17. Bayn
BAYN
I wanted nothing more than to tear the clothes off this infuriating woman and show her exactly what I could give her. Maybe then, once I’d stretched her beyond her limits and given her pleasure like no man ever had, she’d submit to me and let me have my way.
And I wasn’t entirely sure she didn’t want me to do just that.
She’d been the one to get close enough for our bodies to touch, her breasts pressed to my abdomen.
I really shouldn’t have gotten any closer than that, but I’d not been able to help myself.
Feeling my cock touch the underside of her breasts had been the most deliciously sensual thing I’d felt in a very long time.
In the hundred years since Osserime’s betrayal, I’d been with only a handful of women.
But, since I couldn’t trust they wouldn’t take advantage of me while my defenses were down, like she had, I insisted they be restrained.
Bondage — on their part — was the only way I felt comfortable being intimate.
And I didn’t think Izzy would ever submit to me.
I had a strong suspicion she needed to be in charge, in control, dominating.
And yet… maybe I was wrong. Maybe that was the face she showed to the world and in private she was all sighs and submission, with ropes tied around her limbs, stretching her taut, her legs pulled wide and her glistening pussy…
…was way off topic.
What were we talking about?
Oh right. Kingship and armies, who would break first and show weakness in this face-off.
Honestly, her terms weren’t horrible. Having other prince consorts, or a harem or whatever wouldn’t harm me in any way. I was man enough to know I could please her as well as any other, if she ever came to our marriage bed.
Which was something I hadn’t thought I’d wanted initially, but now. By My Bones! I wanted her. I wanted to tie her down and test her limits, put a few bruises on that pristine pale skin of hers, make her pay for what she’d done to me.
Whoa!
Wait…
Izzy hadn’t done anything to me.
It was Osserime I wanted to make pay. I didn’t just want to bruise that betraying bitch, I wanted to make her bleed, rip out her heart, like she’d ripped out mine!
Izzy was demanding yes, but… she wasn’t trying to control me.
I blinked myself back to our argument and once again assured myself that her terms weren’t horrible.
Sure, I didn’t like them. A ruling council having a say over what I could and couldn’t do, was infuriating.
But some logical part of my mind knew it was a reasonable request, even sensible, to stop tyrants from ever being a thing again.
It grated that I wouldn’t have the control I so desperately desired.
And Izzy’s condition that the marriage be finalized only after I’d brought the titans to our side… also made sense. If I had to lie to my own kind to get them to see reason, I didn’t mind that. I’d bring them to our side then Izzy would submit to me… I mean… marry me and I’d get what I wanted.
Everything she’d asked for made sense, even if I didn’t like it. But I mostly didn’t like it because she was challenging me, my authority, making this a test of wills from which I couldn’t back down.
I also wasn’t entirely certain I could bring the titans on board.
How much had my parents poisoned my own kind against me?
And Osserime was still out there. She’d have spread word of my humiliation at her hands.
Would my people follow a prince who’d been dominated by his betrothed? Would they follow a humiliated outcast?
And if I couldn’t do what I’d proposed, bringing the titans to Izzy’s side, I’d have nothing. Izzy wouldn’t respect me. I’d gain no power, not kingship, nor military might. I’d be…
Fuck I hated feeling so damned powerless!
I’d never allow myself to feel that way again.
I had to bring the titans to our side.
And I had to show Izzy who was boss.
I gripped her upper arms. She tensed but didn’t cry out for her dragon bodyguard.
I couldn’t quite get over how big my hands were on her.
I could easily wrap my fingers around her biceps, hell, I could probably fit both hands around her waist. And, unbidden, my hands slid down her arms to grasp her above the hips.
I’d been right, thumb to thumb and middle-finger to middle-finger, I encompassed her waist perfectly.
“Ah…?” she breathed. I had her off balance.
Good.
I lifted her and carried her to a nearby wall, pinning her so her eyes were more level with mine. Not perfectly at my height, I still wanted to look down at her, but so she didn’t have to crane her neck to see me as I told her what for.
What I didn’t expect was her legs wrapping around me, gripping me tight, pressing the tip of my ragingly hard cock right into her heated core. My move to show dominance hadn’t gone as I’d intended. The tables had turned, and I was about to lose my shit.
