53. Bayn
BAYN
I knelt before Izzy as she — with hands cupping my face — removed the binding from me.
It was the day before her coronation, nearly a month after the battle and so much had happened that we hadn’t found the right time to do this until now.
And I hadn’t minded in the least. Izzy’s command to me, before the battle, to act as I wished and be who I needed to be, had given me all the freedom I’d needed.
I’d barely noticed the binding most days, another reason we’d waited this long to do anything about it.
“You’re a free man,” Izzy said with a playful grin as she released me. I stayed kneeling, it felt appropriate for what I had to say.
“I’ve been a free man ever since you helped me defeat my parents,” I said. “I knew then, you’d never try to control me. It just took me a little longer to accept it.” I hung my head. “I’m sorry, Izzy.”
“You’re sorry? I was the one who put the binding on you.”
“I’m sorry I was such a royal asshat—” one of her words, which I’d grown to like, “—to you and everyone.”
I shifted to face the other guys, who all stood nearby. “I’m sorry I asked so much of you when we first met. I was selfish.”
“Your sister was wrongly imprisoned in a hellhole, you’d earned a bit of righteousness in wanting her freed,” Rook said.
“Which isn’t actually that selfish,” Vyns finished.
“Still, I… could have helped you sooner. I’m sorry.”
“Just get up, you big lug,” Myel quipped.
I stood, but I wasn’t done. I took everyone in with a sweeping glance, then continued.
“All my life I’ve scraped and clawed to get anything. I thought the only way to be in control was to dominate others, push them down. That’s what everyone around me did. Well, everyone except for my sister.” I probably should have listened to her more.
“But Izzy—” I smiled at her, “—and all of you, showed me another way. A self-control that doesn’t require violence or demands on others. Control which comes from knowing yourself and accepting yourself. Power that comes from freeing others and lifting them up. Thank you all.”
Everyone crowded around me with handshakes and back slaps and bro-hugs. Izzy shifted her form to grow, so she could give me a peck on the cheek and a proud smile over the tops of the heads of everyone else.
All of this felt… strange.
Having a loving family was not something I was used to. These men, who I would have considered my enemy not that long ago, were now my brothers, and Izzy would soon be my wife.
Wensuria had loved me, but I’d thought it a weakness for so long and hadn’t acknowledged it. Now I had her, and a whole new family. As great as it felt, it was still going to take some getting used to.
Malineth knocked then entered. “The tailors are here,” she said.
Rook’s mother now had a team of women working with her as Izzy’s ladies in waiting.
One of whom was Izzy’s friend Tala. They escorted in a small army of tailors and seamstresses.
Izzy and I had already been measured for our outfits for the wedding, which was scheduled for a week after the coronation.
So, the two of us slipped out and I was grateful for the time alone with her.
We sat in the large sitting room at the front of the residence, overlooking the lawns and the ocean beyond.
“You ready for tomorrow?” I asked. “How’s your speech coming?”
Izzy grimaced. “Public speaking was never my thing. It’s done, and Lhorine says it sounds great, but it still feels awkward to me.” She sighed. “Though maybe it’s being queen which feels awkward.”
I nodded, thinking it more likely the latter option. I may have been born a prince and raised to rule, but Izzy wasn’t used to this sort of thing.
“How’s your speech coming?” she asked.
“Short and sweet, modest but rousing, perfectly eloquent,” I said with a grin. “At least, that’s how it is in my head. I haven’t written a word yet.”
“Plan on winging it?” she asked.
I shrugged. “I might. In truth it matters little what I have to say. Yours is the important one.” The only reason I had a speech at all was because I was being recognized as the Lord General of the armies of Seial as part of the coronation.
The powers that be had decided the titans rejoining society was a rather momentous occasion and had wanted to commemorate it.
My new position was part of that effort.
“Yeah,” Izzy groaned. “No pressure.”
I slipped off my chair and knelt before hers, taking both of her hands in mine. I always found it miraculous that hands so small — at least compared to mine — were so damn strong.
“Don’t try to be a queen, just be yourself.
You have so much to give this world, so much to change.
Be the woman I’ve heard so many stories about from the other guys.
The one who got here on day one and fought the power, wanting to end oppression and bring justice and equality.
You’re doing that now, be proud of it, maybe even enjoy it. ”
She cocked her head in thought. “I guess I am doing that, aren’t I?” She gave a little laugh, which still held a note of tension and anxiety. “There’s just a big difference between talking about doing something and actually doing it.”
“Always remember, you’re doing what this world needs, and you’ll never be alone. So many of us are here to help you.”
She sighed. “You’re right. Still, the theatrics of the coronation are a bit much for me.”
I smiled. “The theatrics are for those who need theatrics. But your speech is to show everyone who you really are. Be yourself, however untheatrical that may be.”
She laughed. “That might make Lhorine’s and my grandmother’s heads explode.”
“I’ll be sad to see them go,” I said with mock sadness.
She laughed, a light and pure sound, before pulling one of her hands out from mine to slap my shoulder.
