Page 18 of Ruled By Magic

Was that what he’d been doing? Training me to accept his hands on my body, so I wouldn’t startle and try to bolt when he took things further?

My nerve endings lit up at his touch. He caressed my knee, then stroked up the soft skin of my inner thigh, stopping just short of the apex. I risked a glance at him, but he stared straight ahead, as if fascinated by the dancers. I fought to keep still as he repeated the circuit, but this time he didn’t stop. He grazed my underwear, my most sensitive spot, and I gasped. Pleasure spiraled through me, and in its wake, an aching need.

He noticed my reaction and paused his hand, fingers pressed just above my clit. My body grew warm, skin flushed. I didn’t want him to give me pleasure. It was wrong, a greater violation than if he threw me to the floor and took me. Enjoying his touch felt like a betrayal.

His fingers moved again, this time over my underwear with light, teasing pressure. My core burned, and a helpless desperation overtook me. Relentless pleasure flowed straight into me, stole my thoughts. My heart hammered.

“Spread your legs for me.” I turned to find his eyes on me, almost black in the dim illumination. “Nice and wide.”

A command. One my body yearned to obey, even as my conscious mind screamed to resist. I froze, indecision churning as he ventured inside the thin, silky material of my underwear and ran a finger directly over my clit.

A moan escaped my lips. I couldn’t help it. The pressure in just the right spot sent a bolt of furious need into me, so strong it took my breath away. Below, the crowd gasped at something onstage and I remembered where we were. I clamped my palm over my mouth, and the Lord Commander laughed in my ear.

“Try to keep quiet. And spread your legs. Now.”

I hesitated. He stilled his hand. “Don’t test me. Do as I say. Good behavior.”

Good behavior. A stark reminder of our deal. And why I was here, with him, not in prison. Shame rose from the pit of my stomach as, with painful slowness, I obeyed. Something about the degrading position—spread wide to allow him access—sent a slow spiral of unnatural desire through me.

My breath came faster as the Lord Commander pivoted toward me. He brought his right hand between my legs and I closed my eyes, unable to stand the look on his face. His usual arrogance had fled, replaced by fascination and naked lust. Too human and real. As if he were my lover, not my jailor.

In the dark, it was easier. I let my head fall back against the seat and focused on my body. He teased me in slow circles, unhurried and skilled. I’d only climaxed by my own hand. My previous lovers, sweet and nervous, hadn’t come close. He held me on the precipice that no man had ever pushed me over, and I bit my lip to keep quiet. I wouldn’t moan or squirm. I just couldn’t.

“Open your eyes. Look at me.”

I made myself comply. Even in the dim light, the flush on his cheeks was evident. His hand moved lower, pressed up against my entrance, and his lips parted as he slid two fingers inside me. I couldn’t hold back a whimper as my body stretched.

“You’re so wet.” His voice held a delighted edge and, with a rush of embarrassment, I realized it was true. He rubbed his thumb over my clit and the sensation, combined with the pressure of his fingers, almost shattered me. “I’m going to have so much fun with you. I didn’t think this would be quite so easy. Now don’t you dare close your eyes.”

Just another small cruelty, forcing me to watch as he undid me. I focused on the shine of his eyes, the contour of his cheek, as he drove me to the edge with expert precision and timing. So different from my nighttime explorations, more intense. Out of my control. I hit the crest and fell over. A low, strangled noise forced out as the release rippled through my body, so strong it almost hurt. My internal muscles spasmed, clamped down on his fingers, and he leaned even closer. I breathed deep as the pleasure ebbed, leaving guilt in its wake.

He radiated satisfaction. And why shouldn’t he? I’d given him what he wanted. The first time I’d experienced that pleasure at the hands of a man, and it had been him. Not out of love, but out of a spiteful, twisted desire to make me want him.

“Now what do you say?” He couldn’t be serious. Even now, with his fingers still buried in my body, he wanted to debase me further? I swallowed, tried to collect myself.

“What?” The word came out a squeak.

His lips curved up. “You know what I mean. Say it.”

My throat froze up. He moved his fingers inside me, as if reminding me of my position, the pointlessness of defying him now. An alien part of me wanted to obey. I forced out the words. “Thank you.”

Humiliation followed, but a strange pleasure accompanied it. A curl of excitement in my stomach. What was that?

He withdrew from my body. “I enjoyed that. You’re beautiful when you climax. I’ll keep the memory forever.”

Words of love, with a dark edge. I had to look away. Below us, the music swelled to a crescendo, and the crowd erupted into applause. I straightened my dress as the house lights rose. My eyes locked on the floor, the carpet a twining pattern of red and green.

“Livet.”

It was an effort of will to lift my head and meet his gaze. He’d penetrated my body. Watched my face as I climaxed, the only person ever to see it. A connection lay between us now, and I couldn’t work out how to act.

“Yes, Lord Commander?” Formality seemed safest.

“Let’s go. I don’t feel like dealing with the crowd.” He held out a hand.

I took it, and he helped me to my feet. Back to the apartment. Would he want more from me once we were alone? My body was sluggish, slow to respond. Emotions wrung out. With the swirl of blackness that no longer amazed me, we appeared in his neat living room.

He studied me, a slight frown on his features. He brushed my hair behind my ear, and as I breathed in, I caught the faint scent of my arousal on his fingers. A shudder ran through me, and his frown deepened.

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