Bound at the Ball (Siren Publishing Allure) (16 page)

Sabar’s voice came to her, but she didn’t see him right away. She looked around and finally spotted him behind the island. He was digging something out of the cupboards. He stared at her with concern etched in the wrinkles around his eyes. She thought for a moment to argue that she should be the one cooking because it was her job now that she was his mate, but another wave of dizziness and cramps made her accept his directive. She scurried to the table and slumped onto a chair, wrapping her arms around her stomach.

“Here, eat this.” A bowl of fruit was shoved under her nose.

“Thank you,” she whispered. The first piece of pink flesh to touch her tongue made her groan. She chewed and swallowed chunk after chunk of the sweet fruits, barely tasting the first few as she tried to stem the hunger.

By the time she’d cleaned out the bowl, drinking the juice that had collected in the bottom, Sabar was approaching the table with the rest of the food. He placed a platter next to her and pulled out the chair closest to her. Having him so close was like flipping a switch in her body. She went from being hungry for food to being hungry for his body. She could almost feel her brain change from one craving to the other.

“Thank you for making our meal.” She reached out and stroked his hand, unsure if he’d allow her to touch him outside the bedroom. She looked up into his face and left out a shaky breath when she saw the smile on his lips.

“You are most welcome. Eat. The fruit won’t keep you satisfied for long.”

I know what would satisfy me. You slathered in this food and me licking it from your skin.
She chuckled at her own naughty thoughts while she reached out and scooped up fried roots and eggs. The image her thoughts provoked was tantalizing and very risqué.

“What’s the laugh for, and, oh, Rella…are you blushing? What thoughts are you having, mate of mine?”

She nearly choked on the mouthful of food she was chewing. “Um. Nothing?”

“Oh, are we back to hiding things from me again? Do we need to play the truth game again, hmm?”

She shook her head even as she opened her mouth to answer him. “I don’t want to tell you.”

Sabar sighed, and she caught a glimpse of irritation in his eyes before he pulled her from her chair and placed her on his lap. He positioned her how he wanted, legs off one side, her side snugged close to his chest. His arms were so strong, even while she struggled and sputtered he continued holding her to him with one hand on her hip and the other on her head.

“Shh. Stop struggling. You will sit here and answer my questions and eat. A new game I think. Every answer you give without me asking repeatedly will get you some food and a prize.” He stroked her head, running his hand through her hair. “If you hide from me or lie, then you will be punished. Do you understand?”

She huffed. Of course she understood. She wasn’t a simpleton. Warriors and their games. She nodded before he could pinch her ass. At least she’d learned something the night before. She watched a mischievous light enter his eyes. Oh gods, now what was
he
thinking?

“Good. First, you will eat this bite of food. I’ll ask my question after you swallow.”

A fork with eggs and root pieces materialized in front of her mouth and she opened like an obedient little bird. Chewing gave her a moment to think. He obviously was going to ask her about her naughty thoughts, but perhaps she could turn it around on him. She grinned when she swallowed. Two could play this game, and maybe she could quench her hungers at the same time.

* * * *

He watched the grin spread across her lips and wondered what had prompted the look. She definitely hadn’t been happy moments before about playing along. She was crafty, and he loved that about her. It reminded him of the look she’d given him when they woke. She’d nearly eaten him alive with her eyes, caressing his body with her gaze. When she’d licked her lips while staring at his cock, he almost came like an untried adolescent.

“Have you swallowed like a good girl?”
Oh, that question was so much better asked with her on her knees and my cock in her mouth.
He groaned at his own wayward thought.

“Oh, yes, Sabar. I swallowed just like you wanted me to, and it was delicious.”

He watched in rapt fascination as she licked her lips. His cock twitched with the provocative image. The glint of evil intent in her eyes gave him pause. Oh, she wanted to play naughty? He would give her naughty.

“Hmm. My first question, then. What were you thinking a few moments ago that had you blushing?”

She only hesitated for a moment before looking away from his face and blushing anew. He loved the look of her innocence, knowing that a wicked woman hid behind all the bluster.

