by Grey, T. A.
The steward led her down the hall to the royal dining room again. She sighed with relief. Whatever he had planned, he wouldn't be doing it in the dining room. Or would he? Her eyes widened. He'd touched her the first time in there, had made her feel...strange and exciting feelings. If she were honest with herself, she'd admit she wanted to explore those feelings. See just how much he could make her feel. But it all felt so wrong. If this had been before the war when he was a different man, things would be so different. Now he was dark, his heart black. He was not a good man.
The steward opened the double-wide doors. “After you, Lady Arianna.”
She walked inside and mentally checked to make sure her small smile was in place, her hands resting neatly at her sides, her chin up. Alrik was nowhere to be seen.
Arianna turned back to the steward just as he was closing the doors. “Where's the king?”
“He shall arrive momentarily, my lady.”
Arianna flinched as the doors closed. From the last booming echo of the door shutting, she felt as though her fate had been sealed. Silence filled the air. The chandeliers were lit and flickering over the grand table, but no plates were set for a meal. Unease trembled through her. Unsure what to do, she walked to the table then crossed back to the door. Again and again. What did he want with her? Why bring her here now? Without a formal appointment? Her gut twisted and churned. Her fingers began to tremble and she wrung them together to hide it.
The servant's door burst open and she stifled a yelp. King Alrik strode through it looking more tense and angry than usual. His brows were pulled down, his lips flat. He started towards her and she back up until her back hit the door. He stopped at the table and tossed down a packet of papers.
“There,” he said.
Her brow arched. “There what?” she asked, breathless.
“Read it.”
With no other choice, she obeyed his order. She had to come close to get the papers, and he didn't move, which put her much closer to him than she wanted to be. It was inappropriate of him to stand so close to her but then again he'd had his hand down her dress last time. Her breath caught and she quickly starting reading over the papers. She shouldn't be surprised at what she read, but she was.
“So it's complete,” she said finally, her tongue dry.
“Yes.”
She nodded slowly then set the papers back on the table. “I am now officially...single.”
He shook his head. “No.”
Her brows pulled in confusion. “But this said I am not betrothed to anyone. Wouldn't that make me single?”
“Normally, but I have claimed you.”
She swallowed hard and closed her mouth to keep from panting. “What-what does that mean?” If he meant claim in the savage sense of the word then he certainly hadn't done that. She'd never lain with a man but she was certain she'd remember it. Especially by the dark king.
“It means that you are mine now.” He pulled out the chair beside him and dropped into it. He stared up at her with a lazy expression on his face, almost like he was bored. She tried to ignore his big legs kicked out and spread before him but she couldn’t help but notice how strong his legs were, how long. A blush crept over her face.
“But in what way? If we are not, that is, if we are not betrothed...” she whispered the last.
“Come here, Arianna.”
She stiffened but didn't move. Fear kept her immobilized.
“Come. Here,” he said again, an edge to his deep voice.
Arianna closed the space between them until she stood by his chair. His hand reached out to grab hers, then he yanked, and she fell into his lap. No lessons on manners or teachings of etiquette ever taught her how to deal with this. She stiffened awkwardly, and tried to keep her back straight but her bottom rested atop his spread thighs and her feet dangled off the side of the chair.
One strong arm slid around her back and instantly the strain in her back and abdomen lessened. His other dark hand came to rest on her stomach which clenched hard in response.
“We are not betrothed. You are mine now. I'd recommend that you don't let any males pursue you, Arianna. Now that the whole kingdoms heard what's happened, the males will come out to try to claim you.”
Her eyes darted to his gaze, and then quickly stared ahead at the wall. He meant to what, then? Keep her as some sort of concubine? The notion was absurd, degrading, and she hated him for it. A part of her wanted to say that if you don't want any males to claim me, then do it yourself, but that would only lead to huge, huge problems. Like what if he agreed? No way. No way could she be his wife.
