"I could ask you the same, about standing." Lorelei moaned as the sweet juice dripped from her lips and she licked the liquid catching the red beady drops before they descended down her chin. "I'm starving. Did you find anything else?" Grunting under her breath, she stood and followed Aaron around to the back of the barn.

  In the distance, just over the grassy hill, Aaron spotted two men with rifles heading for the barn. "Get back inside." He gripped Lorelei's hand and pulled her back around for shelter. Not that it mattered. They'd already been seen. Were they rebels or reinforcements coming after them? He would man up and face them on his own.

  Lorelei stepped inside the barn and he let go of her hand, shutting the wooden door and locking her inside.

  "Aaron!" she shouted, pounding on the door.

  "Quiet." His voice held a tinge of warning.

  He was quickly met with silence and breathed a sigh of relief. Now he had to deal with the two men outside. He only knew a handful of rebels and there was no guaranteeing it was either one of them coming down that hill. He felt the metal of the gun against his pants and knew if he needed to use it, he'd have to be a quick draw. The last thing he wanted was to start a war when they were on the same side.

  * * * * *

  Aaron didn't recognize either of the armed men as they approached.

  "I'm here for Rhys," Aaron said, hoping that would prove his loyalty, assuming they too were rebels.

  "He's not here," the man on the left said, stalking up toward Aaron. "What do you want with him anyhow?" The man looked Aaron over, seeming unimpressed by his attire.

  Aaron didn't have time to change let alone another outfit to wear that wasn't appropriate for a prince. Perhaps he should have taken a side trip to the market, paid for some commoner clothes, but he hadn't done that and right now, he wished he had.

  There was no point in lying to the two rebel soldiers. It wouldn't do Aaron any bit of good. "Rhys helped me in the past keep the courtesans from entering the slave trade. There was a bit of a hiccup this month," Aaron said. He didn't wish to further elaborate without Rhys present.

  "I see," the man on the left said, glancing at the rebel soldier beside him.

  "Rhys isn't here," the second man said. His face was covered in scruff and his hands gripped the rifle closer to his chest. "I suggest you leave."

  "I can't," Aaron said, his voice pleading with them to help. "Two of my girls were put into auction. I need to find out where they are."

  "What do you plan on doing with that knowledge, Prince?" the scruffy man asked, seeming quite disgusted as he divulged Aaron's title. "Even with the right amount of money, who's to say they'll sell the girls to you. Besides, why would you want them back? You did throw them away like garbage."

  Aaron snarled as he leapt at the scruffy rebel soldier, throwing his fist at the man's face, landing square on his cheek just below his eye. "Get me Rhys!"

  The second man backed farther from Aaron's grasp, arms half-up in the air, showing he didn't want any part of the fight. "I can radio him, but I don't know how quickly he'll get here."

  The prince couldn't ask for anything more. "Ask him where the girls are," Aaron said. "And tell him we'll need reinforcements."

  From behind Aaron, the wooden door squeaked as it opened, and Lorelei poked her head out. Had she heard what had been going on?

  Both men lifted their rifles as she stepped out of the barn.

  Why the hell couldn't she listen to him? He'd asked her to do one simple task, wait for him to return, to prove it safe before she stepped outside. She deserved a spanking for her insubordination.

  "Don't shoot!" Aaron warned both men. "She's with me." He glanced over his shoulder at Lorelei, his eyes narrow and jaw tight.

  The scruffy man looked her over, his eyes lingering a little too long at the dress she wore. "Are you selling her too?" he asked, and smiled widely, obviously wanting in on the deal.

  "No." Aaron stepped between the men and Lorelei, keeping her sheltered behind him, pressed against the wooden door. "She's accompanying me."

  The second man raised an eyebrow. "For what reason?"

  Aaron didn't have a good enough one to give. He didn't want to admit she was good with a gun and tough as cement. No one would mess with her, and if they did, she'd give them one hell of a fight. "That's not of your concern." Aaron was still a prince and he knew rebel or not, they should treat him with the respect of one.

