35. Chapter Thirty-Five
The ballroom is one place in the castle I’ve never been, and Rana leads me there while helping my dress not take out any artwork or servants on the way.
The walls are several stories high, and the ceiling is glass, so that the stars can be seen.
Lights on the top of the wall illuminate the room and dim the stars some.
Between golden pillars are large windows that look out on the mountain, and I avoid looking at them to keep from ruining my night.
Skeletal people animals dance around the room, and many have on pretty gowns and suits as though Zyon allowed his servants to have nice clothes for the night.
They dance around mostly in pairs, but there are a few larger groups of three or four people dancing in a circle, holding hands.
It’s fun to see everyone having such a great time after working so hard.
Zyon stares at the main door, which is why I came in the side entrance.
He’s tapping his leg, like he can’t keep still as he waits for me.
He wears all black with an ornate jacket that has fancy silver patterns sewn into it, and the collar stops halfway up his neck with an open front.
His silver hair is nicely slicked back where it normally sits as controlled chaos on his head.
I move farther into the room, and his gaze snaps in my direction.
His jaw drops while his eyes widen, and he doesn’t hurry to hide his expression.
A grin lights up his face as he pushes through the servants who step aside for him.
They all bow as he passes, but he doesn’t seem to notice anyone but me.
His eyes move over me, and his smile grows. “You are a masterpiece, far more beautiful than any goddess could ever hope to be.”
My cheeks heat, but I force my eyes to stay locked on his as we smile at each other.
He extends his hand to me and bows. “May I have this dance?”
I nod and let him lead me to the dance floor.
All the servants give us a lot of space, and many stop dancing to watch.
He guides me on how to dance until the music picks up, and I let loose.
There’s no formality in how I move because it was never anything I was taught.
Zyon is patient about me often stumbling into him.
When the music slows, he brings me against him and doesn’t say anything when I struggle with where to place my feet.
Finally, I fall into a rhythm with him, and I bury my nose in his neck to take in his lovely scent.
He hangs onto me as we move fast again and do an almost hop to the side over and over.
His chest is a nice landing place for the times he spins me in and out.
He dips me back and twirls me all around the room.
After a bit of him helping me learn the moves, I figure out how to dance better with him, and our bodies align in thoughts and actions.
We glide onto the balcony, and he turns me so my back rests against his chest. The silver glowing stars paint the sky for a splendid view as we sway.
He keeps me warm, and I memorize everything about the moment, from the pleasant weight of his arms to his scent.
The stunning view is of the world waking up from a seemingly eternal winter.
The grey is transformed into green trees and purple flowers as patches of snow shrink around returning grass.
They’re all things most people couldn’t see in the dark, but my eyes latch onto color easily.
I’m unsure if Zyon can see the changes so easily behind me.
He lets go of me, and I walk to the railing to get a closer look at the sky and the ground.
“Neera,” Zyon calls.
“What?”
“Turn around.”
I spin around and cover my mouth at the sight of him on one knee, holding out a small black box.
Inside appears to be a glass ring with black metal weaving around it like twisted branches of a tree.
The top of the metal forms a crown that surrounds a little glass globe with a flame flickering and burning inside.
The caged fire makes the ring enchanting.
I clutch my chest and close my gaping mouth that can’t form words for several seconds. “What are you doing?”
“Would you be my queen?”
“You’re proposing?”
“Generally, that’s what it means when a king gets on a knee and offers you a ring.” He takes the ring out of the box. “This is a family heirloom. It’s been in my family a very long time. Passed down through each generation.”
“You remember that?”
“Maximo told me when I mentioned I wanted to propose to you. What is your answer? Say the word, and we will even marry this night. I can fetch a priest.”
I look over at the view and find a single red flower among the purple. “Zyon, spring is here.”
“Not quite. We still have time." He rushes the words from his mouth.
I close my eyes to not see his hopeful irises dim. “Not much, and there’s a very good chance I will die on that mountain. We shouldn’t rush into marriage.”
“You’re not going to die, and no matter how much time we have together, I want to spend that time as your husband.”
