Bound to the Elvin King

by Lisa Kumar

  Every muscle from the waist down clenched at the promise in his words, but she attempted to act nonchalant. “Sounds like it could be painful.”

  A thoughtful look crossed his face before a sensuous smile touched his lips. “So much pleasure could be termed painful.”

  If he weren’t so arrogant, she’d be a salivating heap of flesh at his feet. “And I’m sure you’re going to show me.”

  “Of course.”

  His cockiness dried up the smart-ass retort on her tongue. Damn him, even her mouth wouldn’t listen to her. But it would probably jump to do his bidding. In fact, it watered to taste the buffet he offered.

  She licked her lips. “Well, get on with it.”

  As he captured her mouth with his, the oxygen in her lungs seemed to disappear. Her hands wound in the hair spilling down his back. With each stroke of his tongue, she instinctively tugged on the silky locks between her fingers. His erection prodded her hip, making her aware he enjoyed this just as much as she did. Just as she thought breathing would be impossible, he released her lips. She took in a deep gulp—for her lungs and to calm her body down. It didn’t settle her hormones one bit.

  He placed small, nibbling kisses along her jawline and then down the curve of her neck. A satisfied sigh escaped her. He sure knew how to work that mouth of his. And it seemed he was going to work it down her body. She had no complaints.

  The hollow of her neck received particular attention before he dipped his head down to the neckline of her gown. His lips ghosted along the skin there. She shuddered, sure she’d go nuts if he didn’t do something soon.

  His fingers dipped into her bodice and caressed the tops of her breasts. The gentle strokes sent need coursing through her. She pressed into his hands.

  He found the buds of her areolas, and she nearly shot to the ceiling. A grin stretched his lips.

  “So responsive. Nothing delights me more. Let’s see if every part of you reacts the same way.”

  Her mind stalled. Shouldn’t he already know how responsive she was? But the sensation of his touch scrambled her brain, and all concern melted away.

  He pressed an open-mouthed kiss right above her cleavage. “Time to unwrap my gift.” His strong hands trembled slightly as he untied the laces of her gown, and his face was flushed. He peeled the garment from her and let it glide to the floor.

  The air hit her skin. Every nerve ending sizzled.

  For him.

  That scary realization socked her in the gut, and she took in a shaky breath. Maybe it was only the bond. Nothing else. It couldn’t be anything else.

  There was only one way to be sure. She reached around to unhook her bra, but he stopped her.

  “Let me.” Her bra soon dropped to the floor, and he groaned. “Beautiful. But you still have too much on.” His hands rested on her hips before he gently tugged her panties down.

  The heat of his gaze swept over her, leaving fire in its wake. She felt vulnerable, exposed. This wasn’t like her, so she stood taller and trailed a finger down his chest. She’d be damned if she was going to act all shy now.

  A tremor rewarded her efforts, and she smiled. “Now, it’s my turn.”

  She reached for the laces of his pants. They slid loose of their confines easily this time, and then he was laid bare for her enjoyment. Like some gilded god, he stood regally before her. The smoldering look he gave her caused her mouth to go dry. He was hungry, and she was dinner.

  Her gaze wandered downward until it reached its goal. His sex rose proud and tall, ready to give her the action she craved.

  They reached for each other at the same time. Molding her to him, he guided her to his desk. The idea of making love there flooded her with heat. He slowly inched her back until her butt hit the edge, then he lifted her up on it as if she weighed nothing.

  Papers and books scattered, with some falling to the floor. The sound only inflamed her more.

  He pressed her back, and she reclined, leaning on her lower arms and hands. This position allowed her to see everything—a very lust-inducing thought that ricocheted off every nerve in her body. But she’d be lucky if she could hold herself up for long. Her arms already ached from the hard wood and her own body weight.

  When he captured one nipple in his mouth, the thought of her arms left completely. Waves of pleasure built, and just as she thought she could take no more, he released her. She frowned. She’d been so close.

