by Alice Wade
Hearing those words were like a key in her lock and she felt her body release whatever energy was building. She gripped his shaft in a tight hold that had Ryan screaming in utter pleasure as she came hard, bathing him in her fluid.
“Tillian,” he cried her name. In the very next heartbeat, he felt his own burning fire as he released into her body in wave upon wave of ecstasy. Ryan gently bit down on her shoulder to keep from releasing the explosion of fire that licked at his mind to be set free. It hummed in his skull and pulsated through his body turning his flesh hot. The hearth erupted again sending embers onto the stone floor when he finally channeled the energy there, unloading it completely. Large flames shot forth bathing them both in an intense orange light. It was the most powerful orgasm he recalled ever having and he felt his legs cramp down to his toes as his body released more and more into her.
Both wheezed from their efforts and were covered in a good amount of sweat—drenched was a better word for the room was absolutely scorching hot. Tillian’s face was flushed with her violent release as well as Ryan’s. Those little sparks in his eyes continued to flicker and then fade. He shook from the effects of that release and could still feel her inner walls fluttering with tiny aftershocks. It was too much and he gently pulled from her depths with regret and looked into her flushed face.
“You are amazing, Tillian. Perfect in every way, and absolutely pure in my eyes. That was the most wonderful experience.” Ryan snuggled up to her on the bed and cradled her to his chest, where he traced little magic sigils of protection along her back. He wanted this woman kept safe and away from any harm, because he wanted her for the rest of his life.
“Did you enjoy that?” he tenderly asked as he pulled her tightly to his body and buried his face in her hair inhaling deeply. He could become addicted to her, especially when she smelled like his home. He hoped she would use that honey scent so traditional in Yorath forever. It marked her as his and he liked it.
“Yes,” but she hesitated.
Hearing concern in her voice, he shifted in order to look at her.
“It’s not what you think. I’m just trying to reconcile my feelings at the moment. That felt amazing and I very much enjoyed it.”
“What are you reconciling then?” he asked softly, concerned by her response.
“I don’t deserve this. I don’t deserve you. I know what you said earlier, but in the end I’m still what my Father made me to be, a whore. I don’t deserve your love or this tender union.” After she finished speaking, heaving sobs suddenly stole her ability to say anything else.
He kissed her softly and touched her face with his hand. “Yes, you do. Do I need to show you again?”
Between her sniffles, she laughed. “Yes, I think you do.”
For the rest of the evening, Ryan showed Tillian what if felt like to be loved, really loved. By the third time, both were exhausted and he was rather pleased he’d been able to perform that long in order to prove it to her that she deserved this. It wasn’t until much later when he finally got her to admit it without guilt. They were sprawled on his massive bed with the bed sheets strewn all around while their bodies recovered.
Ryan was only able to roll his head in her direction and caught her watching him closely. “I’ll be honored if you would let me do that to you every day for the rest of your life,” he said and watched the smile that brightened her face in reply.
“It would be my pleasure to allow you that honor,” Tillian replied with just a hint of tease thrown in.
“Do you still feel any guilt at sharing this with me?” he tentatively asked.
Her eyes shone bright giving him his answer. “No, not one bit.”
That was all he needed to hear.
She interrupted his private celebration when her stomach rumbled loudly. “I’m starting to wonder if you’ve forgotten about that second dinner you said you’d have brought up. I’m starting to regret I didn’t eat earlier. Maybe you should start your payment for my stay, kind Sir.”
His brows lifted in question then a loud laugh burst forth. “You want me to cook for you now?”
“You said you could do more than breakfast did you not? I think it only fair since you just burned up all my energy.” Her words were teasing and light.
“I’m not cooking for you now. I need to save my energy for later. Let me just have food brought up.” With that he rang a bell and at the same time, he grabbed a sheet and tossed it over both of them just as his servant entered.
Kincaid walked in and skidded to a halt when he first scented the air. His face burned red when he realized what he just walked in to. Not knowing what to expect, he proceeded slowly and with caution.
