“Say yes. Mine. Won’t unless you say yes.” Xan scraped his teeth along her shoulder as his hips bumped against her. He still retained enough of his humanity to ask permission. Her heart opened fully to him in that moment.
“Yes, my Xan, yes.”
Xan’s growl was even louder as he released her, jerked his shirt off, and ripped his fly totally open. He was back on her in a flash, ripping the towels from her body, shoving her hair over one shoulder before his hands latched onto her hips again. His teeth were nipping at her shoulder blades, and he rocked his hips against her again, his engorged cock riding the crease of her ass. The brush of leather and hot male skin against her naked buttocks caused those dark sensations inside her to intensify. The leather scraped at tender skin as he pumped against her.
Xan once again pulled back. She felt his hand drizzle more liquid over her ass. She should have felt embarrassment at the amount of her honey running down her thighs, but her desire pushed all thoughts out of her head except for Xan. She peeked over her shoulder and saw Xan reaching for her again.
She felt his hands pulling her ass cheeks apart and his cock pushing against her, wanting entrance. “Breathe. Let me in little one. Take such good care. Give yourself to me.” Remi breathed out and felt pressure against her. As she pushed back and tried to relax, she felt the head of his cock slip into her. Pain, pleasure, dark passion all mingled and became one. Xan paused above her, his hands gripping tightly to her hips. “Don’t move. Let me. Gentle.” His words were rough, growled low and against her spine. He nipped at her shoulder blades and pulled her farther onto his cock.
An inch at a time, he tortured them both. Remi couldn’t remember later what she said, begging him for something, anything. He was moving too slowly. She wanted him inside her now. She moaned and cried, pleading with him.
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Xan’s hips were flush against her ass. His groaning came from deep in his chest, rumbling up and out as he swiveled his hips against her. Xan leaned over her back and, reaching around, grabbed both of her breasts, staying buried deep, giving her time to become accustomed to him. He squeezed and massaged her breasts, tweaking and pulling her nipples until he far surpassed the pain threshold and it combined with the dark desires to make the flames burn brighter.
“Mine!” Xan once again latched onto her neck, this time on the opposite side, his teeth not breaking the surface. Slowly, he withdrew until only the huge head of his cock was still embedded, then just as slowly, pushed the entire length back in with one stroke. Remi wailed as the drag against her nerves caused pleasure to rack her body. She gripped the bench tightly and begged Xan to go faster.
“Mine.” Xan licked along Remi’s neck, nipping here and there as he began a slow, steady rhythm of in and out. His hands moved to her hips as he straightened. She looked over her shoulder only to see him focused on her ass. He appeared to be watching where they were joined, groaning as he moved in and out. He picked up his pace, moving faster. The leather of his pants caused a loud slapping sound as his hips snapped against her butt, the ties scraping her ass in an erotic scratch that added to the flames inside her. She closed her eyes as she imagined what they must look like. Her pussy clenched at the image, begging to be filled. She tried to tighten her muscles on Xan’s cock and heard him groan before he slapped her ass.
“Naughty. Mine.” He growled deeper and longer. “Mine!” His pace became faster, and he leaned over her again. One arm wrapped around her and cupped a breast. The other wrapped around her and moved to her pussy. His fingers played with her as his thumb landed squarely on her clit and began to rotate. Three fingers plunged deep into her pussy, and she screamed in pleasure. She wanted to move, but the way he was wrapped around her made it impossible. His hips were taking short erratic strokes, driving his cock in and out of her ass in short, powerful strokes. His thumb rotated her clit as his fingers thrust in and out in sync with his cock.
Remi felt the desires inside her cracking as she began to wail. Xan was grunting as he thrust into her, pushing against the cushion of her ass. His hand left her pussy and gripped her hips, pulling her as far back on his cock as he could, as he tried humping into her even more. Remi felt the universe coalesce then explode outward as her orgasm rocked her. Her scream was rivaled by Xan when he roared behind her as her world faded to black.
As she became aware again, she was still slumped over the bench with Xan draped over her clutching her to him tightly, still buried deeply in her, still half hard. His hot breath flowed over her neck and shoulders as his panting slowed to a more normal level.