  He grinned down at her, apparently reading her dissatisfaction. “That is only the beginning.”

  She groaned, in both pleasure and need. Well, at least he wasn’t an in-and-out guy like so many of her girlfriends complained of, where he got in as fast as he could, then got out. But if he wanted to tease her, she could return the favor.

  With her hands she propelled herself into a sitting position. She splayed her hands over his chest. The muscles tightened under her fingertips, and his hands fisted in her hair. Her tongue came out and licked a path over his chest and stomach. When she ventured lower, a tug to her hair halted her.

  “Not right now. I need to have you and don’t want to spend myself that way.”

  She lay back. His hands caressed her thighs before wondering farther. As they touched her most private place, she hissed out a breath.

  Blood rushed to the bundle of nerves in her core. She bucked against his hand.

  He shifted over her, parting her thighs wider. All time seemed suspended. She waited for them to join. As he thrust home, she groaned and time exploded around her. Sensation caused her eyelids to close. Everything pressed in on her during this moment, things she never dreamt she could feel. His pleasure and enjoyment. And a curious feeling of…affection? Her eyelids flew open. Could it be?

  But as she explored this new phenomenon, the sensation drifted away as if it were being locked behind a steel door. His rhythm increased, tugging her back to the present. And soon all thought honed in on what Talion’s body was doing to hers. She curled her fingers against the skin of his back.

  The pleasure was almost too much, but she couldn’t have stopped even if she’d wanted to. God, how could she have forgotten this? It was the best thing since chocolate, and heaven knew, chocolate was orgasmic.

  The pressure increased in her sex until it coalesced into a pinpoint. Then like a supernova, it shattered through her. As through a mist, Talion’s shout of release came to her. His shuddering form collapsed against hers.

  Her body floated on air. She was sure of it. Contentment hummed through her veins.

  But as she lay there, she crashed down from the climatic high. They’d done the deed. The bond should now be satisfied and allow them distance. A pang of something that felt suspiciously like loss assailed her. She waved it away, attributing it to the thought of having found great sex—sex she intended never to experience again.

  The weight of his body pushed all her pressure points uncomfortably into the hard surface. Once she recovered her breath, she squirmed under him. “Get off. You’re crushing me. What have you been eating?”

  He smiled against her neck but made no effort to move. “I’ll have you know I’m at the weight I should be.”

  With his muscle, there was no doubting he was healthy. “Good for you.”

  “And you, too.” He flexed his hips against her thighs, making his meaning quite clear.

  “Ha, you’re being overconfident.” Too bad her voice cracked with desire and showed her words to be bravado. Way to go, Mags. You might as well just call him an elvin love machine.

  “Overconfident? I’ll be gl—”

  A knock at the door stopped him short. She heaved a quiet sigh of relief. A near disaster averted—one that would’ve shouted out her desire like a foghorn.

  Talion lifted his head and scowled before pulling out of her. He aimed a glare at the door. “Must we always be interrupted? Being king is vastly overrated sometimes.”

  A sense of loss and emptiness at his withdrawal cloaked her like a black cloud. And were those tears we
lling in her eyes? She blinked against the strange despair threatening to consume her. What the hell was wrong with her? He couldn’t live buried inside her.

  His attention focused back on her. She shifted underneath him. Damn, those eyes seemed to taste her soul. It was crazy, but it was as if he knew…every nook and cranny of her. And her physical body had nothing to do with it. This realization frightened the piss out of her.

  She forced bravado into her tone. “Aww, you know you love being king. How would you boss people around, otherwise?”

  The knock came again. He rolled off her, gloriously naked, and pinned her with a gimlet stare. Her pulse zoomed into overdrive, more from his body than his piercing gaze.

  He sighed. “You’re not helping my level of frustration right now.”

  She ripped her thoughts away from dangerous territory and arched a challenging brow. Sarcasm laced her tone. “Sorry. I’m not fulfilling my task in life and making you happy?”

