by Nicole Fox
Keir’s roaring laughter stopped animals as they completed their daily tasks. Her soft nature eased his doubts and made him forget about everything in his life except her, maintaining balance in Oceanus, and negotiating a fragile peace among the gods. Tatum was the only person on Oceanus to be brutally honest with Keir about his behaviors towards others or questioned his actions. Her sassy remarks had brightened his life over the last few days.
“Would you like to train my warriors, Tatum?” Her dark head shook. “No, I like to create beautiful items; I wouldn’t make a good killer.”
Keir’s eyes roamed over her lithe figure crouched on a large boulder, a dark green cloak draped around her for warmth from the cool morning air. Her heavy dark hair was wrapped around her ears. A bright smiled rested on her face as mischief danced in her eyes.
“Nothing to say, milord?”
Keir leaned against an aging tree. “Why are you out here so early in the morning?”
Tatum shot Keir a puzzling look. “I need to relax. Your fauna and flora are rare and beautiful. It’s a glorious chilly morning. Why not?”
“So, Silke does not provide enough work for you,” Keir inquired. “I thought your services belonged exclusively to my sister.”
Tatum twisted her mouth in annoyance as she shot Keir a hard look. “My wages with Silke are fair. Yet, my grandparent’s tributes are quite high to your father. I sell artwork to help my village.”
“Tributes to my Father? No, they were outlawed unless they are fair.
Incredulous, Tatum shook her head at Keir, “Do you not question Murale? What about your little toady, Langston? Surely, he can tell you about people starving. Your father’s actions cause theft, mayhem, and pain. Or perhaps, you have done your job quite well.” Keir flushed in shame. He hadn’t reviewed Azael’s laws during his twenty years as Dark Lord. Purposefully, he chose not to speak with his father unless he was required by Murale’s decree.
“I have been bu- “
“You have been cold and aloof, not listening to the people- “
“I never seek them out,” Keir injected.
“Yes, they come to you. Yet, the innocents suffer after they seek you out,” Tatum continued. “That’s guidance for you.”
Keir’s strong jaw clenched as he reflected over her honest words. “Tatum, life isn’t that simple.”
“Yes, it is.”
Keir wiped his weary eyes. He spent hours agonizing over Ruby’s plight. Tossing in his sheets, wondering about keeping a lie for his friend. Worrying that Tatum would fail. He didn’t want to spend the rest of eternity angering his father. He wanted him to acknowledge that he had made a mistake. Maybe, he would be a better Dark Lord. Perhaps, he should have seduced Silke’s maidens over the years. His fingers longed to untwine Tatum’s dark hair and twist it around his fingers. Just once to hear her voice full of desire for him. Oceanus was a world in crisis. Yet, he followed Tatum deep into his gardens to chitchat about tributes and temptation. He wanted to grab her and run his hand along her silken thighs, tempting her to yield to their desires.
“Hello, Keir.” Tatum shot him a strange look. “Where are you lost in those thoughts?”
Keir nodded sadly. “You’re right. I spend too much time arguing with my father. I enjoy teasing my sister too much. I don’t consider what happens after I extend a bargain to a human. Perhaps that’s why I need a wife to soften my rough edges. Yet, she must understand humans will make poor choices, and they cannot be prevented. Instead, she could help me make wiser choices. I think nothing of my people. I don’t know their needs.”
Regret churned in Tatum; she knew nothing of ruling over massive groups of people. Or listening to people beg for help. She was tired of being vulnerable to everyone’s needs. Her own father abandoned her. Her virginity was used to guarantee her entrance to Silke’s temple.
“I spoke too much, Milord- “
“Keir, call me Keir.”
“Keir, I know nothing of running the world. I’m a simple girl with a stubborn streak.”
“I never noticed the stubborn streak.”
“Hush, your mouth.”
“You like my voice.”
“Stop flirting. You get the girl.”
“Maybe, I want the girl to want me because she does. Not because she has too.”
“What if this is a trick? You’re just seducing me.”
“You’ll never know until you trust yourself with me, let down your guard, and give me a chance. I’ve been talking. Tonight, it’s your turn. On our picnic, it’s your turn to talk. I wasn’t attempting to seduce you. Old-fashioned friendliness.”