The hand at her stomach flattened until she could feel the heat of his fingertips as though he was touching her skin to skin. “Why are you doing this?”
“I told you. I've waited a really, really long time for you, Arianna.” The hand around her back curled around her hip.
Her breath stuttered out from her lips as little zaps of pleasure shot inside her like fireworks. Somehow she found the strength to look him in the eyes. “But you've changed so much,” she said softly.
His eyes froze over, the heat in them disappearing like a receding wave on a shore. The hands on her body tightened in what felt like a warning. Then in a flash of movement, the hand at her back vanished and cupped her neck, pulling her face towards his. Wild excitement, panic, and fear all combusted inside of her. She could feel his breath on her lips she was so close. Her stomach trembled. She wanted to feel the wicked heat he lit inside her last time. Wanted to see just how far he could take her; discover what exactly he could make her feel.
His eyes narrowed on hers. “Then remember me how I was.”
His mouth came down on hers hard, demanding. Her inexperienced mouth didn't know how to keep up. One thing she did notice was the metal loop in the corner of his bottom lip. It felt surprisingly cold but smooth and not very noticeable. He deepened the kiss, his hand moving to cup her jaw, and his thumb pressed down on her chin, opening her mouth. And then his tongue delved inside, thrusting, creating a stir of riotous feelings inside her.
A fog drifted over her at the different sensations. Warmth pervaded her every cell until her clothing felt suffocating. The hand at her stomach moved, curling around her hip and squeezing gently. A soft gasp came from her, out of nowhere. He seemed to eat it up because he groaned, thrusting his tongue inside her faster, hungrily. An all new sensation came forth, like the one he'd made her feel last time.
She suddenly had the need to spread her legs and pull him on top of her. She craved the heavy weight of his body—only he could ease the needy ache building inside of her.
He pulled away from her mouth. “Kiss me back,” he ordered, his deep voice ragged with something she was starting to understand. She felt the hunger inside of her, it made her feel strange. Deep in her belly felt empty as if something was missing from there, and her body leaned closer to his to get more of his touch.
She nodded quickly then wrapped her arm around his neck. His lips parted and their tongues met. A beam of electricity passed between them at the touch. She struggled to breathe and kiss him at the same time, but somehow she managed it.
She slid her tongue against his rougher one and a burst of feelings erupted inside her. She squirmed in his lap feeling hot, needy, tight, and achy all at the same time. Her breasts felt taut, nipples hard and chafing against her dress. She parried her tongue against his thrusting one and wondered, if she asked, would he put his hand on her again.
He pulled back, breathing rough and ragged. “You are beautiful.”
She might have blushed if her cheeks weren't already flushed. “Thank you, King Alrik.”
“I told you to call me Alrik.” His thumb rubbed up and down next to her lips, distracting her.
“That's right. I'm sorry.”
He stood, taking her in his arms. “You taste so good.” His lips slid across hers, then pressed deep. When her mouth opened on a sigh, he slid deep and provoking. He set her on the table and step
ped between her legs, but her long dress restricted him from pushing deep. He growled and grabbed the hem and started shoving the gown up to the tops of her thighs.
Arianna couldn't find her tongue long enough to voice her protest, because it felt thick and clunky in her mouth.
He pressed into her, his body warming her. He was just so hot. His hands settled on her waist and then, with a jerk, he scooted her forward pressing himself to the vee of her legs. She gasped, startled, as a flood of wetness escaped her. A fiery blush stole over her cheeks.
“This is inappropriate,” she whispered.
His lips found her neck, wreaking havoc with lips, tongue and teeth. Arianna couldn't hold her head up, it was too heavy, and it fell to the side. Not only that, but suddenly her entire body felt too heavy. She just wanted to fall back against the table and pull his heavy body atop hers and rub the spot aching between her legs against him. Just thinking such wild thoughts made her flush down to her toes.
