Chapter 4
Chapter Four
Kronos
Something was different about her, although, staring into her big blue eyes, he couldn’t put his finger on what it was.
She was still his beautiful Kristina, a wayward woman who clearly required his devoted attention. She had the most fabulous ass, each cheek easily malleable in his hands, and perfect-sized breasts, with ample cleavage for him to enjoy, even though her assets weren’t too large.
Perhaps her smart mouth was the difference he’d noted.
Her most recent retorts had brought her perilously close to overstepping the line between them, but he had chosen to indulge them.
It was amusing to relax her leash a little and see how far she would go, particularly when he considered how little time they’d spent together.
He knew she’d stray and break one of his rules sooner or later, and when she did, he would gladly punish her.
Until then, though, her performance was utterly beguiling.
He couldn’t say she looked more relaxed in his presence.
He had noticed the way her body straightened at his commands, and she had done everything he’d asked of her, even if she’d needed a little prompting on occasion.
He wasn’t sorry for her obedience, either.
She was there to learn to kneel, as well as to be worshipped. She was there to be his.
Despite that certainty, a part of him adored her defiance.
Her insubordination ignited a rush of pleasure in him whenever he saw it sparking in her gaze.
Primarily because it invariably meant he had reason to penalize her, a task he was sure he’d never tire of, but also because the boldness spoke to Kristina’s passion.
He had seen that in her from the shadows before they’d met.
He’d witnessed it on the street before she’d realized she was outnumbered and unable to fight back.
The mortal he’d chosen wasn’t one for giving in, which would only make her surrender all the sweeter.
Looking at her at that moment, there was no doubt she had little interest in submitting, her narrowing eyes conveying her latest incoming volley of questions.
“But Master.” She had to crane her neck to catch his eyes. “That’s still not answering me. Why won’t you tell me how it’s done?”
Holding her against him, he closed his eyes. Had Shelley asked so many queries? Had any of the others?
“Kristina.” He breathed out her name, the three syllables protracting while his free hand rose to catch her chin. “Enough now. You did not enjoy my silence spell, so do not provoke me into using another.”
Her brows knitted at the chiding, her jaw clenching as her gaze attempted to lower. His hand was there to resist the gesture, though, compelling her attention back to his face. “You never want me to speak, Master.”
“You have a lovely voice,” he assured her, propping her chin up with his fingers. “And there will be answers for your questions, little one. But—”
“Not now.” She sighed, frustration oozing from her.
“Correct.” He smiled at her sorrowful expression, almost impressed at the way she’d been able to conclude his sentence.
In the past, he’d have chastised such impertinence from his mortals, but once again, Kristina had come and eroded those standards.
Maintaining them no longer seemed as important as her wellbeing and nurturing the growing connection between them.
When he’d received that first message from her, he’d had no idea of the difference she would make.
“Not now,” he confirmed. “Hold on to me again.”
“Are we going somewhere, Master?” The faintest flicker of fear glinted in her ocean eyes as she asked, suggesting she feared the way he transported her around his realm more than she feared him.
Stroking the small of her back, he contemplated how he felt about the idea.
He’d ruled the women who’d come before her with a rod of iron, accepting nothing but complete obedience, so he was puzzled at why he permitted less from Kristina.
It was one thing to care about her, but another to allow her to dominate proceedings.
“We’re going to eat.” His voice was softer than he’d intended, more the tone of a lover about to bestow a caress than a captor taking charge of his hostage.
“Oh.” She pulled in a breath, her arms tightening around his obliques as she rested the side of her face against his abdominals. “Okay, Master.”
That was it. Only three words of acquiescence, but they reverberated around him as though she’d discovered the key to take the throne of Titan itself.
His hand shifted from her jaw to the side of her face, holding her still as he focused on sending them from the bathroom to the dining hall.
Wordlessly, he concentrated on their destination in his head, summoning the atmosphere around them to respond and teleport them to the appropriate place.
