Chapter 18 Elaina
ELAINA
The same servant is waiting for me when I emerge from my rooms and he has a message for me.
“The Queen says that since the Dark Prince is well enough to go horseback riding and sit at dinner, he’s well enough to fuck,” he says bluntly.
“She ordered me to tell you that you’d better get a baby in your belly tonight for she’s going to have you inspected by the Court Physician tomorrow to be certain you’re no longer intact.
She says to tell you your virgin barrier had best be gone when he checks or you’ll get a whipping and this time she won’t allow anyone else to take it for you. ”
I feel myself go cold all over when I remember the brutal lashes of the whip against Xaren’s broad back. I don’t want that to happen to me! I don’t think I could take it. I’m not a big strong warrior—I’m soft and small and much weaker than the Dark Prince. I don’t want to be whipped.
It seems I must bleed tonight or I will bleed tomorrow—but how can I convince Xaren to take me?
Stick to the plan, I tell myself, trying to calm my racing heart. Seduce him—make him want you. You can do it, Elaina—his Drake already wants you—he said so himself. So doesn’t that mean that he must want you, too?
I don’t know—I only know that I must not fail tonight.
But it seems that Xaren is not in the mood for company.
I knock on his door a solid ten minutes before he finally, grudgingly, comes to open it for me.
He steps back and I see that he’s wearing his long black sleep trousers again and nothing else.
His broad, bare chest is once more on display—I have to admit my eyes linger on his muscular form.
But when I look up at his face, I can see his displeasure at having me there. He’s scowling and the golden Drake eye is piercing as it glares at me through his black hair.
However, I can’t let his temper put me off. This is now a matter of life and death—and also I don’t want to be whipped tomorrow.
“Took you long enough to answer. Don’t you think it’s ridiculous for you to keep locking your door when you know I must come in anyway?” I ask, pushing past him.
“I had hoped you’d get the message that I don’t want you here,” he says bluntly.
His rudeness almost puts me off—almost. But I can’t let him shake me. I think of the whip with the jagged shards of metal fixed to the end of its lashes and remember my purpose.
“I don’t care if you want me here or not,” I say breezily. “Because I want to be here.” I step up to him and put my arms around his neck. “And I think you’ll change your mind if you give me a chance.”
“Give you a chance to do what?” he asks, frowning down at me. His arms are at his sides—he’s not hugging me back, but at least he’s not pushing me away. I consider that a win—sort of.
“To keep you company…to show you how much fun we can have together.” I smile at him flirtatiously, looking up from under my eyelashes in a way that most men find charming. I know how to flirt—I’ve done it in the past. But usually men respond to it. Xaren is just standing there looking down at me.
“So now you’ve decided that being with me will be ‘fun,’ have you?” he drawls, frowning.
“It can be—if you’ll just loosen up some.
” I’m really trying here—I swear I am. I press closer, letting my breasts rub against his bare chest. My fur robe has come open, revealing my body draped only in the thin Damson-silk nightgown.
My nipples tighten as I rub against him and I wonder if he can feel my tight peaks against his chest.
But still, he’s just staring at me. I rub against him as provocatively as I know how and I can feel a growing bulge in his sleep trousers. Something hard and hot and heavy is branding my belly—his body is definitely reacting to mine.
But you’d never know that from the way he glares down at me.
“So you’ve decided to seduce me, is that it, little dove?” he asks, raising an eyebrow.
“So what if I have?” I say lightly—there’s no point in lying about it. “We’ve been married for some time now—don’t you think it’s time we consummate our union?”
“’Consummate our union’?” His eyebrow goes even higher. “Is that the best you’ve got?”
I bite back a curse of pure frustration. Damn it! Why won’t he just take me?
“What I meant is, why don’t you take me…why don’t you fuck me?”
The words feel wrong on my lips—I’m not much good at dirty talk, unfortunately.
This time both eyebrows shoot almost to his hairline.
“Why, little dove—I didn’t think you had it in you to say such things,” he drawls mockingly.
“I’m just saying what I think,” I tell him—which isn’t exactly a lie. I’m desperate to get him to take me—if only he’d cooperate!
“So you’re here in my rooms, asking me to take you—to fuck you—because you truly want it?” he demands, frowning.
“Yes!” I try to keep the exasperation out of my voice.
“Good. Then prove it.”
“Prove it?” I look at him uncertainly. “What do you mean? How can I prove that I want you to take me?”