  "I'll contact Rhys," the rebel soldier said, pulling out his communication device from his back pocket of his pants. There were no phone towers or lines in existence. During the Gem Apocalypse, the land had been obliterated in many areas, losing all communication with the outside world. Short range radios were the only device that still worked without issue. The soldier turned and walked away, affording himself some level of privacy, probably asking Rhys if he knew a prince of Brayleigh and had any connection with him.

  There was little reason to doubt Rhys would turn on him. They'd worked together for years, and Aaron had happily helped fund their growing militia.

  The scruffy man took a step back, angling the rifle to the ground.

  Aaron shot his head around, glancing back at Lorelei as he let her step farther from the shadows behind him. "I told you to stay inside the shelter," he said, jaw clenched, fuming with anger.

  "It was hot in the barn and besides, I could hear what was going on. They weren't going to hurt me," Lorelei said.

  "That's beside the point!" He grabbed her arm and pulled her farther from the rebel soldiers to the side of the barn. "I gave you a direct order."

  Lorelei shook his hold off her. "I'm not your servant or one of your guards. I don't have to do as told."

  "The hell you don't! You could have put us both in danger," Aaron said. He couldn't believe she didn't see how what she'd done was wrong. "Don't think you're getting off so easily."

  Lorelei frowned. "What do you mean?"

  "I mean you're going over my knee when we get settled. Whether it's at the palace or at the rebel housing district, you will pay for disobeying me."

  She shifted on her feet. "Come on, Aaron. I'm not like your other courtesan girls. I can fend for myself."

  He knew she wasn't like the women he bedded, but she also needed to understand her place. Aaron was a prince and she could have endangered both of their lives. She'd been careless too many times, first snatching the gun after he'd intentionally put it on the ground with the bandits attacking them. It wasn't that he didn't appreciate what she was capable of, but she had to learn to follow the rules. He'd asked her to do something and she neglected to follow his instruction.

  "I know, which is why you require even more direct discipline," he said, warning her of the punishment to come. "There's no getting out of your spanking when we get someplace safe."

  She reached for his hand, and her other hand trailed her fingers up his wrist. "Come on, Prince Aaron, there are a million other things I could do for you, to show you that I'm loyal." Her hand dropped from his, and she let her fingers find the buckle on his belt. Lorelei swept her fingers inside the waistband of his slacks, though careful not to be seen. "I can make you forget everything else."

  He gripped her hands, stopping her from teasing him any further. "That's enough. Keep this up and I'll double the allotment of discipline."

  Lorelei whimpered and dropped her hold, taking a step back from Aaron. "Fine." She pouted, clearly disappointed that he hadn't taken her advances and let her do more for him. As much as he wanted her hand to sneak into his pants and graze his cock, he also knew that wasn't appropriate with two rebel soldiers standing only a few feet away. What would they think if they discovered such an act in public? It was no secret that the courtesans were used for sex, but it had been kept behind the palace doors and inside the walls of the royal harem. She had crossed a line.

  The soldier on the communication device returned, shoving the receiver into his back pocket once again. "Rhys is on the way. You've got twelve maybe fourteen hours. There's a house we're squatting in a few clicks north. We can take you up there, wait for him where it's a little more comfortable."

  Lorelei groaned. "He won't be here until tomorrow?" Her stomach grumbled loudly.

  "We've got food and shelter," the guard said. "Are you coming or not?"

  Aaron nodded. "Yes, we'll follow you." It would do them both good to get inside and away from any chance of being spotted by the bandits or drones. The area had remained quiet, except for the four of them talking as they walked north.

  "How'd you evade your guards?" the scruffy soldier asked. "I'm Saul," he said, introducing himself. "And that's Peter."

  "I'm Aaron and that's Lorelei." Though it seemed they knew who he was already. "Avoiding the guards was the easy part."

  Lorelei scoffed under her breath, not in agreement.

  "We had more trouble with bandits destroying our wheels and chasing after us," Aaron said. As they crested the hill, a two-story house beckoned in the distance. The paint peeled from the once white porch. The home looked abandoned, which was probably the point. To keep people away.

