Violent Little Thing

It is so easy to parry your sword, I’m almost offended. I knock it from your hands with a single strike. I don’t even have to move my feet.

“Stop doing that!”

I take in your snarled lip and the flickering ember in your eyes as you glare up at me. In the late afternoon sun, sweat cuts a glittering trail from your temple over the high ridge of your cheekbone, freefalling to the place it clings to your jaw.

Gods, I wish the dragons had not chosen you to be the hero of the realm–hadn’t plucked you from your faraway castle to send me tumbling from my place as general of our elite order of riders. I wish you’d never come here at all.

And I loathe myself for the way some barely controlled part of me wants to lick the salt from your skin.

I take a steadying breath and roll my shoulders, head held high.

“Stop doing what, Princess?”

“That!”

You point to the sword I knocked from your hands where it lay a few paces away with eyebrows raised and a “are you daft?” expression on your face.

Your other hand is cocked on the curve of your hip–fingertips pressing into the precious layer of softness over your muscle that I know this new world will strip from you soon.

Soon, you will be all hard edges like me. I wish you could stay soft.

“I will stop being able to take you so easily as soon as you start listening.”

You take a step away, an indignant look on your lovely, heart-shaped face.

“What do you mean I’m not listening? All I’ve done for two weeks is listen to you. Since the day my entire world got turned upside down and I found out not only are dragons real, but I am, apparently, the foretold dragon rider hero that will safe the realm from certain doom–all I’ve done is come to this gods-forsaken arena with this gods-forsaken practice sword and listen to you berate me for hours while I learn nothing.”

“You’re not learning anything because you’re not listening, Princess. As I said before–widen your stance. And retrieve your sword. We go again.”

“I did widen my stance.”

“Retrieve your sword. It’s not a request. You did not widen your stance enough. Your center of balance is unsteady. I disarmed you with my eyes practically closed by using your own momentum and weight to knock you off kilter. You’re defeating yourself, really. I barely need to be here. ”

“Oh? Is that right?”

“Then why don’t you leave, oh great and fabled warrior general of secret dragon riders?”

I know there is a burning fire in you–the thing the dragons saw when they chose you. It is the flame that will keep you alive in the battles to come.

My entire life has been dedicated to keeping the realm safe. Now, I am here to keep you safe too. If we’re going to survive, I need to find that flicker of wild burning inside you and fan your flames.

But, gods, you’re frustrating.

“Just go.”

“Oh, that I could. Now, for the last time–” “-pick up your sword.”

“If you’re not going to help me, why don’t you let me figure this out on my own and stop giving me more ways to fail?”

The first tear falls, and everything goes quiet.

I have marked your body countless times already. I have watched you earn mark after mark the last two weeks–scrapes, bruises, falls as I have tried to prepare you for your new life. I’ve seen you in pain.

But I’ve never seen you hurting.

Now, I have.

And the urge in me to make it stop is all that’s left of me. I want to go to you, to hold you, to promise you the safety and softness you deserve as you stand there with your back to me and your arms wrapped so tightly around yourself it’s like your strength alone is keeping you from falling to pieces.

I take a faltering step toward you, but hesitate, remembering my place. And yours.

“I–um, I shouldn’t have…”

“You are incorrect. You aren’t failing, Princess. I cannot imagine the weight of what you’ve been handed in the last short while. I cannot imagine the responsibility or sheer amount of choices forced on you about who you will become under the shine of a destiny you did not choose.”

And still, you hold your head high and take every blow. I cannot make you see yourself like I do, but I cannot let you believe you are failing.”

“You certainly aren’t failing me.”

As I go to retrieve your fallen sword from the place beneath the ancient willow tree where it came to rest, I cannot help but picture you–a princess so soft and gentle, raised to comfort and coddle, not punish and kill–downed in a bloody, dying field somewhere, and my heart buckles.

Gods, you have such a long way to go before you could survive a single battle.

I bend to pick up the blade.