“Show me how wet you are,” he says.
I bite my lower lip, feeling suddenly vulnerable.
“Show you what?”
“A woman who truly desires a man will be wet for him,” he tells me. He reaches up and unhooks my arms from around his neck. Then he takes a step back, crossing his arms over his broad, bare chest. “So show me. Lift your gown and let me see if you’re wet.”
Oh my Goddess of Mercy—I never thought he’d ask me such a thing!
I can feel my cheeks getting hot at his demand but strangely, I’m not put off.
I’m nervous and a little shy, but even though I’m a virgin, I’m not entirely ignorant.
I played “I’ll show you mine if you show me yours” with the stable boy back home.
His equipment wasn’t much to speak of—to be honest, it resembled a rather grubby worm.
But he seemed to enjoy seeing mine—it made his worm quite stiff.
So I know I’m not bad to look at, even if I’m not as skinny as the Nobles.
“All right, I’ll show you,” I say, lifting my chin. If the Dark Prince thinks he can cow me that easily, he’s got another think coming! I refuse to be put off.
I go to his bed—because I’m not just going to hike up my gown in the middle of the room—and climb onto it. I shed my foxen-fur robe and position myself in the middle of the vast mattress. Leaning back against the pillows, I look Xaren in the eyes.
“You want to see me…see how wet I am?” My voice sounds breathless in my own ears.
“Yes, I do, little dove.” He seems surprised that I’ve taken him up on his challenge.
He comes to sit on the side of the bed and his eyes, which were formerly flat and cold, are filled with interest now.
Even his Drake’s eye, looking at me from behind the curtain of hair, is half-lidded and filled with smoldering desire.
I’m feeling a spark of interest myself—if I’m honest, it’s more than a spark. I like the way he’s looking at me. It makes me feel beautiful—desirable.
I decide to take my time—to tease him a little.
Instead of lifting the hem of my gown right away, I cup my breasts through the thin silk.
I tease my nipples lightly, running my fingertips around and around the tight peaks.
I feel sparks of sensation shoot through my body and my breath catches in my throat.
I’m no stranger to giving myself pleasure—I know it’s supposed to be wicked but it’s not like I’m hurting anyone.
And I only do it at night in the dark when I’m sure I’m alone.
A soft growl rises in Xaren’s throat.
“You seem to know what you’re doing, little dove. Have you seduced a man before?”
“How can you ask me that? You know…know I’m a virgin.” I’m panting a bit now. My nipples are extremely sensitive—so much that I can almost reach the peak just by touching them the right way. Also, the silk gown feels delicious against them—and I like the way the Dark Prince is looking at me.
“Just so,” he says. “But you’ve done this before, have you not? You’ve pleasured yourself.”
“Why should I not?” I say with a touch of defiance. “It’s my body—why should I not make myself feel good?”
“Mmm, why not indeed,” he growls softly. “Show me.”
“Show you? Show you what?” my breath hitches as I continue to stroke and tease my tight points.
“Show me how you touch yourself. Not just your nipples,” he adds. “Show me how you pet that sweet little pussy of yours.”
My breath catches in my throat again. I don’t know why this little game we appear to be playing is making me feel so hot and flushed all over, but it certainly is.
Slowly, I raise the hem of my nightgown, baring my sex for him. I feel a little shiver go down my spine as the cool air of his dungeon room ruffles the curls on my mound, which are a shade darker than the hair on my head.
“Mmm, look at you, little dove. That’s a beautiful little pussy,” Xaren growls and there’s a hunger in his deep voice that makes my stomach flutter.
“Thank you,” I murmur demurely. I spread my thighs a little, letting him have a better look.
I know this behavior is wildly unladylike—I’m acting like a slattern.
But the way he’s looking at me with those burning, half-lidded eyes is really doing something strange to my insides.
He’s making me feel hot and flushed just by watching me.
“Show me how you touch yourself,” he says again. “I want to see how you please yourself at night when no one’s looking.”
I think about asking how he knows when I touch myself…but I don’t bother. When else would I have the courage to give myself pleasure?
I spread my thighs wider and slip two fingers into my cleft.
Earlier, when he asked to see how wet I was, I was dry as a bone—from nervousness, I guess.
But now, since he’s been looking at me and watching as I touch my nipples, I’m flowing like a fountain.
Well, not quite that much, but I’m definitely wet now—much wetter than I expected to be when he first demanded to see me.
Xaren certainly seems to approve of what he sees.