  "Not a huge surprise," Peter said. "You are a prince of Brayleigh. Maybe if you wore rags instead of silk it would be less noticeable."

  Saul disagreed. "Everyone knows what the four princes look like. Changing his clothes wouldn't be enough. You're screwed. Just accept your position of power, and be glad you're not one of us, hunted by your father."

  Aaron doubted his father did much hunting of rebels. In fact, he knew his father had no part in it, except perhaps to give orders and they were few and far between. The rebels were a nameless faction, too small to worry about and too spread out to cause any damage. They were ignored, which made them powerful in their own right. He promised them money in exchange for help, but that was all he'd offer them. He didn't want to be involved in any bloodshed.

  Peter led them inside the abandoned house. "We have electricity from the wind turbine we put around back. There's food in the fridge. Nothing great but it'll suffice."

  "I'm sure it's fine. Thank you for your hospitality," Aaron said.

  "There's a spare room up the stairs, the first door on the left. I assume you're comfortable sharing?" Peter asked.

  "Yes." Lorelei nodded, her cheeks rosy.

  Aaron found two glasses and opened the fridge, retrieving a pitcher of water. He poured them both a cup, handing one to her. "Drink up," he said. They'd been outside for a decent amount of time walking since the bandits attacked. He'd been thirsty and she looked a bit dehydrated by her flushed face.

  She downed the glass, gulping the liquid as it slid down her throat. Quickly, she poured herself a second glass from the ice cold pitcher and hurriedly drank it. Placing the empty glass in the sink, she glanced at Aaron, her eyes heavy.

  He didn't blame her for being exhausted. They'd been up all night. "Go on up to bed. I'll be there in a few minutes," Aaron said.

  Lorelei swallowed the lump in her throat. She glanced up at the staircase and then back to Aaron.

  He hadn't forgotten her punishment, though he suspected she hoped he had. "Now," he said with insistence.

  Without a word, she turned and headed up the stairwell for their bedroom.

  "Heading to bed already?" Saul asked. "It's nearing dinner time."

  Aaron knew tomorrow would be another exhaustive day. "Do you have something I might take up to Lorelei?" he asked.

  "Help yourself to whatever's in the kitchen," Peter said.

  Aaron gathered some fruit and bread, placing it on a tray, along with another glass of water to share. He quietly walked up the stairs, heading into the bedroom.

  Lorelei had herself buried under the blankets, her eyes shut.

  Aaron suspected she wasn't asleep. She didn't open her eyes, probably because she hoped he wouldn't spank her if she wasn't awake. The prince put the glass of water on the night table along with the tray of food.

  "I know you're still awake," Aaron said. His voice low but steady as he rested his hand on her bottom as she lay on her stomach.

  Lorelei's eyes flashed open. "Almost asleep."

  "Good." Aaron smiled, deciding the time was now for her to learn her lesson. He'd warned her and she had to know what happened when she disobeyed him.

  He sat at the edge of the bed. "Take off your clothes and lay across my lap."

  Lorelei shook her head no. "Aaron," her voice hitched, "I've never been spanked. Please don't." She resorted to begging. "I swear I'll listen to you. Don't make me do this."

  "You should have listened the first time back when the bandits attacked us. I let it go because you saved our lives, but you have to trust me."

  "I do trust you, Aaron." She sat up in bed.

  "Then undress." He wasn't taking no for an answer. He demanded to have her over his lap and he would get what he wanted.

  She chewed at her bottom lip, and Aaron reached out, her teeth unclasping her lip as his thumb stroked the swollen red silk.

  "Don't be nervous." He'd spanked courtesans countless times in the palace. Lorelei had even witnessed Riley's spanking. Had that made her even more nervous, or had it aroused her?

  Slowly she climbed off the mattress and stood in front of Aaron. Lorelei sulked as she undressed, crossing her arms as she lifted the gown and let it hit the floor in an unceremonious thud. The red and gold colors mixed together on the wooden boards. Her fingers glazed her hips, pushing the edge of her panties down her thighs before kicking them away.

  "Go easy on me," she said as she climbed across his lap.

