Tamed by the Prince (Elven Lover)

by Cathy McAllister

  “OK?”

  “Mmm.”

  He slowly opened his eyes again. This time he was not dizzy and he took the glass that she handed him.

  “Thank you.”

  He drank the water in small sips and as he gave the glass back to her their fingers touched. It was like an electric shock. One look in her eyes told him that she had felt it, too. She turned away quickly but he grasped her wrist.

  “Don’t go,” he begged.

  She turned round but avoided looking him in the eye. She had clamped her lower lip between her teeth and the pulse in her neck was beating quickly and irregularly. She was clearly overwhelmed by the situation. He could see the fear in her beautiful eyes. So as not to unsettle her still more he fought off the irresistible desire to pull her to him and instead he let go of her. Nothing had ever been so difficult for him.

  “I’m not going to hurt you. I just want to get to know you.”

  “I can’t,” she whispered. He could hear a hint of panic in her voice.

  “Not all men are like Justin,” he began and looked at her, begging for trust.

  “I … I know,” she breathed, avoiding his eyes. “It’s just …”

  “I won’t touch you if you don’t want me to. I just want to be near you and show you that I’m different. Give me a chance,” he begged.

  He could see her battling with herself. She finally raised her eyes and looked at him with wide eyes. He again cursed the man who had stopped her trusting any other man. Prison was still too good for that man.

  “OK,” she said and tried to smile. “Would you like something to eat? I can make you something light.”

  “I think I could manage something. But please nothing light. I need protein.”

  “Steak?”

  “Sounds good. Does two steakssound cheeky?” he asked with a grin.

  She smiled and it warmed his heart. He hoped to see her smile a lot in the future. She was so beautiful. He never wanted to let her go again. He could not imagine spending one more day without her.

  “No! That’s not cheeky! I’ll bring you the best steaks that you’ve ever eaten.”

  “I’m certain of that,” said Merlon and winked.

  She blushed and, to his disappointment, turned away. He had to be more careful. He must not rush to be so flirtatious. As patience was not one of his strengths he was in for a hard test. But Cherry was worth it. For her he could do anything. Even be patient.

  ***

  Cherry stepped out of the shower and reached out for a towel. She had hardly spent any time in her house since she had found Merlon injured in the side street, and she only went to shower, as now, and to put on fresh clothes. There was actually a shower at the club, too, but it was old and the boiler was broken. Cold showering was not her thing. And somehow the idea of showering at the club made her nervous whilst Merlon was still there. She wanted to avoid anything happening between them at all costs. She knew that it would not be without complications.

  She looked a little forlornly around the bathroom. Her plants were nearly all dried out and only the palm in the bathroom seemed to be living still. Sighing, Cherry looked at it, snipped off a dry leaf and threw it into the overflowing bin. She really should tidy up a little before returning to the B57.

  The thought of staying in the house longer than absolutely necessary, however, was not a pleasant one. She was actually quite glad that, because of Merlon’s injuries, she had a reason to stay away from the house in which she practically had only bad memories. Even now, with Justin away, he seemed to be present in every room. These were all his things. There was very little here that she considered her own and she was even happy to go without these few possessions.

  She went from the bathroom into the bedroom and opened the big wardrobe with the mirrored sliding doors. She was considering what she should put on and spotted her moss-green silk dress whose colour perfectly matched her eyes. It had a figure-hugging cut and lifted her breasts in a very flattering way. The skirt ended just above the knee and did not show much of her legs but emphasised her round bottom particularly well, and her waist looked daintier in this dress.

  ‘Why do you need this dress to nurse a man to health? It’s impractical and much too provocative!’she called herself to order.

  She sighed and carried on rummaging. The last thing she wanted to do was spur on the elf’s interest still more. During the last two days he had improved a lot and would soon no longer need her. Then she could finally get away from here. An affair with Merlon neither fitted in with her plans, nor would it do her any good. No! It was better for her to put on something less daring.

  She grabbed her oldest jeans and a baggy jumper.

  Merlon had explained some things to her that still made everything sound like a fairy tale to her. Alongside the human world there were lots of other worlds. Merlon’s world was Amarantus, the kingdom of the elves, where his father reigned as king. Volcan and Aerios were guardians and each had their own kingdom. In addition there were dwarves, nymphs and lots of other wonderful creatures. Exesor, who was probably holding Volcan’s chosen one captive, was one of the evil powers. The evil ones lived in the dark abyss of Abyssus. Cherry still had difficulty believing all this and computing it – even though she had been witness herself to all sorts of strange events since she had found Merlon in the side street.

  Against her will her thoughts were still fixated on Merlon. She so longed to snuggle into his arms and find out how these damned sensual lips would feel on her mouth. But she could not give in to her feelings. At no cost could she endanger her plans. And the time was coming to put these plans into action.

  ***

  When she entered the B57 she could hear gentle music. It was piano music – a melody, unknown to her, of such poignant beauty that it forced tears into her eyes. She put the paper bag full of groceries on the bar and locked the door. The piano was in an upper-floor room that was hardly used. Up to now no one but her had played the instrument. Out of boredom Merlon must have gone wandering around the building and come across the piano. She was glad that he was clearly well enough to go for a walk around the club. But that also meant that he did not need her any more.