“If you can trust me, I will not let you fail, Princ–”

I cannot believe you just tackled me to the ground. I could have you on your back in an instant, but I don’t want to hurt you–

And somehow, I’m beneath you as you straddle me, pinning my right wrist to the ground under your knee. I start to sit up and reach for you with my other hand.

“What in all of the gods do you think you’re doi–”

“Princess…”

“No, you listen to me. My blade is at your throat. I don’t need to trust you. I’m the ‘chosen one,’ right? The lives are in my hands. I only have to trust myself.”

“I can take care of myself.”

You lean over me, expression wild and eyes blazing with your stolen victory as you stare down at me. Strands of your hair tumble around your face, swaying as our breath comes fast and hard.

I feel the pressure of your hand around my wrist like it’s the only thing happening in the entire realm. Your fingertips brush the scarred skin of my knuckles–split open too many times to remember in defense of those he needed it–and the dull ache that lives in the knotted tissue quiets, like the pain has been waiting for you to set it free.

Warmth blooms in the wake of your fingers’ path, and I am made a man of action again. But under your touch, I do not want to use my hands for violence. Under your touch, I want, I want, I want. Gods, what have you made of me?

I swallow, and the blade you hold to my throat bobs beneath my jaw.

If it weren’t for my leather bracers, the heel of your palm would feel my runaway heartbeat pulsing where you hold me in your thrall, and I would be a fool for it.

“Princess…?”

“It’s all on me now. Don’t you get it? It all rests on me. And I know you don’t think highly of me, but you underestimated me when you turned your back, and here we are. So help me, or don’t, but don’t doubt me again.”

Gods, the pressure of your strong, thick thighs squeezing the frame of my hips as you straddle me makes it hard to think of anything but the spread of your warmth settled on my lower belly.

It’s so delicious I want to sink my teeth into something. And in your eyes, the fire I knew was there in you burns like a just-born star, and it’s setting my blood ablaze, too.

You shift your weight slightly, and beneath your heat, my cock grows thicker, longer. I couldn’t help it if I wanted to.

I hold your gaze in silent challenge as I slowly tilt my chin higher, exposing the column of my throat to you. I’ll think about the exact shade it turns your cheeks tonight.

“What now, Princess?”

“I…”

The hand that pins mine to the ground inches upward, and I intertwine our fingers. I hold your gaze with mine and relish the vulnerability I see there, fighting for air under the hero’s heart.

“You’re right, you don’t need me.”

You let me guide your hand to hover over the expanse of my heart. I don’t let go as you register the way my chest is rising and falling for you.

“Oh.”

Blade still to my throat, I raise my hand to gently cup your chin.

“But you can have me, Princess. I can make this easier.”

Your lower lip is so soft under my thumb, and only a lifetime as a soldier keeps the groan working its way up my throat from sounding.

Gods, I have lied to you… each time I told you your softness was a thing to smother. You, with all your shining determination and fight. The truth, Princess, is I would give the world to see you be so brave as to let yourself need.

And all I want is to give you what you need.

You drag your hand over my body. Your touch is slow, tentative as it moves from my chest, down the center valley of my abdomen, and even through the leather it feels like my skin sparks all the way to the place your body is flush against mine.

Your fingers tremble as they move over my body, but you don’t stop. I wonder if you feel me yet… the rapidly growing length of what you do to me.

I bring my thumb away from your perfect mouth, fingers trailing down until I feel your pulse. I tighten my grip at the hollow where your jaw meets your throat.

My hand around your neck, no pressure–only support, and your blade still threatening mine- turns my cock painfully hard.

“Oh…”

Your pupils expand with pleasure as you decide how to tease me, and it makes me fucking ravenous even before I feel your fingers toying at the waistline of my trousers. My muscles tense as you brush the sensitive skin low on my belly,, and you smile like you’ve bested me.

I fear you have.

“Careful, Princess…”

“How could you possibly make all of this easier? All you’ve done is criticize me.”