His teeth caught at the juncture of her throat, imprisoning her. Pleasure bloomed from the bite, spreading to her chest, stomach, and legs. Strange things were happening in her body, tightening, heating, spasming; all from his simple touches. Her mouth opened to try to suck in more air.
“You are so soft, Ari,” he said, sounding pleased.
He called her Ari, the little nickname he used to. Her heart panged in her chest.
Before she could voice, or try to, some kind of response, the hands on her hips tightened and he rocked himself against her. A strangle cry escaped her. Her hands flew to his shoulders and held tight. More, more of that, she wanted to say, but her tongue had long abandoned her. He rocked against her again and this time she concentrated on the feeling. He was hard, rigid, and long as he pushed against her. That one touch eased the empty hole inside her and brought forth a new feeling. This one she was familiar with. She'd pleasured herself before, but none of those times were nearly as exciting as this was.
Hot lips trailed down her collar bone, kissing, licking, then down further to the edge of her bodice. Yes, yes! Her breasts were tight and full. They needed to be squeezed to alleviate the pain inside them.
Her hands bunched and squeezed at his shoulders in an unending kneading rhythm. “So eager.” His deep voice had gone husky with passion. The sound made her tremble.
She thought she nodded but couldn't be sure. Everything around her was happening too fast and too slow. Tentatively, she pushed her hips against him and moaned deliriously. She pushed against him again and another moan escaped. It felt so good. It pushed the neediest part of her against him and brought forth those intense clenching feelings in her womb, the ones that would send her shuddering with hot bursting sensations in her belly and flying outward.
“Fuck,” he cursed. And then something happened. Something was let loose inside him.
Alrik pushed her back against the table, following her down. Her heart jumped then started racing in an erratic pattern.
He reached behind her, gripped the back of her dress and tugged. She gasped as small pearly buttons shattered across the table. He was ruthless like a conqueror, pulling her dress down to uncover her breasts.
He kissed her lips hard then made his way down to the slope of one breast, pressing kisses around the rim of it. She trembled as her nipple pulled even tighter in response.
“Hold on to me,” he said between clenched lips, and she did, gripping the fabric at his shoulders in tight fists.
His tongue flicked out, tracing a path around her puckered tip over and over again. She squirmed beneath him, chest rising and falling in great heaves. Unable to contain herself, she lifted her chest, her nipple, to his mouth. His lips parted and she thought he was finally going to take the bud between his lips, but then his eyes trailed up to meet hers.
What she saw there made her gasp, made her hips pump up and meet his hard cock. Possession, burning need, barely leashed. She wondered at the look. Did her eyes reflect the same, because she surely felt the same simmering passion inside her right now? Then he closed his eyes and sucked her nipple between his lips.
“Aaah!”
The first touch felt heavenly and awful all at the same time. It brought relief to her aching breast as he pulled it between his lips, but made the empty ache in her belly her grow much much bigger.
They became wrapped up in each other as a sensual fog clouded over them. A primitive rhythm between man and woman locked them together, blocking out the world around them.
He worked her breast until she cried out, then he pulled away and molded it with his hand, squeezing and shaping until she craved his mouth on her again. But he didn't return. Instead he switched to her other breast, making her realize just how much she needed him there.
“Alrik.” She sounded like a completely different woman. Husky and sensual, so not like the usual polite person she was.
“I can't wait anymore.”
Her eyes flew open. What did that mean?
He reached down to grasp the end of her dress then shoved it up to her waist. While her stomach sucked in and her legs naturally closed at being bared to a man, her heart did a rapid thump thump.
Pulling back, he stood between her legs, his hands clasping her inner thighs in a possessive hold. He looked so...raw towering over her. His eyes were wild and dark, his breathing fast and heavy. And it was her he gazed down at with such passion. She had to admit, he was sexy when he was like this. He made her feel powerful, even though logically she knew she was anything but, especially compared to the king.
