Page 81 of Ruled By Magic

“Oh, I stopped punishing you a while ago, at least in my head. No, the last few times we went out—the outfits I made you wear—that was all for me. For my pleasure.”

I brought my eyes up and looked at him now, as his words touched the edge of that dark place in my soul. The part that still confused me, even now. The place that held the urge to debase myself for him. To let him feed on my humiliation and pain.

“Oh?” My voice came out stronger than I expected. “And what exactly do you enjoy so much?”

A smile grazed his lips. “I watch you. How aware you are of your body. Conscious of showing too much thigh, worried that everyone in the room can see your nipples are hard. And you’re helpless, unable to cover yourself up because I won’t let you. It’s beautiful.” His hand slipped to my thigh. “And that, right there, was the last time I’ll ever experience it. I wish I could say I hated it, but I’m not a good person, Liv. I enjoyed making you squirm.”

The dark place in my soul sang, and I opened myself up to it. The memory of the previous hour softened and changed. It had been for him. One last chance for him to indulge that side of himself. A final gift of public disgrace. Desire came to life inside me and, as if he sensed it, Leo’s fingers traveled slowly up my thigh and stroked me between my legs. I spread my thighs for him, and he made a low noise of approval, deep in his throat.

“Always my good girl, aren’t you? Now, indulge me.” He rose and pointed to a spot near the wall. “Stand here.”

My breath caught as I realized what he intended. To replay my humiliation, but this time for him alone. I stood on shaky legs and got into position. My thoughts swam as shame and desire blended together. He pushed my head down, bent me at the same angle as before. My blood raced, the ache between my legs building. I both dreaded and craved his next words.

“Lift up your skirt to your waist.”

My hands shook as I raised my skirt. This shouldn’t be hard. We were in private. But I felt it all over again, the burning humiliation. This time, just for him. My fingers gripped the thin material. I needed him to touch me. Knowing his eyes were on me, drinking in my shame and relishing his power over me, turned my desire into a wild thing. It had to be satiated.

His fingers wandered all over me, traced teasing patterns on my skin. I tried to press back into him, but he stopped me with a sharp slap to my ass. “Stop that. Stay still.”

I froze, fighting the urge to move.

He began again, sliding his hands over my hips, across my stomach, then up to tease my nipples through the thin fabric of my dress. Electricity shot into my core, and I whimpered.

“You’re stunning. Perfect. And no one else gets to touch you. They can look, and want you, but you’re all mine.” My lacy underwear vanished. Two fingers thrust inside me, pressing deep. “Only I can do this.”

I pushed back, and he didn’t stop me. I ground myself against him and, with a jolt, realized I felt no shame at all. I didn’t have to. He loved me like this, needy and wanton. For the first time, I let myself relish it.

He moaned in my ear, a noise of pure delight. “Look what I’ve turned you into. From that frightened girl, to this. My insatiable little toy. And you love it, don’t you?”

“Yes.” The word fell out with no effort. “Now, fuck me. Please.”

“Oh, I’m going to.”

His hand withdrew. He brought his arms around me, caging me, and the clatter of his belt let me know his trousers had hit the floor. He slid his cock back and forth over me, coating himself in my wetness and teasing my clit, then pressed against my entrance and thrust deep. I grunted as my body stretched. He held me pinned for a few long seconds before he moved, fucking me hard. I jerked with each powerful stroke and let go of my dress to brace my arms against the cool wall.

He grabbed my hair, pulling my head back. His teeth grazed the soft skin of my neck, tiny pinpricks of pain that forced my desire higher. My climax built as he drove into me again and again. His hand came around my throat, fingers digging in, and I gasped in air as my senses swam. My release hit all at once, pleasure battering me. I tightened, body spasming on his cock, and he moaned in answer, spearing me with one final deep thrust.

He held me there, breathing hard, then withdrew, lacing his arms around me and kissing the top of my head. “I love you. So much.” He picked me up and carried me to the bed.

We lay together, his fingers sliding through my hair as my eyes grew heavy.

“Tomorrow, we meet a king,” he murmured.

I gasped and sat up. “I didn’t say. Someone tripped me. With the wine, I mean. I think it was Adante.”

Leo tensed. “I don’t like the way he looks at you. Be careful, we can’t give him any more excuses to punish you.”

With that thought rattling around in my brain, sleep took a long time to come.

I wore my most demure gown, a blue number with a structured bodice and a skirt which stopped just above the knee. Still racy by Dexian standards. I did my hair and makeup with care, dreading the moment Leo would drop the shield and we’d resume our roles. We ate a quick, anxious breakfast in the room, not talking much. Leo appeared preoccupied, lost in thought.

I took his hand. “Worried about seeing the king?”

I avoided using the word ‘father’. Andrew held that role in Leo’s life—the king was something else entirely.

He rubbed his thumb over my knuckles. “Yes. I don’t understand how the power flows here yet. Is Adante in charge and the king just a figurehead, or does he keep control behind the scenes? I don’t like negotiating when the structure is a mystery.”

All business. If he wasn’t ready to discuss his feelings, I wouldn’t push him into it. Plenty of time for that once we made it back to Dexia.

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