She keeps saying that,dreamscape.Neve’s said almost nothing about what she experienced for the last century, but surely she has something to share from all those years asleep. At one point, she had to become aware that she was unconscious. Did she ever have any idea that her mother visited her, somehow increasing her spell?
“The dreamscape is gone,” I tell her confidently. It doesn’t matter what it was. If it’s part of the spell, it’s over with. “Just like your frozen sleep. The curse no longer has a grip on you. If you allow yourself to sleep, you’ll think more clearly. Itwill be useful if you plan to speak to the people and unravel the damage your mother has done.”
“It’s just a speech, Ban,” she replies, her voice soft. “I’m not going to undermine my mother’s reign. But that time is over, and we’re moving into a better tomorrow.”
There’s no confidence in her voice, and she stifles a yawn next. I watch her carefully before responding, “I could scare you awake again if it helps. You can shoot icicles at me. It might calm your nerves.”
She snorts, and for once, there’s no bitterness or anger in her voice. I’m betting on exhaustion, but she looks more vulnerable than normal right now. “I can’t relax. It’s a futile hope. If I can’t sleep, my time is better spent planning. I have to give up an entire evening for the ball the day after tomorrow.”
“My queen, if not being able to relax is what ails you, I can more than help with that.”
Neve gives me a curious look, shifting until she presses her hands to my chest. I shoulddefinitelystop where I am, because the little queen is a temptation I can’t afford to taste. But then she drops her lashes a little, tilting her head to one side. Her palms are fire against my chest, the coolness of her touch more of a burn than anything I can recall experiencing before. “Can you?”
Smirking, I nod to the bed. “If you sleep, I’ll make sure your dreams are ones you want to remember.”
She hesitates, and there’s definitely an edge to her as she backs away. A few minutes ago, she tried to impale me, yet now we’re swimming in dangerous water. “Cross the wrong line, mage, and I’ll sever your dick with the next icicle I throw.”
I chuckle, pivoting to follow her to the bed. She sits with narrowed eyes, those familiar walls going back up.
Her lack of sleep is giving her dangerous ideas. If she had some proper rest, I think she would already try to fulfill that icicle threat.
“Don’t make me regret this,” she demands as I step closer to her. “I mean it, Ban.”
Reaching out, I take a piece of her dark hair and twist it gently between my fingers. It’s incredibly soft and unkempt, just like the Queen. “No regrets, Neve. You can go back to hating me in the morning.”
I push her back just enough to send her body rocking, and she sinks into the mattress. I’m not entirely sure what Neve has in mind, but my plans don’t include fucking my frustrations out of her.
Not yet, anyway.
After dropping to the floor in front of her, I reach beneath the nightgown and slide my hands up her thighs. She shivers; that delirium from lack of sleep is working in my favor. At least while she’s questioning her morals, I can help the Queen relax without her trying to literally stab me in the back.
Although I suppose that’s still a possibility.
“Ban,” she whimpers, squirming. She sits up, propping her elbows on the sheets, and my fingers find her underwear beneath the silky fabric. “I’m not–”
“Shh,” I interrupt, shooting her a look. “For the next few minutes, let's pretend we’re lovers instead of enemies.”
Her eyes harden a little at that, the defiance I love about her returning. But I use my magic to freeze, then tear through her underwear, shredding one side without even needing to remove them.
“Ban!”she hisses, eyes going wide. I push the nightgown up, dragging one of my fingers across her opening before my eyes even land on her pretty pussy.
She’s wet, not soaking as I’d prefer, but wet and responsive enough for me to know she’s definitely not going to try and kill me right now. A sweet little gasp slips from her lips as I tease my finger along her slit, dragging my eyes up again. She’s biting her lip, chest rising and falling rapidly.
“Go on,” I coax, smirking once more before I lean in closer. She’s wound so tightly, I don’t think this is going to take as long as I thought. It’s not like I’ve seen Neve go for any self-care since she woke up. “Scream again, and this time, you’ll do it because you like it.”
After shoving her legs wider, I dive in and let my tongue play over her clit. Her legs squeeze around my head as I keep playing with her pussy lips, using two fingers to spread her open for me.
“B-Ban–”
She must have simply given into the sensation, because her body falls back with a silent scream as I begin to fuck her with my tongue. I never dreamed that she was going to let me get this close when I arrived earlier, but I’m not foolish enough to let the opportunity pass me by. She may never let me this close again.
Neve whimpers as I use my other hand to tease her clit, sliding one digit inside her to match the pace of my tongue. She bucks against my face, her legs squeezing tight as she pants. I guess after a century of no sex, her body craves the release. Her pussy grips my finger, and I fuck her at a leisurely pace, teasing her with my tongue.
The sound of her restrained cries is something I imprint to memory. She rocks against my lips, silently begging for more that I’m not going to give. Instead, I slide a second finger into her without warning, listening to her sudden, louder moan.
I don’t have to command her to come. Her legs tighten to the point I’d happily let her crush me, her contained gasps filling the room.
“Ban!”
