pressed tightly into his body. I tensed, my heart pounding in my ears, and shiver down my spine. My breath caught in my chest when I felt him through the thin fabric and I could feel a rush of heat running through my veins and down to my core.
"Hold on tight." I could feel his deep voice rumble in his chest and before I could say anything and without warning, he wrapped a strong arm around my waist and we took off.
Most of the ride was nothing but a comforting silence with only the horse's hooves dragging the desert's sand behind it as we moved forward. The golden sunshine was starting to warm the early morning's wind and I found myself slowly drifting to sleep.
I was woken up by the beaming sunlight, I tried to peel my eyes open, but the sun was directly in my face. I stayed still for a moment as my eyes got adjusted to the light. It took me a couple of minutes to realize that I was resting against something hard and warm, something that kept rising and falling slowly— someone's chest.
"Why, good morning, princess. We're almost there."
I nearly jumped, I was sleeping, for only the gods knew how long, against his chest, and his arm was wrapped tightly around my body. I straightened myself sheepishly and acted as if nothing had happened.
"Where exactly are we going?" I could still hear sleep dripping from my voice and I knew he did as well, "Are we going to your place?" Now that I think about it -again- perhaps agreeing to follow him was not that good of an idea. Would I be staying in the same house with him? In the same room? Oh, god... in the same bed?
"We're going to my place, yes." He admitted and I felt tears threatening to escape my eyes. What had I done? He was going to use me, torture me, have s-
"You're coming to my kingdom." He added. I could not see him, but I knew there was a smirk plastered to his handsome face.
Just what in the world was he?