Chapter 15
15
Fiona
" E w-ah. Ew-ah ," the knights begin to chant, tapping their swords above Kirill and me.
He instructs, "Blink repeatedly when you're ready to tap out, my little bird." His fingers press one at a time against my throat as he studies me with a new intensity. He thrusts as deep as he can, then teases me, slowly exiting until only the tip touches my entrance.
Like an addict, I lift my hips, wanting him back inside me, hating how empty it feels when he retreats. The ferocious pulsing in my core never stops. There are so many people chanting different erotic sounds, I barely realize I'm making incoherent ones of my own.
Kirill cages himself over my torso. His glistening skin slides against mine. His intoxicating scent flares around us, creating more chaos in my already overwhelmed senses. He grips my neck tighter, moving his face inches from mine.
I lean up and press my lips to his, slipping my tongue into his mouth, wanting to never stop kissing him. I've lost any sense of control I might have had. His body takes full possession of mine, and if servicing him means this is my reward, I'll be his junkie for life.
I knew he was different the moment I met him at the club. He's the opposite of the men I've always dated. I don't know what happened for him to have gotten those scars under his snake tattoos, but something about the vicious reptiles covering his body turns me on even more.
He's the epitome of tall, dark, and dangerous. I'm sure there's no one in the world like him, and everything about those two things should make me fear him. Yet I feel safe with him, even with thousands of strangers watching us do the most intimate things.
He moves his lips to my ear, pushes deep inside me, and stills. He reminds me again, "Make sure you tap out, my queen. Blink when you're ready." He locks his gaze on mine once again, stern, powerful, in charge of whatever he's about to do to me.
Fresh zings run down my spine. My pussy pulses around his cock. I'm surprised I can take all of him. The moment I saw how large he is, I thought my body wouldn't be able to handle it. But he slid into me with confidence, and I've never felt so alive.
"Show me you understand," he orders.
I blink a few times since I can't move. His large hand covers the entirety of my neck. He's already added pressure, but even though I've never had anyone fully choke me, I'm sure he's going to add more.
"Good, my little bird," he praises, giving me a chaste kiss, then pulls back enough that I can't reach him, yet his breath still merges with mine. He caresses the side of my head with one hand while he increases the pressure around my neck, studying my reaction. He resumes a slow thrust.
Tingles dance inside all my cells. My muffled moan vibrates against his hand. I can still breathe, but it won't be possible if he squeezes much more.
His chest rises and falls faster against mine. He thrusts faster and tilts his head, his eyes narrowing, then pushes his pelvis harder, squeezing his fingers tighter around my throat.
Adrenaline explodes within me, and my pussy spasms, trying to grip his gliding cock. My air supply is cut off, and my body convulses. My eyes roll, and a flash of white, then black, fills my vision.
Right as I'm about to pass out, Kirill loosens his grip so I can breathe. Choking and still reeling with an orgasm, I inhale a few short breaths before I can take a longer one.
The gong sounds, and I lose count of how many times it rings. My high recedes.
Kirill leans down, kisses my lobe, then murmurs in my ear, "Don't forget to tap out." His fingers tighten around me again, and he continues to assess me. His cock thrusts faster, pounds into me deeper, and his other hand continues to caress my cheek.
More waves of endorphins pummel me, and I can't stop moaning against his hand.
The knights' chanting turn to oms , the stomping outside the room gets louder, and the crowd returns to hissing.
"Sexy little bird," Kirill grits through his teeth, his face red, long hair dampening with sweat and hanging over me. He clenches his jaw and his scar twitches. He never takes his curious expression off me as he partially cuts off my air.
An orgasm hits me, and I can't stop trembling, yet it's not as powerful as the first one his cock gave me. I rasp, "More."
He furrows his eyebrows.
I manage to get out, "Please."
He kisses me quickly, muttering against my lips, "Careful what you wish, my beautiful wife," and then gives me what I want .
My oxygen disappears completely. He slams his pelvis against me, holding my throat in place, and my pussy loses all control. The most intense high of my life floods every cell I have, and I yank on the chains, violently convulsing underneath him. My eyes roll back and stay there. White light flashes twice behind my lids and then blackness takes over. The noise around me fades, and it's only Kirill's warmth wrapped around my shaking body.
"Fuck," he barks, but I barely register it.
Then his cock widens, flooding me deep with hot cum. It exponentially affects my high, taking me to a place I didn't realize existed.
Red flashes, then white, then black returns, and everything turns silent.
"Fiona!" Kirill roars, releasing his hand from my throat and stroking my cheek.
I cough, and everything is fuzzy.
"Fiona!" he frets, coming into view.
I blink a few times.
"Unshackle her," he orders.
Hissing fills the arena.
Within seconds, I'm released. They lower my legs and unclasp the cuffs from my wrists.
