Chapter 21 #4
As she came down from her high, his fingers skillfully stroked her through the aftershocks.
Her heartbeat was so loud in her ears it drowned out everything else.
Slowly, slowly, she could hear her harsh breaths, then his kisses on her thighs.
He withdrew his fingers, licking them as her cheeks heated.
Why such a thing should embarrass her after everything he’d already done, she couldn’t say. He noticed and smiled.
“Are you satisfied, my little captive?”
“I don’t think…I could stand if I tried…so yes.”
She was pleasantly dazed, her body overtaxed and limp. If she weren’t lying on hard earth, she might have been tempted to close her eyes and drift off.
“And did you see stars?”
Aurora snorted. The ego on this man.
“You…you’ll have to try harder. Next time.”
“You’re going to taunt me when I could do whatever I liked to you, defenceless as you are?” His grin widened.
“What can I say? You failed to fuck the brat out of me.”
Theron leaned over her and tugged the shears out of her dress, helping her up to a seated position. Aurora nearly swayed as he untied her wrists and then pulled her in for a bruising kiss.
“A challenge for another day. Lucky me,” he growled, capturing her lips once more, manoeuvring her on top of him.
They lay there for a time, indulging in lazy, playful kisses, skin to skin, the afternoon sun warming them as the scent of roses and Theron filled her lungs. When he pulled away, he ran a hand through her hair.
“Beautiful,” he said, his voice full of reverence.
Her heart skipped a beat.
“And a mess.” He chuckled, his eyes roaming over her hair as his thumb brushed where she was certain her tears had no doubted made a mess of her kohl. “What will the attendants think?”
“What else? That you’re a terrible beast,” she huffed. “Just look at what became of my dress!”
What was once a dress fit for the queen of queens was now little more than shredded, dirt-stained rags.
“Don’t mourn it, my love. It died a good death.”
A laugh bubbled up and out of her.
“You’re awful. What am I to wear back to the palace?”
“Nothing. From today forward, you shall walk the halls nude. Think of all the good you’ll be able to do.
Your dressmakers will weep with relief to know no more of their creations are like to follow the last. And of course, it will make chasing you all the sweeter when the rewards are so close at hand,” he said lightly, cupping her bottom, and yet there was a hint of a question.
Her breath left her shakily as she blinked at Theron. Her face heated as she thought of him hunting her down like prey, chasing her until her legs gave out and then having his way with her. And she found she liked that thought a great deal. Too much.
“Would you?” she whispered, swallowing nervously.
“Does that appeal to you? Do you want me to chase you, Aurora?” His eyes darkened as he stilled.
“Yes.”
“And if I chase you, do you promise to run like good little prey?”
Aurora nodded.
“And if I were to catch you, do you know what I would do then?”
She swallowed, her heart thumping in her chest. But then so was his. Theron was as excited by the prospect as she.
“I would drag you to the ground and take you from behind like a beast. I would fuck you until you couldn’t run anymore. Then I would fuck you until you didn’t want to run anymore.”
“Do you promise?” she asked shyly, unable to help her smile.
“Shall I make a vow? Are you certain you can handle another?”
A shiver rolled down her spine. She’d barely survived this one, but the payoff had been well worth the sweet torment she’d endured.
“Are you certain you can deliver?”
He laughed, pulling her in for another kiss.
“I promise,” he rumbled between kisses.
“Good.”
Aurora pulled away, and he followed until he was leaning on his elbows.
He quirked a brow as she shuffled down, sitting atop his thighs.
Reaching for his impressive cock, she began stroking him, marvelling at how soft his skin was—and how unyielding.
Merciful Triad, it was still a shock that she’d ever fit something this big inside her.
Her hand couldn’t even span the whole of his girth.
Fitting him inside her was going to take more than two of his fingers to ready her. But that would wait for another day. Today, she wanted a little revenge.
“It’s not fair that I’m the only one who’s a mess.” She squeezed him, eliciting a groan, and his head fell back. She watched, transfixed, as his throat bobbed. When he brought his head forward to pin her with his gaze, she was pleased to see he was not unaffected, his eyes hooded, his lips parted.
“If you’re going to make a mess of me,” he began, shifting his thighs, raising them so that she had to brace her hands on his stomach, “then do it with your wet little pussy.”
“Some would say you should be grateful for what you’re offered.” She raked her nails down his stomach just as she pressed herself to his cock, sliding up and down as lightly as she could.
“You’re a tease,” he huffed.
“And you’re a hypocrite.”
Yet so was Aurora, because she rewarded him with more of her weight, pinning his straining length against his stomach, his dark thatch of hair tickling her thighs and reminding her of where he’d left her covered in his marks.
Theron groaned as she moved again. This time, she focused on her own pleasure, using him to stroke herself.
As her liquid heat coated him, their breaths grew ragged.
His eyes turned to slits, his knuckles going white as he gripped the fabric beneath them.
A thrill of power shot through Aurora, knowing she could undo him like this with just her body.
As she neared her own climax, she dug her nails into his stomach.
He flinched, his hips thrusting against her weight.
She bore down onto his thrust, crying out as it pushed her over the edge.
Leaning down, Aurora kissed and nipped his chest as she worked her hips, riding out her own orgasm as much as she was determined to give him his own.
Theron’s breathing became more ragged, unable to hold still, his hips thrusting, desperate for more friction. Aurora toyed with the evil notion of denying him. Fair was fair, after all. But the idea of watching him come undone was too tempting to resist.
“Your Majesty!”
Aurora gasped just as Theron reacted to the interruption.
“Fuck!” Theron swore, grabbing the edge of his himation and wrapping them both up in it, hiding them from prying eyes as best he could. “Nireus, you had best be here to tell me Trisia is at this very moment sinking wholesale into the sea!”
Pressed against Theron’s heaving chest, his erection caught between them, Aurora decided to be very naughty indeed. She gripped him in her hands, stroking his slick length.
His eyes flashed as his attention was turned to her once more. She couldn’t help her grin as he was ensnared by her touch, trying and failing to turn his gaze away from her.
“Aurora,” he groaned.
“Yes, dear husband?” she replied.
“Fuck.” He shuddered. “Tighter. Faster.”
Aurora obeyed, pleased to see not even an unwelcome interruption could tear him away from her.
“Your Majesty?”
“Are we sinking into the sea?!” Theron raged, his breath ragged.
“No, Your Majesty, but—”
“FUCK!” he roared, spending into her hands and onto his stomach. He tipped his head back as he caught his breath. Aurora grinned, kissing his chest.
“You’re welcome,” she whispered.
“I will return the favour at the first opportunity,” he chuckled, breathless.
“Your Majesty…?”
“Nireus, not now,” Theron groaned.
“I would not…interrupt if it were not strictly necessary.”
Theron sighed. “Next time, we’re doing this behind locked and barred doors.”
“Best barricade the windows to be safe,” Aurora added.
“An excellent plan.” He turned his head to call back to Nireus. “What is it then?”
“The temple of Knowledge has been attacked. Dualists have made off with the statue of Knowledge.” Nireus hesitated.
Aurora gasped. To take a statue as large as that in broad daylight?
How had they managed it? How had they done so without immense bloodshed?
For surely the paladins would have fought tooth and nail to protect Her.
And what was worse, without Her statue there, the power and protection of the Divine Triad was weakened—and during a cycle of calamity.
“And?” Theron asked, closing his eyes as if bracing for even worse news.
“And it seems…Batea was with them.”