Page 89 of Bound to the Shadow Prince

Chapter

Forty-Eight

Istare at him, eyes wide. I just…run? Flee from him? I’ve never done such a thing before. It seems a little silly, but as Nemeth straightens to his full height, his wings flaring out, I can see he’s deadly serious. This is part of their ceremony, and I’ve agreed to be Fellian.

So it seems I must be chased.

I glance around the large, empty downstairs chamber. Other than the pillow in front of the altar and the wood wedged around the door, it’s barren.

“Start running,” Nemeth tells me in a whisper-soft voice. He pulls off his belt, his movements slow and deliberate. “Make it a good chase and the reward will be all the sweeter.”

I hesitate. There’s something both menacing and arousing about his stance, about the way he casually removes his vest next, his gaze locked on me. I look around again, but there’s nothing to hide behind, nowhere to go. I’m trapped in this tower, and whatever fleeing I do will be quick. Even so, I grab two handfuls of my skirts and cross the room, my heart starting to pound hard in my chest. There’s an exciting element of terror to this whole “chase” concept.

It should not be nearly as arousing as it is, yet I’m somehow excited.

I rush across the room from him, strategically placing myself nearer to the stairs. I turn to look at him, and Nemeth is stripping off the last of his clothing, revealing his enormous body and straining erection. My body throbs at the sight, the breath catching in my throat. Part of me just wants to fling myself to the ground, to give up on the idea of a chase and just let myself be caught.

But the chase is important to him. Important…and it’s exciting in a naughty, thrilling sort of way.

I watch as he tosses aside the wrap he wears over his loins and steps forward toward me, his movements deliberate and with a hint of menace to them.

With a squeak, I turn and race up the stairs.

Forty steps always seems like a long time, but today it feels like forever as I fling myself up them as quickly as possible. By the time I get to the top of the landing, I’m gasping, unable to draw a deep breath in my tight corset. I stare down the narrow, winding flight of stairs, and then I hear footsteps.

He’s following me up, and he’s not far.

With another whimper born of both excitement and dread, I turn and continue racing away. Across the narrow, half-circle hall of the first floor, and past Nemeth’s room that we share. Past the garderobe and the storage, and on to the second floor. I can hear Nemeth’s footsteps behind me, the heavy Fellian trod of his strange feet on the stones. I imagine I hear the swish of his wings as he closes in on me, and it makes me race faster, my heart hammering in my chest.

As I reach the bottom of the second flight of stairs, something tugs at the skirts of my dress. I scream and pull free, racing away once more.

I make it halfway up the stairs before I feel the tug on my skirt again. I shriek, tottering on the step, in danger of losing my balance.

Suddenly Nemeth is there, large arms wrapped around me and shielding me against his chest. “Are you all right? Candra?”

I sag against him for a moment, breathless. I manage a nod. “Almost fell.”

“Be careful,milettahn,” he murmurs, nuzzling the side of my neck before releasing me and placing me on my feet again. “If you are too scared to continue?—”

“I’m not,” I tell him, straightening my shoulders. Part of me wants him to catch me and nuzzle me again, but a greater part of me wants him to keep chasing. “If I get scared, I’ll say the word ‘ribbon’ and you’ll know it’s too much.”

“Ribbon,” he agrees, and his green eyes glow with lust. He reaches a clawed hand for my skirts.

I swipe them out of his grip once more, then turn and race up the rest of the way, heart pounding as I hear him pacing after me. This might be one of the strangest sex games I’ve ever played…but also one of the most exciting.

This time, he snags me around my waist before I get up the stairs to the third flight, and I realize he’s been toying with me this whole time. He could have caught me at any point and let me run, like a cat playing with a mouse.

Squealing, I’m hauled backward, and a big arm traps my waist. A large body hunches over my squirming one, and I feel Nemeth’s breath hot in my ear. “I have you now, my mate.”

A hot shudder of arousal rips through me as he growls, rubbing his face against my neck. I bite my lip, holding back a moan as one hand slides under my skirts, pushing them up and revealing my legs.

Nemeth’s breath hisses as he glides his fingers up my thigh. “No bloomers?”

I shake my head.

“Naughty princess,” he murmurs, and then his hand pushes between my thighs, cupping my cunt.

I whimper, collapsing against him, my cheek pressing to the first cool step of the stairs as he holds me against him.

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