Chapter Eight #2
Roar walked by, whistling softly. Everything that Ival currently owned was on black tendrils that extended up to twenty feet behind her. “I will meet you there? Prince Riimal, please let them know I am coming.”
His eyes were wide, and he quickly sent a message to his quarters. Even the massage table was folded and being carried out of the room.
Roar left the rooms, and Ival was smiling. Riimal finished his call to his housekeeper. “Did you know that is what the tattoos do?”
“I did. I also know she can stab with them.” Ival watched one of the tendrils close the door.
He looked down at her. “Ready to come with me?”
“Loaded choice of words.”
“Isn’t it?” He bent and picked her up.
Her grandparents waved as she was carried out of their quarters, just like a caught mate.
She looked at him as they entered the hall, and a few of those they passed smiled, while others looked wary. She didn’t do the royal wave. It felt like a little too much.
Ival leaned against his shoulder. “You feel tense.”
“Still wondering what you are planning to do with my staff.”
She giggled. “So many plans.”
He held her tightly. “I look forward to discovering each and every one of them.”
They continued on their path, and he said, “Why don’t you hate me?”
“Oh. That. There isn’t room in me for hate.
If there were, I would have killed myself years ago.
I have killed more than I can count because someone thought it would be entertaining to pit a pain-maddened active against me.
Both of us fighting for survival and caring less than nothing about the audience.
I died; they died. Only I got to come back. ”
She looked up at him. “Make sense?”
He nodded. “It does. You can only hate yourself for so long before it becomes permanent.”
“Yup, and once it turns inward, it burns.” She rested her cheek against him. “I stopped letting it in. I accepted defeat as penance.”
His step slowed. “You let yourself be killed.”
“Yeah, but sometimes, I took my opponent with me, not on purpose but trying to save myself.”
“So, you wanted to die.”
“No, I wanted to stop killing. Zukker was a hero, and he taught me about trying to protect those around me. I really tried to hold to that.”
Riimal didn’t say anything; he just held her as he carried her, with her fluffy slippers looking silly, into the royal wing of the stronghold. She kicked her feet gently and waved to the guards as Riimal registered her as an inhabitant of his quarters.
Their expressions were stunned, and then grins broke out.
Ival said, “The people around you seem really happy that you have a woman in your arms.”
He grinned. “You are correct. I have been introduced to more daughters than I would care to count. They look terrified, and I sent them back home and told my brother just to stop.”
“Aw, you waited for me. How sweet.”
He started laughing. “I would have waited longer, but I am very happy that I did not have to.”
She looked up at him. “I miss the special features of the cyborg eye, but looking at you with my normal eyes is nice.”
“What was the red eye?”
“Pain and poison. My system was overloaded. My eye discoloured because of it.”
He walked toward a door, and the guards to either side opened it with a softly spoken, “Your Highness.”
She grinned. “Did my friend come through here?”
“Yes, mistress. She’s inside, making room for you.”
Ival clapped her hands lightly.
Riimal snorted and carried her inside. The doors closed behind them.
Roar could be heard bossing people, there was a movement of soft furnishings, and five minutes later, Roar walked out and smiled.
“It’s all set up, and your reflection space now houses the table so that your treatments can be completed easily.
There is also a rack with a soft robe so you can choose to get dressed or not. ”
Roar smiled. “And now, I will go see my room and get it set up in case Ivy has to come in. She’s particular. I set up your office, Ival. When you are feeling better, your fans have been pelting queries as to when the next book is going to be making its way to the light.”
Ival kicked her feet. “I am going to get on it. The moment I am back to normalish.”
Riimal said softly, “Is it time for your treatment?”
“That’s up to you. I am literally not able to do this myself without slicking up a tarp and rolling around.”
He sighed. “Save it for the anniversary.”
Roar chuckled. “And on that note, see ya. Call me if you want to leave the quarters.”
Roar wandered off to the servants’ side of the apartments and left Ival with the man of the house.
She looked up at him. “So, either a tour or a treatment. Up to you.”
He nodded. “As I am interested in your health and well-being, we will do another treatment.”
She nodded and said, “Please tell me you don’t have another open panel. That was embarrassing.”
He walked into the room with the wide reflecting pool and the massage table. “Fine. I won’t tell you.”
“Fine, but I am keeping my mouth shut this time. I am not going to give the guys an audio show.”
He whispered two words to her, and ice and heat went down her spine in equal measure. Challenge accepted.
She was panting and looking up at Riimal. “Evil.”
He chuckled. “That was fun.”
“It was. What is outside that window?”
“The training ground.”
She clapped a hand over her face and then paused. Her hand flexed and felt normal. Not weirdly sensitive. “My hands are working.”
“Are they?” He was leaning over her. He nuzzled her ear. “What else?”
“I don’t know about my feet, but it seems sex is on the table, so to speak.”
His eyes flickered wildly. “Now?”
“I can smell dinner, so maybe after? Let me catch my breath?”
Riimal nodded and said, “You are not going to be out of my sight.”
“I claim privacy for restroom privileges.”
He chuckled. “Fine.”
He helped her up and eased the robe over her shoulders. His hands shook as he helped her tie the sash.
She put her hands over his and said, “It’s okay. I am not going to run or cry or wail or weep or sob or any of the things you are afraid of. I might jump you in the dining room, but we will see how the evening goes.”
