The Glass Stiletto
A Ravenous Romance™ Once Upon A Time™ Original Publication
Rachel Kenley
A Ravenous Romance™ Original Publication
www.ravenousromance.com
The Glass Stiletto
Smashwords Edition
Copyright © 2008 by Rachel Kenley
Ravenous Romance™
100 Cummings Center
Suite 125G
Beverly, MA 01915
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in whole or in part without written permission from the publisher, except by reviewers who may quote brief excerpts in connection with a review.
ISBN: 978-1-60777-053-4
This book is a work of fiction, and any resemblance to persons living or dead is purely coincidental.
Dedication
For Cathy Berlin, without whom I never would have started this
and
Greg Norris, without whom I never would have finished it.
Chapter One
Air. He needed fresh air, solitude, and ten minutes where he didn’t have to smile or make small talk with women who wanted to marry him.
Since Teodor knew it was inappropriate to run out of a ball held in his honor, he moved as quickly as he could without attracting undue attention or knocking into someone, a nearly impossible feat. If I can rule a kingdom, I can get out of this room, he told himself as he acknowledged another courtier and returned his gaze to the wall of French doors that were his goal.
When finally he stepped onto the terrace, he gripped the rail and released what felt like his first deep breath of the night. He was as relieved as if he had escaped from a dungeon. The cool air was even better than he hoped, brisk and crisp, and he knew ten minutes was not going to be long enough. Just thinking about returning was making him tense. As he loosened the neck of his shirt, he took another deep breath, looked up at the full moon and asked, “What next?”
As if in answer to his question, a woman appeared on the terrace. He heard her before he saw her. The rapid click of her heels - and he turned to see her racing out of the ballroom even faster than he had. He wondered what, or who, she was escaping from.
She watched over her shoulder at the room she had left, so she didn’t notice Teodor until she banged into him. He caught her arms as she stumbled, and although she glanced at him briefly, her gaze kept darting behind her. Her gown was dark purple, cut low in the front to expose her ample cleavage. She was breathing fast, although from running or dancing, he didn’t know.
“Are you all right?” he asked.
Finally she turned to face him and he noticed her expressive eyes and full lips. He stared at her mouth, and thought he’d imagined it when she said, “Kiss me.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“There is no time for begging. I need you to kiss me now.” Without another word, she grabbed his face in her hands, and took advantage of his surprise to turn around so that his back faced the ballroom, as she brought his mouth to hers. Despite all the predatory single women attending tonight’s event, Teodor stiffened at first, but quickly found himself yielding to the pleasant sensations of her kiss.
Her touch was warm and giving. Intrigued both by her actions and his reaction, he dared more. As soon as his mouth opened, her tongue was against his. He could taste the champagne she’d must have sipped earlier. The more he put into the kiss, the more she responded, first with a sigh, then by pressing her body against his.
She was shorter than him by several inches, so he bent to deepen the kiss and wrapped his arms around her to bring her closer. He could feel her breasts against his chest and allowed his hands to roam down her back. By the time he felt her hands thread through his hair, he was hard and ready for her. Tingles she created in his scalp shot down to his cock.
The primary goal of the evening was forgotten. Looking for a wife could wait. He wanted to act on his attraction to this woman. Not even his mistress back in Galenet got him this excited this quickly. Already he was aching to release her breasts from their tenuous captivity and fondle her until she cried out for more.
He was still thinking about how he could get her someplace private when she broke the kiss and stepped back from him.
“Thank you,” she said. “I needed that.”
He tried to kiss her again but she put a hand on his chest to stop him. It was then he noticed her breathing had returned to normal, and she was no longer flustered. His heartbeat raced while hers seemed to have calmed. He didn’t try to keep the annoyance from his voice when he asked, “You needed to be kissed?”
“No. I needed a diversion to keep a lecherous old man away from me. Since you were available, your kiss was the distraction I chose. Many thanks for your kind, if unplanned, assistance, sir. It is greatly appreciated and was a very nice kiss.”
Nice? he thought angrily. It was better than that, much better. He was not accustomed to being called a diversion, and he didn’t much like it, especially as he was now hungry for more from this woman than a simple kiss. She took a step back and he grabbed her arm. How could she rock him to his core and not be affected in any way? It was maddening.