Remi moved slightly, trying to get feeling back into her hands from where she had clutched the bench so tightly when she heard Xan mutter a curse.
“Little one? Oh gods, no! Little one? Did I hurt you?” He straightened and gently eased from inside her ass. He pulled her into his arms and flipped her face up. “Little one, Remi…talk to me. Did I hurt you?” She opened her eyes as he ran one hand over her body, checking for injuries. His gaze scanning faster than his hand could. She saw him wince and gently touch her breasts, her rib cage, and her hips. She didn’t have to look to know there may be bruising there. He had been lost to his passion for her, and she wouldn’t have changed anything.
Remi’s hand reached up and cupped Xan’s cheek, turning his face to hers. When their eyes met, she saw pain and remorse in their depths. “Xan, you didn’t hurt me. I loved what you did to me, what we did together.”
Xan shut his eyes and tried to turn his head away. “I took you on the floor like an animal. I don’t know what happened. I was enjoying giving you pleasure and then…” He shuddered under her. “Reginald opened the door, and I snapped. If he had stayed one more second, I would have killed him for looking at you. I couldn’t stop myself from claiming you. I was too rough. I…I…forced you…” The disgust in his voice made her heart clench.
“Prince Anaxandros e’Minos, Firstborn Son, Heir to the Throne, Dragon Lord of the Armies of King Minos, Keeper of the Flame of Tchon-Xi, Protector of the Kingdom of Aquateae and my soul mate, along with other titles as yet to be bestowed, you did not rape me. You asked me before we made love. I agreed. I agreed! Even in your overwhelming need for me, you cared enough to ask.”
When Xan still refused to look at her, she scrambled to her feet and gripped his head. With him on his knees, she didn’t have to bend to get into his face.
“Xan, I wanted to be with you. I wanted to make love to you, and by the gods, it was making love. I don’t know when or how, but you have filled my heart with emotions I’ve never felt for anyone. I believe it is love, and I have committed myself to being yours, no matter my fears.” Remi caressed his face while looking down into Xan’s eyes. “If you want this relationship to work anywhere outside the bedroom you need to know this. I may seem like a pushover, and I warned you in the cave that I wasn’t one to be submissive to anyone, but I am far from a doormat. If I didn’t want you, if I didn’t want to have relations with you, I could have done serious damage to stop you.”
Xan looked into Remi’s eyes, then buried his face into her stomach. Wrapping his arms tightly around her hips he held her to him. “The gods chose correctly giving me a mate who thinks she can stand up to me. Little one, you could no more harm me than a fly could harm a dragon. But the fact that you would try scares me. It’s my job to protect you, and I didn’t do it.”
With a brilliant flash of light and a crack of sound, Xan found himself flying backward into the tub. Struggling to find his feet, he stood and wiped water from his eyes. Remi stood on the top step with her hands on her hips and lightning flashing in her eyes, a smell like ozone mixed with the lilac scent of the bath. When pounding and loud voices sounded at the door, she flung a hand toward it, and the lock clicked on its own. Never once did Remi look away from Xan’s astounded eyes.
“I can take care of myself, oh high and mighty one. I have taken care of myself since my mother passed away when I was sixteen. A l
ot of men thought I would be an easy target, young and unprotected. I have magicks of my own that I keep hidden from the world because I need every advantage I can get. Do not mistake my caring nature for weakness, oh Prince of Protectiveness. I might let people have their own way too often, but I never, never allow them to use me.”
The steel in her voice echoed around the room. The pounding and voices became louder at the door until Remi huffed, turned toward it and screamed. “Will you people go away? My mate is fine. I am fine. Go away before I turn you all into house lizards!” Utter silence descended, and Remi sighed, turning back toward the tub.
Xan stood two steps down, bringing them eye level with each other. He held out his hand and stared into her eyes. “The gods gave me a mate that is beyond compare. They gave you a mate that is stupid, stubborn, and a blind fool. I should have known that they would never create an unequal match. Forgive me for thinking less of you than you are.” A small smile formed on his lips as he continued. “It seems I have apologized to you more in two days’ time than I have apologized to anyone in my thirty-two years except to my mother. It would seem I’m rusty with my manners and if you’ll help polish them, I would appreciate it.”
