Chapter Eight
Chapter 8
Lilly looked at the filthy chamber with a sigh of disgust. Rugger and two female clients had used the chamber last. They had obviously enjoyed themselves greatly from the food scraps, empty liquor bottles, and towels strewn about the floor. Lilly instructed the three helper bots to begin cleaning up the food and bottles, while she began picking up the discarded clothes.
The room was unusually hot and after a few minutes she pulled off her veil and robe to hang them on a hook by the door, then pressed the button to up the air conditioning and recirculate the air in an effort to cool and freshen the stuffy chamber. Thanks to the money she’d been awarded from Sora’s attack she’d been able to buy the first new clothes she’s had in years, a pair of light sky blue boy shorts and a matching top that was similar to one of her costume tops.
Now cooler Lilli began picking up the discarded towels and stuffing them and the dirty bedding in the hamper to be washed. She looked about the room sighing in annoyance, the chamber was filthy. It was beyond filthy, it would take at least an hour to clean it properly, and she didn’t want to speculate on what some of the stains were or how some of them had gotten on the walls.
If she was going to have to be here for a while she could at least make the best of it. She’d repaired the sound system in the chamber several days ago, so she could at least listen to music. Lilly pulled up the playlist and selected a tune that reminded her of one of her favorite dance pieces; she turned up the volume and directed the bots to scrub the walls while she made up the bed with fresh linens. After a few minutes, the music got to her and she stripped off her gloves and began to dance like she hadn’t done since home. Caught up in the joy of the music she forgot where she was and all her worries and simply began to dance.
* * * *
Ronan was finished for the day, having spent all of it in the Dome entertaining several patrons with stories of his time in the arena. One of the patrons had offered to pay him handsomely to pleasure a female of his choosing but Ronan had declined, for some reason since he’d kissed Lilly for the first time no other female interested him, which was beyond odd. He had decided he would seek Lilly out and kiss her, to see if kissing her cured his sudden disinterest in females. She would be cleaning the chambers now, and he would have time to talk to her unobserved and without interruptions. Perhaps he could convince her to share his chamber; she was still refusing his chamber and his bed, which was beyond his imagination, at home females fairly begged for him to bed them. He was a prince and admiral of his own fleet, one day he would rule his planet, he was also considered a skilled lover yet Lilly refused his advances, it was maddening at best. Ronan stopped before the first sex chamber door and heard music from within; he knew all the others were in the Dome now and that all the chambers should be empty except for Lilly and the cleaners. He keyed the door and stepped inside, what he saw froze him in his tracks. Lilly was dancing, or rather undulating in time to the music. It was the most sensual thing he’d ever seen. He stepped closer and Lilly saw him and stopped dancing as she flushed in embarrassment, then stepping to the wall unit killed the music.
“Ronan, you startled me, I didn’t think anyone was about.” Lilly moved towards her discarded robe only to have Ronan block her way.
“What kind of dance were you doing, I have never seen the like?” Ronan’s gaze roamed appreciatively over Lilly’s body, exposed by her skimpy blue garments. While her breasts were full and plump the rest of Lilly was thin to the point of being bony, evidence of the hardships she’d endured. He would have to take better care of her from now on, especially now that she was his, he would have to make her understand that she belonged to him. He would also have to find a way to woo her and earn her trust, despite where they were.
Ronan let his eyes roam over Lily again; despite her thinness, she still had enough curves to set his heart beating faster and stir his desire. Her creamy skin also enticed him, on his world the females of noble birth would have skin so light grey that it was close to white making them highly prized as mates. Aye on his world a female such as Lilly would have been much prized and fought over and she was his for the taking and yet he could do nothing.
“It is called belly dancing, at home, I would dance to earn money to pay for school and rent.” Lilly moved to grab her discarded robe again only for Ronan to once again block her way.
“Nay, you are too lovely to cover with that hideous garment. Dance for me.”
Lilly shook her head, it had been too long since she’d danced for anyone, and it would be weird to dance for just Ronan.
“No, no I can’t it has been too long since I danced for anyone.” Lilly protested.
“Come you were just dancing, dance for me little one I will make it worth your while,” Ronan replied stepping closer to Lilly. It had been too long since he’d kissed her since he’d touched her soft skin. He could resist no longer and stepped up to Lilly, brushing strands of her bright hair behind her ear.