“Picnic?”
“You’re a nature girl. You and me on a picnic, with birds chirping, flowers growing, bees buzzing.”
“I think I preferred your ridiculous lines from the first day in the Temple.”
“See, you love cocky.”
“Don’t get ahead of yourself.”
“I’m always head of myself.”
Tatum climbed off her rock and gathered her materials. She slung her canvas bag over her shoulder. Carefully, she trudged to Keir. “Walk with me; I need to change for our picnic.” She offered her hand to her King. A wry grin formed on his handsome face.
“On one condition.” Carefully, he removed her heavy bag from her shoulder. Tatum watched Keir slip it across his back. Keir took her hand and tucked it in the crook of his arm. They walked silently as they approached the Temple’s courtyard.
Tatum’s browed crinkled and her ears perked when something rattled near a thicket of brush. Moving closer to Keir, she patted his arm.
“Did you hear that?”
“It’s just a bunch of squirrels, Tatum.”
Keir increased his pace as he steered her towards his temple. Looking over her shoulders, Tatum spotted long thick furry legs reaching out from under a bush. She froze to a spot of grass when an enormous black widow spider crawled out of a shaking brush, its red mark twinkling in a bright ray of sunlight. It rose to its feet slowly, stopping to shaking its black head. It was larger than a hippo in Luna’s lands.
“Keir… Keir…,” she stammered. “Run.”
Turning his head, Keir smiled at an approaching oversized arachnid. Tatum gawked in amazement when it started running towards Keir as he approached that thing with open arms. It dropped to the ground and rolled on its back. Lovingly, Keir scratched a furry belly as his spider wriggled on the ground and made gruff noises.
“Tatum, come meet Baby.”
“Baby? That’s a baby?”
“No, I found her when I was five. She’s my pet spider,” he replied innocently. “Come meet her.”
“The spider?”
“Yes.”
Langston climbed out of a bush. “I’m sorry, milord. We went on a walk, and she heard your voice, and she broke away. I’ve chased her, but I’m an old man.”
“That’s okay; I don’t think Tatum is ready to meet her. Another time.”
Keir gave Baby one last scratch before he jogged away to grab Tatum’s hand. Frozen, Tatum watched Baby hop to her feet and follow slowly after Langston.
“Come Tatum, you need to change before our lunch.”
“You have a pet Black Widow, a huge spider.”
“She won’t hurt you.”
“I’m afraid of spiders.”
“You’re afraid of the Dark Lord, but you faced him.”
“If you say so.”
They walked quietly until they reached the edges of Keir’s gardens. His temple bustled with activity. Keir smiled and greeted his acolytes. He noticed the poor conditions of the houses. Roofs missing shingles, rotting porches and floor posts, plastic covering broken windows were found on most of the homes. Keir noticed that his monks smiled and spoke with affection towards Tatum. They stared at him in a strange combination of fear and respect. His monks shielded their eyes from his gaze.
His residents appeared frail and skinny from lack of food. They needed new clothes. He cl
osed his eyes to gather his thoughts. He needed to refocus his thoughts for a while. Changes were necessary in his domain. Servants rushed to open his gold trimmed doors as they stepped inside of his temple. A pang of disgust hit Keir when he noticed the opulence of his room. His boots clicked on fine marble. Tatum sensed something fighting inside of him as he held her close to him.
“This is the staircase to my chamber, milord.”
“I can’t walk you to your chamber.”
“No.”
“You prefer another.”
“What other? This is your silly contest. I like order.”
Keir flushed in regret. He grabbed her hand as she spun away from him. His lips brushed her cold fingers. “Forgive me, I have a possessive nature,” he murmured.
“You need to work on that,” she replied dryly. “Good day, Lord Keir.”
“You still said my name. Now, just stop saying Lord.”
Keir watched her climb a few steps of the spirally wood staircases as she disappeared from his sight. He dropped her bag on the steps gently. He wouldn’t do anything to damage the contents. It meant everything for a change.
“Until this afternoon, Tatum,” Keir called.
Her head swung over the rail to meet his handsome face. “We had our chat, Keir.”