He vibrated at her words.
“Come on, let’s get something else in your mouth.”
He jolted and then grinned. “I really like you.”
“I know. I like you, too.”
She squeaked as he hugged her and walked out of the room with her in his arms. Ival was introduced to his grinning housekeeper, and they were told dinner was ready.
Roar was going to be eating with the staff, according to the housekeeper. Seated, she washed her hands and laughed when Riimal’s hands held hers under the water, and he slid his fingers along hers, kissing her neck.
“This is going to be a meal I forget, isn’t it?” Ival murmured.
A hiss of a chuckle was out a moment before he started to lick and nibble at her neck, moving from side to side. He was focused and continued to work on her neck, occasionally hissing softly.
“Oh, so that’s the problem. Once I agreed to your letting go, you are really going to let go.”
One word was breathed against his old mark. “Smart.”
His tongue that had been so delightful between her thighs and inside her turned rough, and he licked steadily at the scar.
The food was set in front of them, and with a careful reach, Ival got some food together in her fingertips and started to eat.
The housekeeper whispered, “He’s supposed to start.”
“He’s already eating.”
The woman blinked and nodded. “Right.”
They were left alone while Ival’s body slowly heated with arousal. She knew Riimal was keeping track of how far along she was. He was starting a rut.
Ival ate and chattered away about the food and what she remembered from when she was little. His left arm wrapped around her waist and held her against him. She chuckled and said, “You need to eat.”
He hummed against her neck. “I have tasted you.”
“I know, but I intend on riding you for a while, and you are going to need self-control.”
He froze and said, “Feed me.”
“Sure. What do you like?”
“You.”
“I am not on the table. Do not put me on the table!” She slapped his arm, and he settled back down again.
He chuckled.
She grabbed a ball of food and shoved it in his open mouth. He laughed. Dinner was firmly underway.
She paused and asked, “How long were we in the reflection room?”
“Five hours. This is an early dinner.”
Ival shrugged. “Sensible.”
“I thought so. Are you having an enjoyable time?”
She stroked his jaw. “Yes, Riimal, I am.”
They finished the meal, washed their hands again, and had some tea. When she set down her cup, she looked at him. “Are you having an enjoyable time?”
He grinned. “Very much so.”
She put her hands on his chest and pushed him back. “Well, buckle up; it is either getting better or worse.”
She opened his tunic, undid the top fastener on his trousers, and proceeded to kiss her way down his torso, across his chest, licking and nipping as she went.
When she got down to his belly, she looked up at him, and his eyes were glowing gold. He growled, “Keep going. Please.”
She grinned and slid his trousers open, easing her hand in and then coaxing his erection past the tight fabric. She slid her fingers up the hard column. “No knot?”
“Not yet. It’s more of a necessary thing.” His voice was gruff.
“Well, that’s festive. In the meantime...” She lifted her head and opened her mouth, taking him halfway and sucking as she lifted her head, going a little further the next time.
He groaned, there was a shout, and she swallowed frantically. When the pulses under her tongue ceased, she lifted her head with a slow suction until she was clear of him. He looked shocked. She slowly climbed up him and kissed his neck. “Now we have some time.”
He slid a hand through her hair and pulled her head to his. The kiss was intense, and he didn’t hesitate. His tongue met and twined around hers. She held his face and bent her legs as she just enjoyed the kiss.
His housekeeper was speaking before she entered, and she said, “Your Highness, did you want dessert—never mind, you are already having it.” She giggled and left.
Ival raised her head, grinned, and then returned to the kiss.
He didn’t care, and she didn’t care. After another few minutes, he rolled her to her back and started to press into her.
Ival draped her leg around his thighs as he sank into her.
She sighed and moaned, and when Riimal was as far as he could go, he withdrew some and started moving.
He slid his right hand over her and between them. Her clit was caressed in a rhythm that she didn’t realize he knew.
The kiss went on, and she moaned and sighed as he moved inside her and teased her slowly.
She clutched and clawed at him, and he caught her urgency.
They moved together, and she wrapped her arms around his back and clawed him.
His hips jolted, and he groaned into her mouth.
She gasped and undulated her hips. Two movements and a swelling of enjoyment washed over her.
She felt the wave of heat go through her from him outward, and the sparks behind her eyes reminded her that she had really missed sex.
She slowly came down, and he dotted her face with tiny kisses.
Ival smiled. “So, that works.”
He chuckled and continued nuzzling and kissing her softly. “It certainly does.”
She sighed and said, “Sorry about your back.”
“You abraded the scales. I am still fine.”
“Good. I don’t want to injure you. I need you for the next round.”
He grinned and kissed her neck. “Trying to kill me?”
“Naw. Making up for lost time.”
“I can get behind that.”
“Maybe if you ask nicely and get me drunk first.”
He rubbed his nose against hers. “I think you are determined to have fun with life.”
“I think you are right.”
“Hello, Ival. I am life.”
She giggled, and he hardened inside her again. “Now you are getting into the spirit of the thing.”
“Do you want to go again here, or would you like to see our bedroom?”
She looked around. “Well, we got our own dessert, so maybe changing the location wouldn’t be a bad idea.”
He grinned, wrapped his arms under her, and rolled to his knees, taking her along for the ride.
The night had only begun.