“I was thinking about licking food from your body.”

The simple statement blasted straight to his straining member. Gods. The thought of having her licking and biting as she ate her meal from his body was torturous. The idea of her tongue flicking across his nipples, or her sucking fruit from his cock, had his member twitching against his belly. He groaned. Why had he wanted to know so badly? Now he’d have aching balls until they had time to take care of his needs.

She wiggled in his lap, brushing against his cock and pulling a hiss from his lips. “I have an idea for a game that would help you. Would you like to know what it is?”

Her innocent tone was so deceptive but he wanted nothing more than to hear her whispering sexy things in his ear. He nodded and grabbed her hips to still her movements.

Rella leaned forward and placed her lips on the shell of his ear, breathing out a soft stream of warm air. A shiver ran down his body.
The novice becomes the temptress
. “I will feed you if you will let me ride you. I want your cock inside me, moving and thrusting.”

His breath caught in his chest.
Holy
mother of all that’s sacred
. Blinding need rushed through his body so fast he had trouble breathing through it. He lifted her from his lap and nearly ripped his pants open to free his throbbing shaft. When his eyes lit on her, he closed his eyes on the vision. She stood in front of him, covered in one of his shirts, with nothing else on underneath. She’d raised the edge of the shirt to bare her naked mound already glistening in her honey.

“This isn’t going to be slow, Rella. I’m going to take you hard and fast.”

He reached for her and sighed when she came readily to his hands. With nothing more than a tensing of his muscles, he had her hovering over his cock. Her hands shot out and steadied herself on his shoulders. When he lowered her onto his shaft, she sighed and closed her eyes, a look of peace on her face. He groaned with the feel of soft, wet warmth wrapped around his member. Nothing had ever felt so good. Every moment of every day would be perfect if he could spend it deep inside Rella’s cunt.

“Mmm, that feels so good.” Her sigh was music to his ears.

“Were you not supposed to be feeding me, mate of mine? Wasn’t that the game you suggested?”

“Oh.” She shook her head and he grinned at the passion-haze that clouded her eyes. She bent to the side, squeezing his shaft with the movement. Perhaps reminding her of the game hadn’t been the best idea if he came before he’d even started stroking inside her pussy. She grabbed the bowl of roots and selected one with her dainty fingers before holding it to his lips. He engulfed the food and her fingertips with his mouth. He listened to her gasp and quiet moan as he licked and sucked her fingers while they were between his lips.

“And weren’t you supposed to be riding me if I let you feed me?” His whisper pulled a lovely blush and gasp from her. He grinned. Their food was going to get cold.

“Yes. That is what you agreed to.” She placed the bowl on the table and braced her hands on his shoulder. She leaned forward and placed a kiss to his lips, down his chin to the hollow behind his ear. The soft puffs of air that fluttered over his skin as she moved were almost enough to make him come. She rose slowly and descended faster. Slow up, fast down became her rhythm, torturously slow. He wanted to grab her and increase the speed, thrust into her movements, but instead he just sat and enjoyed. Letting her take her pleasure from him was sensually sweet. Listening to her gasping and sighing as she fed her own need pushed him closer to his own release.

“Help me, Sabar. I’m so close.” Her whispered plea had him doing exactly as he’d wanted to. He moved her on his shaft to the same tempo she’d set.

“Touch yourself. Rub that little clit of yours, Rella.”

She cried out and shook slightly in his arms even as she snaked a hand between their bodies. He felt her fingertips for a moment on his cock as he rocked her on his shaft. The featherlight touch was enough to push him over the edge, but he gritted his teeth and hung onto his release. She needed to come first even if it killed him. He slowed his movements to help, and after only a few strokes felt her inner walls start to quake. He couldn’t hold on any longer. Pushing into her while she came around his member was excruciating, exquisite, perfect. She was so tight, gripping him like a hot, wet fist.

She collapsed against his chest, gasping and trembling. Gods, he loved the feel of her in his arms. He smoothed a hand down her hair. “You okay?”