You grind your weight into me as you shift backward, dragging your core lower over the rapidly hardening proof of how much I want you, and the mere promise of more friction makes my cock strain.

“All you’ve done is underestimate me. I’m so much more than a princess. You have no idea what I’m capable of.”

The way you’re watching me lose this battle–like you’re starving and it is the only thing that can satiate you–only strengthens the way I’ve begun to feel like a soldier loyal to a queen. You palm me over the leather with just the right amount of pressure, and suddenly my hips buck as my abs contract with the rush of hot pleasure, lifting your body just barely away from the ground.

“So much more than just a princess? How much more?”

I do not look away from your fiery eyes when you release my fingertips. Instead, I skate my fingertips from your knee, up your perfect thigh, and lightly tap your belly just below your navel.

And gods, the sound you make just from the lightest touch somewhere I’m not supposed to be…

I continue my teasing touch, trailing it down to my own belt and watching you for any signs of discomfort. But all I see is hunger as I gaze up at you–ferocious and determined under the soft sway of willow branches that barely shield us from would-be prying eyes.

With your sword still on my throat and my hand around yours, I begin to unbuckle myself.

“Prove me wrong.”

I know we shouldn’t be doing this. I’m your teacher. Your protector. This will be messy. And if we get caught?

“Anyone could see us.”

The dragon that chose me as a rider so long ago, lands on the jagged ridges of the obsidian cliffs that encircle the practice arena. My old friend roars as he turns his back to us, watching the only entrance to the otherwise enclosed space. He really is a good wingman.

“He will stand guard. If someone is approaching, I will know.”

“I can’t believe they chose me.”

You sit back, dropping the sword and settling your weight on my legs as you run your hands through your hair with an expression of awe and… excitement.

You are shining, alight with possibility and purpose. Your sun dappled skin is pebbled with goosebumps as you gaze in awe beneath the willow tree, and in this moment I can see why they chose you.

I can see you are the champion. And I want to let you feel like a champion now, too.

“Go on, Princess. Make sure I never underestimate you again. Show me.”

“Take that off.”

You nod toward my leather armored torso as your eager fingers pluck at the lacing of my trousers. My cock is so hard for you already, each moment it is not yours feels traitorous.

“Are you commanding me to remove my leathers?”

“Yes. Now.”

“As you wish, Princess.”

You shift farther down my body as I face you, moving to unlace the side seams of my leathers and peel them over my head. In the shade of the ancient willow, the chill air sluices over the sculpted breadth of my torso, joining the heat rising in me like clashing waves. The sensation is striking, and I marvel at the way being with you has already made me feel more alive.

“If only you knew how powerful you really are…”

You pause, and lift your searching gaze to mine. You’re looking for truth in my words… my heart. I do not flinch away, and whatever you find turns the trembling hope in your eyes to something wild.

“You want me to show you?”

I do not hesitate.

“I want nothing more.”

You sink between my legs and use your body as leverage to splay them out farther.

You notch a fingertip in the divot of the “v” of muscles at my hips where they disappear under the leather still holding me in. You tenderly trace the lines of my body–carved out of me by so many years as a warrior–down, down, down until you use both hands to tug the unlaced opening of my trousers down, exposing me so close to the evidence of my arousal.

When I nod, you lower your perfect fucking lips to the place just above my aching cock.

It twitches with need, and I can feel your smile in the open-mouth kisses you begin to trail up my body.

Your mouth burns against me where you move so slowly, and the wanting you conjure in your wake might be the end of me.

“Gods, have mercy.”

“I don’t know what you mean?”

“Do you like seeing me like this, Princess? At your mercy?”

Your grin flashes as you lift yourself up and your mouth descends on my neck.

Your hands are roaming as they please–over my chest, shoulders, down my arms and to the tops of my thighs. But you do not reach for the part of me pulsing with need.

