CONTENT ADVISORY / TRIGGER WARNING
THIS CHAPTER CONTAINS DEPICTIONS/STRONG IMPLICATIONS OF THE FOLLOWING THAT SOME READERS MAY FIND OFFENSIVE OR DISTURBING:
~ SEX AND INTIMACY
It was early dusk and the sun was just beginning to set over the tree line. Libelle and Eskil had spent the day together, enjoying their lovemaking and finding out about each other's sweet spots. She had fought to maintain a serious conversation with him, but each time their conversation seemed to go the way she desired, he was able to twist it back to his advantage. Each attempt proved futile and now here, standing in her personal stables, they were arguing.
She was hiding her frustrated expression from him while his gentle hands caressed her waist. His kisses along her neck burned her skin with passion as his erect member rubbed against her leg. He purred like a beast, his expression steamy as his perverted intentions became clearer with each passing second.
"Eskil, I've explained this to you," she sighed.
He chuckled, "You haven't explained anything to me."
"I've been trying to! Every time you...you do this! I'm serious! We can't be exposed yet."
His kisses traced to her collarbone as his hands clasped her breasts and his fingers grazed her sensitive nipples. "I don't understand why, my little elf. My lifemate."
She fought back a moan, pushing Eskil away from her when the horses began to shuffle about impatiently. "Please listen to me, Eskil. No one is going to be accepting of this, it could all end very badly if we are caught. We must be careful to not do this where we could be found. You can't be...we can't be touching each other like this."
"You're my lifemate, I can touch you whenever I please, wherever and whenever I desire." His eyes narrowed with his furrowed brow. He was not going to listen, was he?
This time she pushed him harder while panting from the arousal he was causing her. "No! Listen to me, Eskil. You will not touch me if someone might see us, understand? That means no touching, kissing, or anything else." Her blush increased. "You are going to be viewed as Eskil the death-bringer for a long time, and if it suddenly reaches the public's ear that you and I are...I fear that you or I, or both of us, could be sent to the guillotines. Please, let's take this slowly. We must hide our relationship from others, we have to pretend that we are still enemies."
"I will not hide the fact that you're my lifemate, Libelle. I am not ashamed of that, are you?"
She flinched like he had struck her. "No, no, I am not ashamed. I just...I just don't want anything bad to happen."
His anger was rising and he forced a sigh to clear his head. "Only in public? But here, here I am fine to touch you?"
His hand reached out and his fingers gently brushed over her cheek as she looked down at her feet sheepishly. "Um, well, about that."
Eskil snapped, his lip curling with his words. "Are you kidding me? Seriously? Here too? Why?"
"My servant, Gaalin. He lives here, he tends to the livestock and gardens for me."
His brow raised. "Gaalin? That grey-skinned bastard?"
She nodded.
Eskil's hands shot into the air before tangling into his hair. "You are living with that bastard? Unacceptable! You are to remove him from your home immediately."
She jumped up and raised her hands in the air in defense. "Eskil, I cannot just suddenly do that."
"You will."
"I can't, I'm sorry."
"You care for him?"
"It's not like that, you know that."
He sighed again. "You're not going to give this up are you?"
She shook her head.
"I knew it. Alright, fine. What do I need to do?"
Libelle exhaled slowly in relief, lowering her hands to her sides. "You and I cannot act so familiar with one another. While in front of others, we need to act like we used to. The dragon slayer and the dragon prince. Enemies. We hate each other."
"We are not enemies though. I will not treat you like before."
"I'm just asking you to act! Please, I would prefer it not to have to be like this, but I don't want to lose you."
Eskil saw her blush increase again, if that were even possible. She looked so sincere, so timid, and so damned sexy. "So, I just have to act like a cruel bastard when others are around. Simple enough. However, when there is no one around, I can touch you as much as I like?"
He had a wicked smile on his lips, and as if her nod was some sort of permission, he lifted her up in his arms and carried her towards the back of the stable. She squeaked in surprise, stifling her giggle as she batted against his arms. He set her down in a pile of loose straw, his smile fiendish.
"No one is here, so can I do as I please?"
Libelle's eyes widened. "No! I...I didn't mean it that way! Eskil, wait! I'm not going to be able to walk straight!"