Chapter 11
DAHLIA
Isprint out of the stables, my heart stuck in my throat. I kicked him. I kicked him so damned hard!
A laugh bursts from my chest. I didn’t think it would work. I thought once I kissed him he’d push me away, probably lecture me about knowing my place before commanding I return to his bedchamber for another poisoned meal.
I hope it hurts. I hope he spends the next hour squealing like a pig.
I don’t expect two arms to wrap around my waist and throw me to the ground. My cheek slams against the grass.
“You think you can run from me, human?” Tauren hisses into my ear.
A yelp tears through me. Before I can move, he flips me over, straddling my hips and pinning my arms above my head.
“I could have you killed for that,” he laughs cruelly. “The law of my court states that anyone who harms their lord should be executed in the dungeon.”
“Let go of me!” I writhe against him.
“You’re not going anywhere, sweetheart.” Grinning, his lips brush my forehead. “Because I have a much better idea.”
Pushing up from the grass, he takes his weight off me. Air rushes back into my throat. I’m not given a moment to rest as he yanks me up with him and forces my arms behind my back.
Keeping my wrists locked behind me, he shoves me towards the stables.
“I’m sorry,” I plead. “I shouldn’t have kicked you. That was too far.”
“It was,” he says as we pass under the brick entrance, but he doesn’t let go of me. Pushing me into an empty stall, he releases my hands and I tumble to the hay-covered floor.
My palms sting against the cold stone.
“Get up,” he orders.
I don’t hesitate. Tauren swings the door shut behind him, and we’re alone in a small wooden horse stall. My chest heaves. Above us, an iron lamp hangs from a chain, filling the stall with warm light. It catches on Tauren’s dark demon horns, making him look even more monstrous than he did before.
A shudder rolls over me. He’s never looked so sinister.
Until he smirks wickedly, and my shudder becomes an audible whimper.
“Raise your arms.”
My breath catches. “What? Why?”
“Raise your arms.” My arms shoot up, no match for his magic tongue.
I keep them above my head while Tauren disappears behind me.
Metal clinks against leather, but I don’t dare turn around to check what he’s doing.
It’s only when something wraps around my wrists and binds them together that I lift my chin.
My hands are tied with a lead rope to the chain above my head.
I shudder as Tauren runs his hands down my arms, stroking my body until he reaches my waist. Pulling me against him, he whispers into my ear, “If you behave, I’ll let you keep the gown on.
But one slip, and I’ll leave you here naked for the stablehands to find.
Trust me, Princess, compared to the demons I have working down here, I am a perfect gentleman. ”
Frowning, I nod my head. I want to tell him that he wouldn’t know a gentleman if one punched him in the face, but I keep my lips sealed. The sooner he finishes whatever dark plan he has for me in here, the closer I’ll be to sleeping in his bed again.
And in his bed, hopefully he won’t notice my hand dipping below the covers to deal with the problem that’s only growing more desperate every second I’m tied up in here.
“Sweet, fragile, human,” he tuts, pacing around me. “What am I supposed to do with you?” Pausing in front of me, he tilts his head. “I’ve tried being pleasant. I brought you food, found you a nice room to rest in.”
I bite my tongue. His food was laced with sedatives, and I’m fairly sure he slept in the same bed as me last night. The sheets on his side were warm when I woke up and smelled just like him: crackling fires and something almost sweet, like dark chocolate.
I haven’t let myself think about what happened while I was drunk on sleeping powder. I know he changed me out of my gown, so he’s at least seen me bare. Or maybe he called in a servant to do it.
A traitorous part of me hopes it was him, and I hate that.
I hate that more than his flawless grin as his eyes pause on my chest.
“Oh, Dahlia…” he sighs.
Confused, I glance down to see my breasts straining against my bodice, my nipples now hard, obvious points. Dammit. “I…”
“Shh.” He presses a finger to my lips. “I understand now,” he chuckles. “All your teasing and bad behaviour… it all makes sense. You’re enjoying this, aren’t you, little monster?”
“I am not,” I snarl. But the urgent throbbing between my legs says otherwise. “I don’t like this at all.”
“There you go again.” His laugh rumbles through me.
“Lying so I punish you. But I know your secret, Princess Dahlia.” My stomach flutters at the way he devours my name, his voice smooth like honey.
“You’re a dirty little whore who likes being punished, and after your little display outside this stall, you’ve given me no choice but to indulge you.
” He paces around me, his hand teasing my waist. “Naughty, clever girl.”
Red blooms over my cheeks so intensely my eyes water. I don’t like being punished… I think. But a wicked part of me would give anything to know what he’s going to do next.
He walks behind me while powerful need pulses between my thighs. Ignoring it, I tug my hands against my restraints. They’re not too tight. If I wriggle enough, I might be able to—
My skirt is yanked up, exposing my bare rear to the night air.
“Fuck.” Tauren’s voice sounds strained. I can’t see him, but I know he’s got my skirt wrapped around his fist and is staring at my naked backside. “Where are your undergarments?”