“I am not known as a patient man. If you don’t touch me soon…”

You stop, your lips on the ridge of my collarbone, and take my face in your hands so my eyes are locked with yours. And Gods, there you are. You embody the very ferocity I’ve been searching for for weeks, making everything but you seem dim.

“What would you do for me? If I asked?”

“Anything.”

You poke two fingers into my sternum.

“Back up.”

I retreat until the unguarded skin of my back is pressed against the rough trunk of the willow. You prowl on hands and knees after me, never leaving the triangle of space between my open legs.

You use one hand to support yourself,, and with your other you tuck your fingers under the waist band of my leather trousers. I stifle a moan.

Our eyes catch, and you pause.

“Take what you need, Princess. I am here to serve you.”

Your wide eyes grow determined as you tug down the garment and my cock springs free.

“Gods, yes.”

“Do you like what you see, Princ– ugghh…”

“Fuck yes. Gods, I know I have put you through hell since I met you.”

“Yes, take it out on me.”

Your hand wraps around the base of my shaft, your grip nearly punishing as it works in tandem with your mouth so no inch of me is untouched. And fuck, it’s good.

You take me deeper, like it’s a challenge.

You pull away to hover over my pulsing, glistening cock, slick with your saliva, and my body gives you the satisfaction of a jerk as you grip me again, holding my erection beneath your chin. Your eyes lock with mine, and you let a slow, deliberate trail drip from your mouth to join the bead of pre-cum wetting my head.

“Fuck yes.”

“Gods, that’s good. That’s so good.”

I say “good,” and your eyes shoot to mine, looking up at me with your soft, perfect lips wrapped around my cock. A need shines in them–bright and wanting. I slowly reach for you–let my fingertips trail up your jaw before I weave them into the hair at your temple.

My cock pops out of your mouth and you watch me, lips parted, a string of spit connecting the tip to your tongue. And… fuck.

I push my fingers through your hair until I can get a good grip at the root from the back of your head.

“Do you want to be good for me, Princess?”

“Yes.”

I know what you need. I want to give it to you.

“Not very convincing. Use your voice. Do you want to be good for me?”

“Yes.”

Instead of guiding you back to my cock, I tug you gently forward, and you crawl over me until you’re kneeling between my legs, pressed as close to me as possible where I lean against the willow. Your head is still knotted in my fist–and I slowly, steadily pull you up until your face is close to mine. Then I force your head to tilt so your eyes can only find willow branches and your throat is mine for the taking. I lower my mouth to hover over the perfect offering.

My lips haven’t even found your skin, and that needy sound betrays you.

I lick a line from your shoulder to your earlobe, take it into my mouth and lightly suck before letting it slide between my teeth and bounce back into place.

Your body is melting under my touch, eyes fluttering as you arch to expose the delicate length of your throat to me.

“Will you let me help you, Princess? I can take away the weight of it–the burden of choice, the responsibility of this new life. I can be the only one making decisions, and I can make them for you. Can you give me full control?”

“I…”

I switch sides, kiss your jaw, and whisper again.

“Just for a moment, let go. Let me take care of you. Let me show you how strong I know you are.”

I pull you back so you must look me in the eyes, but my own fall to your swollen, wet lips. I meet your gaze again.

“If you want me to stop, I’ll stop. Instantly. No questions, no hesitation. One word from you is all it takes. You’re safe with me, I swear it.”

“I… Alright.”

I shake my head and wait until your eyes are focussed on me once again.

“Let me hear it, Princess. Say ‘yes.’”

“Yes.”

I stand, bringing you with me, slow and careful so it does not hurt you as we rise. Your eyes travel over my body as I draw you to your full height, and you are breathless and wanting.

I draw you close as I bring my lips a hair’s breadth from yours. And though I’m in control, the part of me that is more beast than man rages at the injustice of not immediately devouring you.

But I run my other hand up your body, skimming your angelic fucking curves, and my cock jumps, but still, I wait. I gently trace the column of your throat, relishing the way it works under my fingertips as you swallow your nerves.