Kirill slides both hands on my cheeks. "Fiona!"
I reach my arms around him, sliding my hand through his hair, and take shallow breaths.
"I'm sorry," he mutters, his eyes glistening. "I'm—" He looks away, shaking his head. "Fuck."
The knights hold their swords over us again, slamming them into each other. The sharp metallic clang rings through the air .
I turn his face back to mine and pull it toward me, leaning up and flicking my tongue against his lips.
He jerks his head backward, as if in shock.
Stomping starts again, along with longer hisses.
I tug him toward me, kissing him, and he resists for a moment.
I tighten my arms around him and slide my tongue back into his mouth.
He finally relaxes, returning my affection but not taking his gaze off mine, as if unsure if I really want to kiss him. His hand slips under me, and his fingers push through my updo, gripping my head. His cock hardens inside me, and I realize he never took it out.
He slowly thrusts, and sensation flares inside me once again. More spasms ignite, but this time, it's a different type of intensity. It's not better or worse. It's just another feeling I've never experienced.
Like before, he never breaks our gaze, as if he's somehow fascinated by me, which I don't understand, but I decide I like it. Maybe it's false intimacy since we don't really know each other, but it makes me feel special, like I'm his and only his.
Since we're married, I suppose I am his now, but the way he watches me gives me the illusion he already cares about me. And maybe he does. After all, he knew who I was before we showed up for our vows, and he took the time to write the letters and pick out my outfits, so doesn't that count for something?
"You're perfect, my little bird," he mumbles between kisses, and a vulnerability I've never seen on any man's face softens his expression.
Something about it tears at my heart. So I kiss him with everything I have, holding him tighter, unable to speak or control the whimpers flying out of me, still convulsing against his hard frame .
It feels like it goes on for ages, and we're in a bubble. As if it's just the two of us, and we've been lovers forever. I can't comprehend it and don't want to. Kirill makes me feel protected, owned, and adored. But it's also like I have as much claim to him as he does to me. It's all new and confusing, but it's also freeing. And the only thing I know is that I never want this to end.
Reality hits me when he lowers his mouth to my ear, murmuring, "I need you to tap out, my queen. If you don't, you die. If you refuse to tap out and don't die from my hand, then that means I die."
Fear consumes me, but he doesn't give me time to think about it. He presses his lips back to mine and moves his hand over my throat, pushing one finger at a time over my clavicle. He retreats from the kiss, his worried expression growing.
I have to tap out.
I push past the fear and blink several times to show him I understand.
More anxiety builds on his face. He gives me one last chaste peck, then speeds up his thrusts.
My body has a mind of its own. I meet his thrusts with eagerness, falling back into the seduction of the high as soon as his grip tightens.
My pussy spasms faster. The desperation to return to the intensity level he had me at earlier floods my brain.
He squeezes so hard that he instantly cuts off my air supply.
My limbs flail on the mattress. My eyes widen, and I try to sit up but can't.
"Tap out," he orders through his teeth.
One more second, and I'll be there, I tell myself.
"Fiona," he frets .
Another high hits me. My vision distorts, my eyes roll back in my head, and I soar from adrenaline.
Tap out!
I force myself to blink, over and over, even though I can't focus on anything.
Kirill's hand flies off my neck.
I choke. My lungs try to take in oxygen, but I keep coughing.
"Move!" Kirill demands.
The knights obey.
Kirill slides to the side of the bed. He tugs me up, pulling me onto his lap. He puts his hands on my cheeks. "Breathe, Fiona. Deep breaths."
I realize I'm hyperventilating.
"Come on, my little bird." He demonstrates how to inhale and exhale deeply.
I can't seem to catch my breath. My heart races. My lungs don't want to cooperate.
"Come on, Fiona," he urges.
I take a normal breath of air.
"That's it," he praises, showing me how to take in oxygen.
Several minutes pass until I'm no longer hyperventilating.
He rubs my back. "Good. Keep breathing."
"I-I'm okay now," I insist.
He tugs me closer, continuing to look at me with concern.
I reach for his chest, putting my hand over the face of the snake. I comment, "Your heart's racing. Maybe you should breathe. "
He freezes and then a grin blooms on his lips. A chuckle escapes him, and he starts laughing so hard that tears well in his eyes.
It's not that funny, but he seems to think it is. I laugh as well, until I'm crying too.
The gong bangs loudly, interrupting our amusement.
Kirill's face falls.
I question, "What's happening now?"
"Everything will be okay," he assures, and kisses me on the lips. He helps me off his lap and rises, grabbing my hand.
The gong bangs three times. The door unlocks and opens. The knights line up with their swords in the air, touching, creating a path to the exit.
Kirill slides his arm around my waist, protectively leading me past the knights and out of the mirrored room.