I move toward him and cautiously touch the ring in case it’s as hot as it looks. It’s cool against my finger. “It’s the most beautiful ring I’ve seen. I can see why it’s so important to your family. Why would you give it to a peasant?”
“I’m giving it to the woman I can no longer live without.”
He slides the ring on my finger. “It suits you, like the gods forged it for your finger.”
“I will wear your ring, Zyon, but we will see how we both feel after the curse is broken.”
He gets to his feet and seals my bargain with a kiss before grabbing my hand and running back through the ballroom.
I kick off my shoes to keep up better with his enthusiasm as he runs all the way to his room.
He stops every few stairs to kiss me, and by the time we fully make it into his room, he’s sucking on my neck.
The dress is suffocating me, and I try to undo my bodice.
He notices and helps me out of it, so I’m only in my undergarments.
His eyes roam over me, like he needs to appreciate the view right before I show him everything. “Do you trust me, Neera?”
“Yes.” I unzip my corset and push it to the floor, followed by my bottoms, so that I stand naked in front of him. “Do what you will with me?”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
He licks his lips and moves forward, spinning me around to study every inch of my bare skin. His warm breath tickles my ear. “The moment you want this to stop. You only need say it.”
I nod and swallow, my breathing quickening at his swift movements crossing the room.
He pulls out a wide red silk ribbon and ties it over my eyes, scooping me into his arms and plopping me onto the bed.
My wrists are raised above my head and tied together.
His hands move up my thigh, then my stomach, my arms, and my face.
The patterns of his movements are unpredictable, and my body is shocked at the randomness.
He’s awakening me in a way I’ve never experienced.
My nipple goes into his mouth, and he circles it with his tongue while his hands perform their deceptive seduction.
I flail as his mouth sucks between my legs.
He licks and flicks his tongue hard against my clit.
My toes curl into the soft sheets, and a floral scent fills my nose as if he’s burning incense.
He’s by my ear again. “Breathe deeply.”
“W-what is it?”
“It will increase the sensitivity of your body. It will not impair your mind in any way. Only increase the pleasure of your body.” He nibbles on my ear and licks down my body.
Every inch of me is tingling, and that sensation increases with each breath I take.
I whimper with each new spot he touches, and I can’t predict if the touch will be soft or pleasurably painful.
My head thrashes, and I scream. My entire body is building toward something.
All my muscles are tightening and throbbing, threatening a release that may kill me.
“Zyon! Zyon! Zyon!” I’m pleading for something from him, but I can’t concentrate long enough to tell what I want.
“I need an answer, love.”
My body is shuddering in desperate need of him. “What answer?” I barely get the words out as his hands move so quickly around my body.
“Are you ready for me to be inside you? I need a clear yes.”
“Yes! Get inside me now or I might die.”
“The world can’t afford to lose you, Neera.” He inches inside me and stills as I adjust to him. “Gods you’re so tight! Fuck!” He moves slowly at first, and then slams into me, slowly pulling out to drive in deep again. Like how he touches my body, his thrusts are also unpredictable.
Zyon flips me and drives in from behind, so deep I feel almost split. He leans over me, which puts him even deeper, and the weight of him is perfect on my back. He twists my nipple and pinches it.
I scream as my orgasm rips through my body, leaving no part of me without pleasure.
He flips me again and pushes my knees up to my chest. He guides me into so many positions, and with each one moves just right for me to climax each time.
There isn’t much left of me when he removes the blindfold and unties my wrists.
I climb on top of him, slide onto his cock, and grind into him, rolling my hips until he’s slamming his head against the pillow and gripping my ass so tight it releases another orgasm from me.
His cock jerks, and I grind harder, faster, deeper. “Fuck! Neera! What the...” His words die as he releases, and it takes me over the edge with him.
He rolls me onto my side to face him, so our bodies line up together.
I roll my hips in rhythm with his gentle thrusts.
He caresses my cheek with his thumb and kisses me just as softly as he’s moving inside me.
I clench around him, and he moans against my lips.
I press into him, and we ride out more waves of pleasure.