“Are you ready, Princess?”

“Please.”

I hope I never forget the way your breath hitches as I gently press a fond kiss to your forehead. With one hand I cradle the back of your neck, fingertips sinking into the hair at your nape as I lead you to tuck your body against mine until my chin rests on the crown of your head. As I wrap a strong arm around your waist, I take a long measured breath.

I let the moment linger until I feel your body relax into me and let me take some of your weight. I wait until our chests rise and fall together.

I wait until I’m sure you trust me.

“That’s it, Princess. Now…Your wish is my command.”

To serve you, I claim you.

I spin you and pin your body between mine and the grooved trunk of the willow, my cock grinding against the soft spread of skin above your trousers. I tug them down just an inch, and the sight of my erection rubbing between the twin divots in the small of your back makes me want to claim you, somehow.

You arch into me as I bow over you to lick and suck at the nape of your neck. I gather both of your delicate hands in one of mine, raise them over your head, hold them to the tree.

“Stand up, Princess.”

I use my body to crowd yours against the willow, and drag your hands higher as you let me push you until your cheek is pressed to the tree.

I bring my lips to your ear, breathing in the scent of your body coming alive beneath me.

“Your hands don’t leave the tree, understand?”

“I understand.”

I gently tuck a strand of hair behind your ear.

“My good girl.”

“Gods above, I love hearing that.”

I kiss the place your jaw meets your throat.

“I know.”

“Fuck.”

“Bend over.”

With a gentle grip on your hips, I tug you backward in a sharp pull, and you bend, struggling and straining to keep your hands where I told you to.

You’re bent at the waist, so trusting and willing, and gods, the things I want to do to you. My dragon shuffles on the clifftop, unsettled. Someone is approaching, but not quickly.

I run my hand down your spine over your leathers until I reach the break between your top and trousers. Goosebumps erupt over the sliver of skin as I hook my fingers under your waistline. Your leathers are tight, closed with a strong tie, weaving back and forth.

That’s not going to work for me.

The steel of my arms flex as I take hold and tear the closure from the leather. And as I begin to sink behind you, I tug your trousers down with me.

I lower myself to my knees, trailing my touch from your back to the globes of your perfect ass–dimpled and so soft it almost hurts.I let a fingertip ghost over the split between them without pushing in, and you moan and arch, opening just enough that I can smell the heady, heavy scent of your wanting. It makes me feel like an animal, and you’re the feast.

“You’re stunning.”

I love the effect those words have on you.

“Please.”

“‘Please’ what, Princess?”

I smile as I bring my lips to the inside of your thigh, just far enough away from your swollen need to make you desperate. The skin beneath my tongue is already dewy with a rush of the wanting I coax like an ember in you, and I am wrestling with my composure. I pull the leathers farther down.

You try to bend farther, to force my mouth to fall where you want them with a little whimper.

“Please touch me.”

But I don’t.

I lock your leg in the vice grip of my arm to keep you where I want you as I kiss and lick your left thigh from the back of your knee to your ass, savoring the flavor of your skin. As I draw near, beads of desire glisten as they run down your thighs, and my body tenses as a wave of pleasure rocks me from my core.

Seeing you like this–already dripping for me as I promise to please you… Fuck.

“Touch you where? … Touch you…here?”

With a grip on each of your delicious asscheeks, I spread you open, and I marvel. At the plush, slick, tight heat of you–still so welcoming when you have every reason to shut me out.

“This should be worshipped. You should be worshipped.”

I blow, slowly, from your asshole to the peak of your pussy and back, and you squirm. I watch your pussy clench around nothing.

“Fuck, Princess. Do you know what you taste like?”

I trail a finger along the seam of your sex, but do not push through as you whimper for me. I withdraw, and you jut your hips back again. I pull away to hold my finger to the light, examining the way a simple pass over your pussy has left it coated in your desperation.

My cock jumps again, and gods do I want to sink myself into you.

