“What does that mean?” the fourth girl asked, her voice soft. “I don’t understand what we’re doing here?”

“There will be four tests tonight,” Charles said simply and he went to sit on the bed. He sat back and gazed at us. “They are all very simple, but with each round the stakes will be increased.”

“What do you mean by tests?” I spoke up.

“Sex games,” he said with a smile. “That’s the easiest explanation.”

“Sex games?”

“We need to choose our partner,” the girl next to me said. “In each round, two men will do something to you, and you won’t see who they are. You have to choose the one that gave you the most pleasure. If you choose your mate, you advance to the next round. If you go through all four rounds and choose your mate, he is allowed to enter the inner circle.”

“Oh?” I bit my lower lip. “And they can do anything to you?”

“Yes.” Violeta looked at me and smiled, a smug, bitchy smile.

“Well, not exactly,” Charles corrected her. “Each round is different. Like this first round, neither of the men can use their hands or any other parts of their body to tease you.”

“Okay.” I let out my breath. “What’s the point of this all, though?”

“A prince that wants to be part of the inner circle must have control over every part of his life. Once he reaches this point, he has proven to others that he is good in business and in controlling his country, but we all know that the biggest test of control is with our partner. If a prince can show that he has mastered what his partner craves and likes, then he can show that he has attention to detail that is so finite that he can control the world.” Charles paused. “And, of course, we all know that the princes in the inner circle are the ones that rule the world.”

“So they are trying to pleasure us?” I said and licked my lips nervously. “And we don’t know who is touching us?”

“That is correct.” Charles nodded.

“Wait, so the guys are all going to touch the other girls as well?” My voice caught as I grew jealous. Did that mean Xavier was going to be touching Violeta?

“They can choose to be a part of all of the tests or just the test of the woman they brought,” Charles said. “All of the princes, aside from Xavier, chose to be with all the women.”

“So Xavier is or isn’t going to be with other women?” I asked again to make sure I clarified his answer.

“Xavier will only be in a room with you,” he said, unblinking, as he looked at me. “You must be special.”

“Oh, I don’t know.” My voice trailed off, but I smiled to myself. He wasn’t going to be messing around with any other girls. He didn’t want anyone else. Just me. It made me feel special. Inexplicitly special and I knew I was a fool. I had no idea what these other men were going to do to me. I had no idea how far this was going to go. “So what happens in round two?” I asked. “The same thing with different girls?”

“No.” Charles smiled. “In round two, everyone that chooses to remain in the tests will be told of the new rules.”

“You have to remove an article of clothing then,” Violeta said and stared at my dress with narrowed eyes. “And they can use body parts, too.”

“Well, no hands. Or cocks,” Charles said.

“Yeah, not until later rounds,” Violeta said and looked me in the eyes. “I hope you can tell Xavier’s thrusts from another’s. I’d hate for you to be fucked by another and choose him. Just imagine how hurt Xavier would be.” My breath caught as I gazed at her and it wasn’t because I was worried that I’d choose another man over Xavier. It was the fact that another man might even try and fuck me. I knew in my heart of hearts that I didn’t want that. I didn’t want a strange man inside of me. I didn’t want to go that far. Instinctively, I knew I couldn’t and wouldn’t go that far. I was about to walk out of the room when I realized that this could be a test of Xavier. If he had any feelings for me, he wouldn’t let anything like that happen. If he loved me and cared for me, it would kill him to see me with someone else. If he loved me, he wouldn’t be able to go through with this. I’d walk out before things got too crazy. And if he weren’tas angry as I hoped him to be, I’d be done with him completely—100% done.

“I want all of you to go to that couch,” Charles said. “We’ll tie blindfolds on all of you when it is your turn. However, you can watch each other if you so wish. Does anyone want to volunteer and go first?”

“Sure,” Violeta said with a silky voice. “I’m more than happy to go first.”

“Okay.” Charles nodded. “If you’re sure.”

“I am.” Violeta grinned, grabbed his right hand and I gasped as I watched her stick his hand down the front of her panties. “See, I’m more than ready.”

“Yes, you are.” Charles grinned as he pulled his fingers out and I watched as he stuck them in his mouth and sucked. I looked at the girl next to me and she looked like she was about to pass out. I knew that Violeta was trying to psych us out. I knew that she was only going to continue trying to work us up. And I knew that she was successful already. I just didn’t understand how she was so carefree and easy with her body. How could she just parade herself around like that? I wasn’t sure if it was me or not. Was I a prude? Was I missing something in not allowing myself to just submit to my every whim and feeling? The other two girls and I sat on the couch and watched as Violeta got onto the bed. Charles blindfolded her and I watched as he let his fingers rub against her breasts gently before moving away. I blushed as Violeta let out a loud moan and turned to look at the door as Stephan walked in. My breath caught as he looked in my direction and smiled, his blue eyes intense and breathtaking as he stared at me. My heart raced as I gazed back at him and watched as he took off his jacket and unbuttoned his shirt. He was gorgeous and his chest was perfectly lean and muscular, like that of a swimmer.