“What about kicking or slapping me? Will you do that again?”
“Of course not,” I rasp. “I promise I’ll never hurt you again.” That’s a lie. I already want to gouge his onyx eyes out, but I keep that thought to myself.
“You’re so pretty when you’re submissive.” His breath is hot against my hair as he kisses it softly. “What about my deal with your fiancé? Are you going to marry me if he refuses my trade? Speak the truth.”
My stomach flips. “Y-yes?” I can’t help it. The lie is obvious.
“Oh, Dahlia.” He shakes his head.
“I will marry you!” I blurt. “I promise I will! I swear on my mother’s life!” My mother is dead, but he doesn’t know that.
It’s not enough, though. Sighing, he disappears behind me again. To my surprise, he doesn’t reach for the whip. Instead, he drops my skirt, walks in front of me and unbinds my wrists.
Relief washes over me. I massage my wrists. They ache, but I can barely feel it compared to the throb of my backside. I doubt I’ll be able to sit down for a week.
Inches from my chest, Tauren folds his arms. “Look at me.”
Slowly, I lift my chin.
“I could compel you to take off your gown.” His jaw is tight. “I could use my magic to make you rub your needy clit raw while I fuck you like a horse against the walls of this stall.” My cheeksflush darker than wine. “But I will not because I am the lord of this court and not some wild beast who takes pleasure in fucking naive women against their will.”
I swallow, not daring to reply.
“But I need you to remember this, sweet princess, the next time you consider disobeying me,” his deep voice curls around me, “because next time, I may not feel this bizarre urge to be kind to you.” His gaze drops to my chest, then my hips, his eyes so dark that I shiver. “And perhaps I’d quite like to fuck you against the wall.”
My lips part. I’d run, but I know he’ll just catch me again. An awful thrill of excitement shoots through me at the thought.
Nodding, I speak in a broken whisper. “I’m sorry. I won’t do it again. Can we just go back to the castle?”
As if a spell has just broken, the hunger vanishes from his eyes, and he steps back, straightening. “Can you walk, or do I need to carry you?”
“I can walk,” I mutter.
He nods, but I barely make it three painful steps before my feet are swept out from beneath me. I don’t complain as he carries me in bridal-style out of the stables.
Tucked against his chest, it’s hard to keep my eyes open. The golden light of dawn caressing his sharp cheekbones is the last thing I see before I’m lulled into dreams of soft rope, hay-covered floors, and warm hands sliding towards my hips.
12
TAUREN
I’ve gone mad. That’s the only explanation for why I’m stood at the end of my bed, watching Dahlia sleep, with a small, blanket-covered creature wriggling in my arms.
Last night, I was too harsh on her.
Originally, I’d intended to tie her up in the horse stall and leave her for a while. The threat about the stablehands was a lie. I’d never let anyone else touch her in that helpless position. Until Elheart decides to play nicely, Dahlia belongs to me, and I never liked to share my toys.
But it was when I noticed the shy flush on her cheeks and the way her nipples had pebbled that I decided I couldn’t just leave her there. After all, she did kick me. She had to be punished. But I wasn’t expecting her to be naked beneath her gown. Nor was I expecting her to come as hard as she did after I finished using the whip.
The noises she’d made…
And the way her soft thighs had quivered…
Fuck.
It was all I could dream about. That, and how broken she looked before we left the stable. I realised then that I had pushed her too far, and the guilt has been eating me up inside since.
After a few hours of tossing and turning, I left her asleep in my bed, pulled on a casual white shirt, dark breeches, and a pair of leather boots, and slipped out of my chambers.