Remi stood for a moment, then reached out and took his hand. “You are not stupid, definitely stubborn, and as for a fool? We’ll see. I want to be a partner to you, Xan, and only you can allow it. I will not be wrapped in silk and set on a shelf to look pretty until you need to show me off. There are things I want to do, that I must do, which we can talk about. We will no doubt argue because of your protective instincts. Just know that I can protect you as well as you can protect me. Partners?”
Xan gently squeezed her hand as he helped her back into the tub. “Partners? I’ll try.” He snatched a washcloth from the pile. “M’lady, since you have already washed, allow me to assist you in cleaning up again.” Xan lathered the cloth and gently cleaned every inch of Remi’s skin. When he went behind her and started cleansing the valley between her ass cheeks, she tensed slightly.
Xan stopped, leaned his head against hers and whispered in her ear. “Please tell me I didn’t hurt you. I couldn’t live with knowing we had hurt you.” Remi’s heart squeezed at the feelings in his voice.
“You didn’t hurt me. It’s just…” Her voice died as a flush suffused her face.
“Just what, little one?”
“I’ve never done…that…and I’m a little tender, a lot embarrassed, and still wondering how your…uhmmm…fit. You’re huge, no way should it have fit. Wondering how…it will fit, uhmmm, other places.” Remi put her hands over her face, trying to hide her embarrassment.
Xan chuckled and hugged her tightly. “Little one, you are a delightful mix of shy young girl and battle hardened warrioress. My cock fit your ass because you’re able to stretch to accommodate it. My cock will fit your pussy just fine because, again, you can stretch. You might think it big, little one, but it’s nowhere near as big as a baby will be.” Xan turned serious. “But, Remi, I want you to tell me if you hurt from anything I do. I want you to stop me any way you have to if I hurt you.” Xan ran his hand lightly over the pale shadows under her skin at her hips, ribs, and breasts. “I cannot fathom how I could have been so rough to leave marks.”
Xan actually cringed as he ran a gentle finger along her shoulders. Though no skin was punctured, there were faint bruises on both shoulders in the shape of his mouth. “Remi, I’m so sorry…”
Chapter 12
Remi touched his face yet again, drawing his eyes. “Xan, you did nothing, nothing that I didn’t like. Love. I wouldn’t change a single thing.” Even though she felt her blush intensify and spread to her chest, she refused to look away from his eyes. When she saw understanding come into his eyes, her heart rate sped up.
Xan bracketed her face with his palms and lowered his head until his lips were a whisper from hers. “You are my better half. The gods did choose well.” His lips moved those few atoms closer, and he gave her the sweetest of kisses. His lips declared his love even though he never spoke. Her lips, in turn, spoke of her budding love for him. Silent communion between three souls entwined in two bodies. Remi felt her heart expand, loves roots burrowing deep within her for both the man and the dragon before her.
As his lips withdrew, he feathered gentle kisses and licks along the bottom curve of her lower lip, and placed a final soft kiss on her forehead before pulling her into his arms and just holding her close. Remi slid her arms around his waist and laid her head on his chest. He kissed the top of her head and nuzzled her hair.
After several minutes, Remi raised her head. “You know, you really need to get out of those wet pants. The leather will shrink, and you’ll be bound in them for eternity.” Xan chuckled as he released her and began pulling his pants off. He threw them to the tiles under the bench before leading her to the stairs. As they stepped up, he grinned at her. “I do believe this is about where I came in.” He pulled a towel from the stack and once again held it out for her. She laughed and stepped into the towel, but took the edges from him and wrapped herself up.
“You need to start getting ready, Oh Prince of Protection. We have very little time before this family dinner, and I’ve already made a bad impression on your brother. I don’t need the rest of your family to think the same.”
“They will love you like I do. If you’re speaking of Jarok, he suspects everyone of everything. Don’t let his attitude get to you. He will see the right of things once we are mated.”
