It took a concerted effort on his part to diminish his fervor for her.He wanted her, and she needed to know that, but he had vowed many moons before that he would never take a mortal by force.There was no need.By the time he’d finished with her, she would crawl to him and beg for his attention.He just had to compose himself until their story had time to unfold.
Jaw tightening, he forced his thoughts to something less arousing, like his life in Olympia, and of those times he’d have rather forgotten, to put out the flames in his groin.Not that his interest was entirely extinguished, of course.That was impossible when she struggled so magnificently.
Satisfied that his presence wouldn’t overtly traumatize her, he finally called out, unable to conceal his joy at what was to come.
“Ah!”He stepped closer.“There she is.”
She froze like a statue at the sound of his voice, her eyes wide as she searched around the cell for him.Staring down at her, he looked into those beautiful orbs, finally able to discern the hue for himself.A much deeper blue than Shelley’s, Kristina’s irises were like the ocean, profound and in need of far greater exploration.
“Who’s there?”she gasped, and heavens help him, he had to work hard to control his excitement.
Just that one breathy response and she’d already stirred him.Perhaps he’d been rather too spoiled where pleasure was concerned, but then, what was the point of claiming, caring for, and training concubines if he couldn’t benefit from their presence?
Kronos was a deity of structure, rules, and consequences, and sharing them with his women had long fulfilled him.Staring down at Kristina, he sensed her journey would be just as satisfying.
“Where are you?”Desperation resonated in her throaty plea.
“I’m right here, Kristina.”
Unmasking himself from the ether where he’d been hiding, he suppressed a grin at the way she recoiled into the mattress at his sudden appearance.
“Oh my God.”Her breathing accelerated, belying the spell he’d cast over her sleeping body that should have ensured her calm compliance with her new surroundings.Seemingly, that enchantment was less effective now that she was awake and stunned at his presence.He’d need to make sure that situation was rectified.“How did you…”
The blue oceans of her eyes spoke of her disbelief, and he watched her lips part, pushing away the unhelpful ideas of what else he could slide between them.“You just appeared and…”
Enough now.
He sent the thought to her with his mind, witnessing the moment it landed in her brain and insisted her mouth close.He generally disliked using mind control on the humans he chose, preferring his lovers to find solace in their servitude and learn to relish their role.But he would use the tool when necessary, and one of those times was when their stress levels rose to unacceptable highs.
Humans were so much frailer than the gods.It was evident in everything they did, and it meant they suffered with clear limitations.Shock was one thing.It was an understandable response to seeing things their closed-minded societies had taught them not to believe in, but what he sensed in Kristina was something more than only shock.He heard her galloping heart rate and could see her breaths were labored.Those exacerbated symptoms were not good for either of them.
She needed to be as tranquil as possible to hear what he was about to tell her.It was vital that she understood.
“You are upset.”He inched closer, aware of the way her pulse leapt again at his proximity.“Shhh.”
His hand rose over her, instructing her lips to still, and bound by his magic, she had no choice but to obey.
“You have questions, I know.”He slowed his words, gazing down at his prey.“And I shall answer them in time, but first, you must listen.”
A crease appeared in her brow, her eyes following him as he approached.In their wild, cobalt depths, he saw her panicked frustration.She couldn’t speak anymore, and she had no idea why.
“You are wondering why you cannot talk.”Her increasingly anguished expression conveyed her dismayed perplexity at the sudden loss.“And I shall tell you.”
Leaning over her, his shins grazed the side of the bed.“You will be silent because I have decided that, for the time being, you should listen.”
She actually had the temerity to glower in his direction.Knowing what that expression would earn her, he might have chuckled at her insolence had there not been more to convey.
“And you will do well not to look at me that way, little one.”Her disapproval at his tactics was adorable, but if the lip-binding spell hadn’t already made it clear, then Kristina would need to learn who was in charge, and fast.She’d already earned repercussions for the way she’d flagrantly ignored his instruction to return home the night before.He was looking forward to showing her what such willful waywardness would achieve.“I am a forgiving master, but you will find I am always prepared to teach important lessons.”
He resisted the urge to use the word ‘concubine’.He didn’t want to terrify her with that inference so soon, but Kronos was sure she’d soon have a better understanding of why he’d chosen her.
“Hmmm!”Tugging wildly at the lace still keeping her in place, the noise escaped her throat even though her lips were sealed shut.
“Did I not tell you to be silent?”He arched a brow at her, daring the delightful blonde to defy him.
Slowly, sadly, her gaze locked with his as she nodded her head.A solitary tear made its way from her left eye, tracing a line along her cheekbone.
Poor little Kristina.She had so much pluck, yet she didn’t understand who she’d invoked when she’d responded to that flier.