“So… we’re doing this?” she asked, voice silken with desire. Her hips rocked and massaged the tip of my cock. I tensed so hard my muscles protested. “Seal the deal, so to speak?” And the grin she gave me made all my insides boil.
Fuck it.
I crushed my lips to hers… only to find her so damned receptive, mouth opening, inviting me in. Once again, I’d made the first move, but she’d turned it on me, making me question everything…
…which I would do later, after I finished devouring the soft moans of this intense woman.
My cock twitched, aching to be buried inside her, and the way her hips moved, I didn’t think she’d mind.
Though… Izzy wasn’t a large woman like the titans I’d been with.
I might break her. Although, she was an elf, sturdy and strong.
Maybe she could take my rather aggressive and forceful thickness.
And once again, I couldn’t help but picture her tied up, legs open, begging me to break her, stretch her, punish her for all her sinful ways!
Fucking hell!
I released her like she was on fire, stepping back.
She let go of me and dropped to the floor, landing on her feet well enough. But she gave a surprised little, “Oh!” and the door burst open, the dragon barging in.
“We’re fine!” Izzy hissed, blushing beet red.
Koar looked between the two of us, shrewd enough to understand what had happened, then shrugged and left.
Did he not care that I’d forced myself on his woman?
No… he’d seen how she felt, that she’d liked it, and it hadn’t mattered to him what I’d done because he knew she’d always be in control.
“Fuck, fine, you have a deal, bewitching wench!” I held out my hand.
She took it, her hand tiny in mine, yet her strength was evident, meeting me force for force when we shook.
Bloody Bones! She was infuriating! Strong and commanding and sexy!
“Bring me those armies, as soon as you can!” she said, straightening her clothes and calming herself before she left.
I put my fist through a wall after she’d gone.
“Brother? What’s wrong?” Wensuria came out from the long hall leading to the bedrooms. She hurried to me when she saw the damage to the wall. “Breathe!” she encouraged me.
Wensuria knew about my control issues, my anger. I’d told her what Osserime had done to me and, of all who knew, my sister was the only one who’d consoled me. She’d seen what that betrayal had done to me.
She guided me to a chair and I sat heavily. The furniture creaked under my weight. Elven furniture was strong and well built, but still not meant for titans, who on average weighed well over five hundred pounds. I was closer to seven hundred.
“I assume your talk with Izzy didn’t go well?” My sister had known I’d been meeting with the half-elf this morning.
How could I explain that every time I’d tried to control the small woman, she’d turned the tables and made me feel out of control.
“No,” is all I said, because talking about my feelings wasn’t my strong suit. Still, I explained, “Her terms are fair, but I still feel like I lost. And I’ll be king—” meaning we’d be safe, “—only after I bring the titans to her, which… I’m not entirely certain I can do.”
Best to leave out the kiss, and the raging hard-on, and Izzy accepting all of it without batting an eyelash.
“You’ll have to stay clear of father and mother when you’re back,” she said. “They’ll not be happy you broke your agreement with Saldrea, let alone usurping their power.”
She was right. If my parents found out what I was doing, I wouldn’t be surprised if they sent assassins after me. I wasn’t afraid, I could deal with any titans they sent. Still, it would endanger others.
“You need to practice fighting more,” I warned Wensuria.
“I fight well enough. I may not like it, but I’m a titan as much as you are. My magic is even stronger than yours. I can take care of myself.”
Yet another reminder that earth magic invariably ran stronger in the female line.
Damned elves.
“You can do this. Being king of all of Seial… the titans will eat that up. I know they will. Just be as confident with them as you were with Saldrea. You never backed down with her, and you can do the same with our own people. Be the brother I know you are, and the titans will follow you.”
How strong could I be if I needed a pep talk from my sister to accomplish my goals.
But she was right.
“I’ll go immediately. Tell everyone here to prepare for an influx of titans, thousands of them.” I smiled as I rose.
If Izzy wanted to test me, I’d show her exactly what I could do. Then she’d be my queen, and I’d show her exactly what I could do… in bed. Yes. Let her anticipate our wedding night, let her dream about being with a man as powerful as myself.
And I’d not think of her at all…
…was the lie I told myself as I prepared to depart.