“No, I don’t.”

“We should remedy that.”

I take my cock into my own hand with hard, long strokes.

“Fuck me, you are perfect.”

I have to taste you.

“Please. Ugh, gods, please–”

“Fuuuck me, thank you. Oh gods.”

“I would eat you until the grave claims me, Princess. You are sweeter than any honey wine or lover’s touch I’ve ever known.”

“Yes. Gods, yes, Don’t stop.”

My dragon is warning me we don’t have long, and it takes everything in me to stop my tongue from lapping at your entrance, taking my time to tease and taste you as you wriggle against the vice grip of my arms.

“But we don’t have time.”

I chuckle as I stand, running my hands over your ass and the curve of your bak until I’m bending over you. My cock slips between your thighs with your slickness, and The pressure and warmth of your thighs sends a shiver of pleasure through me as I moan my desire into your ear.

“We don’t have much time at all, do we, Princess?”

“No, we don’t have time.”

I ghost my hand over your skin, stopping long enough to trace a light line from the hollow of your throat to the dip between them. I wrap my hand around your throat, stilling your ragged, desperate breath.

“Stay still.”

I reach between us and slip my middle finger into the perfect, needy mess of you to slide over your clit. You gasp and fight your instinct to move against my hand as I add pressure, circle, add another finger.

I love to watch you work for it… But I can hear my dragon warning me. We do not have much time until we are discovered.

“Someone is approaching. Will you cum quickly for me?”

“I don’t know.”

“That is unacceptable. You said you are more than a princess. What else are you made of?”

“Right, that. I’m… I’m the hero.”

I run my fingers through your slit and slick them in your wetness, relishing the sound it forces from you. I pull your head back, forcing you to arch until I press a kiss into your hair as you pant.

“That’s right. You’re the hero.”

I plunge two fingers into your pussy, pushing deep as a moan that makes my heart pound rips from your mouth and you arch harder.

“Please, please…”

“That’s it, Princess. Beg.”

Just your fingertips are skimming the tree now and I hold you in place as you squirm. I press against that spot in you that makes your knees buckle, and I curse whoever is about to find us for taking away my chance to memorize the melting silk slide of being inside of you for the first time. Still, I circle your clit with my thumb and curl my fingers to rub the spot just past your opening as you pant and whine and want.

I know you want to feel it, so I make sure you do.

“Gods, you're so wet. You can take it. Just a bit more.”

I feel you tightening around my fingers as your hips buck backward with all of your desperate, precious, needy sounds.

I pull my fingers from you before you can finish.

“No, please. Please let me–”

I do not let you finish. Instead, I smother it with two fingers, glistening with your wetness, slipped into your mouth.

You suck your taste from my fingers, and the greedy look in your eyes sends more pre-cum falling to the ground beneath us.

“Fuck, Princess, I love to see you hungry. Lick them clean. Quickly.”

“Please, I need more inside of me. I’m begging you to fuck me. Please.”

“I know, Princess. I know.”

“I promised to take care of you.”

“I’ll do anything.”

“Widen your stance.”

“Oh, gods, fuck me.”

Gods, I have imagined fucking you every night since I saw you. I have imagined the strength of your body as it clenched to hold mine inside, imagined the ecstasy of sinking into you, of pushing into the deepest places.

My imagination failed. My fingers press white divots into your divine hips as I slide out of you and slam back in.

“Fuck.”

“Take it for me, Princess.”

“You’re so deep.”

“Fucking take it.”

“Make me take it. I need you to fill me. Please.”

“Fuck, you’re perfect. Just like that. Look at you.”

“Come here.”

I push you forward, pressing your body closer to the willow you have never broken away from this entire time. I hook one of your arms behind your back as I reposition the head of my cock to notch at your entrance and you arch, trying to slide me inside.

I catch your other hand, breathe deeply and slowly as I kiss your palm and you strain over your shoulder and meet my gaze. I guide your hand down your front until our fingers dip into the dripping heat and a soft moan escapes you.

