The Savage King

by Michelle M. Pillow

  Ulyssa gasped.

  Kirill’s lips captured hers before she could answer. His words were a command, and she found she didn’t really care. His mouth rocked passionately against her, instantly weakening her knees. She fell forward into his chest, moaning in delight of his touch.

  She wasn’t sure how he did it, but he was absolutely, hands-down the best kisser she’d ever experienced. There was something to the confidence of his movement, reflecting the grace of his body. It was in the way he tasted, the way he teased and gave. His tongue probed and conquered her mouth until she was left panting and weak. Her arms wrapped around his neck and pulled his body tightly to hers. She soaked in his heat as his arms lifted her from the floor. Walking with her slender body dangling along his tightly wrought one, he carried her to the bathroom.

  Parting from the kiss, he stated hoarsely, “Shower on.”

  The shower sprayed warm water. Ulyssa’s fingers moved to work the laces on his shirt. Kirill pulled back, dropping his arms to the side at her insistence to let her undress him. His eyes burned into her as he watched her naked body. Deftly, she pulled the shirt off his shoulders, stopping to kiss and touch the length of his chest. He hadn’t let her explore the night before, and now she itched to feel every hot inch of his smooth flesh, to discover if he tasted as good as he looked.

  Ulyssa loved the graceful way his muscles folded beneath his tanned skin when he moved. His dark eyes pierced, watching her, fighting to command her. Ulyssa might play, but she wasn’t his to control. A smile twitched on her lips as she realized she wanted what he said was impossible. She wanted to make him her bed slave. She wanted him to bow to her, even if it was only in private.

  Turning his own look on him, she stalked around him as if he were her prey. Kirill’s dark eyes narrowed, and his nostrils flared as if he could sense her intentions. Ulyssa touched his back, rubbing at his neck, up into the silky locks of his hair. She pressed her chest into his back as her fingers trailed down over his strong arms. His firm backside hit her stomach, taut and sculpted beneath the pants. Exploring him thoroughly, she finally made her way to untie the laces at his hips.

  Kirill was panting heavily by the time she worked the first lace loose. His chest moved as he fought for breath. Her hands dipped along the cross-laces to the perfect indentions of his buttocks. Her touch curved around his flat stomach, edging the waistband from his skin, tickling the divot of his navel. She let him feel the cooled tips of her breasts at his warm back, rubbing lightly along his skin.

  Then, with a catlike smile curling her features, she pulled back and moved to the shower. When she turned, his sharp gaze was on her. She stood, holding the door open as he stared. The hot water hit her skin, warming her even more, washing the remnants of soap from her flesh.

  Kirill’s pants were still hooked on his erection where she’d left them. She waited to see what he’d do. Slowly, he kicked off a boot and then the other, refusing to take his eyes off hers. Ulyssa let the shower door stay open as she moved her head into the stream of water. She let the shower rinse her hair, aroused by the fact that he watched with such interest.

  “You’re very beautiful,” he stated. The tone wasn’t warm, just matter-of-fact. He nodded his head in approval. “And bold.”

  “And you are still dressed,” she pointed out with a tilt of her brow. She placed her hands on her hips and gave him an insolent grin.

  His hands moved to his waist. With a flick of his fingers, he pushed the waistband off his hips, letting his pants glide to the floor. “Better?”

  Ulyssa felt her smile freeze on her face. She tried to be calm, but the mere size of his towering erection seemed so much more daunting in the light. She felt a momentary wave of panic but quickly squelched it with a throaty chuckle.

  “You fear me?” he asked, stopping in mid-step as he came to her. A look of confusion passed over him. He took a deep breath.

  “No,” she lied, scrunching her face.

  Kirill’s eyes narrowed, but he said nothing. He took another step and stopped. “You wish this?”

  Ulyssa frowned. Of course, she wanted it. She’d made that obvious, hadn’t she? Her body trembled, and she realized she was a little nervous. The insight took her by surprise. How could she be nervous? She’d been with men before. She’d been with him before. And how in the world was he detecting it?