“Ah Kincaid, excellent. Will you have the cook make us a light snack?” Ryan asked as if lying in a bed naked with a completely ravaged woman snuggled on his chest was an everyday occurrence.
“Of course, Sir.” Kincaid stared in shock until he remembered himself. “R-r-ight away.” He bolted from the room quickly without being disrespectful.
When they heard the door slam closed, Ryan chuckled. “I think we scared my servant. Let’s hope it didn’t scar him too badly,” Ryan said in an amused tone. “I don’t ever entertain women and this most likely was a scene he will wish he never saw!” Ryan snickered now at his own joke, and Tillian couldn’t help but join in.
“I’m glad you decided to stay with me,” he whispered.
“You make it really hard to want to leave, Ryan,” Tillian said against his chest. After the second time they’d made love, she realized she’d do anything for Ryan and that he’d officially and irrevocably stolen her heart. There wasn’t anything he could do that would scare her. She had another thing coming, because she had no clue about his intentions.
* * * *
Tillian tossed her head to the side, fighting wakefulness. She wanted to sleep longer and snuggle with Ryan before she forced herself to face her day. When she reached over to his side of the bed she found it cold, which forced her eyes open instantly.
Due to the thick velvet curtains half covering the large windows, the room remained dark. Even in the dim light she could see he wasn’t here and Tillian couldn’t help the disappointment she felt. That was, until the door burst open and Ryan emerged carrying a large tray of food.
“Ah, I see you’re finally awake. Excellent timing, for your first payment is served.” He positively glowed with excitement.
Tillian rubbed her eyes and scooted closer to the end of the bed to get a look at what he had piled on the tray and squealed in delight. He had made crepes, which were her favorite. “How did you know?”
“I didn’t. Gretta suggested it because it is a staple in Folkyn and so I made it. I have fresh fruit from the orchard and a little chocolate that just arrived last week. Come, enjoy your payment, love.”
Ryan set the tray down and pulled out a chair. She approached wrapped in a sheet and sat down while he built a few different types of crepes for her and rolled them into little tubes drizzled with a sweet cream sauce. They looked fabulous and she just couldn’t believe he’d cooked them himself. “You really made this? You’re not trying to fool me, right?”
“Absolutely not, I made them from scratch.” He sat and filled a plate for himself. “When I was young, my mother used to punish me by making me sit in the hot kitchens while I ‘thought about what I did,’ but little did she know that I didn’t see it as punishment. Over time, I paid attention and charmed the cooks to let me help. My mother never knew until one day she walked in while I was covered in flour and kneading bread for the evening meal.”
Tillian laughed between bites of food. “I can only imagine she was angry at being thwarted. How old were you?”
“Ten. That was before I was sent to Lysban to study at the Mage Order’s University until I was twenty. Even there, I continued to find my way into the kitchens to learn all that I could.”
That earned another laugh. “This is quite good, Ryan. Thank you.”
“You’re w
elcome. Now, are you through?” he asked, taking the empty plate from her hand.
“Do I have a choice?”
“No.”
Ryan had her back in bed for a morning round of love making now their bodies were rested and fed. Satisfied she was properly ravaged again, Ryan allowed them both to take a light nap, because he was in no hurry to leave this room.
Hours later, Tillian woke satisfied and happy. To her right slept Ryan, who at the moment stretched out with one arm wrapped around her shoulders and the other tucked under his head while he held her pinned tightly to his chest. The sheets were loosely gathered around his left leg, exposing his right so she could admire his physique.
Years of training had honed his body into a lean-shaped vessel, with each muscle chiseled into his large frame. Her sight danced over each curve trailing up higher until she felt a flash of arousal for what she saw at the apex of his thigh. She gently pulled the sheet and it slid off his very hard erection that pulsed with the beat of his heart. Tillian checked quickly but saw his gorgeous face was relaxed in slumber, so he wasn’t awake yet.