Xan picked the robe up from the bench and held it open for her. As she slid her arms in, she realized it must be Xan’s, as well, the sleeves ending well below her hands. Looking down, she giggled at the robe puddled on the floor around her feet.
Xan grinned as he stepped in front of her, tied the robe and began turning up the sleeves. “I like you in my robe. Until I officially claim you, it can keep you warm.” He smiled as he finished rolling the cuffs. Pulling her hands up, he looked into her eyes as he kissed her inner wrists. “You need to leave before I decide to pull you back into the tub with me.” He turned her toward the door, gently spanked her on the ass and laughed when she squeaked.
“Xan!” Remi laughed as she peeked over her shoulder. Her laughter died as she opened the door. Leaning against the wall opposite the door were four of the biggest men she’d ever seen. Not as big as Xan but big enough. Commander Ad’har stepped into view from beside the door where she hadn’t initially seen him. She took a step back as all eyes settled on her.
“Remi? What’s wrong?” Xan was there in an instant, stepping in front of her. She peeked under his arm, more than willing to let him take the lead, but still wanting to see what was happening.
“My lord.” Ad’har bowed his head fractionally. “We felt magic being used.” Those dark eyes returned to Remi, small flickers of fire burning behind the irises. “We felt that it needed investigation. To make sure you, and your lady, were all right.” The man’s stare was intense, and Remi felt like she was being inspected very, very thoroughly.
Xan growled softly low in his chest. “Ad’har, we are fine. Thank you for your concern. We’ll meet later to set up protection duty for my True One.”
Ad’har raised his eyes to Xan. “My lord, perhaps you’d like to bring your True One to the practice fields one day, very soon. I also need to speak with you on an urgent matter.” As he said this, the other four men tensed and seemed to study her more closely. Xan twisted to look down at Remi, raising an eyebrow.
Turning back to the commander, Xan settled the discussion. “We’ll discuss this later. Right now, we need to get ready for dinner. Ad’har come to dinner, and I’ll see you upstairs.” The man bowed his head again, and then with a nod of his head at the others, all five men left through the door into Xan’s rooms.
“Little one, you are full of surprises.” When Remi would have questioned him about that statement, he just kissed her forehead. “Go get ready, and we’ll talk later.”
Remi sighed
and walked out the door, heading to her rooms. She better get used to odd happenings here. Someday she just may understand them.
Remi stepped into the bedroom that was “hers” and was shocked at the difference. In the short time since she’d been in the bathing room, Lorann and her crew had worked a miracle. The room had been cleaned before she went in, but it had been bare and sparse. Now it had lacy curtains at the windows, white and blue linens and blankets on the giant four-poster bed, dark rugs on the floors and furniture polished to a shine. Near the foot of the bed, a box was upturned on the floor, and a woman she didn’t know was placing different fabrics across the bed. Jeanae was opening boxes and bags and handing them to the woman, showing underclothing, dresses, skirts, and shirts.
“Jeanae?” Remi was afraid to ask. Just the already made clothes were finer than anything she’d ever owned, but the silks, satins, and velvets being spread across the bed were beyond her means.
“Lady Remi, may I present Beb, the best seamstress in the kingdom. Mistress Beb, this is Lady Remi…” Jeanae appeared confused and looked at Remi.
“Remunada Summers, but everyone calls me Remi.” She stepped forward to shake Beb’s hand, but she had curtsied low to the floor. Beb had to be in her mid-fifties at least. She had more gray in her hair than the brown it had originally been, and the wrinkles on the tanned face showed a life well lived. Like herself, Beb was more than curvy, ample being more of an apt description.
“Please, Mistress Beb, I’m not accustomed to people bowing to me. Please treat me as you would anyone walking in off the streets.”
As Beb rose, she eyed Remi with speculation. “Lady Remi, I should further introduce you.” Jeanae hurriedly stepped into the awkward silence. “Beb is my aunt, sister to Lorann, and sister to my departed mother. She and Lorann have raised me since my mother passed away and I know you can trust them with anything you would trust me with.” Jeanae looked Remi in the eye.
The Dragon's Soul: Xan (Siren Publishing Classic) Page 9