  “Mm. If you keep talking, Your Highness, I’ll have to start without you.” To prove her point, she took her hand to her stomach and edged it down toward her hips, letting her fingers slide in the water on her skin. She tilted her head to the side and naughtily licked at her mouth.

  Kirill didn’t hold off any longer. A growl sounded in the back of his throat. He darted forward to pull her into his arms, not even pausing as he pulled the stall door shut behind him. His naked form pressed against hers, forcing her back against the shower wall.

  Ulyssa felt him all along her body. The water slid between them, making his muscles glide over her softer form. His thick arousal settled between her hips, hotter than the water. She moaned, stirring and rubbing along his entire frame as he held her trapped. His hands explored her, commanding her flesh as he boldly touched wherever he desired, her breasts, her hips, around to cup her firm backside and pull her forward. He rocked his hips to hers, growling in pleasure as he kissed her.

  “Ah,” she panted, breaking free to breathe.

  Kirill didn’t stop. His lips slid over her wet jaw to her throat, devouring her with his mouth. He nipped her skin only to soothe the irritation with his long tongue.

  Remembering that she wanted to be in control, Ulyssa pushed him roughly. He didn’t budge. A firm sound of refusal grumbled out of his lips as he continued to kiss her.

  “I want…I want to…” Ulyssa tried to speak, but his lips were wreaking havoc on her flesh. His palms cupped her breast, lifting it to meet his mouth. He sucked her nipple intently until it was surrounded by heat and velvet. Animalistic sounds of possession came from him, vibrating against her. “Ah, Kirill, please. I want to touch you.”

  Ulyssa realized she begged, but she couldn’t help it. His mouth kissed too perfectly. His body felt too good. She trembled in anticipation.

  His lips tore from her, and he stood to meet her eyes. “And I want to bury myself inside you.”

  Before she could protest, he slid his hands around to her backside and lifted her off the ground, gliding her back along the wall of the stall. Kirill was going to get his way first, not that she minded one bit. Ulyssa grabbed at his neck, holding on. Without even flinching, he delved forward, slipping his erect shaft between the lips of her moist opening. He let the tip dance just inside the entrance, teasing and testing her.

  Her body was wet, more than ready. She wanted him. Her hips bucked in offering, and he grinned.

  With so much control that it drove her mad, he pushed into her slick passage, filling her body by small, agonizing degrees. He watched her face carefully, taking in every one of her reactions. Her eyes rolled in her head. Her lips parted, as she gasped for air. The shower hit their bodies, caressing them like millions of fingers, heightening the pleasure.

  Ulyssa nearly swooned as he finally pressed fully into her body. Seating himself to the hilt, he paused. She kicked him with her thigh in protest. Kirill chuckled and shot her a confident grin.

  “Is this what you want?” he asked, low and hoarse. His fingers gripped into the cheeks of her backside, spreading them ever so slightly. Holding her up with ease, he began to move. He licked and teased her throat as his hips pulled back only to thrust in shallow strokes.

  “Yes,” Ulyssa cried, beyond caring that he had all the control. He felt too good, too right. “Yes. Oh, my, yes, please, yes, more. Give me more, Kirill.”

  At her words, he gave her more. He stroked up into her tight passage, hitting harder against her core. Ulyssa screamed in mindless pleasure. Her back hit the shower wall, but she didn’t care. She twined her fingers into his long black hair, liking how t
he wet length blanketed her skin. His grunts joined hers as he thrust, hard and fast and deep inside her.

  Ulyssa wrapped her legs around him, urging him on. She could feel the strong muscles of his backside beneath her calves. He rocked himself into her with a violent force, conquering her depths. The tension built inside her hips. She was close, so close.

  Slipping her hand between their bodies, she tweaked her center nub with a finger, rubbing it in small circles. Instantly, her body twitched. Ulyssa screamed. Kirill growled in approval. He moved faster, harder, deeper, seating himself until he had no more to give.