And she had called him “sir.” Did that mean she didn’t know who he was? If so, she must be the only woman in the kingdom who didn’t, which made her even more intriguing and desirable. Before he could question her, they were interrupted by the sound of a clearing throat.
“Your Majesty,” a deep voice called. Teodor turned to see Vencor, his father’s prime minister, standing at the doors with a familiar expression of annoyed concern on his face. The man consistently had lousy timing and tonight was no exception. “I am sorry if I am interrupting you, but you are needed by His Highness as soon as possible.”
The man wasn’t sorry at all, and they both knew it. “I will be there momentarily,” Teodor answered. So much for the chance to be with someone who didn’t know his title and covet a position as his wife. “As soon as I say goodnight to…” He turned to address the woman, but she was gone.
“To whom, sir?”
“The lady I was just ki…” He stopped. “Did you see her?”
“No, sir, but your back was to me when I stepped out. Perhaps you blocked her from my view.”
“Did you notice her leave?” His thoughts were muddled. Teodor couldn’t even remember letting go of her arm.
“I’m afraid not, sir, but I’m certain you will be able to find her later.”
Damn right I will, he thought, as he checked the empty terrace once more before following Vencor into the packed ballroom.
* * * *
Mariella watched as the man started to walk back into the castle, then stop and look over his shoulder. She knew he was looking for her. She was grateful for the interruption, which give her time to run into the shadows at the edge of the terrace. She would have smiled except she could still hear the man’s address, “Majesty.” Of all the people to kiss, she had chosen the wife-hunting prince of the realm. True, she had a similar goal in mind, but her motivation for husband-hunting was self-preservation, not for reproduction and court appearances.
When she arrived at the ball and heard the constant chatter about Prince Teodor, she counted herself lucky that she had no interest in the prince. In fact, she didn’t want to be involved with nobility at too high a level at all. There would be countless responsibilities, pressures, and protocols to follow. After years of being a slave in own her family, she wanted nothing more than to be free from them and in a home of her own. To do this, she needed to find a husband, but not one who would create another prison for her. These dances were the opportunities she had prayed for, and she was not going to waste the chance.
Her plan, which she had been concocting since her sisters first received the invitation to these events, was to meet an older man – perhaps a widower – who wouldn’t care that she came with no dowry, only that she was beautiful and willing. She didn’t even mind if he had children. Having been a stepchild herself, she knew she could do a better job caring for them than what she had been shown.
The one thing she didn’t want, besides the prince, was love or passion, after witnessing the pain her father endured when her mother died or her own lasting grief at the loss of her parents. She was committed to not putting herself through the potential for that kind of agony. Security and freedom, yes. Love and restrictions, no.
Unfortunately, in the last hour, while trying to avoid being noticed by her step-family, she had caught the attention of the Earl of Somerville, a lascivious coot who clearly wanted a roll in the hay and nothing more. He’d offer nothing permanent. She had enough of that in her life already. She was searching for something lifelong.
Because of years doing the bidding of her stepmother and sisters, Mariella was good at reading and anticipating people. She knew when to offer assistance and when to keep away, when to question and when to be silent, when to initiate and when to respond. She could analyze most social situations correctly within moments of entering a room or hearing a conversation. It was a skill that kept her from going to bed hungry on many occasions, and she was putting this ability to good use tonight.
A second helpful ability was understanding that most people were rarely more than they appeared after a first meeting, and they would work hardest to cover up what they feared most. The braggarts were cowardly, the vain were unattractive, the opinionated were ignorant. She had hoped these talents would allow her to hone in on an appropriate marriage candidate. Of course, this was before she ran, literally, into the prince.
Too bad a man who thought nothing of shopping for a bride in such an impersonal manner was such a good kisser. It would make him harder to forget. Mariella cringed, then smiled when she remembered what she said to him. Had she actually told him his kiss was “nice”? The astonished look on his face had been almost amusing. Of course, at that point, she hadn’t known who he was.