Ronan felt her tremble as he cupped her cheek with his palm, enjoying the feel of her silken skin. Ronan claimed her lips with a brief but heated kiss that left no doubt how much he wanted her, after a few minutes he forced himself to break the kiss, but kept his hand against her cheek.
“I will buy you new clothes when I can go to town; my woman should not wear rags. Now dance for me or we can make use of the bed, your choice.”
Lilly stepped back breaking his hold. His kiss had stirred such feelings in her and filled her with such thoughts, that it was best to keep her distance from him. As tempting as Ronan was it was best to keep him at arm’s length. He would never knowingly hurt her of that she was sure but he had the power to break her heart and to destroy the small amount of normalcy she’d found.
“I have not agreed to be your woman,” Lilly replied as she tried again to slip past Ronan who was scowling.
“You are mine though you deny it. We shall discuss you being my woman later, but now dance for me.” Ronan rumbled both annoyed and turned on by Lilly’s defiance. “Please Lilly, dance for me.”
“Very well, I shall dance if you promise to behave,” Lilly replied stepping back. “Pick some music.”
Ronan gave Lilly a roguish grin and stepped up to the wall console. He frowned at it for a moment, not only were the buttons worn but they were in the language of the ancients that had built the dome; as such, they were illegible to him. He pressed buttons randomly until music filled the chamber, he stepped back to eye Lilly who had her head cocked to one side as if listening. After a moment she began to dance, her hips and stomach undulating in time to the music, her hands and arms moving fluidly about her head and body. Ronan had never seen anything so sensual in his life. He could only imagine what it would be like to have Lilly in his bed, to have her supple lithe body pressed against his. He would make her his, he would not let her deny him any longer. As much as Ronan enjoyed Lilly dancing he wanted no distractions, never taking his eyes off Lilly he began punching random buttons till the music stopped. As soon as the music stopped Lilly opened her eyes and gave Ronan a puzzled look.
“Didn’t you like it; I know I’m out of practice.” Lilly stopped mid-sentence as Ronan a smoldering look on his face stepped towards her.
“You are so beautiful,” Ronan growled as he advanced on her. She gave him a nervous look as she stepped back till she bumped against the bed, Ronan stalking her the entire time not stopping till she was pressed against the bed. Ronan licked his lips as he slowly reached for Lilly, one hand cupping her face while the other slipped about her waist trapping her in place. She was so small compared to him, the top of her head barely coming to the center of his chest, yet despite her lack of size she was strong and brave, a woman truly fit to be his. Ronan covered Lilly’s mouth with his own, as always marveling at how soft her lips were. After a moment’s hesitation, her mouth opened under his and his tongue eased into her mouth. Ronan deepened the kiss while his hands stroked Lilly’s back, finally coming to rest on her small firm backside. Her body was soft and warm against his and the way her small hands felt on his skin was enough to send his desire ratcheting up a notch.
Lilly gave into her pent-up desire kissing Ronan back with want and desire equal to his, she loved the feel of his rough warm hands on her body, how his kiss could rob her of breath and sense at the same moment.
Ronan broke the kiss after several heartbeats, he could either stop now or take their relationship to the next level, it was up to Lilly.
“If we continue I will need more than kissing. I need to touch you, Lilly, to pleasure you to kiss every inch of your creamy skin. But it is up to you, if you agree I will make love to you but only with my hands and mouth. I would not dishonor you.” Ronan murmured searching Lily’s face.
“You could do that?” Lily asked.
“With ease,” Ronan replied.
“Then yes,” Lilly replied letting her feelings dictate her actions for the first time in her life. “But just your hands and mouth.”
Ronan didn’t need to be told twice, he slid his hands up to pull off the small blue top Lilly was wearing throwing it onto the bed behind her, next, he pushed down her matching shorts while she kicked off her short ankle boots, leaving her naked except for a black bra and panties.
“Your turn,” Lilly said as she let her desire guide her and she pulled Ronan’s loose white shirt out of his tight black pants making him laugh. He took the shirt from her hands and dragged it over his head as he toed off his shoes.
“Easy little one.” Ronan slipped his hands about Lilly’s waist and with a quick motion lifted her and flipped her onto the bed making her gasp and then laugh.
Lilly watched as Ronan began crawling across the bed towards her his eyes hungry and full of desire.
“So beautiful, where shall I begin,” Ronan murmured crawling up Lilly’s body to examine the delectable feat before him. “The neck perhaps, I have wanted to lick it for some time and then I shall work my way lower.”
