Pleasure and Pain

I was safe. Well, I was pulled into the dark, narrow alley without the guards noticing me slipping into the shadows, so I was safe...for now.

There was someone, a total stranger, pressed hard against my body. He held the rather heavy red pouch between his slim, lean fingers. How he was able to snatch from around my waist was beyond me. He must have slipped his hand beneath my cloak when he held me against his bare, firm, tan chest. The thought brought heat to my face and I knew if I was standing in a better-lit room, he would have noticed the blush darkening my cheeks.

"What do you want from me? You can have whatever is inside this," I nodded towards jewels wrapped in the res cloth, "just please, let go of me." I almost broke into tears. He could have the gold, he could have whatever he wanted, but I just wanted him to let me go.

"Only if you tell me why they were after you." He leaned back, his eyes locked on mine. Why were they after me? Honestly, I did not have any idea. I thought I had until tomorrow until they would have noticed my absence. Was I being followed? No, I was almost sure I was alone. Then someone must have told the guards about my escape.

Someone...Thea.

"There is an inn on the outskirts of the city, it's not very far from the Palace, you can stay there" her words ran through my memory. She betrayed me. My friend. My only true friend. My heart ached with the thought.

"I told you, I stole someth-"

"Cut the crap." He said firmly and I almost jumped.

"I know you're not from around here. Not with this heavy thing," he weighed the pouch and then moved to grab my cloak, "not with this fine material. You are no beggar, and you certainly are no thief." He continued, his eyes pouring into mine with an intensity that, if possible, could set the

whole city on fire.

I was silent with only my heart racing in my heart. He knew I was lying, and I knew there was no getting out of this trouble.

"You are right, I am not from here. but I can not reveal to you where I came from and you should probably stay away from me, it's dangerous for you to be seen with me." His eyes narrowed as I confessed. Only half of it was true, if anyone from back home saw him with me they would assume I was taken by him against my will.

He did not speak for a brief moment, what he did, however, was slip the hood off of my head, revealing my flushed face. It was so quick that my eyes widened when I felt the night's cool breeze caressing my pale skin. He studied me closely, his piercing eyes moving from my shocked features to my white hair then back to my parted lips.

I did not know what to do, I just stood there waiting for him to either get totally creeped out by my appearance or worse, call out for the guards.

I felt a sigh escaping his exposed chest. He leaned back, the weight pressed against my body was finally gone and I took a deep breath. He eyed me from head to toe with only the dim, silver moonlight illuminating my form. He raised his hand, pressing it against his face, and I noticed the several good bracelets adorning his forearm, gleaming brightly in the darkness of the night.

"Fine, you'll come with me." He said when he apparently was done thinking, I raised a brow, I did not want to go with him, I wanted him to let go of me!

"I'm sorry, I was not planning on staying in the city for long."

"You have nowhere to stay the night, do you?" I was silent for a second. He shook his head, and several strands of hair fluttered with the movement. "That's what I thought." He then gripped my arm, pulling me out of the alley.

"Wait I-" I was caught off guard when he turned his head, glancing at me over his shoulder. It was only then that I got a full look at his face. With defined, sharp features, sparkling emerald green eyes fringed with thick, long lashes, high, arched dark brows, and lush lips, he looked...divine. His bronze skin gleamed brightly beneath the silver moonlight.

"Where are you taking me?" I gathered my thoughts, my eyes dropped to his hand tightly gripping my wrist, he was leading me somewhere, I did not know if following him would be a great idea or if I was just asking for more trouble.

It was not too long before he stopped in front of a tiny building hidden by a bunch of towering palm trees. I shot him a questioning look, was I going to stay with him alone in that place? I had made a terrible mistake by letting him take me there. My thoughts were suddenly interrupted by the sound of laughter. A woman then came out of a small, almost invisible door, wearing nothing but a sheer, tight dress which almost revealed her large accentuated breasts.

"You're back!" She cried out while the others began to follow her outside, I noticed how their beautiful faces were painted with colorful, dark make-up. She walked towards us, hips swaying seductively and dark hair fluttering in the wind.

The women rushed towards us, they laughed and cheered. Most of them had their breasts out and free. They dragged their small, feminine hands all over the man's strong biceps, toned chest, and his-

My eyes widened in horror. It finally clicked. It was a brothel. The bastard had brought me to a brothel!

My blood boiled, was he planning on leaving me there? Oh, I would choke the life out of him with my bare hands. Who did he think I was? Well, he did not know who I truly was, but still.

My eyes darted to his face with rage bubbling inside of me, he was grinning widely, he talked and snickered, and his hand even grabbed a woman's behind! I was not going to spend another minute

there.

"Who is that?" I heard the female ask, her lips curled up. The others then tore their attention from the man and glanced at me. I felt so awkward and a little bit self-conscious. They were utterly beautiful, with smooth, glistening caramel skin, and I was just standing there with my face partly concealed.

The man, still holding my wrist, started leading me inside. I wanted to yell at him in protest, but I did need a place to spend the night. I would definitely run away in the morning, I made up my mind. Again.

One inside, he let go of me and wrapped both arms around another woman's luscious body. She giggled and buried her face into his dark, naked chest. He then looked at me, "give her the best food you have, and a comfortable place to sleep." He ordered and, to my surprise, tossed the pouch, my pouch as a matter of fact, onto a small wooden table. When they rushed to the wrapped cloth, he turned around, taking the woman upstairs.