“The rule is a test each day. That was merely chatting. Be careful, you’re mortal. The fall would kill you. We will dine at two. Don’t be late.”
Tatum smiled. “Of course, Keir.”
Keir waited until he heard Tatum bolted her door. His feet carried him quickly to his great room of books in search of Langston’s private room. His annoyed voice commanded a guard to retrieve Langston from the temple’s treasury. Keir wanted hard cold facts about his Temple. Changes were going to be made quickly. He could no longer wait for his father to make changes. His people needed him. Tatum opened his eyes to their harsh living conditions. She opened his mind to so much more about life on Oceanus. His eyes scanned Langston’s room; he found nothing but opened books, quills, and maps.
“Right, he’s returning Baby to her home.”
~~~
Bolting the door behind her, Tatum leaned against the cold stone as a brilliant smile appeared on her face. She was pleasantly surprised that Keir was funny, smart, and witty. He had a conscience, even though he was still a cocky piece of work. Her thoughts were broken when a robin fluttered its wings against her window. Tatum stared at it briefly until it squeaked, hovered, and banged loudly. Walking over to the window, Tatum noticed a ruby ring around the bird’s claw. Shaking her head, the robin rushed into her room and landed on the floor. Tatum watched as Ruby transformed back into her human form.
“I could have been eaten by hawk waiting for you.”
“You’re smaller; you would have gotten away. Why be sharp on such a glorious morning?”
Ruby’s eye widened; she knew that look. Tatum glowed with that special feeling. She couldn’t believe that sensible, wise, and calm Tatum had begun to fall for Keir’s lines.
Perhaps, I should warn her that nothing is true about them. They just say things. No, maybe Keir truly loves her. No, I won’t ruin her happiness. They can ruin it themselves.”
“Why don’t you take a bath, and I’ll help select a dress for you.”
“That would be great.”
~~~
Tatum kissed his jaw as her nails dug into his shoulders. Keir between her legs, his tongue traced her lips. Her hands pushed down his wet pants. His breath felt hot on her neck, his hand grabbed her hair. His mouth sucked, nipped, and kissed her warm neck. Tatum ran her tongue along his collarbone. He gasped when her hands stroked his cock. His fingers lightly brushed his sensitive tip. He moved lower dragging a hard nipple into his hot mouth. Her shoulders lifted as she arched into his mouth, small moans filled the clearing. His fingers replaced his mouth as Keir’s eyes slowly scanned over Tatum’s firm pale body. Tatum lowered her gaze as his eyes blazed like blue fire.
“Don’t be shy,” Keir whimpered as his hands cupped her face. His lips brushed her eyes as his mouth lowered to place soft kisses on the corners of her mouth. His tongue slowly traced her lips. Tatum slightly opened her mouth to allow Keir to slip his tongue deep inside. His tongue tangled with Tatum’s as his hand moved deeper into her hair. His hands roamed over her body, teasing her nipples, cupping her breasts in his hands. Keir’s tongue moved down her neck as Tatum began to move under his hard-muscular body. His penis felt hot, heavy and hard against her thigh. She moaned softly as the heat began to pool between her legs.
Keir grazed her sensitive nipples with his teeth as she let out a sharp gasp. He pulled her nipple into his mouth as she caressed his strong back. Tatum eyes closed as her skin begin to feel hot and tight. Keir released her nipple as the cool afternoon air chilled the wet hard bud. He sucked her other nipple hard as his hands caress her firm thighs.
He pushed her thighs open as his hands moved through her silky black curls. His fingers ran down her moist pussy. Tatum’s legs opened wider as Keir moved lower to stare at her center.
“Have you ever seen a morning rose covered with dew, Tatum? That’s what you are like. You’re so soft and delicate, but you covered in dew, just for me,” he said softly as his tongue ran along her thigh. She tried to move closer to him, but his hands held her firmly in place. His tongue crept closer to her clit as he swirled along her lips. Her breath grew ragged.
Keir ran his tongue down her center as she panted, her thighs quivering. His hands placed her legs over his shoulders as his tongue moved quickly over her sensitive flesh. He sucked her clit into his mouth as she screamed with pleasure. Tatum’s golden hair stuck to her wet brow as a fine sheen began to coat her skin. Pleasure sent darts out through her limbs as her orgasm controlled her body. She dug her heels into his shoulders as she let out a loud scream.