Ten minutes later Lilly was naked under the still partially clothed Ronan while he used his mouth and hands to do the most wonderfully wicked things to her. He’d kissed and fondled her breasts while his one hand slipped lower to stroke her there and after a few minutes her whole body had exploded in pleasure. Lilly had wanted it to go on forever, but some part of her brain; the logical Lilly knew they had to stop soon.
“We have to stop.” Lilly gasped as Ronan licked a path from her naked breasts to her belly button.
“In a moment,” Ronan replied as he heard what sounded like knocking but chose to ignore it.
The banging increased and Ronan with regret tore himself away from Lilly as Captain Tyrell burst into the room, and ran to the wall unit where he flicked a switch then turned to regard Ronan and Lilly as she grabbed the sheet from the bed, using it to cover her nakedness.
“Do you know what you did Ronan?” Tyrell demanded.
Ronan fixed him with a scowl as he rose from the bed, annoyed at the interruption and himself for having gone as far as he had with Lilly while also regretting he hadn’t been able to claim her.
“I have done nothing wrong, Lilly and I were.” Ronan stood between Lilly and Tyrell, trying to shield her from view with his body.
“I know exactly what you were doing, as does every guard in the security center. I don’t know what you meant to do but you activated not only the camera but the upload feature.” Tyrell mumbled a curse. “Not only did I and my guards see Lilly dancing and you making love to her but so did half the ships in orbit and anyone in the other domes who logged into our feed.”
Lilly gasped as she slid off the bed, holding the sheet against her she felt the world tilt.
“What have you done, you have destroyed me.” Lilly looked about for her discarded clothes and robe, she would have to head to the wastelands and live in hiding for the rest of her life.
Ronan shook his head in denial as his blood froze in his veins. What had he done, not only had he exposed Lilly’s secret but he’d destroyed her trust in him. What a fool he was, how would he protect Lilly now? When the master saw how beautiful she was she would be sold off in a flash.
“Nay, there must be a way to undo this to save Lilly.” Ronan growled as he grabbed his shirt from the floor.
“There might still be a way to save Lilly. The Master and overseer have yet to see the vid feed, and I ordered my men to hold all incoming requests for her.” Tyler looked from Ronan to Lilly and back. “We have already been flooded with requests for Lilly to dance; some are from the other domes, some from incoming ships. A few have been to lie with her. At the moment no one knows of them but my men and I. You can buy her from the master for only a few thousand credits. As a prime, you are allowed to own property that includes a personal slave. You can buy exclusive rights to her body. Tell the master she will still continue working as before but that you wish to own her body.”
“If what you say is true would it protect her from others?” Ronan knew he had the credit to buy Lilly, more than enough credit. Under law slaves were allowed to keep part of the money they earned their masters, Ronan had been hoping to buy his way to freedom as it didn’t look like his people would be coming for him.
“You would have to get the master to sign a contract but yes, your only chance is to hurry and do it now before he sees the feed,” Tyrell said.
“Why, are you helping me?” Lily asked. Grabbing her garments and trying to dress while holding the sheet before her, in exasperation she threw it over her head and using it like a tent struggled to dress beneath it.
“Because I have seen how hard you have worked since you came here, seen your kindness to others even if they don’t warrant it,” Tyrell replied.
Lilly was moved by the blue-skinned Captain’s kindness and felt tears threaten. “Thank you.”
“You are more than welcome,” Tyrell replied as his comm beeped loudly. Tyrell pressed his fingers to the unit in his ear as if listening and then mumbled a curse. “It is too late, that was Cheng he saw the vid and is furious. He wants me to bring the both of you to Master Perion’s chamber at once.”
Ronan snarled in annoyance angry at both himself and the situation. “Will you give us a moment and then we shall come.”
“Aye, but be quick, and I’m sorry.” Tyrell stepped quickly from the chamber as Ronan turned to Lilly and caught her hand pulling her against him.
“I will do whatever I can to protect you, I am sorry Lilly, sorry from the bottom of my hearts, I never meant to cause you harm.”
Lilly nodded. “I know and I was a fool to have thought I could live here forever without eventually being found out. No matter what happens I will still help you Ronan because you have come to mean everything to me.”
Ronan felt his hearts clench and vowed he’d do whatever it took to protect Lilly no matter the cost to him.