Page 44 of Dragons' Mate
I’ve no idea how one is supposed to react to that declaration, but my body tenses and heats at once. Not that it actually matters. There is not much choice.
There is a low rumbling growl that comes from Quinton as Tavias grasps my elbow and pulls me from his arms.
"Restrain him if you must," Tavias orders Cyril and Hauck, with no more trace of emotion that he had earlier. "No one interferes with us. When your cocks are required, I'll let you know."
I try not to let the shiver of anxiety that rushed through take hold, but I can't help it.
"You are to keep your mouth shut," Tavias instructs me aloud. There is dominance in his voice and his shoulders widen in that way he has when he wants to make himself even bigger than he already is. "And keep your attention on me."
Tavias brings me to the center of the room, before the hundreds of eyes that are to watch as I am taught to submit to the dragon's power. I wish he'd just get it over with and tell me what he intends to do. I try to tell him that I don't hold him to the promise he'd made earlier. If a beating is coming, and it must be, then I understand. But he's told me not to speak so I keep my words to myself.
"I require a table," Tavias tells the servants.
One is immediately procured and placed in front of him.
"I also require wine."
"No," says the priest. "That is not the submission we seek."
Tavias bows to the priest. "I did not doubt that. I assure you, the wine is not for drinking."
Come again?
Tavias doesn't elaborate though, not even inside my mind. I don't understand his silence, which makes my nerves fire more with every passing heartbeat. Tavias turns to me.
"Strip," he orders, his mind adding in a tone no less hard.Look at me as you do.
I try to tune out the fact that there are hundreds of people watching as I pull off my dress. The fabric pools on the floor in a puddle of amethyst chiffon that I thought was so pretty. My shift comes next. My chest binding. My underthings. Each piece of clothing comes off like a bit of armor being stripped away. The crowd is starting to move about now, settling in for the show. A clink of glass as wine is poured. A chuckle as someone contemplates my ass. My skin heats.
Keep your attention on me,Tavias snaps inside my mind.Or there will be a pink handprint on that full backside.
I draw in a sharp little breath. Tavias has a wicked way of using that hand of his, that makes me want to rip his cock off and ride it all at the same time. He's bent me over before, doling out stings of pain that morphed into pleasure that had me dripping for no logical reason at all. He's done more with me. But right now... I feel only my heart pounding against my ribs.
I drape my hands over my front, covering myself the best I can.
"Hands at your sides." Stepping closer to me, Tavias kicks my legs apart, opening me farther. I gasp. His hand moves possessively over my skin, around the swells of my breasts and down my midline.Beautiful,he says into my mind.And all mine.
His hand slips lower, cupping my mound. I want to cover myself, but I don't dare move. He slips his hand between my legs and folds, then slips a finger into my channel. I'm anxious and dry, and the intrusion makes me want to cringe but I don't. Tavias's lips tighten into a line.
He picks up a sash from my discarded dress and ties it over my eyes, blocking out the sight of the room around us. The disorientation is immediate, my attention shifting immediately to my other senses. Tavias’s scent consumes me, his hands on my hips lifting me onto a hard surface. The table he'd ordered brought for a reason I still don't know why. He lays me down on my back, spreading my arms and legs out and away from me.
"We are going to show everyone just how submissive you can be, wildcat," he says. "So you are not going to move a muscle from here. And you will take everything that I give you."
There is a velvety texture to Tavias's threat that makes a new kind of shiver run over my skin. Without anything else to concentrate on, I strain to hear the sounds around me. Tavias’ footsteps retreat then return a moment later. I smell wax. A candle. And its heat isveryclose to my skin.
CHAPTER21
Tavias
Holding the candle close to Kit’s skin, Tavias moved all around her body. Kit's naked form shuddered softly, her pale skin stretched taut across delicious hip bones and soft curves. Her breasts were full and round, nipples pebbled in the cool air. Tavias’s mouth watered at the thought of tasting them, teasing the sensitive buds with tongue and teeth until she writhed beneath him. But that would have to wait. For now he needed to capture her attention in a way that the dryness between her legs said he hadn’t done yet. He’d hoped the blindfold and heat would do the trick, but it wasn’t enough. He felt it.
This was a lot for Kit. The hundreds of people looking on, the looming consequences, the too many thoughts churning in that brilliant and brave mind of hers. That last would be the hardest hurdle to conquer for them both. Especially given Kit’s recent confessions. She thought her strength was somehow linked to appearance and going at it alone. Probably Quinton’s rutting influence.
Unfortunately, she picked an inconvenient time to pick up his bad habits.
Too late now.
He reached out and spread her farther, opening her legs as far as the table would allow. She swallowed and he traced the curve of her hip.