My blush burns like fire. “I… there weren’t any in the wardrobe.” It’s not a lie. He only left me the gown and some shoes. Then again, I didn’t exactly go looking for anything to wear under my gown. Escaping was much higher on my priority list.
“You didn’t think to check the dresser?” It sounds like he’s being strangled.
A smirk crosses my lips. “I know for next time.” Maybe I can use this. Clearly, my body has some kind of effect on him. Rubbing my thighs together, I force a moan while my wrists ease gradually out of their bindings. If I can just keep him distracted for another couple seconds—
Pain whips across my backside. I scream, “What the fuck?”
“That’s a bad word for a princess, you’ve just earned yourself two more strikes.”
“What?” I rasp. Twisting my head around, I see Tauren looming over me, one fist curled around my skirt while the other grips a long black horse whip. “You just whipped me!”
He grins. “That’s right, sweetheart. Now keep those pretty eyes forward while I do it seventeen more times.”
“Seventeen?” I whimper.
He nods. “You earned five for tricking my brother into loosening your collar, which I’ll be tightening again the second we return to my bedchamber, five more for slapping me outside your father’s ballroom, another five for kicking me outside this stall, and two more for using that foul word.”
“But you can’t just—”
“Eighteen.” He whips me again before I can argue. A tear slips down my cheek. “Every time you talk back, I’ll add another. Now eyes forward, my darling. I can do this all night.”
The second I’m facing forward, he whips me again, and again, and again. At first, the pain is overwhelming. Each strike leaves me breathless as stars cloud my vision.
But around the seventh strike, something strange happens. The pain is still breathtaking, but between each strike, the warmth between my thighs burns hotter. It’s like my pain is stoking my pleasure.
When the last strike whips across my skin, I moan. My legs vibrate with need. All it takes is his warm hand cupping my rear for me to shatter.
I try my best to hide it, but it’s useless. Tauren hears every last dirty moan as I come. Hard.
“Beautiful,” he whispers.
“Fuck you,” I rasp, before immediately clamping my lips shut. As if the pain from this humiliation wasn’t bad enough. Wincing, I brace for another strike, but it never lands.
“You just can’t get enough can you?” He squeezes my sore arse, and I whimper. It hurts, but it’s nothing compared to the whip. Still, it’s enough to make my entrance throb.
“Please, Tauren.” My voice is weak, but I no longer care. “You’ve proven your point. I can’t take anymore.”
I feel his stare from behind. After a few seconds, he strokes the sides of my chest, his reply teasing my ear. “Are you going to leave my castle again?” His hands slide down to my waist.
My breath shudders. “No.”
“What about kicking or slapping me? Will you do that again?”
“Of course not,” I rasp. “I promise I’ll never hurt you again.” That’s a lie. I already want to gouge his onyx eyes out, but I keep that thought to myself.
“You’re so pretty when you’re submissive.” His breath is hot against my hair as he kisses it softly. “What about my deal with your fiancé? Are you going to marry me if he refuses my trade? Speak the truth.”
My stomach flips. “Y-yes?” I can’t help it. The lie is obvious.
“Oh, Dahlia.” He shakes his head.
“I will marry you!” I blurt. “I promise I will! I swear on my mother’s life!” My mother is dead, but he doesn’t know that.
It’s not enough, though. Sighing, he disappears behind me again. To my surprise, he doesn’t reach for the whip. Instead, he drops my skirt, walks in front of me and unbinds my wrists.
Relief washes over me. I massage my wrists. They ache, but I can barely feel it compared to the throb of my backside. I doubt I’ll be able to sit down for a week.
Inches from my chest, Tauren folds his arms. “Look at me.”
Slowly, I lift my chin.
“I could compel you to take off your gown.” His jaw is tight.
“I could use my magic to make you rub your needy clit raw while I fuck you like a horse against the walls of this stall.” My cheeks flush darker than wine.
“But I will not because I am the lord of this court and not some wild beast who takes pleasure in fucking naive women against their will.”
I swallow, not daring to reply.
“But I need you to remember this, sweet princess, the next time you consider disobeying me,” his deep voice curls around me, “because next time, I may not feel this bizarre urge to be kind to you.” His gaze drops to my chest, then my hips, his eyes so dark that I shiver.
“And perhaps I’d quite like to fuck you against the wall. ”
My lips part. I’d run, but I know he’ll just catch me again. An awful thrill of excitement shoots through me at the thought.
Nodding, I speak in a broken whisper. “I’m sorry. I won’t do it again. Can we just go back to the castle?”
As if a spell has just broken, the hunger vanishes from his eyes, and he steps back, straightening. “Can you walk, or do I need to carry you?”
“I can walk,” I mutter.
He nods, but I barely make it three painful steps before my feet are swept out from beneath me. I don’t complain as he carries me in bridal-style out of the stables.
Tucked against his chest, it’s hard to keep my eyes open. The golden light of dawn caressing his sharp cheekbones is the last thing I see before I’m lulled into dreams of soft rope, hay-covered floors, and warm hands sliding towards my hips.