Chapter Sixteen
Kronos
“There’s something I want to ask you, Master.”
She looked exhausted as she glanced his way, and a pang of something akin to remorse echoed in him.
He needed to do a better job of looking after her, not only to help her to thrive, but to assuage his guilt.
Having revealed his affection for her, though, he supposed he’d need to get used to contemplating such feelings.
She was able to affect him in ways no other mortal had achieved.
“Are you sure you want to talk now?” he started, recalling how she hadn’t eaten for hours. “I can muster you some food first, and then we can—”
“Please.” Urgency resounded in her voice as she cut him off. Her eyes widened as she acknowledged what she’d done, her frown growing as she continued. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to be rude, but this is important to me.”
“All right.” Impressed with how she’d ceded to his spanking, and content with her apology, he was prepared to overlook her interruption.
He’d wager she was weary and disorientated since he’d righted her, and that was to say nothing about the state of her backside.
He hadn’t gone easy on her delicious ass and, for the first time, he hadn’t even considered satisfying her as part of the punishment.
It had been just that; a penalty through and through. “Ask me.”
She fidgeted on the blanket again, pain gleaming in her eyes as she grappled with finding somewhere comfortable to settle.
“Need me to help?” he inquired, capturing her chin gently and compelling her focus back to his face. “I know your ass hurts. It might be easier if you straddle me.”
She peered at him with doleful eyes. “Please, Master.”
What was he supposed to say to that expression? Between her beauty and her mournful demeanor, Kristina was basically impossible to refuse.
“Here.” He levitated her a few inches over his lap, discarding the blanket before he signaled for her to move. “Swivel this way, and I’ll do the rest.”
Pulling in a shaky breath, she complied. Gripping his shoulders, she twisted her body to face him and settled her slender legs on either side of his hips. Without the added distraction of her sore ass grazing his body, she seemed able to move freely.
“Perfect,” he cooed, lowering her gently so their flesh touched.
She inhaled at the contact, steeling herself as she edged closer.
“So, what’s this important thing you want to ask, little one?” Ignoring his cock’s insistent throb at the intimate contact, he realized he was intrigued by her interjection. It wasn’t like Kristina to interrupt him. She knew his consequences too well.
“Us.” Her voice rasped. “This.” Her eyes darted around the room. “And how we might make it work.”
His lips twitched at the idea that there was any possibility of the dynamic not working.
As he recalled, she was there at his behest and, given his growing feelings, there was no chance of him allowing that to change.
Still, whatever idea she’d conceived seemed significant to her, and for that reason alone, he wanted to hear it.
“Go on,” he prompted. “What’s on your mind, beautiful?”
“I’m so thankful to you, Master.” Her delicate hand slipped to the back of his neck. “For saving me, and listening to me, and giving me so much pleasure.” Her lips curled. “Especially for the pleasure.”
He laughed at how she’d made that sound, as though the hedonism was worth more than her life. “The pleasure has been mutual, little one, but thank you for saying so.”
He’d hoped she appreciated his intervention in her life, and at times, he’d seen glimpses of her gratitude, but hearing her appreciation filled his empty voids, fulfilling him in ways he hadn’t even known he’d been lacking.
“Being here has taught me so much already.” She shifted over him, her knees taking the pressure as her tempting sex grazed over his groin. His organ swelled at the provocation, threatening to make him lose focus altogether.
“I’m glad.” His hand rose to her face and smoothed back her wayward tresses.
He’d been so consumed with keeping her alive and ensuring his rules were reiterated that he’d somehow almost forgotten just how magnificent she was.
Face to face with her, again, though, that wonder flooded his senses.
Petite features aligned with her high cheekbones and large blue eyes to make her easily the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen.
“I don’t have to be cruel, Kristina. I’d like to be nurturing. ”
And to cherish you.
He held back that final line, but it was there on the tip of his tongue, teasing him with its power. He yearned to keep her, not only to possess her body and spirit, but to be able to treasure and look after her. She was a prize he could never get enough of.
“I’d like for you to be satisfied here as my consort.” He paused at his choice of words, surprised at the term he’d chosen.
‘Concubine’ was the word he’d expected; a woman who would please him while he sought to satisfy her too.
A ‘consort’, however, was used to describe a partner, or perhaps even a spouse.
It represented a significant upgrade from the paramour he’d had in mind, but staring into the oceans of her eyes, he realized his choice had been accurate.
Kristina already meant more to him than anyone who’d come before her. He’d enjoyed those other women, but none had ever enthralled him, convincing him that the idea of parting was unthinkable.
He’d never fallen in love with any of them.
“Thank you, Master,” she said again. “I know you intend for me to stay here with you.”