“I can’t figure out whether you’re a bad influence or a good one,” she said, still laughing.
“The best… and the worst,” I said as a very naughty idea came to me. We were alone, and it might be the last time in a while.
I looked around, but all was quiet. A lady in waiting could wander by any time, or those tailors might finish their work and leave soon, but I didn’t care.
I leaned forward to press my lips to hers and as I did, I released her hands so mine could go exploring.
One roamed up over her blouse to cup a breast, the other slid up under her long skirt to push open her legs.
I ran my thumb over her panties, feeling her core, so pliable and soft beneath.
She whispered a moan into my mouth and I drank it down, thirsty for more.
But it wasn’t until I hooked a finger around her panties to draw them down that she gasped and drew back.
“Not here!” she hissed.
“Yes, here,” I breathed.
“What if someone comes?” she whispered.
“You’ll definitely come,” I replied. “Anyone else will ignore us. Royalty does all sorts of crazy horny things, people learn to not see what’s going on.”
I had her panties down to her knees by then. I reached back up to stroke her folds again with my thumb, loving how deliciously wet she was, and how she tensed and shivered when I found her clit.
Her eyes darted around… but she didn’t stop me as I stroked her seam and massaged her clit.
“You’re so fucking naughty,” she breathed, sliding down, relaxing into the chair, opening her legs more for my large hand.
My other hand deftly popped open a couple buttons on her blouse and slid inside to capture her soft flesh.
I rolled her nipple, till it was diamond hard.
All the while, watching her intently, loving how she slowly came apart as I worked.
She stifled a cry when I slid a thick finger inside her, eyes going wide. She was close, her pussy pulsing around my finger. And when I flicked her clit with my thumb, while massaging her G-spot, she bucked hard and bit her lip, trying not to alert everyone in the building of her orgasm.
“Fuck, you’re so sexy when you come,” I whispered, then leaned forward to breathe hot words into her ear. “My dick is so hard right now. If you say the word, I’ll stop, but otherwise, I’m about to pick you up and fuck you against a wall, my sexy queen.”
“Bayn, don’t…” she whispered, breath catching. My heart fell a little. I’d respect her wishes. “Don’t stop!” she finished and I nearly wept with joy at this naughty opportunity.
I picked her up, a limp and satisfied mess in my hands. She threw her arms around my neck and pulled herself closer, to press savage kisses to my lips and neck, raking her teeth over my jaw.
I pinned her to a wall with one hand around her tiny waist and pulled back. I needed to see her face for this next bit.
“You ready for me?” I asked, my free hand working to liberate my cock from my pants.
Her eyes rolled around and she bit her lips as she concentrated through her still singing bliss to alter herself. Then she nodded.
I moved in, her legs wrapped around my waist, pushing her skirt up and out of the way as I tested her core with my aching erection. She was damned wet and so very receptive as I slid into her.
I groaned. Izzy had adjusted her body to fit me in perfectly, still squeezing the fuck out of me. With everything we’d had going on, we’d not had a lot of time for sex these last few weeks and my dick was aching as I sheathed myself fully inside her.
“Fuck, yes!” she hissed. “Do it, like in the cave!”
So, she wanted it fast and rough? I guessed that made sense if she didn’t want anyone to see us. I didn’t mind at all.
I drove myself into her, watching what it did to her as I pounded her pussy hard. Her eyes crossed, her head went back, hitting the wall — not too hard — as her mouth opened in a silent scream.
And when her tightness clamped around me even harder, pulsing and wet, her eyes going even wider, her body stiff and shuddering, I knew she’d come again.
Bloody Bones! She was too damned sexy; I could understand why Koar called her Perfection. I couldn’t help myself and I grunted as my cock pulsed with my release. I bent to press my lips to hers and drink down her panting bliss as we came together.
I carried her to the small bathroom off the sitting room before I drew out, knowing we’d make a massive mess.
We cleaned ourselves up as best we could in that small — now very cramped — powder room, emerging a bit disheveled…
right as the tailors were heading out. None of them looked in our direction, but they had to know what we’d done. The entire sitting room smell like sex.
Then Myel came stalking out to confront us.
“Do you know how embarrassing it is to nearly come while being fitted for a new suit?” He glared up at me, then pinned Izzy with a glare. “Twice!”
“He looked like he was going to explode,” Rook said, covering a laugh.
“I was!” Myel blurted. “Then he grabbed Izzy’s arm and dragged her back into the powder room. “If you’ll excuse us, I have something Izzy needs to take care of.”
Izzy giggled as she closed the door behind them.
The other three guys looked at me. Koar sniffed the air.
“You did it out here, in the open?” he asked.
I grinned.
“Very good,” Rook said, coming to link his arm in mine. “Just a little more work and we’ll make Izzy into a proper exhibitionist.”
Vyns groaned.
Koar rolled his eyes.
But there was no judgement here, no jealousy. And that’s why I was coming to love these guys, because they didn’t care about that little tryst. We all wanted the same thing, for Izzy to be ridiculously happy.
And right now, she was.
Hence, so were we.