“If I draw blood again, you’ll take a knee, renounce your title, and proclaim me the true Warrior of the Seven Stars,” she repeated. “But if you manage to take away the dagger before that happens, I’ll…” She stopped. Her cheeks turned a fetching shade of pink, but she took in a deep breath and went on. “I’ll kneel before you, call you Master, and do whatever you command – until sunrise.”
I gave a solemn nod and ordered my raging cock to stand down. Melisandre had learned a few slick moves from her trainer. I needed to keep my wits about me, or she might slip under my guard again.
We took up our positions. After we’d circled each other a few times, I allowed her to get close. She took a swipe with the dagger and I pivoted, twisting away just before the blade connected with my side. I backed away, gave a fake sigh of relief. “You are fast, my lady.”
I felt a twinge of guilt when I saw her triumphant grin.
“Still think you can best me, great warrior?” she taunted.
She backed away, watching for my next move. I developed a grudging admiration for the guardsmen who taught her. Unlike most novices, my queen kept her eyes on my hands and on the lower part of my chest, my center of gravity, instead of on my face. She wouldn’t be fooled by a glance to one side or the other if my body wasn’t poised to dart in that direction.
Raw and primitive, the drumbeats intensified, echoing through the vast chamber. Distracted for a moment, she took her focus off me and glanced around as though trying to find their source. I saw her chest rising and falling as her breathing quickened, keeping time with their cadence, and came up with my plan.
I circled her, this time swaying to the hypnotic beat. She followed with her eyes. Gradually, subtly, I turned my movements into an erotic dance. Thrusting my hips forward suggestively. Letting the primitive beat take over my body.
I wasn’t completely inexperienced. I’d watched women dance for me in brothels and bedrooms, seducing me with their bodies. Making my cock stiffen, their moves a preview of what was to come. My role was always that of spectator.
But now, the tables were turned. I found myself becoming wildly aroused as I allowed the savage rhythm to flow through me. Becoming bolder and more lewd as I watched her react. Her eyes glazed over and, before long, her hips swayed in tandem with mine as I closed the distance between us.
When she glanced down for the third time at the now-prominent bulge under the garment slung around my hips, I made my move. My hands shot out, one gripping her wrist to force the dagger away from our bodies while the other circled her waist, drawing her against me.
Her eyes flew open, and she struggled. I increased the pressure and pried her fingers apart. The dagger clattered to the floor. Though she’d clearly lost the wager, she fought me silently. Writhing as she tried to break my hold on her. Clawing at me , raking her nails over my bare chest.
I captured both her wrists, trapping them behind her back, and pulled her in tighter.
“Are you ready to kneel before me?” I asked playfully. “Yield to your Master?”
“I am the queen! I yield to no one.”
The blood of a warrior pumped through my veins, stirred by her rebellious response. I tamped down a flash of anger. “Take care, my lady. I took you at your word. If you don’t honor your wager, I’ll have to punish you – until you agree to submit to my every command.”
Chapter Four
Melisandre
Punished – until I submit. The stern tone in his voice sent a wicked thrill coursing through me. But as queen I’d grown accustomed to being the one in control. And whether the character trait came from my royal lineage or my stubborn pride, I would not yield so easily.
“I declare our wager null and void. You…you cheated!”
Even as I shouted out the accusation, I knew it wasn’t true.
But I was desperate. My body was pressed up against his bare chest. His distinctive scent filled my lungs. Dark and musky, it had my heart racing. He’d trapped both my wrists in one huge paw so I couldn’t fight back. And damn him, all I could think of was how it would feel to be turned over those hard thighs and feel his hot cock against my belly as he yanked off my pants and bared my ass.
I didn’t have to wait long to find out.
Magnus backed up and sank down onto the steps to the dais, pulling me facedown over his lap. “Cheated? That’s a harsh accusation. Exactly how did I cheat?”
He still had my arms pinned behind my back. I writhed against him, trying to kick his shins with the toes of my heavy boots.
“What you did – that wasn’t fighting! You were trying to seduce me.”
“I was trying to win our sparring match,” he replied. “Using whatever means necessary. I did – and now you’re pissed because you lost. I can’t help it if you got distracted and let your guard down. Now, are you ready to get on your knees and call me Master? Do what you’re told until sunrise?”
I responded with a very unladylike suggestion. Magnus chuckled.
“I would never disobey a direct order from my queen, but you know that’s not anatomically possible for me to do, my lady. So unless you’re willing to apologize and make good on your wager, you leave me no choice.”
He reached under me and deftly unfastened my trousers with one hand, while the other one pinned both my wrists at my waist. When he yanked my trousers down to my knees, I let out a shriek that nearly drowned out the drumbeats pounding in my head.