Set to Flame (Flame Series) by Angie Arms Page B

attempt after another.  Why couldn’t he mind his own business?  If he had made an offer of any kind she would have jumped for joy but no one else offered her anything and she found that to be terrifying for a woman with nothing.
    Silence met her again and eventually she moved to another of the cots and lay down.  Soon she heard the even breaths of Marcus as he found slumber once again.
    In the late hours of evening Garrick returned and she was suddenly afraid he would take her there in front of Marcus, but he only beckoned her from the tent. 
    Through the encampment in all the filth and crude comments Garrick led her.  The buzz followed them, she was Garrick’s woman, and he would kill anyone if they so much as looked at her. Beyond the confines of the army and into another poorly constructed tent dwelling.   Word had spread fast for most people they passed kept their gazes directed at the ground.  Soldiers were here too, in any state of dress, as were the women.  The sounds of sex came from the confines of those dilapidated tents.
    Alena’s feet slowed and a man stumbled into her, nearly knocking her down before stumbling on.  Scowling Garrick grabbed her arm and yanked her forward.  Had she not made such a valiant effort to keep her feet under her and slow her momentum, he would have made her trip into him.
    “This is where the men get their entertainment.”
    “Did you get your entertainment here?” she asked for some unknown reason.  She could care less where this man found his entertainment.
    “I was raised following the army in a community like this.  Of course I would get my pleasure here.”
    “Ohh, she is pretty,” a child’s voice declared as they neared a group of women.
    “A real sheik’s concubine,” a woman said in wonder.
    As Garrick pulled her up to the group she noticed two things simultaneously.  All those women, even the girl who appeared no more than 14, were army whores.  The second thing she noticed was they were all holding a dress.
    “I do not have the time to see a dress made for you,” Garrick said his eyes travelling the length of her.  “I don’t want everyone ogling what is mine, so offered a substantial price if anyone’s dress will fit you.”
    Garrick turned back to the women before pointing to one who appeared the most similar in form to Alena.  As Garrick paid her for the dress Alena wanted to refuse it but common sense told her a dress, even a whore’s dress, was better than a cloak with just one button at the neck.
    They were halfway back to Garrick’s tent when Alena couldn’t hold her question any longer.  “Did you purchase any of those women’s services?”
    “Yes,” he said never hesitating or showing any sign of guilt that he had.
    “Which one?”
    Garrick chuckled, a wicked sound.  “All of them, in the entire camp.  I am a wealthy man and can afford such.”
    “Even the child?” she asked appalled.
    “I paid a handsome price for that girl when she was first brought to camp.”
    “You took her virginity?” she asked, hurrying to keep up with him.  She was terrified to be with Garrick but even more terrified to be left for one minute alone amongst so many men.
    “I bought her virginity.”
    “That’s deplorable.”
    Garrick stopped suddenly and she almost plowed into his back.  “More deplorable than killing the virgin’s family first?  I don’t care if you judge me,” he said opening the flap to the tent.  “I would never take it in battle but if the offer is placed before me it will be me or someone else.  I had never had the pleasure of such.”
    “Was it all the glory you thought it would be?” she asked with distain as she hesitated at the entrance.
    “No, though it was the tightest I had ever been in, it caused her a great deal of pain.”
    “Could you not have been gentle?” she asked appalled at his callousness.
    “Was your sheik gentle enough for you?” he snapped at her before shoving her into the