  "What good would that do?" he asked, staring at her curves and her bottom. Without thought, he dropped his hand across her rear, for her first spanking. "I want you to learn your lesson, not enjoy the attention."

  Her hips bucked on instinct as she tried to pull away.

  "Don't fight it," Aaron said, stroking her velvety skin before his hand came down again and again. He repeated the gesture as she squirmed and pleaded for him to stop. "Be quiet." His warning rang through the room. If Lorelei didn't keep her muffled cries down, Saul and Peter would hear.

  Aaron felt warm wet tears fall against his pants. His eyes scoured over every ounce of naked flesh that he could visibly see. Lorelei was absolutely beautiful from her red bottom to her silky pink folds swelling with each swat as she grew aroused. He could smell the desire and feel his own tightening in his trousers as he spanked her.

  She whimpered in protest, with each repeated swat to her bottom.

  "Tell me what you did wrong." He wanted her to learn from her mistakes.

  Lorelei didn't answer.

  His hand came down again on her rear.

  Her legs kicked and she fought him, trying to escape his hold on her.

  "Tell me," Aaron said, his voice stern. He wasn't letting her off without an apology.

  "I didn't listen to you," she said, sniffling. "I'm sorry."

  Aaron nodded, releasing his hold and he let her stand up. "I only punish you, Lorelei, because I want you to listen to me. I wouldn't ask you to do anything that isn't for your own good. I'm trying to keep you safe."

  She bent down, grabbing her clothes from the floor and began to redress.

  "Be grateful we weren't at the palace, or I'd have been forced to follow your spanking with a butt plug."

  Her eyes widened, and she swallowed the lump in her throat.

  Aaron couldn't tell if that thought aroused or frightened her. She would submit to him, he'd make sure of it.

  Chapter Ten

  Aaron awoke to the sound of a car's engine humming to life from down below. Carefully he pulled from Lorelei's embrace, untangling himself as he stood and approached the window. Glancing outside, Rhys killed the engine and stepped out from the car, heading into the building.

  The prince slipped from the bedroom and headed down the stairwell. He wouldn't be able to sleep knowing Rhys was downstairs. He needed to know where the courtesans had been auctioned off and if they'd been purchased yet.

  "Rhys," Aaron said, greeting him with a nod.

  "You're a few days late," the rebel said. "I waited for you and was a bit surprised when you didn't show up."

  "I had something that came up." A prince rarely apologized and Aaron wasn't about to start now. "Two of my girls were sent into the Courtesan Slave Trade. Can you help me find them?"

  Rhys smiled widely, he always wanted something. "That depends. What have you got for me? Information on the guards' shifts? A list of names of guards that we can turn? Or maybe blueprints of the palace?"

  Aaron agreed with the rebel cause in helping stop the slave trade, but that didn't mean he was going to destroy his home either. "I've got cash."

  "You always know the way to a rebel's heart." Rhys would gladly accept cash though he might have wanted information. He knew not to push the prince any further. "What are the girl's names?"

  "Riley and Sabrina."

  "They were part of your harem, correct?" Rhys asked.

  Aaron nodded. "That's right." He hoped the rebel would forego the question of why he was after two girls that he'd gotten rid of.

  "Your father shuffled them to the slave trade, correct?"

  "Yes."

  Rhys pulled the radio from his pocket, the device nearly identical to the one Peter used. He changed the channel and spoke into the device.

  "This is Rhys," he said, speaking into the device, holding the button down as he transmitted his message. "Do we have information on the whereabouts of any of the courtesans Gideon sold?"

  Static crackled over the line as a voice answered. "Yes, sir."

  Aaron raised an eyebrow, curious. Was Rhys their leader? Aaron had never gotten to see how the rebels worked. His part had always been to deliver the girls to safety, nothing more. He didn't know where they ended up or if they became recruits for their militia. Aaron wasn't about to ask either, it wasn't any of his business.

  The stairs creaked and the prince glanced behind him to see Lorelei at the bottom of the stairs, her hair slightly messy and her eyes glazed, half-asleep. "You weren't in bed," she said.

 

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