The kiss

The kiss

"Will I have to, little flower?" His rumbling voice and sensuous tone had my eyes darting back up to stare at him again. If I didn't see the fire in his eyes, I might have believed his expression to be unreadable.

A black dagger appeared once more as my thoughts wondered with his question. Compared to him I was no threat. Growing up I had never been trained to fight and that was possibly a weakness. It certainly seemed like one in my current situation.

"The game of war is one I'm not familiar with," I admitted. In the silence that followed I stood up from my spot near the fire. "As the youngest princess I did not suffer the same pressures as my sisters. When you get to your fifth heir, they're a bit redundant." I laughed but the sound was empty while I slowly moved towards the saddlebags.

Back at the capital it was well known that Helios had enough children to carry on his line with plenty of daughters giving even more grandchildren. Caliban's earlier jest at my father having a brood weren't entirely wrong.

"Ah, that explains it. So, you were the little spoiled one."

"The ignored one, if you really need to know." My face was going to permanently set into a scowl with all the daggers I was sending through my eyes at Caliban. "Five princesses are merely five broodmares for the royal line. Pawns, yes, but for political marriages our father can take advantage of. Not taught the ways of war, or what to do with an enemy captive."

"So, I wouldn't get much in the way of ransom for you, would I?" His lips jerked into a smile and I was shocked at how quickly he'd lightened the mood around us at that silly question. "It sounds to me like I've saved you from your fate."

"What do you mean?" My face screwed up.

"The fate of becoming just another broodmare, as you said. This lordling your father would have sent you to would have kept you locked in his chambers until he got an heir from you."

"It would have been my duty to the crown, and to my family to..." I started to say at the same time I was lowering down as though to sit on the bedroll. Saddlebag within reach now.

"That sounds like rehearsed horse shit to me. Is that the first lesson Mithran daughters are taught? No wonder you don't know about the ways of war. I'm sure your lessons growing up in the palace in Laernear were how to weave flower crowns and pleasure your husbands." He scoffed and went back to sharpening his blade.

The king's audacity to speak that way to me sent me into a blind fury that shook my entire and sent white hot anger rushing through my veins. In the blink of an eye I swooped down to snatch up the black dagger sticking out of the saddlebag. Caliban's eyes were still down as he honed his blade until the moment my body was rushing towards his.

The full force of crashing into his hard chest shocked Caliban. He grunted as he fell back with my weight suddenly upon him. Once that split second of shock wore off his soldiers training kicked into gear and the king whipped his head up to glare at me.

Then his eyes widened as he felt the chill of his own dagger at his throat. His amber eyes narrowed at me and I wondered if he could feel the tremble in my hand as I pressed the black blade to his throat. Despite the bustling rage within my chest I'd never threatened anyone in a way their life was in my hands.

Those eyes were swirling with something wicked and it dawned on me that Caliban could easily get out of this situation if he so wished it. At the moment he was on his back and I was straddling him with my entire body pressed into his. The flare in his eyes was captivating and that loathsome desire returned to my belly with thrilled flutters.

My own feelings were the reason I glowered at him further. However, Caliban looked didn't seem at all phased with his current predicament.

"Does it make you feel powerful to have the King of Shadows at your mercy, flower?" his gruff voice taunted up at me. His hands gripped my thighs suddenly causing me to jolt and the dagger pressed into his flesh enough to draw a feint drop of blood. Perhaps seeing that did make me feel a bit powerful.

Leaning into him I whispered into the king's ear, "I did learn to weave flower crowns, it's true. But, my lessons on pleasure were all my own, and I was very dedicated to my studies."

When his hands tightened briefly on my thighs a yelp escaped my lips. Pulling away enough to look him in the eyes I noticed we were face to face and much closer than we'd ever been. His breath fanned my face and I could smell his woodsy male scent.

My breath caught in my throat. As arrogant and vile as he was Caliban truly was a glorious man to look at. Despite his long white hair his brows and lashes were dark, framing his glimmering eyes flecked with gold. Those full lips were parted slightly and when my eyes traveled over his face to look at him, I could feel the rumble in his chest through my own where we were pressed together.

After a few long moments of a strained silence the energy around us snapped. It felt like a strike of brilliant lightening on a clear night sky that shocked us both to the bone.

Caliban's mouth crashed into mine, the dagger perhaps forgotten. Yet I was becoming lost in the sensations overcoming me. Heat blasted through me and I was melting into his chest. The king's hands traveled up to my hips as his tongue darted out along my lower lip. My own lips parted to allow him entrance and I couldn't stop the low moan I uttered at the taste of him.

His strong hands were holding me tightly and Caliban rocked against me as the kiss deepened further. Desire coursed through me like the rushing river over us falling over the waterfall. The thin material of my dress was like air between us and I could feel his hardness between my thighs.