When she ran outside to escape the Earl’s attention, her only thought had been to hide long enough for Somerville to tire of searching for her. When she found herself in the arms of the tall, broad-shouldered man staring at her mouth, she had a far more enjoyable idea. As far as getting rid of the Earl was concerned, it worked. She briefly opened her eyes during the kiss and saw the old man notice her, shrug and leave. However, enjoying the touch of a stranger, then discovering she had claimed a kiss from her future sovereign, was not part of any plan.
Neither was the shiver of pleasure the embrace caused. She couldn’t forget the expression in his eyes before they kissed. Concern for her, combined with a hint of misery that was all too familiar to Mariella. She recognized quickly the look of despair that came from believing oneself trapped. She couldn’t help wonder what made him feel that way. After their embrace, his despair had been transformed into desire. It would be a long time before she forgot the hunger and need she saw there.
* * * *
Later that night, she lay in bed unable to sleep and thought about the prince. She had loved sensing the moment he gave himself over to their embrace. His body had stiffened, then relaxed, and then hardened again – lower. She shivered as she remembered it. The way he had pressed against her at the end told her he was ready for more than a kiss, but her abrupt dismissal had quickly cooled his ardor. He wasn’t used to being rejected, that was certain.
He was also not used to having things demanded from him. He gave orders. He didn’t take them, but as she reflected more on their encounter, another ripple went through her. Perhaps he liked not having a choice in the matter. She certainly enjoyed giving an order for a change and having someone do as she said. If having power excited her, could surrendering excite him?
The prince’s reaction hinted at an intriguing and exciting contradiction. Mariella had some experience with the pleasure of power exchange in the bedroom, but always where she was the submissive to the partner her stepmother insist she “attend.” She responded as the men wanted, which was the easiest way for her to find any enjoyment in the coupling. She discovered that the weaker the man seemed, the more control he chose to exert during sex. Perhaps the reverse would be true of a man who had complete power over his own life? Would he enjoy her being in control? The idea made her wet.
There were grand balls planned the next two evenings. She needed to return tomorrow night to continue her husband search, but, if their paths crossed again, perhaps she would spend time flirting with the sexy Prince Teodor. It would be worth it to find out if there were more secrets inside the man whose mouth made her hunger.
But, she reminded herself, it could be, would be, nothing more than that. She had no long-term interest in the man. Still, his was the face she was thinking of as she fell asleep.
Even after years of schooling her features to have no expression, hiding her mood from her family the next day was one of the hardest things she had ever done. Her stepsisters chattered incessantly about the party and the people they met, their mother thrilled to hear every connection the girls made. Mariella almost spilled hot water on herself when she heard the oldest, Stania, describe the Earl of Somerville in glowing and hopeful terms. Let her learn the hard way for once, she had thought. It would serve her right.
As soon as the others left for the ball, Mariella raced to her room and her mother’s secret trunks. When her mother had died, Mariella’s father had put away his wife’s clothes. Soon after his new wife arrived, Mariella instinctively knew these people could not be trusted, and they would likely take rather than share. She stored the trunks under the eves behind a wall in her attic bedroom. When the balls were announced, she knew she had clothes and jewels appropriate for the occasion.
A week before the events, she had taken the dresses out to inspect them for worn sections that needed mending. It was then she discovered an unexpected pair of glass shoes, hidden under the gowns and distinct from any she had ever seen. The dramatically high heel made her smile and wonder about the mother she could barely remember. She slipped them on, hoping that they would fit and when they did, she felt a delight that made her feel strong, beautiful and sexy, as if the shoes had a special power of their own.
From that moment, she longed for an occasion to wear them. She had not worn them the first night because she was concerned about breaking them, but after meeting the prince and thinking about what she hoped to learn, Mariella decided to take the chance. Besides, they gave her additional height, and the prince was at least six inches taller than she was. She wouldn’t be able to meet his eyes directly, but she would be closer. She wanted to see his expression if she were alone with him again.
When she arrived at the ball, it was already busy and noisy. She took a flute of champagne from a passing servant and moved slowly around the room, again making certain to keep an eye on where her stepsisters and their mother were so that she could avoid them. Their garish dresses made them easy to locate, even in the crowd. She would never have guessed their lack of taste would one day be an advantage for her.