“Beautiful Ari,” he said, stroking his strong hands up and down her legs. With each pass, she gasped as he went higher and higher. Moving closer to the needy center of her.
The place between her legs begged to be touched in some way, and when one of his hands reached up to grasp her linen underwear, she lifted her hips easily so he could pull them off. Strangely, she found herself captivated by him. With one arm crossed across her chest in a form of half-modesty, she watched him look at her with growing hunger.
Her sex bared to him, he groaned, a shuttered look crossing his face. His tongue darted to wet his lips and then he leaned down and rubbed his cheek across her thigh, up to her hip. He pressed his lips against the bone there and she whimpered, her legs kicking. He'd caused this fire inside of her and now she needed him to do something about it.
“Please.” It was all she could say. But in that one word she voiced everything she was feeling inside, all the raw erotic energy twirling in her body.
His smooth cheek rubbed against her as he made his way back to the center of her legs. Hard, demanding hands pressed against the inside of her thighs and pushed. She resisted, startled, and clenched her thighs. A more useless effort had never been made. He easily overpowered her and pushed her thighs apart, opening her to him in one powerful move.
A surge of embarrassment came over her. She turned her head to the side, squeezing her eyes shut, hands curling into fists. A stream of cool air came over her heated, wet flesh. She gasped, hips jerked. She wanted to know what it was, what he was doing but couldn't, no, wouldn't, open her eyes to see. Having sex, dare she say, making love, was one thing, but this...this was complete debauchery. Men and women did not do this.
A finger passed over her, starting at the top of her hair then trailing over her wet lips. The touch was so light it could have been a feather he trailed. She knew it wasn't though. It was him and his hands touching her.
“Very, very beautiful, Arianna. I've wondered for years what you looked like, smelled like...tasted like.”
Her stomach muscles clenched hard. Tasted?
Suddenly, something very soft and fluttery passed over her lips in a gentle caress. She wanted to look, wanted to know, but not that badly. Whatever he was doing was wicked and wrong.
Something wet and firm passed over her, twirling around her flesh, sliding between it. A deep, groan reverberated out from his chest and she swore it made her body tremble.
His tongu
e. She knew it. It flattened, passed up her sex from the needy, empty part of her until a faint tremble began in her stomach, and shook out from to her thighs. His tongue stiffened, then thrust between her folds and found the magical spot she'd played with many times before.
Her gargled cry echoed in the massive room around them. The cries wouldn't stop because he didn't. Twirling, circular sensations stirred at the touch of his tongue against her spot, teasing and teasing. In a rush, her breasts pulled tight, nipples puckering, and her entire body trembled on the verge of something she desperately wanted to feel. A burning fire smoldered inside her, making her lungs burn with each panting breath. Her head swished side to side, her face drawing tight as he brought her closer and closer.
She finally reached the precipice, trembling on the edge of a crumbling cliff when he pulled away. Staggered, shocked and shaking, she looked up at him panting. He had a pained look in his eyes, and for some reason it turned her on even more.
“Why?” she panted. “Why did you stop?”
His hands reached for his pants and started to untie the laces. Her gut clenched. “Because we're going out together, Ari. The first time together.”
Her heart fluttered with panic...and excitement. He was going to take her? Here and now? Yes! She wanted it, she actually, really, desperately, wanted it. The ache inside her actually hurt since he left her hanging. The building surge she'd reached didn't fade but fell back into the background as she watched him. His pants dropped in a whoosh of fabric. She glanced between his legs then quickly turned her head to the side as a fiery burned blazed up her cheeks and nose. Improper, this was beyond improper!
From the corner of her eye, she watched him grip the stiff dark cock between in his legs. He wrapped his fingers around the shaft and stroked it up and down.
“Look at me,” he said. She shook her head, squeezing her eyes shut. “I said look at me, Arianna.”
She hesitantly obeyed the order, peeling first one eye open then the other. He leaned forward, resting his arm next to her hip as his wicked hand moved up and down that dark shaft.