  Part of her regretted the approaching end of their togetherness. She had enjoyed the last few days more than she had realised. Merlon’s company had been more than pleasant. He was charming and humorous and he had not tried to touch her again. The perfect gentleman. Yet he still made her nervous, so another part of her was glad that he would soon disappear from her life.

  As Cherry climbed the stairs her heart was pounding. The tragedy in the melody that Merlon was playing seemed to increase in intensity with every step she took and then suddenly became more aggressive. Goose bumps made her shudder and she felt uncomfortable. When she reached the top she stood there indecisively. She was not sure whether it was a good idea to go to Merlon now. She was emotionally too unsettled, and, judging by the melody that he was playing, he was too, perhaps. Then the playing suddenly stopped and Merlon clearly ran over the keys aggressively and closed the piano lid loudly. A chair scraped over the floor, then there was silence. Cherry held her breath in alarm and listened. There was not a sound. She considered walking away quietly but she was unable to move from the spot.

  After a while, that seemed to her an eternity, she finally went along the corridor to the room where the piano was. Her heart pounding, she slowly grasped the door handle and pushed it down. Hesitating, she opened the door until she could see inside. Merlon was standing at the window, staring out. He did not move, although she was certain that he had heard her. He was an elf with supernatural powers, so he will certainly have had sharp hearing.

  ‘Damn it! Do something!’she pleaded in the silence, without actually knowing whether she meant him or herself.

  Seconds passed like minutes. Cherry did not have the courage to step into the room, but neither could she simply walk away again.

  “Are you afraid of me?” he asked at last witho
ut turning round.

  Her heart leapt. Butterflies spread through her belly and her hand was holding the door handle so tightly that it hurt.

  “I … I heard music and …” she said hesitantly without answering his question.

  “Perhaps it’s best if you go now,” he said huskily. “I’m no longer good company for you.”

  “Why not?” she asked quietly and took a few steps into the room.

  “Go!” he growled. “You need time? I’m not in a position now to give you any if you come closer.”

  Cherry stood still and stared at his back. He had assumed a stiff, cold stance and his fists were clenched.

  “I … I don’t understand …”

  He swung around and stared at her. The dark glow burning in his eyes made her step back. He smiled cynically.

  “Yes! Step away from me. It’s better this way. I want you! Do you understand? I want you so much that part of me doesn’t care whether you want me or not! I’m burning! Do you understand?” Anger and pain resonated in his voice and his evident emotional upset frightened her.

  “I … but …”

  He closed his eyes – his body was extremely tense.

  “Go Cherry. I want you. But not like this! I am too dangerous for you in this state. You’re not ready for this. Leave me alone here today. Tomorrow I’ll be fine. Go now!”

  Cherry woke from her trance and turned. As if the devil himself were chasing her, she ran from the room, down the corridor and down the stairs.

  ***

  Merlon uttered a cry and clenched his fists as hard as he could. His whole body was shaking. He had to get over this stage. Neither Aerios nor he had realised that this situation would arise. It would not have been a problem if he were now in his homeland where he would have been provided with a willing elf to help him deal with this stage in the healing process. Then his sexual energy would not have built up so painfully and he would now be calm and not so full of aggression. Only the thought of how badly he could hurt Cherry in this state stopped him from losing control. But a moment longer with her and he could have guaranteed nothing.

  Chapter 6

  Cherry had spent a restless night in her office. She had thought about Merlon’s strange conduct for a long time. It was obvious that he wanted her. But the intensity of his desire had shocked her. His eyes had been dark with longing. Such a dark blue, like the night sky. She could see him clearly before her. The way he had clenched his fists and tensed up his body like a beast of prey right before it leaps. The most worrying thing was not his strong yearning but rather her own. For a moment she had wanted him to let nature take its course and simply take her, giving her no chance to back out. But he had held back and sent her away. Why? Why had he not given in to his desire?

  She heard footsteps in the hall.

  “Cherry?” sounded Merlon’s deep voice.

  “Here,” she answered and her heart began to beat more quickly. “I’m here, in the office.”

  The door opened and his huge body filled the door frame. Their eyes met and the butterflies in her belly awoke with renewed life. She held her breath. No man had ever before aroused such feelings in her. The only emotions that she had known up to now were fear and panic. And at best resignation when she gave in to her fate. But never before had she yearned for a man’s touch.

  Merlon went into the room and closed the door without taking his eyes off her. She could do nothing but stare at him. He was so damned attractive. His hair was a little dishevelled and there were shadows under his eyes, as if he, too, had not slept well. Perhaps his yearning had kept him awake. This thought brought back her memories of the previous evening and she wondered whether he had now cooled off. He did not seem to be as tense as the day before, even though his eyes were, again, dark with desire. She did not dare move. She could only stare at him as he slowly approached her and finally knelt down in front of the chair and took her hands in his.

  “I’m sorry,” he said quietly. “I frightened you. I didn’t want to do that. I never wanted you to be afraid of me. I’m not a monster, please believe me, I …”

  “I… It’s OK, I was more afraid of … myself – of my feelings. – I … I wanted you, too.”