  Her body convulsed around his rigid shaft as the full force of her orgasm hit her. Tears came to her eyes from the pure intensity of the moment. As her passage clenched down on him, Kirill let loose. He yelled, the sound that of a true savage. He delved one last time and released his seed deep inside her.

  They stood frozen in time, her back helpless against the wall. His body stayed buried deep inside her. Slowly, he let her slide down, pulling out at the same time.

  Confidently, he said to her, “See, it’s not so bad to be controlled by a man.”

  He moved to kiss her and she jerked back. “What did you say?”

  “I said you didn’t mind my dominance over you,” he stated more clearly. He moved to kiss her lips again, and again she jerked back.

  “You don’t control me.” Ulyssa pushed him hard. He was caught off guard, and his foot slid. She stormed past him, out of the shower. Grabbing a towel, she wrapped it angrily over her body.

  His eyes were dark with challenge. “Do you need me to prove to you who controls whom again? I saw your plan, Lyssa, but it can never work. You won’t command me.”

  “You bastard!” she yelled, gripping her towel tighter to her chest. He’d screwed her to teach her a lesson? The very nerve! She looked at his features. He thought he was bending her to his will? He thought she was a simpleminded little female ready to fall over at his feet? Well, she’d show him just how serious she was. Holding up her hand, she said, “I no longer wish it.”

  Kirill froze in mid-stride, feeling as if she’d kicked him. He looked at the woman before him. He knew she’d reached fulfillment, and yet she did not look pleased. In fact, she looked livid. Wisely, he kept his distance.

  “You don’t mean that,” he stated. He looked down his body, forcing her to do the same. His shaft was beginning to lift anew, readying for her. “I can smell that you want me again.”

  “I don’t care what you smell.” Her chin lifted, and she pried her eyes away from his erection. “I no longer wish this.”

  “Is this…how you play?” he asked, thinking it might be a game.

  “No, I’m deadly serious, Your Highness.” The title was spat from her lips.

  “We had an agreement,” Kirill said. He tried to keep his tone level, but it was difficult. “You must remain as my mistress for three months.”

  “Oh, I know what I agreed to,” she answered, scornfully. “And I’ll behave in public. But in private, you aren’t getting another thing until you beg me for it. It’s about time you learned a little humility you savage jerk.”

  “A king doesn’t beg,” he roared, losing his temper. He knew he was only repeating his father’s words. But that didn’t make them any less true. His eyes swirled with dark passions. His tense body shook. “A king cannot beg!”

  “Then this mistress no longer pleases,” she growled.

  Kirill swiped his hand at her and she flinched, recoiling back as if he meant to strike her. His eyes rounded and he was hurt that she would assume such a thing. Giving a single, curt nod, he whispered softly, “It will be as you wish, Lyssa. I won’t touch you.”

  Ulyssa watched him leave her alone in the bathroom. When he was gone, she ran to the door and slammed it shut. Instantly, she fell to the floor, weak. She didn’t know what happened, but she felt branded by him and she didn’t like it. Somehow, when they came together, the very savage Var king had managed to touch her soul. And the very idea of it terrified her.

  14

  Ulyssa stayed huddled in the bathroom like a coward for all of five minutes. Then, taking a steady breath, she assured herself she was in control of her emotions. The force of her orgasm had taken her by surprise, that was all. That’s why she became all emotional on Kirill. But, the strength of his words still stung. No man would ever control her.

  Her heart leaped at the challenge he put forth. If he’d have just left well enough alone, they’d have spent the entire three months doing incredibly sinful things all over his home, probably even all over the palace. She was a woman confident in her sexual appetites. But His Royal Pain-in-the-ass wanted to play dominance. Well, no man had ever dominated her before and she’d be damned if he’d be the first. She’d just have to make his life torture until he couldn’t stand it any longer.

  Walking tall into the living room, gripping her towel regally around her body, she was surprised to find the fireplace had heated the room to a pleasant temperature. She looked at the bedroom and swallowed. Kirill came from within, holding a black dress over his arm. He stopped, his eyes still dark as he looked at her, but they were guarded now.

