Page 34 of Kronos’ Consort

He’d never fallen in love with any of them.

“Thank you, Master,” she said again. “I know you intend for me to stay here with you.”

“I do,” he purred, and as the words escaped his lips, there was absolutely no doubt in his mind. They would be together. “I will help you to thrive, Kristina.”

“About that.” Her fingers stiffened at his nape, and the glint of unease in her eyes convinced him that whatever she said next was the crux of her message.

“Hmmm.”

It was fascinating, watching her wrestle with whatever she wanted to say. He sensed the acceleration of her heartbeat, and the way she writhed over him, antagonizing his throbbing need.

“I have a suggestion about how I can stay satisfied, Master.” She caught his gaze. “But I don’t want to speak out of turn and risk another spanking.”

The small smile that lit her face went some way to smoothing the frown that had settled there.

“Understandable.” He chuckled. “I’m not sure your wonderful ass can take much more for a while.”

“Right.”

“Tell me your suggestion.” He decided to put her out of her misery.

Clearly, his little one held a lot of trepidation about articulating her needs, and he wanted to ease that for her. Apprehension, in the right context, helped him. Her nervous energy could bring her into line, just as her excitement could elevate, but as she panted over him, her anxiety appeared to be blocking her.

“Though, I would add, that I am prepared to keep you gratified, young lady.” He smirked. “So, I don’t think your satisfaction will be a problem.”

“I’m talking about a different type of satisfaction, Master.” Her blue eyes sparkled as she elaborated. “I know how good you are, but I also think you know that my brain needs as much stimulation as my clitoris.”

“Indeed, I do.” So, that was what was on her mind. His lips tugged into a half smile. Honestly, he should have guessed. “And you have an idea about how to keep both parts of my woman happy?”

My woman.

His cock pulsed at the declaration, but neither of them moved to deny the point. She was his, just as the room around them belonged to him. For the first time in eons, he was ready to care for someone else as well as he had looked after himself over the years.

“Yes.” Her voice was breathy. “You know I love my science.”

“And you miss your studies,” he clarified, spellbound by the look of her. Wide-eyed and eager, the talk of her post-graduate degree had revived a part of her that it seemed even he hadn’t been able to bring back to life.

“Sometimes, yes,” she nodded. “And I worry that the void my studies leaves will only grow as time goes on, Master.”

Considering that for a moment, he tried to envision what her life would look like at his side. She would be well catered for. He’d ensure that her sexual needs were met and her obedience was top-notch, but the nagging sense in the pit of his stomach conveyed that she might have a point. A woman with intelligence like Kristina’s required more than only the occasional logic puzzle to keep her gray matter sharp. She would need active participation in a project to quench her thirst for knowledge, and he was going to have to provide that.

“Tell me what you need,” he urged her, impatient to get to the point. He could understand her reticence, but her protraction was becoming painful.

Her eyes fluttered closed, as though the sight of him was making her uncomfortable. He tensed at the inference, trying not to take it personally. “I need to research, Master.”

“You want to carry on researching from here?” Kronos had never even contemplated the concept. His realm was about his preferences and pleasure. It wasn’t a science lab.

“Yes.” Her captivating gaze was back on him again then, her eyes burning with need, and in them, he saw a hint of the answer she sought; a life where she could study and stay by his side. “When you say it’s allowed, obviously, and not when you require me for some other task, but, yes, I’d really like that, Master.”

She smiled, revealing an adorable dimple on the side of her left cheek. Kronos stared at the depression in her otherwise flawless skin, wondering whether he’d ever noticed it before. Or, he considered, perhaps he just hadn’t given her enough reasons to smile for it to have registered before.

Regret ricocheted at the sullen premise. Her time with him to date had either revolved around fear, desire, or anger. In hindsight, he realized, there hadn’t been much time for laughter and small talk. Stroking her shoulder, he resolved that had to change. He must do better. It wasn’t only her physical well-being that he was in charge of. For the woman who’d captured him to be truly fulfilled, he needed to consider her mental health, as well.

In that moment, the matter was decided. She needed a purpose beyond only conformity to his rules and service to his cock. Whatever she wanted to research, he would consider her entreaty. She merited that much.

“What would you research?” he asked aloud, his gaze flitting around the walls of his parlor. “We both know what happened to you the last time you left my realm, so that’s not going to be an option, little one.”

“I know.” She nodded. “And I’d still like for you to tell me why that is sometime, please. How can it be that there’s no oxygen out there?”