  “It was not a good time,” he said, kissing her fingertips. “I was not able … I couldn’t …,” he sighed. “I could not have been gentle with you. I would have hurt you.”

  “Why?” she asked. “What was wrong with you? I don’t understand what …”

  “It’s to do with my healing. I was badly wounded and I received a lot of energy from Volcan and Aerios for days. This energy means that I am healed, but it also causes something else. It means that at a certain point in the healing process I have a very high sex drive. It’s so strong, so aggressive, that I would have fallen upon you like an animal if you hadn’t gone away. If I had been in my kingdom then an elf would have been brought to me who …”

  “Who would have relieved your desire?” Cherry helped when Merlon stopped speaking.

  He nodded.

  The thought that Merlon could find relief in the arms of another woman caused an unaccustomed feeling of jealousy in her – even though what he was describing did not sound like a romantic act of love.

  “Would you have hurt her, too? The way you would have hurt me?”

  “Elves are much more robust than you humans. It wouldn’t have bothered her.”

  “But now you’re …?”

  “It’s safe now. I’ve got myself under control again.”

  Merlon turned her hands over in his and bent down to caress the palm of her hand with his tongue. This erotic touch caused a pleasant shudder to run through her, and heat flooded into her sex. She held her breath.

  “Cherry,” he murmured, raising his eyes from her hands to direct his look of yearning into hers. “Cherry.”

  Panic rose within her as she realised that he was about to kiss her. She wanted to push him away from her and put her hand on his chest. But as his mouth gently touched her lips she forgot any thought of resistance. She trembled and her fingers grasped his shirt to steady herself. Her heart was pounding.

  Sighing, she opened her lips and his tongue accepted the invitation to enter her mouth. Strong arms embraced her and pressed her closer to his muscular body. She heard a groan and only realised at the second groan that the sounds were coming from her. Overcome by sensations that she had never felt before, she first responded to his tongue-play cautiously, then she was swept along by his passion and she responded with a desire that threatened to tear her apart. It was only when she felt cool air on her breasts that she realised that he had pushed her jumper up and opened her bra.

  His large hands enveloped her breasts and fondled them gently. As his thumbs stroked the aroused tips she groaned longingly and pushed herself against him. Fear and desire fought within her. She had never before longed to willingly give herself up to a man, but Merlon’s caresses and kisses caused a reaction in her that she could not explain.

  “You have no idea how much I want you,” Merlon murmured huskily into her ear.

  His hot breath made her shudder and she put her head back so that he could get to her neck. He kissed and nibbled her neck, covering her throat in tiny kisses right up and over her chin to her half-open mouth.

  “Merlon,” whispered Cherry, her lips trembling beneath his feather-light kiss.

  Hearing his name coming from her lips was like balsam for his soul. He wanted her to desire him as much as he desired her. She should not be afraid of him. He would give her ecstasy – teach her how fulfilling the union between a man and a woman can be.

  “Cherry. Let me make love to you, Cherry.”

  He teased her with tiny kisses. He awaited her agreement.

  “Yes,” she breathed.

  He needed no further confirmation. He got rid of his clothing and began to slowly undress her. He kissed every centimetre of her soft skin as he unveiled it, her quiet utterances of passion firing up his own desire all the more.<
br />
  “You are so beautiful,” he murmured reverently as he let the last piece of material slip to the floor so that he could admire her beauty in its entirety.

  Her whole body was rounded in the most feminine way, but her flesh was firm and immaculate. He had never been enthusiastic about the over-slim elf women. He could not wait to touch Cherry’s silky skin, to taste her tender flesh and to drink of her nectar. He wanted to be intoxicated by her and satiate all his senses.

  Merlon slowly drew in air. The scent of her femininity sent his senses wild like a drug and he closed his eyes, groaning. His desire was so strong that he had to summon all his strength to rein himself in. He had to force himself to take it slowly. For her sake he had to proceed carefully. He wanted her to learn to trust him and encouraged her with gentle pressure to open further.

  Cherry felt herself blushing as she realised that she was completely naked and was fully on view to him. He had said that he found her beautiful, but didn’t men often say such things to get between a woman’s legs? Justin had often told her that she was too fat and that was why he often used other women. Not that she was concerned about the fact that he did not bother her very often, but now, for the first time in her life, she wanted a man to really find her beautiful and desirable. As his hands stroked her inner thighs a shudder went through her body and any thought of shame was forgotten. Holding her breath, she waited for him to touch her where her yearning was burning the most. She looked down at him, her eyes half-open. He looked at her with such desire that the tips of her nipples pinched together painfully and yet more hot liquid flowed between her legs. She saw his nose quiver slightly and he closed his eyes, groaning. Could he smell it? She blushed again. She was embarrassed. She wanted to back away from him but his hands held her there.

  “Trust me, Cherry,” he begged her huskily. “I will never hurt you. I only want to make love to you.”

  “I … It’s not …” she began and closed her eyes in embarrassment before she had the courage to carry on speaking. “It’s not that I’m afraid of you. It’s just … I’m embarrassed.”