  He was dressed in his usual attire. The studded armbands around his biceps gleamed in the firelight. Her eyes roamed unbidden over his body, more familiar now with it since she’d had a chance to explore it for herself. Her body heated even as her mind rebelled.

  “We go to Reid’s home tonight to dine so that you may meet my brothers.” Kirill lifted the dress toward her. “You may wear this.”

  “No thanks, I prefer pants.”

  “Lyssa,” he began, exasperated. Then, sighing, he shook his head. “You must wear this tonight. You are a woman, and this is tradition.”

  “Your tradition sucks,” she grumbled, stomping across the marble floor to snatch the dress from him. She pushed past him into his room and slammed the door behind her.

  Kirill sighed and didn’t move. The tension was back in his body. His head throbbed with renewed force. He didn’t know what he’d done to make her so mad. He’d explained his position to her. He could not, would not, beg her to sleep with him. Kings could not beg. It was simple.

  Then, with a shrug, he assumed she would come around. If she didn’t, he’d just have to make her life pleasurable torture until she couldn’t stand it any longer. A devious smile came to his face. He was sure he could make her so hot for him that she’d soon forget her words and submit again, and again, and again, and...

  15

  Little, uneven winding trails worked through the thick fold of colossal trees. Strange yellow ferns grew over the red Qurilixen soil. Ulyssa trampled them with her feet as she walked.

  Prince Reid’s home was deep within the forest, north of the palace, near what Ulyssa assumed would be Draig territory. She was surprised to find that Kirill walked alone with her. There were no royal guards behind him, no entourage of soldiers, just them and the thick forest. She wondered if she could make a run for it.

  Kirill made a small sound as if warning her not to try. She arched a brow at him and said nothing.

  The air was fresh and the sky, from what she could see peeking in through the shelter of branches above, was of a clear greenish-blue. The green leaves of the surrounding foliage were overlarge due to the excessive heat and moisture they received. Ulyssa had seen the three suns peeking from the clouded sky, two yellow and one blue, when they passed through the back way of the palace from the Var city.

  The city surrounding the palace appeared to be a large one that rolled down the countryside from the front gate. The homes were constructed of gray bricks, contrasting with the red earth, with the same beautiful workmanship seen within the palace, though more simplistic and rectangular in design. From what she could tell, the city thrived.

  Kirill briefly explained that the royal family only used the front entrance for ceremonies, usually when leading the troops to war. Otherwise, it was much faster just to take the side s
tairs out of the palace directly into the forest. When Ulyssa asked about palace security, he merely roared, and two very large mountain lions were summoned to their side. Even in shifted cat form, they bowed their heads before sprinting back to disappear into the trees.

  Ulyssa looked around, wondering how many Var warriors watched them. Maybe they weren’t as alone as she had thought.

  “We’re not being followed,” Kirill said at her side, without even glancing at her. Her head whipped forward, and they continued in silence.

  The air was surprisingly warm for the evening hour. Birds sang beautifully in the distance. Little noises of insects came from all around. Various woodland critters shuffled away in fright, strange creatures she had gotten closer looks at when she’d camped.

  Suddenly, remembering the rustic campsite, she wasn’t in such a hurry to run from the palace. Besides, she was going to thoroughly enjoy bringing Kirill to his knees. She looked over at him and smiled. He tensed, his eyes narrowing in suspicion as they noticed her direct attention. She couldn’t blame him. She’d been rather cold to him since the shower.

  “Mm, so beautiful out,” she murmured in her sultriest tone. She let her lashes sweep over her blue eyes. “Does your planet always look like this?”

  “This season is the longest,” he answered, seeming to relax. “But there’s also a short winter. The Draig get hit worse, as they have the larger mountain range.”

  “Why are you fighting the Draig? Because they are different than you?” Ulyssa was genuinely curious. Both seemed like proud, strong races. After discovering the first species of aliens, humans had put aside their petty interracial issues, and they’d became simply human. That had been centuries ago. Could it be the Var and Draig simply had primitive race issues? It seemed a silly thing to fight over, but it happened often enough.