She detangled herself from his embrace and watched when he adjusted to missing warmth. A slight frown curved his lips before he sighed into his slumber. Never before had she seen such a handsome man and never in her wildest dreams did she envision she’d be naked in bed with him. She now sat beside him and tentatively caressed his erection, curious to have her own fun. She’d not yet explored his body and was surprised at how satin soft the skin was. It amazed her that this gave her so much pleasure and decided she’d return the favor.
Tillian eyed his body again and swallowed, not sure she had the courage to do this willingly. Then she remembered she wanted to do this for Ryan and all hesitation evaporated like smoke. For Ryan she would do just about anything.
His body responded immediately to her hand and she could feel his pulse beating strong. She stroked a few times and paused when Ryan shifted in response. It was now or never. If she didn’t do this, she never would. Tillian took a deep breath and leaned down to accept his shaft into her mouth and gently sucked. She realized it didn’t taste as awful as she’d remembered from her assailants, so sucked harder reveling in the enjoyment of it.
She opened her mouth wider to envelop more and experimented by running her tongue over the soft skin while he slid in and out until she had worked a good portion deep within her throat. She lost herself in the feeling, again comparing it to her other experiences, and found this much more enjoyable. Having control over this made the difference and having the desire to please someone made it worthwhile.
Her mind rattled off the difference while she continued. First, Ryan tasted divine unlike Harri who always seemed to need a bath. Next, he was soft in her mouth, sliding effortlessly in and out; Harri always was rough. Lastly, he fit perfectly, unlike the others who seemed to be content with choking her until she gagged.
Opening her eyes she chanced a look to see if he had woken and met his searing brown eyes that watched her with an intense desire and a little confusion. Those little flickers of light were back in his irises while he watched her lavish his body with her mouth. She abruptly released him and smiled meekly while she wiped her mouth. “Sorry.”
“Don’t stop. That felt incredible,” he said with a voice scratchy with desire.
“Really?” Tillian proudly grinned.
“Really.”
Seductively, she leaned down for more and captured his shaft within her mouth again. She began sensually moving up and down, while releasing little moans of pleasure that only vibrated against his skin.
Ryan growled. He could barely resist grabbing her hair with his hands and tried not to shove her head farther, deeper, faster because she was doing a fine job on her own. He knew she needed this moment to show him how she felt, so didn’t take over in any way. If she didn’t stop soon, though, he would explode in her mouth and he wasn’t sure how she felt about that.
He groaned out between heavy breaths letting her know he was close. It only encouraged her to increase her pace. Tillian experienced a new frenzy and found his tip and sucked hard, thus tilting him over the crevice and into an earth shattering orgasm. Ryan growled out her name releasing into her mouth and was shocked when she didn’t resist the offering.
When she finally sat up with a very pleased expression on her face, he sighed. “That was an incredible way to wake up.” He looked relaxed and quite satisfied at the moment with his hair ruffled and his eyes still glowing.
“Hope you had a good rest?” Tillian was pulled into his embrace and kissed thoroughly until she was breathless. When he released her it was only long enough for him to roll her onto her back with his imposing body poised over her. She felt him start to recover already and smiled.
“Yes, I did. I have to say I’m finding being awake much more enjoyable, Tillie,” he answered, using a nick name he’d begun using sometime in the night. He pumped his pelvis into her leg in small thrusts.
Ryan’s lips found hers for another gentle but passionate kiss while his hand roamed over her stomach to slide between her legs. His expert fingers located what he sought and sent shock waves through her core as he flicked it a few times before traveling down to return the favor.
He loved her to death for she was his match sexually and she’d drained him repeatedly over the past day. He’d never been able to perform like this before and that made him stop for second…Maybe that was because he never was meant to for anyone other than Tillian.
When he heard her sigh Ryan released her and began to roll away.
