Tangled Web Read Online Free Page A

the life from his body.
    The scuffing of her silk slippers alerted him, and he whirled around. His blue eyes locked with hers. The softness of his gaze made her wish the circumstances were different.
    She lowered her gaze and saw the bulge of his erection forming under his toga. Her skin crawled. Despite all his noble words, he couldn’t hide his desire from her. He was a man, no different from her master and his friends.
    The silence, normally her friend when she worked, now rattled her nerves. She dropped into a curtsey. “Your Imperial Majesty.”
    He approached her like she was an exotic creature, and he wasn’t sure if she would bite him. Perhaps Pontus underestimated him. He seemed to have the common sense to see that some gifts could really be traps.
    His fingers lifted her chin. “Forgive me, but I didn’t catch your name.”
    “Azurha.”
    “Azurha.”
    Her knees wobbled from the way he said her name, setting her on edge even more. A lover’s caress couldn’t have been as tender. Most men spat her Alpirion name out as if it disgusted them.
    “I apologize if Governor Pontus forced you to join my harem.”
    “I thought you didn’t have a harem?”
    “I don’t.” He increased the pressure under her chin until she rose from her curtsey. “So I’m at a loss as to what to do with you.”
    The conflicting feelings that seized control of her both surprised and terrified her. She dug her nails into her palm, using the pain to pull her thoughts back to the present situation. In the past, she’d endured some sloppy kisses in order to distract her targets, but she always ended their lives before things went beyond that. This would not be the exception.
    She just needed to play the part long enough to get him alone. “You could remove my veil.”
    “I could.” His fingers continued to cup her chin instead.
    “I cannot remove it without your permission.”
    His thumb traced the curve of her lips through the sheer material. “Maybe you should leave it on, or I’ll be tempted to…” His voice trailed off as his body leaned against hers. The scent of sandalwood rose from his warm skin.
    “Yes?” The word slipped out of her mouth before she could stop it. She silently cursed herself for letting lust muddle her brain.
    His brow puckered as if he was thinking the same thing, and he released her chin, taking a step away from her. “I’ll have Varro show you to a room until I figure out what to do with you.”
    All the blood rushed out of her head, leaving her dizzy. “As you wish, Your Imperial Majesty.”
    He winced when she used his title. He seemed to dislike hearing it as much as she hated saying it.
    He rang a bell, and an Elymanian servant appeared from one of the corridors off the main room. The unspoiled white linen of his tunic marked his high rank in the household, but the leathery texture of his tanned skin spoke of years of hard service before he obtained his current position. “Please show Azurha to appropriate quarters.”
    Varro coolly surveyed her attire, his brown eyes missing little, and bowed. “I will take her to the harem, Your Imperial Majesty.”
    She followed Varro with a smile on her face. Pontus had given her two weeks to complete her task, but she doubted she’d need that long.

4
    Titus rubbed his temples and watched the wax drizzle down the sides of the candles on his desk. The last few hours had proven to be more frustrating than he had hoped. So many ideas for the empire, but no clue on how to implement them. His lips rose into a rueful grin. Well, he could always impose his Imperial Will. The nobles would love that.
    A door creaked open behind him, and the unmistakable sound of his steward’s limp echoed through the room. “Thank you for bringing dinner, Varro.”
    Varro stood at attention, reminding Titus of the man’s years of service to the Legion. “You are most welcome, Your Imperial Majesty.”
    He smiled at Varro. “Please, so long as there isn’t anyone