„The ‘lady’ likes an audience,“ Marinov murmured. „Five
nights ago at Madam LaRue’s she satisfied three gentlemen
simultaneously at one of Madam’s little staged presentations.
Liza tells us that being watched adds immeasurably to her
excitement.“ He lifted the goblet to his lips. „Which is the
reason Mikhail and I are here. Nicky always tries to please his
ladies.“
„She does seem to be enjoying herself.“ Danfold grinned.
„And it tends to make a man’s juices rise, doesn’t it?“ He
turned to leave. „I thought I was too tired to enjoy myself
anymore in that fashion, but I suddenly feel refreshed. I
believe I’ll go back to the party. Good day, gentlemen.“
The door swung shut behind him.
Bentsen hesitated and then moved to seat himself in the
chair Marinov had indicated, trying to keep from looking at
the writhing figures on the bed. „This is most… unusual.“ He
accepted the glass of wine Mikhail Kuzdief handed him. „I
have a report to make and – “ The woman gave a low, keening
cry and his gaze flew to the bed before he could stop himself.
Good Lord, he was actually becoming aroused. He had never
been present at any of the bordello presentations of the type
Marinov had mentioned, but they couldn’t have been more
erotic than the scene he was witnessing now.
Sheer white draperies were drawn around the canopy bed,
but the veiling concealed very little from view. Sunlight
poured into the room from the long window across the
stateroom, piercing the filmy curtains, touching Nicholas
Savron’s hair with a nimbus of gold and highlighting the
powerful muscles of his naked bronzed body as he moved over
the woman beneath him.
He could see very little of the woman, but the prince was
really quite beautiful, Bentsen thought. He was immediately as
embarrassed by the adjective that had occurred to him as he
was by watching this intimate display. Yet, if he suppressed his
discomfort, it was rather like observing a fine statue come to
life. Savron was boldly masculine, his muscles developed to
sleek perfection, his shoulders broad, his waist slim, his
buttocks tight as they rippled with movement.
The prince was moving faster and Bentsen felt his own
desire mounting. It was impossible not to imagine oneself in
Savron’s place held tight within the woman’s body. He forced
his gaze away and glanced around the room, trying desperately
to distract himself. A thick plush beige carpet embossed with
cream roses, fine mahogany furniture, peach-colored velvet
draperies at the windows, and the canopy bed. A tufted velvet
cushioned bench at the foot of the bed matched the olive green
chair across the room. Murals painted on the polished pine
walls…
Murals! Bentsen’s eyes widened as he stared transfixed by
the pictures painted on the walls.
„Quite decadent, aren’t they?“ Marinov chuckled.
„Bassinger evidently enjoys several rather interesting
perversions and decided to have them given a certain
immortality. Nicky was very amused when he saw this cabin.“
The murals were both lewd and explicit. „His highness
appears to be easily amused.“
„Sometimes,“ Marinov drawled. „He finds most things
hard to take seriously these days.“ He smiled faintly as his
gaze narrowed on Bentsen’s flushed face. „Are you
experiencing… difficulty? I’m sure Nicky would understand if
you joined the party.“
„Certainly not.“ Bentsen casually put his hat on his lap.
„I’ll wait.“
Marinov shrugged. „As you like.“ He downed the last of
the wine in his glass. „I was only being courteous. Nicky
wouldn’t want – “
The woman Marinov had referred to as Liza gave a guttural
scream and Bentsen’s hand tightened on the stem of his goblet.
He kept his gaze fixed desperately on Marinov’s face.
„I believe it’s over.“ Marinov said. „More wine?“
„No, I have sufficient.“ Bentsen looked down into the clear
depths of his glass. He heard a rustle, a low masculine laugh,
and then the squeak of the bed. Mikhail moved past him
toward the bed, his stride incredibly graceful for one so large.
Bentsen took another sip of wine. When he finally looked back
at the bed, a dark-haired woman was buttoning the bodice of a
loose yellow silk robe and Nicholas Savron was slipping his
arms into a long robe of emerald velvet held by Mikhail. The
prince was a tall man, over six feet in height, but he looked
slight compared to the bearlike Kuzdief.
Nicholas didn’t bother to button the robe before he turned
to the woman, a radiant smile illuminating his face and lending
it a beguiling charm. It was the first time Bentsen had beheld
his face and he received a small shock. The man had the
indescribable beauty of a fallen angel, features nearly perfect
except for those broad Slavic cheekbones and the sensual
curve to his lower lip. The small imperfection was
overshadowed by eyes that were midnight-dark, full of
mystery and complexity. The man came closer to the ideal of
human beauty than anyone Bentsen had ever seen. My God,
no wonder the woman was gazing up at him with her lips
parted, as if sunning herself in his radiance. The prince took
her hand and kissed it lingeringly. „You were enchanting. I
look forward to the next time, Liza.“
„Yes… when?“ the dark-haired woman asked bemusedly.
„Soon.“ He kissed her hand again before releasing it and
stepping back. „Mikhail will escort you to your stateroom. I’ll
see you later in the saloon. Au revoir, ma chere.“
She blinked as if suddenly coming awake. „Uh, right.“ She
drifted toward the door. „Au rev – whatever you said.“
Mikhail ushered her out and closed the door.
„Well?“ Marinov rose to his feet.
Nicholas Savron made a face. „You win.“ He reached into
the pocket of his velvet robe and tossed Marinov a coin. „It’s
much more exciting watching such an exhibition than
performing in one. Not only did it disturb my concentration,
but I became so bored I could barely finish.“
„You never become that bored. Little Liza evidently found
it quite exciting.“
„Unless she was just pretending.“ The prince’s lips twisted
cynically. „The fair sex is miles beyond us poor males in the
practice of deceit.“
„I wouldn’t say that,“ Marinov drawled. „You treated that
pretty whore as if she were a princess. Isn’t that deceit?“
The prince laughed, his black eyes sparkling with
amusement. „Touchi. But remember, I sometimes treat
princesses as if they were whores. It all evens out.“ He
shrugged. „And besides, she had given me gifts. She asked
nothing from me this time, and a woman who asks nothing is
rare indeed. No doubt she will make up for it the next time.“
His glance shifted to Bentsen inquiringly. „And you are…?“
Bentsen stood up hurriedly. „Simon Bentsen. We’ve had
correspondence in regard to your investigation of your
cousin’s death.“
Nicholas Savron nodded, his smile fading. „I trust you’ve
come with more information than your previous emissaries,“
he said softly. „I’m becoming very impatient with your
company’s incompetence in this matter. It’s been over a year
since I received that letter from Durbin.“
„Arizona Territory is still wild country, and the Delaneys
are a powerful family,“ Bentsen said defensively. „We had to
move slowly.“
„At a snail’s pace. If I had been able to obtain the Pinkerton