Page 20 of To Tame An Angel

“You drank your medicine,” her voice was tender and when I opened my eyes, I found her studying me.

There was appreciation in her brown orbs.

“You left me with little to do when you left,” I couldn’t help but snapped. I was still annoyed at her tactics despite enjoying the frustration tinged with the pleasure it produced.

“Little?” she asked, and I found that her coy teasing smile was my favorite of her smiles.

“And what lessons do you have planned for today?” I didn’t want to know, but at the same time, I was desperate to prepare myself for whatever malevolent agenda she’d planned.

She pressed harder into the arc of my foot and a lingering needle of pain shot up, making me wince. To my surprise, she leaned forward and softly kissed the spot she’d abused. Her eyes never left mine as she did this.

No. No. My cock twitched. She smirked, inhaling deeply. There was a flush of embarrassment that rushed through me at her actions. It was becoming too easy for any of her actions to flood me with need. It must surely be some magical malady.

“Don’t be ashamed, Tannor,” she said, kneading her fingers into my feet. “Pain coupled with pleasure can be a most rewarding sensation.”

My breath caught at my throat when she kneaded too hard once more, making a sharp pain spike up my foot. She stood and moved closer to me, sitting by my hip and staring at my open chest. On instinct, I placed my hands on her waist and pulled her in, but she pushed against my chest. We stared at one another, and I realized she had a small mole at her temple, usually covered by her curls. Slowly, she leaned in and pressed her lips to mine.

It was a chaste kiss, but it was the first kiss I’d ever received. Something strange happened to me. Like happiness and pleasure. It wasn’t intense sexual pleasure, but something else. A subtle contentment at being in her arms and feeling her tenderness directed towards me and only me.

We stared at one another. Her eyes took me in, lingering on different areas of my face.

“I’ll let you rest,” she said and made to stand. In a bold gesture, I held on to her arm and pulled her back to me.

“I’ve had enough rest,” I said and hoped it would have her linger longer. Play a different game or at least have some conversation. I couldn’t imagine another ten hours locked here without the ability to walk.

She raised a brow. “Really? Do you truly wish to play, Tannor?”

A shiver of apprehension swam through me. This was a slippery road, given the promises she’d made and the experience she claimed to have.

“What game do you have in mind?” I asked, words hard to form.

She glanced at my hardening cock with a smile. “Something that began what we started.”

Yes. Oh, gods yes. Another bath would be wonderful. But the knock on the door startled the both of us and she pulled back with an annoyed look. Her entire demeanor switched, and she went from a sweet goddess who enjoyed teasing me to a frightening huntress who’d been disturbed from her game.

“My lady, the general is here to see you,” the voice on the other end said.

Nalla swiftly stood, and I could sense the fright emanating from her. For a moment I thought it was for herself, but she looked at me with wide concerned eyes. That’s when I realized she feared for my safety.

“Drink your medicine,” she said quickly and took a vial, pressing it into my hand.

I would’ve said something, but she surprised me by pressing her mouth to my forehead and leaving behind a kiss. No one had ever done that, and the shock of the action had me stupidly nodding and agreeing to follow her instructions.

“Will you be back?” I absolutely hated, abhorred, wished to kill the vulnerability laced in my voice.

She paused her stride and glanced at me, her eyes softening. “Later.”

The noncommittal response left me staring at the same room and feeling incredibly alone and uncertain. I didn’t want her to leave.

For lack of things to do, I wondered what would frighten Nalla in such a way. If the general hurt her… I fisted my hand and gulped my medicine. I needed to get better. I may attempt to fool her into loving me, but I didn’t wish her hurt. Not by me or anyone else. Actually, I was fairly certain that at this point, I would kill whoever even tried.

CHAPTER NINE

NALLA

Mother seldom visited my estate. She cared little for country life and preferred her castle in Wildon, a thirty-minute hard ride into the center of the city. I missed the castle. It’s where I grew up and where I learned most of my skills. It had only been four months since mother gifted me this small estate so that I may have privacy once gaining my first angel. Which made her sudden visit suspicious, to say the least. I hated my nerves around her, that I’d not conquered my fear over her speculating eyes and judgmental words. A part of me felt she thought I was too soft. And maybe I was. Maybe I should’ve been brutal from the start, but it simply didn’t sit right with me.

With a sharp breath, I entered the small library and found her handing her cape to one of her men, whom she always traveled with. I couldn’t help but study his posture, the hunch of his shoulders, and his furrowed brow. How mother carelessly tossed her cape and didn’t even spare him a look. I should be used to by now how she handled them, how she ensured they are constantly aware of their replaceability.

---