Ulrich and Valentina stand next to each other. They both have their masks on, but I know it's her. Another man stands with a long, golden rod. He holds the tip in a fireplace, and it glows. A wooden contraption next to it looks like a medieval torture device.
My gut flips. I grip Kirill's thigh.
He squeezes my waist. "Everything will be fine," he reassures, then leads us until we're standing in front of Ulrich and Valentina.
Ulrich accuses, "She didn't tap out."
The hairs on my arms rise.
"She did. You saw her," Kirill argues.
Ulrich shakes his head. "Not the first time. She didn't tap out, and she was as good as dead. You released her so she could come back to life."
Kirill pushes me behind him, sternly insisting, "She tapped out. "
"She didn't the first time," Ulrich retorts.
Valentina interjects, "It doesn't matter. She tapped out."
"Of course it matters," Ulrich argues.
Valentina lifts her chin and squares her shoulders. She turns toward Ulrich, asserting, "She is the second-born. Sean O'Malley Sr. said his second-born has rights to the two attempts clause."
I glance at Kirill, not understanding what she means, but he doesn't take his eyes off Ulrich.
Ulrich narrows his gaze, scowling at Valentina. He rebukes, "The second-born clause is regarding certain ceremonies. Not coronation."
She scoffs. "It is for chivalry ceremonies and rituals. The second-born clause became fair game when you agreed to the Knights of the Round Table ritual."
Ulrich crosses his arms, glaring at her.
Kirill states, "Valentina's correct. It is a chivalry ritual." He nods at her with gratitude.
She smiles and steps to the side, pointing at the man near the fire. "Shall we move on to Closure?"
"Yes. We shall," Kirill answers, moving me toward the fire and wooden contraption.
My anxiety creeps up. "Kirill?—"
He turns to face me, firmly places his hands on my cheeks, and leans over me.
I inhale sharply.
In a stern voice, he states, "This is the last thing you must do. It will be over shortly. I will take care of you after."
I swallow hard .
"It will be okay. It's short-term pain and won't last long. I promise I will help you now and after," he vows.
I glance at the fire and release an anxious breath.
"Trust me. And we can go home after this," he adds.
Home.
With Kirill.
He's my husband.
This is crazy.
The gong sounds, and I jump.
"There won't be another warning. We must follow through," Kirill softly states.
I nod and shakily step forward.
He leads me to the wooden contraption and instructs, "Put your head through the circle."
I wince. "Really?"
"Yes," he says in his no-nonsense voice.
I don't move.
"Short term," he reminds me.
"What will they do to me?" I gaze over at the hot fire.
Kirill answers, "You must wear your father's mark."
I grimace. "On my neck?"
He nods. "That is correct."
"Why don't I tattoo it instead?" I suggest.
He shakes his head. "It is not how your father wrote the law. Your golden color will be added via tattoo when the branded mark fully heals."
I bite on my lip.
The gong echoes throughout the arena. Stomping resumes.
"We're out of time. Fiona, please, put your head through the circle," Kirill begs.
I take a deep breath and step in front of the contraption. I put my head against the wood, my pulse skyrocketing and stomach quivering.
Kirill steps in front of me. He circles his arm around my back. He takes his other hand, holds the back of my head, and pushes my face into his chest. He murmurs, "Don't move, my little bird."
My heart pounds hard against his chest. I inhale his scent, and it calms my anxiety a tad, but not much.
Valentina steps beside me and says, "I'm going to hold your hair up more. It's gotten a bit loose."
I don't argue, not wanting to singe my hair with my skin. Plus, she just saved Kirill with her knowledge about the second-born clause, so right now, I appreciate her.
Ulrich roars, "By the power instilled in me by the Omnipotence, I brand you with The Underworld skull."
My stomach flips, and intense pain sears my neck. My muffled shriek fills the air, and tears fall from my eyes. I try to move, but Kirill holds my head so tightly that I can't.
"It's okay," he coos.
Within seconds, something cold is slathered over my skin, taking away the sting.
"There, better?" Kirill asks, releasing me.
I stare at him. "Yes. "
He softly smiles. "You can step back now."
"Oh." I realize I'm still against contraception. I move away from it.
The gong rings seven times.
Ulrich booms, "By the power of the Omnipotence, I introduce Her Majesty, Queen Fiona!"
The women and men take off their masks. The audience erupts in applause.
Valentina holds a thick, ornate gold robe in front of me.
I slide my arms into it and turn.
Kirill has a matching one on. He steps forward, grabs the belt on mine, and secures it around my waist. Then he leans into my ear. "Are you ready to go home?"
My butterflies reemerge.
This is real.
His expression turns to one of panic. Then it hardens. He waits for me to answer.
I nod. "Yes, I'm ready."