“Touch yourself, Princess.”

I shake my head and watch your mouth open with pleasure as you finger your clit and squirm on the tip of my cock.

“So you can follow instructions.”

“I can listen when I want t–Oh fuuuck”

“Yes. Yes. Look how well you take me, Princess.”

“I can’t, I can’t. Please. Please. I need–”

I clamp my hand over your mouth.

“I know what you need.”

I thrust deep as I crush you against my chest with my sword arm banded across your shoulders, pushing past resistance deep inside of you and lifting you to your toes as you cry out into my hand.

“please”

Your knees are weak as I slide nearly all the way out. I hold you up as your feet find the ground, then fuck you harder and deeper than before–buring myself in you so far that you are forced to your tip toes.

I watch your eyes roll in your head, feel you melt in my arms. Your pussy flutters around my cock, clenching in building spasms. You’re almost there.

“Fuck, feel how you open up for me. So deep inside of you.”

I pull slowly out again, supporting you as your legs quiver and your eyes roll and you pant in my arms. I love seeing you like this. I love erasing the world until all there is is pleasure and need and my cock so deep inside of you you can barely take it. I tilt your face toward me and kiss you, gently and slowly with the reverence you deserve.

That sound drives me crazy.

“Yes.”

You squirm on my cock as I fill you so deeply you have to rise to your tip toes, but there is nowhere for you to go. I hold your weight in my arms as your body obeys me, clenching, over and over. Fuck. I pull out and slam back in. Fuck.

“That’s my girl, taking me over and over. My perfect girl.”

I curl myself underneath you, still buried completely inside of you. I circle you in my arms and bounce you on my cock as I push and push.

“Cum on my cock, Princess.”

I press a kiss to your shoulder and readjust my hand’s seal over your lips.

“You can let go. I’ve got you. I will carry you through.”

Our eyes meet again.

“You deserve it. You’ve earned it.”

And you finally surrender.

Your body quivers as my cock pulses with each convulsion of your climax. I can feel the waves of pleasure as they crest and break and you squeeze me, shuddering. Come heaven or hell, this is the closest I will ever come to being anointed.

“Fuck, Princess.”

“I think we’re likely to find him here. Maybe near the willow, it’s that time of day.”

You slowly stop rocking against me. I bury my face into the curve of your neck as I hold you and you drop a kiss onto my forearm.

“Princess? I hope you believe me when I tell you you are already perfect. To me, you are.” So

“Why haven’t all of our training sessions been like this?”

I spin you in my arms to kiss your forehead and meet your eyeline.

“Now that I know how effective this technique is, I’ll do my best to work it into the rotation. You know I live to please. Now get dressed, we have five seconds.”

“What?!”

I smile at you and you roll your narrowed eyes as I get my trousers fastened, shirtless and sweaty. You press a hand to the torn closure of your trousers, and you look suddenly suspicious like you have a blade behind your back as my second in the dragon riders order spots us.

“Ah, there you are. And what’s this? Both the great general of the dragon riders and the chosen one. You two look–”

My best friend pauses and looks us up and down–his fox’s grin gleaming as he deduces what I’ve just done. Our eyes catch, and I give him a look that promises he’ll regret saying the wrong thing next.

“Training must have been vigorous. Just think, if you’re working hard enough in training to look the way you two do, the realm will be saved in no time.”

I wait for you to look at me, and it’s like being found by the sun after a long, dark winter. If you do not know it by now, I have failed you. I turn to my second in command and spin him away from you.

“Captain, we have new intelligence to discuss. Let’s go.” “Princess, thank you for giving our session your all. Same time and place tomorrow. Be prepared.”

You blush, and it’s the most beautiful color I’ve ever seen. As I walk away with my nosy friend, I know finding all the ways I can make your cheeks turn that color is all I will think about until I see you again. And I know I am a fool for ever wishing you hadn’t been sent to us. For you would not have been sent to me.