Once a Princess Read Online Free PDF

realized it was the heavy kohl she’d used that gave them that effect, that and the fact that she kept her eyes lowered to avoid looking directly at the audience. Her feet were bare, butthat was the only part of her that was, other than the inch or two of navel that appeared infrequently when her chest rose during her slow undulations.
    Hopefully, Vasili would be satisfied with that teasing glimpse of exposed belly, for he wouldn’t see any more if Stefan could help it, not tonight anyway. But how to manage that, when Vasili had already announced his intentions? Directness seemed the easiest route, which was what he tried the moment the girl ended her dance and disappeared through a back door.
    â€œYou have gorged yourself recently, Vasili. This one you will leave to me.”
    â€œI will?” The golden-haired man swung around in surprise. “Did you hear that, Lazar? He wants to steal the wench right out from under me.”
    â€œAh, but she’s not under you yet, and he’s right,” Lazar said in complete agreement. “You have gorged yourself lately. Besides, for you, any female will do, but our Stefan is much more particular in his tastes.”
    â€œI’m willing to share.”
    â€œI am not,” Stefan said, stressing his words with the very softness of his tone.
    â€œSo it’s like that, is it?” Vasili demanded, half indignant, half amused. “Well, why didn’t you say so? You’re welcome to her—if she’ll have you.”
    It was said lightly, yet hearing Lazar suck in a horrified breath, Vasili realized the cruelty of his taunt, unintentional but there nonetheless, and he went white as a shroud. He was the most handsome among them. Women adored him because of it, and it was a typical joke in their youth that he would lordthis over the rest of them. But that was before Stefan had been disfigured trying to save his only brother from a pack of hungry wolves.
    â€œI didn’t—”
    Vasili was so appalled at himself, he couldn’t finish. His chair scraped back and long strides carried him out the door without a backward glance.
    â€œHe meant it only in jest,” Lazar offered hesitantly into the silence that surrounded only their table. “He would have said the same ten years ago.”
    â€œAm I so ignorant I don’t know that?”
    â€œJesus, Stefan,” Lazar complained. “If you weren’t so touchy about it—”
    â€œGo after him before he cuts his throat, thinking he has wounded me. Assure him my hide is much thicker than you both seem to think.”
    But it wasn’t. Vasili’s reminder that women, beautiful women at any rate, would avoid Stefan if possible cut deep. Like most men who could afford to, Stefan enjoyed them when the mood took him, but only whores, women who had little choice in the matter once they saw the color of his gold. Yet he still sensed their reluctance, and so he did not often indulge himself in that way.
    He wondered why he had forgotten that when the little houri had begun her dance. Was it just the dance, then, that had made him want to possess her so badly? Or was it only that it had been long since he’d had a woman beneath him? This one had certainly stirred something deep within him, and yet ironically, he hadn’t thought the dance all that erotic.Not that any of it mattered now, for the urge was gone.
    But he had no wish to return to the hotel yet, where Vasili and Lazar would be waiting, and would realize that he had changed his mind about the girl.
    He was still sitting there, broodingly watching the occupants of the room as he finished his beer, when the new barmaid came in. He wasn’t sure why he noticed her. She was certainly nothing to look at, with her haggard face that was downright gaunt, with her severely drawn-back hair and mannish attire. But his eyes followed her as she picked up a tray and cleared a table that had just been vacated.