  He threw on his tunic and pants. She blinked. Wow, he was a fast dresser. This reminded her she was bare as a Sphinx cat. Maybe she’d better put some clothes on. And hide if necessary.

  But all intentions of getting dressed slipped away when he spoke. “You made me very happy a few minutes ago.”

  She pursed her lips. Yeah, she was sure she did. Though she’d rather choke on an apricot pit than tell him that something like serenity had filled her. Then she’d dived face-first into the truth: they’d slept together because of the bond, because they had to. For some reason, that pleasant sensation had croaked in the face of this fact.

  Maggie scowled. “I hope you remember the feeling because that’s the only way you’re going to experience it again.”

  “Really? I wouldn’t be so hasty in saying such a thing. You never know when you’ll be proven wrong.” With that, he strode to the door and opened it up a crack.

  Great. He’d opened the door, and the other person might peak in. She sat up gingerly and winced. Damn desk felt like concrete under her backside. But she needed to be able to take cover if Talion’s visitor tried to enter the room.

  “Relian, what do you want?”

  Her heart plummeted at the realization it was Relian on the other side. He might be harder for Talion to put off. The thought of them being caught by Relian caused her to cringe. How awkward.

  “What took you so long? You don’t sound very welcoming.”

  “Don’t you have a wife to go bother?” Exasperation tinted Talion’s voice.

  “She’s looking for Maggie.” Relian paused. “Are you with a woman? You are acting touchy, as if you’re hiding something.”

  Talion’s shoulders stiffened. “Hiding? I’m a grown man. I have no need to hide anything.”

  Relian snorted. “That’s why you always took care to make sure your love affairs were kept from my ears.”

  Maggie frowned. What a horn dog.

  “No, that was merely discretion. I’m a very public figure, just like you, and don’t like my personal life on display. Why are we talking about this right now?”

  “You seem different. Tense, yet conversely, more settled than I’ve ever seen you. But I’ve never known you to bring a female to your library. You barely let me in there.”

  “Is Cal not letting you sleep enough? You’re becoming delusional.”

  Maggie could hear nothing in his carefully controlled drawl. He was as calm as an effing stone. Now, even his posture was indolent, just like the man underneath.

  “By the way, have you seen Maggie?”

  An ironic laugh welled up deep within her at Relian’s question. Oh, had he ever seen her. He’d left his mark everywhere, from the bruises she could feel forming on her back due to his desk to the love marks he’d left on her chest. She cupped the side of her neck and grimaced. There was another there, maybe more.

  Talion only hesitated a moment before answering. “I’m afraid I couldn’t say where she is.”

  Ooh, smooth. An evasive answer wasn’t a complete lie.

  “If you see her, let her know Cal is looking for her. Cal is becoming quite worried, as she hasn’t seen Maggie all day.”

  “I’m sure she’ll turn up soon. She’s probably off creating havoc in some poor dolt’s life.”

  Maggie bristled at the wry note in his tone. She wreaked havoc? If he believed this, he was an idiot.

  “I’ll leave you to your work, Father. With the darkindred situation worsening, we all have a lot to do, but just don’t spend yourself too soon.”

  She bit her knuckle to stifle the giggle tickling her vocal cords. God, Relian’s play-on words were too much. And he didn’t even know what they’d done or that she was here. But as she considered some of his remarks, a trickle of jealousy flickered in her. No, he just thought Talion had some other chick in his library. For some reason, this ticked her off. Why did it, though? It wasn’t like she cared for him beyond valuing him as another living being. That he could give her great pleasure had nothing to do with it.

  “I’ll be sure not to work myself down to a nub.”

  The double entendre in Talion’s sarcastic words brought up an image of him doing just that. An ache kindled down below, and the air suddenly seemed overly warm against her bare skin. She squirmed against the desk. Really, the idea of Talion wearing out his “equipment” was an oddly appealing thought. A laugh escaped her lips.

  Shit! She froze and held her breath.

  “Who’s that, Father?”