With the ether compelled to bend to his will, he never needed to walk anywhere unless he chose to, and with Kristina now in tow, the faster mode of transport held more allure.
Swirling in the air meant keeping her close to him, and holding her against him was fast becoming a consuming appeal.
Normally, he liked to have women at his feet.
Sometimes, he made them kiss his feet, but something about Kristina meant he always wanted as much of her flesh against his as possible.
Even when they weren’t fucking, he wanted to hold her, to touch her, and to console her.
If he’d permitted himself more time to analyze that change, he might have been even more concerned.
As it was, the concept was little more than a fleeting thought that her lure was only because she was his newest toy, and the novelty of her charm was still fresh.
Things would shift between them with time. Her resolve would wane while his would harden, and things would right themselves again.
For the time being, he had what he needed, a new lover to dominate and care for. That was what mattered.
Holding her tighter, the air around them reacted to his silent command and swirled in ever-increasing circles. Her breathing sped up at the amplifying sound, her fingers splaying as they attempted to reach around his back.
He smiled at her touch, though she did not look up to acknowledge the gesture.
Her grasp of him was motivated by her fear, yet he didn’t deny how much he enjoyed the feel of her.
Usually, he would have donned a short chiton, the linen he’d worn when he’d first entered her cell, to protect his modesty.
As it was, though, there seemed little point to the clothing.
While they were together, he would remain as naked as she was and revel in every glorious moment of that intimacy.
If she had objections to being so close to his naked form, she was hiding them extremely well.
Scared of his magic, and sometimes his consequences, she might have been, but he was pleased at how comfortable she was with her body.
At least the foolish mortal she’d chased hadn’t been able to erode her body confidence the way he’d denigrated her self-worth.
He glanced up when the air began to slow, content to see the sleek lines of his dining hall appearing around them.
“We’re here.” His thumb stroked the side of her face until the ether finally stilled.
“Master.” She exhaled, her breath warm on his skin. “I don’t like that.”
“You managed well,” he coaxed, his fingers sliding to her nape and gently massaging her skin.
Her muscles were tight, begging for his attention.
“Come on now, let’s eat.” His other hand left her backside, finding her palm and guiding her away from where they’d manifested in the corner of the vast room.
“This place is huge!” She peered around at the large archways etched into the immense ceilings.
“The aesthetics please me,” he told her as he steered her toward one of the seats at the end of his enormous table.
Like the other rooms, the dining area was dressed in white, with blanched fabrics draped along the walls. The long table in the center, though, was a stark ebony, each chair designed and carved to his exact specification.
The table was already set as though he were expecting guests, each place ready for a banquet that never came. The head of the table and the place to his right, however, would serve their needs, and that was where they headed.
“I can see why, Master.” Her brow rose as she caught sight of the daylight. “And there are windows!”
He followed her gaze to the other side of the room, which was lit by the natural light of extensive windows running along the other side of the table. Watching her reactions as they approached, he acknowledged her expression shift from puzzlement to awe.
“Hmmm.” Gripping her hand tightly, he frowned.
If his little one had deduced that windows meant there was an opportunity for her to escape, then she was sorely wrong.
Not only would Kronos not allow the insubordination, but if she tried to flee, she would find, to her detriment, that the glass was sealed shut and the atmosphere beyond his walls was no longer conducive to her respiration.
His magic provided the oxygen she needed to breathe, so in a very real way, Kristina needed him to stay alive.
“Can I look out?” Her gaze was eager, like a small child’s. “I’d like to see the view from here, Master.”
Kronos was instantly suspicious of her enthusiasm. The only time he’d seen such fervor from her was when she’d chased her orgasms, and he wondered what pleasure she sought from the abrupt request. He had to presume she was looking for a way out that he would never allow.
“No,” he replied, encouraging her toward the chair he intended for her. “We’re here to eat.”
“But…” She pulled at his hand, straining to go in the direction of the window. “Please, Master. I won’t be long.”