Keir dropped her legs onto the grass as he pushed her quivering body to the center of the blanket. Tatum’s eyelids were shut tightly as she struggled to gain control over her senses. He kneeled in front of her and pulled his tunic over his head. His mouth curved in a smile at the sight of his lover sweaty, aroused, and senseless.
“Tatum, open your eyes.”
Tatum’s eyes fluttered open to stare at Keir’s huge muscular body kneeling in front of her. His hard swollen penis lay in the mist of the dark hair surrounding his groin. His eyes burned blue as he rolled her to her stomach. Pushed her to her knees. “Trust me.” She gasped as his fingers scraped her tight nipples.
“I’ve missed you,” he whispered as his hand directed his cock to her moist center.
He moved slowly inside her. Keir licked Tatum’s damp neck as he thrust deeper inside her. His right hand caressed her buttocks as she felt her muscles stretch to accommodate him.
“You feel like a wet, hot, tight glove around cock,” he groaned as he rhythmically moved deeper inside her. She spread her legs wider and moaned as he plunged deeper inside. He bit her earlobe as he lodged himself deeper inside her pussy. Her low moans filled the clearing as he moved harder, deeper inside her. Her firm breasts heaved as she writhed to try to pull him deeper inside her. He groaned as she clenched her muscles around him. His hands roamed down her slick back to settle on her buttocks. His fingers squeezed her ass as he moved deeply in her. His eyes closed as he set a steady rhythm inside her. She felt the pleasure and heat grow and radiate from her pussy. Her hands clutched the blanket.
“More,” she whispered. “I want more of you.”
Keir continued to move in her as he cupped her breasts. He increased his pace, plunging quicker as she moved back against him. Her mouth opened as she panted beneath him. Tears slid from her eyes as her orgasm overtook her. She felt his large penis thrust deeper, harder, and faster. He stilled, groaning as her coated her womb with his warm seed. His fingers gripped her buttocks.
Keir gently lowered himself on his Tatum as he placed soft kisses a long her neck. He rolled on his back and gathered Tatum into his arms. He cares
sed her damp hair as she snuggled into his hard chest. She listened to his heart slow down as he kissed her fingertips.
“Keir, I love you.”
Tatum bolted upright in her bed. Brushing hair from her eyes, she looked around her room for Ruby. Her hand sought Ruby’s warmth on her bed.
“Ruby, I had a nightmare. I screwed Keir in a meadow.”
“You are kinky,’ Ruby muttered sleepily. “Just say no to any type of physical interaction, and you will win the contest.”
“That dream was amazing, vivid.”
“The dreams are always amazing. Reality is disappointing.”
Chapter Eight
Keir watched Tatum approaching him in the sunny meadow; a dark green silk dress caressed her legs as she moved through high sweet grass. The maids had twisted white flowers in her mahogany hair. His fingers itched to remove the tender blooms, pulling her hair around her slender shoulders as his lips nipped the tender flesh of her neck. His skin felt hot as he thought of the passion that he would show her. He hated to admit that he admired her tenacity in his beloved pet’s cave. She conquered her fear without any missteps. Her wit and feisty personality made him smile.
Suddenly, Keir shook his head in shock. He couldn’t believe what he was thinking. Tatum didn’t have any admirable qualities. He didn’t have any plans to do something foolish like fall in love.
Raising his hand in the air, Keir motioned Tatum to join him on the blanket. He hid a smirk when fire flamed in her eyes; her steps quickened as she folded her arms across her soft breasts.
“Am I a dog?”
“No, they are easy to break, unlike you. You are much too much of a hassle, my dear.”
“Perhaps, you’re just spoiled. Nothing but a huge baby, wanting everyone woman to fall at your feet.”
Keir smiled. “You will melt.”
“Like ice in winter.”
His fingertips seared her chin when he lightly stroked her jaw. Heat traveled from her flesh to every nerve in her body. Tatum felt alive and womanly when he touched her. Her green eyes stared into Keir’s eyes.