“I do,” he purred, and as the words escaped his lips, there was absolutely no doubt in his mind. They would be together. “I will help you to thrive, Kristina.”
“About that.” Her fingers stiffened at his nape, and the glint of unease in her eyes convinced him that whatever she said next was the crux of her message.
“Hmmm.”
It was fascinating, watching her wrestle with whatever she wanted to say. He sensed the acceleration of her heartbeat, and the way she writhed over him, antagonizing his throbbing need.
“I have a suggestion about how I can stay satisfied, Master.” She caught his gaze. “But I don’t want to speak out of turn and risk another spanking.”
The small smile that lit her face went some way to smoothing the frown that had settled there.
“Understandable.” He chuckled. “I’m not sure your wonderful ass can take much more for a while.”
“Right.”
“Tell me your suggestion.” He decided to put her out of her misery.
Clearly, his little one held a lot of trepidation about articulating her needs, and he wanted to ease that for her.
Apprehension, in the right context, helped him.
Her nervous energy could bring her into line, just as her excitement could elevate, but as she panted over him, her anxiety appeared to be blocking her.
“Though, I would add, that I am prepared to keep you gratified, young lady.” He smirked. “So, I don’t think your satisfaction will be a problem.”
“I’m talking about a different type of satisfaction, Master.” Her blue eyes sparkled as she elaborated. “I know how good you are, but I also think you know that my brain needs as much stimulation as my clitoris.”
“Indeed, I do.” So, that was what was on her mind. His lips tugged into a half smile. Honestly, he should have guessed. “And you have an idea about how to keep both parts of my woman happy?”
My woman.
His cock pulsed at the declaration, but neither of them moved to deny the point. She was his, just as the room around them belonged to him. For the first time in eons, he was ready to care for someone else as well as he had looked after himself over the years.
“Yes.” Her voice was breathy. “You know I love my science.”
“And you miss your studies,” he clarified, spellbound by the look of her. Wide-eyed and eager, the talk of her post-graduate degree had revived a part of her that it seemed even he hadn’t been able to bring back to life.
“Sometimes, yes,” she nodded. “And I worry that the void my studies leaves will only grow as time goes on, Master.”
Considering that for a moment, he tried to envision what her life would look like at his side.
She would be well catered for. He’d ensure that her sexual needs were met and her obedience was top-notch, but the nagging sense in the pit of his stomach conveyed that she might have a point.
A woman with intelligence like Kristina’s required more than only the occasional logic puzzle to keep her gray matter sharp.
She would need active participation in a project to quench her thirst for knowledge, and he was going to have to provide that.
“Tell me what you need,” he urged her, impatient to get to the point. He could understand her reticence, but her protraction was becoming painful.
Her eyes fluttered closed, as though the sight of him was making her uncomfortable. He tensed at the inference, trying not to take it personally. “I need to research, Master.”
“You want to carry on researching from here?” Kronos had never even contemplated the concept. His realm was about his preferences and pleasure. It wasn’t a science lab.
“Yes.” Her captivating gaze was back on him again then, her eyes burning with need, and in them, he saw a hint of the answer she sought; a life where she could study and stay by his side.
“When you say it’s allowed, obviously, and not when you require me for some other task, but, yes, I’d really like that, Master. ”
She smiled, revealing an adorable dimple on the side of her left cheek. Kronos stared at the depression in her otherwise flawless skin, wondering whether he’d ever noticed it before. Or, he considered, perhaps he just hadn’t given her enough reasons to smile for it to have registered before.
Regret ricocheted at the sullen premise.
Her time with him to date had either revolved around fear, desire, or anger.
In hindsight, he realized, there hadn’t been much time for laughter and small talk.
Stroking her shoulder, he resolved that had to change.
He must do better. It wasn’t only her physical well-being that he was in charge of.
For the woman who’d captured him to be truly fulfilled, he needed to consider her mental health, as well.
In that moment, the matter was decided. She needed a purpose beyond only conformity to his rules and service to his cock. Whatever she wanted to research, he would consider her entreaty. She merited that much.
“What would you research?” he asked aloud, his gaze flitting around the walls of his parlor. “We both know what happened to you the last time you left my realm, so that’s not going to be an option, little one.”
“I know.” She nodded. “And I’d still like for you to tell me why that is sometime, please. How can it be that there’s no oxygen out there?”
His lips twitched at her insatiable desire for knowledge. “I will,” he soothed. “But you need to talk to me first. If I allow this, what do you propose to study?”
Her gaze lowered between them, and spotting his eager cock, she tugged her lower lip between her teeth.
“That’s easy, Master.” Her focus flitted back to his face, her cheeks flushing as she grinned. “I’ll study you.”