“Ryan—” she started to say, only to be shushed when his mouth found hers after he’d rolled back onto her body to capture her lips. When he finally released her, she said quietly, “I love you, too.” She was rewarded with a bright smile and another deep kiss which he controlled by slanting his face so he could plunder her mouth deeper.
She pushed him away though, because air was very important at the moment since she was still winded from their love making. “So, what’s next?” she asked once the two were settled again in each other’s embrace, relaxing as the euphoria of the experienced faded.
“We get married. The sooner the better, I think.” Ryan wasn’t looking down at her but felt every muscle in her body flinch.
“W-wh-what did you say?” Tillian couldn’t believe she heard that right. She thought he said they should get married. That couldn’t be right, though. How could he ever think to marry her after she’d been so used? She wasn’t fit to be a Queen and surely not fit for Ryan.
“We get married.” He pulled back to see her better and laughed at her confused expression. “Unless you don’t want me?” he added in feigned hurt.
“Are you crazy?” She flew out of his arms and stood gazing down at him with a look of bewilderment. “What are you thinking with a statement like that?” she nearly yelled after her anger kicked in. There was a flash through her mind that made her falter, because was it anger or fear?
“I’m not crazy and yes, I meant what I said. I want to marry you, Tillian.”
Her arms flew up in frustration just before she stormed around the room in her glorious state of nudity and muttering under her breath. He couldn’t mean this. It was absurd. She wasn’t fit to be a Queen in Yorath any more than she was in Folkyn. Her Father saw to that. Now Ryan tempted her with this and what, he just thought she’d say yes? There were so many implications to this statement, but those were overshadowed by hurt. How could he do this to her? How could he make this unrealistic offer and not have her be torn apart when it wasn’t allowed to transpire?
When she finally stood before the bed once more, she met Ryan’s amused face. He tried and failed to hide the smirk.
“Stop smirking,” she snapped. “This is not funny.” Tillian took two more steps then spun around again but that only made him laugh harder. “You do realize this would start a war, don’t you? You’ve not asked formally for my hand in marriage, and my Father will take of
fense. Ryan, you can’t do that to Yorath.”
“Why don’t you let me make decisions impacting Yorath and come back over here?” When Tillian stalked towards him, he continued, “What you don’t seem to understand is that I can’t give you back and can’t stop them if we are unmarried, love.” His earlier humor vanished and to be replaced with a seriousness that chilled her blood.
“I can’t lose you, Tillie,” he said, using that nickname from before. “More importantly, I won’t lose you.” Ryan sat up and rubbed his face, then leveled her with a look filled with rolling rage that she took a step back.
“I also could care less what your ‘Father’ thinks in this situation. He has shown no care for your feelings up to now, so why should I care for his?” The fierceness of his statement made her want to cringe but she didn’t. No one had ever been willing to fight for her before. Even though it warmed the core of her soul, she would still not let him start a war over her. She was most definitely not worth that.
“You will have to let me go.” When he began to react, she stalled him by holding up one shaking hand. “Listen. Send a note to my Father letting him know you’ve found me unharmed. Make your proposal and then wait. That gives us at least a month before they arrive to take me home. They will need to take me, Ryan.” Tillian could see the reservation and objection boiling in his eyes. “You know as well as I do, I have to return to Folkyn.”
“No,” he hissed with wrath.
“Ryan, I’m not worth a war. He will push it, too. I know my Father.” She was starting to panic that he’d go through with this.
“Do you want to marry me, Tillian?” he asked with pinched brows, afraid she’d say no.
“Of course,” she replied. “But it—” His voice cut her off in one word of finality.
“Done.” Ryan rose naked from the bed and strode towards the front door. Tillian watched his bare tight butt move around the corner when his final words sank in.
“No!” Tillian felt a moment of dread and she tore off after him. He talked with Kincaid through the cracked door but she couldn’t hear what was discussed. She was about to interrupt him when he shut the door and Ryan slowly turned around with an idiot grin on his handsome face.