As Mariella walked, she looked with curiosity at the attendees. Knowing she was wearing the sexiest shoes she had ever seen made her wonder if they had secrets beneath their clothes as well. What were the courtiers whispering about in the corner? What were they hiding under all those layers of finery? Perhaps the tightly corseted woman standing by the buffet ached to have her husband lick her to orgasm, but was too shy to let him know. Maybe tonight the man looking hungrily at his wife would finally tell her of his desire to be tied to the bed while she rode him.
The last thought caused a shiver of pleasure to run through her. Did the prince have a secret side to his sexual needs? If everyone always catered to him and did as he asked, had he ever been able to experience true passion in the bedroom? She wondered if his “charmed” life was almost as mechanical and planned out as hers. As she scanned the ballroom, she considered this connection they might share.
Damn, I’m looking for him, she thought angrily. She sipped from her drink as she realized she was continuing to let her experience with the prince distract her from her original goal. She only had two nights to meet a man and receive his interest, if not a proposal. She could not afford to be sidetracked.
Besides, Prince Teodor was likely busy with one of the hundreds of other women vying for his affection. She doubted if he even remembered their kiss. When she realized the notion made her angry, she shook her head, trying to clear it again of thoughts of him. She needed to focus on men who were appropriate, which didn’t describe the prince at all. Putting on a more welcoming and seductive expression, she began to move purposefully through the crowd.
Almost two hours later, Mariella was thrilled to have engaged the attention of a charming older Viscount and was feeling very positive about the possibilities with him. She was charming and coy and he was clearly enamored, talking of himself at length and beginning to hint at how she might fit into his household and give him the heir he wanted. As she was beginning to relax and enjoy their conversation, she saw him stiffen, step back, and bow. Mariella’s heart raced, knowing who she would see when she turned.
Teodor was even more handsome in the fully lit room than he had been on the terrace. She curtsied low and tried not to curse under her breath. She had done such a good job of getting him out of her mind, but here he was, invading both her thoughts and her vision. She could hardly remember the Viscount’s name now that Teodor stood before her. He was one of those men who wore power as if it were something they were born with, not born to. On market days she had seen gentry who did not come across as powerful and gamekeepers who did. Teodor’s confidence and command were clearly as much a part of him as his gorgeous eyes, which tonight she could see were midnight blue.
“If you will excuse us, Sir March,” he said to the Viscount, who nodded in assent. Teodor turned to Mariella. “I would have the next dance with you.”
“As you wish, Your Highness.” She held out her hand to him, and, taking it, he guided her to the floor.
“And I would have your name as well.”
Chapter Two
It had taken him too long to find her, and he was anxious to have her in his arms again. Since he couldn’t be alone with her yet, the dance would have to do. As she walked beside him, he swore he could smell the scent of her perfume – feminine and sexy. Her upper body brushed lightly against his, teasing his senses further. It was a wonder he didn’t have an erection by the time they reached the center of the room.
He couldn’t understand why he hadn’t found her earlier in the evening. The simple lines and color of the dark green dress made her stand out from all the fuss and frills of the other women. She wore only a small pair of earrings for jewelry and, he thought, she didn’t need additional enhancement.
When the music began, he realized she had avoided giving him her name. He smiled at her cunning as they fell into step with one another. He was surprised by how comfortable it was to move with her. Although he led, it was as if she anticipated what he wanted rather then responding to his direction. He had only to think of the next step, and she was moving. The dance required them to separate, then come back together and each time they did, he experienced a thrill. She felt wonderful in his arms, as though she had been waiting for him.
The piece ended too quickly, and he was pleased to hear her suggest, “I would enjoy it if we could continue.” He knew that agreeing would send tongues wagging and rumors flying, since he hadn’t paid this kind of attention to anyone else, but in the moment he didn’t care. It wasn’t as though the talk of others had ever bothered him before.
Still, it wouldn’t do to give in to her too quickly. “Not unless you tell me your name.”
She smiled. “And here I thought you had forgotten. I am Mariella Janis.”
“I am inclined to forget little about you and glad we have been introduced, Lady Mariella.”