Her shoulders shook, and a quiet chuckle vibrated against his chest. “You need to stop asking me that each time we come together or I’m going to think it wasn’t okay for you.”

She leaned back, and a bright smile sat on her lips. Even as he softened inside her he could already feel the stirrings of another erection. This woman was going to be the death of him.

“Get up, woman. We need to eat before my parents come to visit. They should be here shortly, and finding my mate impaled on my cock isn’t the way I wanted you to meet them.” He laughed at the indignation that crossed her face.

* * * *

“Your parents are coming, now, today? Sabar, I don’t even have proper attire to greet them. What are they going to think?” Fear, harsh and icy, gripped her mind. She’d become accustomed to him and his lack of formality already. What if his parents didn’t approve? She wasn’t wearing his medallion yet. Could they force him to let her go?

“Are you scared? There is no need. They will love you.”

She scrambled from his lap, torn between cleaning herself up and the kitchen. Their forgotten food lay spread on the table. Her disheveled appearance needed attention first, she decided. She turned to head back to his room. She jolted to a stop when a warm hand wrapped around her arm.

“Look at me, Rella.” She complied instantly. “What has that look on your face? You were fine, and now you look like you’re terrified again.”

She whispered the words, hoping they would have less force to them if said quietly. “What if they force you to give me up? I don’t wear your medallion.”

“You are mine. I’ve signed all the paperwork. The medallion is for
your
benefit, not mine. You are
mine.
”

“Okay.”

“You still don’t believe it, do you? What can I do to prove it?”

“I don’t know. Nothing I guess. I’m worried that you will realize I’m not what you really want. No one wants a flat-chested female that talks back.”

“If you haven’t figured it out by now, I do. I want you just the way you are. I love you the way you are.”

Rella knew she stood staring at him with big eyes. She could feel the disbelief on her face. The words had worked some of their magic, though. She could feel the prickle of tears as they rushed to spill from her eyes. He loved her. That’s what he’d said. Love her.
Her
. Could he love her only after three days? Did she love him?
Yes
.

“You’re thinking again. I can tell by the way you frown.” He sighed. “Go get changed. Time is the only thing that will let you know I speak the truth.”

She wanted to tell him that she loved him, too, but the words stuck in her throat. No one had ever admitted to loving her before, and the feel of soft acceptance was strangling her ability to speak. She’d change her clothes, brush her hair, and wait for the perfect time to admit her feelings as well.

A chiming announced the arrival of Sabar’s parents. He opened the door and ushered them into his home. His mother gave him a hug before stepping back with tears in her blue eyes. Her hair, grayed at the temples, was pulled into a messy knot on the top of her head. He could tell that she’d been crying before arriving. He sighed. Emotional females.

“So where is she?” His father’s gruff voice held a hint of humor.

“She’ll be out in a moment.” He lowered his voice so Rella wouldn’t hear his next statements. “Her items aren’t here. She had a rough night, so please don’t do anything to make her uncomfortable.”

“What did you do to her?” His mother scowled.

“I didn’t do anything. It’s a long story that I only want to tell once, but I want her to hear me tell it.” He motioned to the sitting room. “Please. Have a seat and I’ll go check on her.”

He watched his parents sit together on one of the couches before he went looking for his mate. His heart rate spiked when she wasn’t in the bedroom, but he found her when he peeked into the bathing room. She wore another of his shirts and was standing staring at her reflection. Her face was drawn and fear was etched on every inch. He shook his head at the idea that his parents were a cause for fear.

“Rella?” When she didn’t respond he stepped closer. “Rella? They’re here. Come on. I promise it will all be fine.”

Stricken eyes looked at him before she cleared her face. It was the same mask he’d seen on her at the ball. Blank, mild, submissive. How he hated that look. Even her body looked different, bowed. She’d been holding herself erect before, confident and beautiful. Now she looked like a beaten rag. Anger rose swiftly. What was the purpose in teaching anyone to act this way?