Scent

PROLOGUE


The girl was asleep, half-curled up on the soft plush cover of her bed. Naked except for the pure blue jewel around her neck, her pale skin nearly glowed in the light from the lamp. "So, you'll take her?"

"She is one of the last of her kind, isn't she?" The prospective customer trailed a nail down the girl's skin- so smooth, so soft- and brushed a strand of pale-gold hair away from her cheek.

"Not precisely. Certainly, she has the potential to be one of the strongest. That's why she wears the damper." The seller motioned to the necklace.

"Ah, of course. I'll take her- your price is five thousand, I'll give you three."

"Three? My lady, a House of this stature would never give up one of its prize jewels for a mere three thousand. Four thousand fifty I could give you, and only if I had permission to trade on your name!" The Housekeeper drew back in shock.

"I'll give you four, and permission to use my name but no details as to the purchase." The noblewoman nodded decisively and took a heavy leather bag out of her pocket. "Agreed, madam?"

"Very well, but treat her with the care she deserves. After all, she's a very talented girl."

"Don't worry. She'll be treated like the jewel she is. Now, my man will come carry her out. If you'd be so kind as to put something on her for transport..."

CHAPTER ONE


Lia woke up, her head spinning as if it was going to fall off any moment. The room she was in wasn't the familiar grey-coated dormitory she had spent sixteen years of her life in, for certain. There was sunlight streaming in through tall, red-curtained windows and she was lying in a canopied bed with matching hangings. A clink of dishes brought her attention to the door, where a maid was standing with a tray. "Milady told me to bring you something to eat as you'd be waking up now," she muttered. Her manner was flat, nearly rude, and the toast and porridge that Lia ate was cold and lumpy. She made a face, but swallowed it and the pounding in her head eased slightly.

As she laid the plate of toast back on the tray, the door opened again to admit a tall woman wearing a morning gown of a light blue silk. Her vivid auburn hair was swept back in a neat bun and her jewel-blue eyes stared at Lia challengingly. "Lia At'recours, my name is Vivienne Haraldis, but you will call me mistress or 'milady'. You were sold last night by that dreadful woman at your House. I am under the impression that you are still a virgin- is this so?"

Lia nodded unwillingly and Vivenne stepped around the bed, digging her fingers into the soft flesh under Lia's chin. "Lia, sweet child, the answer you desire to make is 'Yes, mistress'. Is it not?"

Lia sniffed, the tears coming to her eyes. "Yes, mistress."

Vivienne smiled, the cold eyes warming slightly. "At least you're intelligent. Now, child, what is the extent of your education in the bedroom arts?"

"I've read all of Tracy's Pleasures and Graces, and the rest of the seminal books on the subject." Vivienne's fingers were still digging into Lia's flesh and causing her to let out a whimper of pain.

"And have you practical experience?"

"No, milady, it was forbidden for those in training. And please, you're hurting me."

Vivienne responded with a twisted grin, "Well, I suggest you start getting practical experience." She stood up and removed her dress. Lia gasped- Vivienne's perfect body definitely outmatched her own. The older woman pulled the jewelled pins out of her hair, letting the crimson locks tumble down over her creamy skin. Vivienne smiled and climbed onto the bed.

"Do you like what you see, pretty girl?"

Lia nodded dumbly, her eyes tracing over her mistress's curves avidly. Her preference for other women hadn't gone unnoticed in the House- that was why she had been sold, as women with wilder tastes preferred to indulge them in private rather than in the debauched atmosphere of the Blooded Lamb.

"Now, how would you pleasure somone like me?" Lia watched Vivienne trail a finger between her exquisite breasts, over a flat, taut stomach and to the place between her legs. Her mistress frowned. "Answer me, girl."

"I would start with... number sixty, milady, and then..." she was cut off as the older woman pressed a kiss onto her lips, tasting of honey and spice.

"Show me, you idiot." Vivienne darted a tongue between her lips and then pushed Lia's head downwards. The girl caught on quickly, to her credit and rolled her tongue around Vivienne's nipple, teasing the flesh to stiffness before replacing her mouth with her fingers and repeating the process there, her other hand slipping downwards to caress her mistress's hidden pearl lightly. Vivienne gasped slightly, gripping Lia's hair and tugging lightly.

Lia's fingers hesitantly wandered towards her mistress's opening, tracing lines as they went. The older woman moaned, leaning back as Lia became more confident in her caresses, sliding a finger inside. It was hot and wet, not at all like she'd expected, and as her finger pushed deeper and her thumb continued rubbing her mistress's pearl, Vivienne let out a hiss. "Now, with your mouth, girl."

Lia moved her mouth from Vivienne's breast to between her legs, running her tongue lightly over the wet skin. She licked her lips and tried not to show any sign that she thought the taste was strange- salty and biting, but it didn't entirely taste bad. She pushed her tongue deeper, wrapping it around her mistress's pleasure spot and sucking, like she'd been taught. She was rewarded with a sharp gasp and a tug on her hair and she sucked more firmly.

She slid another finger inside of the noblewoman, twirling them slightly and quivered as she felt Vivienne's inner walls tense. She could feel herself growing aroused as she pushed her fingers in enthusiastically before drawing them out. She set up a regular rhythm, thrusting and licking as Vivienne pressed her head down and bucked against her face, and she increased her pressure.

Vivienne's reactions were growing more intense, and as Lia grasped her pearl between her teeth, she stiffened and shuddered, her tight walls pulsing around the girl's fingers. The noblewoman screamed violently, yanking on Lia's hair, her muscles clenching. She relaxed slowly, and pulled Lia in for another kiss, her tongue searching her servant's mouth for all her juices. "You're everything that was advertised, pet."

"Th-thank you, milady. I am glad that I could please you." Lia smiled eagerly at her mistress, and Vivienne smiled back.

"I'll be taking you out on occasion. I'd like you to have some clothing suitable to outdoors- at least, partially. And, of course, a symbol of ownership." Vivienne slipped off the bed and walked over to a locked cabinet, pulling a chain from around her neck. She unlocked the cabinet and pulled out a blue velvet-covered box. "Here, open it."

The box contained a collar, of fine silver mesh strung with opals that matched her necklace. There was no clasp, and Lia stared at it confusedly. "Excuse me, mistress, but-"

"Just wrap it around your neck. The edges will meld together and it will fit you." Lia did so and it became seamless, except for a loop that would allow a leash to be strung from it.

"Everyone here knows that you're my bedwarmer. Don't hesitate to walk around naked- your clothes are only for when I am presenting you to others. I am sure the servants will understand." Vivienne's smile was nearly a cruel smirk, and Lia flushed to think of how the servant who had brought her her food had glared at her. The hotness settled between her legs, making her shift uncomfortably. She blushed even more brightly as the noblewoman eyed her. "Are you in need of something, my dear?"

Lia shook her head, embarrassed. "No, mistress, I don't need anything."

"Well, then, I'll see you tonight. You may do as you like- I'll be out all day." And with that, Vivienne turned and walked out.