“As am I, Your Majesty, but, please, it’s Mariella. I am no lady.” Before he could ask her what she meant, she opened her arms and he took them, leading her into the swirl of people. This dance kept them touching at all times and allowed him to look at her more closely.
Her lips were as he remembered, ripe and red, ready for his kiss. He longed to see them swollen from his attention. Her brown hair was swept up and away from her face, and he wondered how long it would fall when he undid it, how it would feel in his hands. Everything about her was beautiful, but it was her eyes that truly held him.
There was understanding, longing and passion in her deep brown eyes. Teodor wasn’t sure why he saw that when he looked at her. She seemed so different from the throngs of single women he had had to speak with these past few days who were so calculating and shallow. For him, Mariella could say nothing and be interesting. It was refreshing. And intriguing. He didn’t know why he responded to her this way, but he was determined to find out.
When the music ended, he wanted to continue, but that would be tantamount to a proposal. As during their dance, she once again anticipated him. Coming up from her curtsy, she said, “I am sorry we cannot dance again.”
“As am I, but you could meet me on the terrace again in a few minutes,” he suggested
“I will do that,” she said.
“I have your world you will be there?”
“You do, Your Majesty.”
“Then I will join you shortly.”
As with everything these last few days, it took him longer than he wanted to get to her, and he wondered if she would keep her promise. It bothered him to know he couldn’t find her if she didn’t.
As soon as he was outside he heard her call, “I am here, Your Majesty.”
He walked toward her voice only to see her walk quickly down a small flight of stairs that led in to the garden.
“You wish to be chased?” he asked when he caught up with her.
“I wish to be undisturbed,” she said. “We were interrupted last night.”
“And then you disappeared.”
“I didn’t know how long you would be then, and being found alone with you would have been difficult to explain. I thought that tonight, we should have some privacy.”
“I agree. Come with me.” He took her hand and led her to one of this favorite places on the grounds, a tree-sheltered grotto. They walked past a fountain in the center to a pavilion with a bench, where he had her sit and took a seat facing her.
Before he could kiss her, as he was aching to do, she asked, “Why are you suddenly looking for a wife? And why these elaborate events to find one?”
Her questions caught him off guard. He was expecting coy flirtations meant only to delay the inevitable. Instead, by the light of the moon, he could see that she was quite serious and expected an answer. He was quickly learning, and becoming thankful that she was not like the other women he had met.
“It was neither my idea nor my choice,” he replied honestly.
* * * *
His tone told her more than his words. “I had that feeling,” she said. “It explains why I found you alone and removed from the crowd last night. Tell me more.”
If he noticed her request was phrased as a command, he didn’t say.
“I have been given the opportunity to rule my own kingdom before the death of my father.”
“That’s wonderful.”
“It has been, yes. Thirteen months ago, the king of Galenet, the land that lies to the south, died without legitimate heirs. My father is the closest relative to the crown. Rather than try to rule two kingdoms simultaneously, which historically has weakened both lands, two months later he offered me the monarchy of Galenet. I must prove I am worthy of the position within the year of my appointment and by the end of that time, I must also be married. He believes a wife is required for a successful leader.”
“You disagree?”
“I agree a wife is important to quality of life, not to mention future heirs, but I do not see how she would help with my new responsibilities. Things in Galenet have been going well during this transition. On the other hand, the process of finding a wife has been more exhausting than exhilarating. It has pulled me away from what I wish to be doing and placed me in the center of social attention, which I detest.”
“It is a challenging way to meet someone,” she agreed.
“You have a gift for understatement. The choosing could have waited and been done under different circumstances. As is, the only women I am meeting here are those who desire to be queen. I could be a troll without a brain in my head, but as long as I have a title, I am desirable.”
“I assume from the urgent air that surrounds these events that your year is almost up.”
He nodded. “In just over four weeks, I must attend my coronation with a wife at my side or I forfeit the crown. I thought if I waited long enough my father would change his mind, but as you can see, it hasn’t happened. The parties were organized to encourage me to meet women and choose from among them, but where I am needed is back in my kingdom, not wasting time on chasing matrimony. I get reports and letters almost daily telling me of issues that need my attention, decisions that need my guidance. I want to be back there.”
“It is frustrating to be in a situation you didn’t plan for and can’t control.”