  Chapter 7

  Talion attempted to shut the door on Relian. “It’s time for you to go.” And for Maggie to explain her antics. His nails dug into the palm of his hand. For someone who claimed she didn’t want people knowing about them, her actions sorely defied her words.

  His son’s foot stopped the door. “You’ve been acting more secretive than usual. I’ll go, but we will talk later.”

  Talion frowned and knocked aside the offending appendage. “Really? Who’s the father here, not to mention king?”

  “And I’m your adult son who expects some answers.”

  When had his son turned so demanding? Not too long ago, he’d been having this kind of conversation with Relian. He hadn’t experienced much success. Relian had clammed up tighter than a seeing crystal in a darkindred’s hand. Why did his son think he’d be any luckier in this situation than Talion had been?

  Talion wanted to smirk at the change in circumstance but settled for merely shrugging his shoulders. “We’ll see.”

  Relian’s mouth firmed. “Yes, we will. An—”

  Without a further word, Talion shut the door in his son’s face.

  He shook his head, looking at a delightfully nude Maggie. “What part of “later” doesn’t the boy understand?”

  Her lips twitched. “That’s the cry of parents the universe over, I guess.”

  He raised a brow. “Heard that one more than once?”

  “More than you’ll ever know.” She crossed her arms over her breasts. Surprise flared in her eyes for a moment, then she glanced as if she’d forgotten she was naked. She hopped off his desk. Instead of pulling on her clothes like he’d suspected, she wrapped a blanket around herself that had been lying over the back of one of the chairs.

  He stepped toward her. “You shouldn’t cover up such beauty.”

  Her face darkened. “You’ve already enjoyed the goods, so you can stop with the compliments.”

  “You think I have an agenda?”

  “Don’t most men?”

  So untrusting. She never accepted anything at surface glance. But often neither did he. One couldn’t stay alive, let alone remain king, for long, otherwise. “I don’t need to use flattery to have you again.”

  She rolled her eyes. “Such arrogance.”

  “I’ve felt how your body responds to mine. From the moment you stepped into Eria, you sensed something awaited you. When you laid eyes on me, the tension you emitted resonated within me.” Oh, he’d known it all once he’d seen her. Whether she admitted it or no
t, her body and spirit had reached out to his.

  Her insolent look vanished as an expression of panic flittered over her face, and she took a step back. She thought to flee? That couldn’t be allowed, so he stalked toward her until he stood a few feet away from her. “There is no escaping. Us. Our bond.”

  “This is too much.” She shook her head and held up a hand to ward him off. “You’re too much. We satisfied the bond, so I’m outta here.

  “We only satisfied one condition of the bond.”

  She reared back like he’d slapped her.

  “Just because we made love doesn’t mean the bond will disappear now.”

  She stiffened. “I know, but we’ll live with it and go on with our lives.”

  “And how do you see us doing that?”

  “Separately, of course. I won’t be tied to you or to this land.”

  Annoyance seeped into him. They were soul-bonded. There was no living separately. At least not for long periods of time. Their spirits fed each other. Maggie would have to make her peace with the bond—and him.

  “And what would happen if we live apart?” His voice was silky quiet. He knew the effect it had on people.

  She quivered. It appeared he hadn’t lost his touch.

  “I guess we’d feel a sense of loss and not be happy.” At first, she didn’t look at him as she spoke, but then apparently gathered her courage, for she stared him in the eye. “Happiness is highly overrated.”

  The little vixen had an answer for everything. Too bad her words showed how she underestimated the consequences. “Apparently staying alive is overrated, too.”

  Her eyes widened. “What?”

  “Why do you think we could live apart when others who are soul-bonded cannot?”

  “Because we didn’t choose this.” She flung up her hands to emphasize her words. “And I didn’t know bond mates had to live together…permanently?”

  “Permanently.” Though “permanently” had a different connotation to elves, given their lifespans. He wouldn’t tell her yet that once the bond was stabilized, the couple could be apart for years. “Proximity is what feeds the bond.”