17. Chapter 17

Chapter seventeen

T his feels frighteningly domesticated. I’m sitting alone with Mabon at this cosy two-seater table by the window, having a candlelit dinner. Though I don’t think the candles are for romance, I think the fey simply prefer them to electricity.

Mabon is ignoring me again. Whatever he is reading on his tablet is apparently infinitely more interesting than me. But the silence feels companionable. Comfortable even. And besides, he is probably reading work stuff. Ruling Britain has to come with some admin.

Which sucks for him. I’m glad that I just get to sit here and enjoy this amazing food. Steak and a selection of perfectly seared vegetables. Heavenly.

I peek at Mabon and quickly look away before he can catch me staring. He looks fine. He looks exactly like his normal glamorous, beautiful self. There is no hint of the vulnerable man who clung to me yesterday. Is he over it? Is he hiding it? And if so, what the fuck else does he hide? Because I’d never be able to tell from looking at him now that he’d ever had a dark day in his life.

My stomach twists queasily, and I put my fork down. Is he okay? Should I ask? Would he be grateful for my concern, or would he consider it an intrusion?

I’m saved from my indecision by a shadowy servant approaching the table. He bows elegantly, places a very pretty box with a ribbon on it on the table and then drifts silently away.

Mabon puts his tablet down. His eyes are sparkling. He picks up the parcel and opens it excitedly. He is like a kid at Christmas and now I want to buy him all the gifts in the world.

He rummages in the soft pink tissue paper and pulls out a silver bracelet encrusted with diamonds. It sparkles and glitters in the candlelight.

He slides it onto his left wrist, where it nestles among his other bracelets. He holds his hand up and coos over his present.

“Is it from him?” I snap.

Mabon’s gaze flicks from his new bracelet to me. He gives me a long, dark look.

“No,” he says simply, and he goes back to admiring the sparkle of his gift.

Relief surges through me. I don’t think he is lying, why would he? He has no need to lie to his pet. The bracelet is not from Gwydion. So who is it from? Does Mabon have other lovers?

My gaze rakes over the many bracelets that adorn both his slender wrists. Are they all gifts from lovers?

“Are you jealous?”

I look at him and find him staring at me intently.

“No,” I say, but it sounds sulky to my own ears.

Mabon laughs. Rich and melodic. The sound sinks into my heart and does strange things. He slides off his chair and glides over to me. He pushes the table away and the next thing I know, he is on my lap, facing me with his hands resting casually on my shoulders.

“I’ve been ignoring my little pet,” he purrs.

I should deny it. I should scoff and laugh and tell him he is being ridiculous. But then he might walk away.

So I say nothing. I just stare at him. Whatever he sees in my eyes makes him smirk. The curve of his lips is not enough to make his dimples appear. I need to deepen his smile. It’s imperative. But I haven’t got the faintest clue where to start.

His hands gently slide down from my shoulders. They skim over my pecs and rest on my nipples. His purple eyes flash dangerously. His fingers twist, tweak and pull. And they don’t stop.

I groan. He giggles. He is a warm weight on my lap. The silk of his robes feels nice against the bare skin of my thighs.

Mister Dinky is going to be making an appearance very soon.

Pleasure is shooting through me. It’s igniting my blood and setting fire to my skin. I really don’t understand how he does this to me. It’s as if he has a direct line to my arousal and can turn it on anytime he chooses.

His hands continue to work. I continue to get hotter. Any more heat and I’ll burst into flames.

Suddenly, he bends down and licks my hard nipple in one broad stroke. My hips lift and a noise like a whimper spills out of me. Mabon sucks my nipple into his mouth and the wet heat of it has my eyes rolling to the back of my head.

He lifts off with a wet plop.

“I should feed you Milkthistle, so you can make milk for me to drink.”

My entire body jerks, and I inhale sharply.

“You like that idea?” he asks sweetly.

“No,” I grunt. And I’m pretty sure it is the truth.

Mabon laughs and gets back to licking and sucking while his hand torments my other nipple. I know he has felt my straining erection because now he is wriggling evilly on it. But he doesn’t release my nipple to comment on it.

My eyes flutter closed. I think I might actually cum like this.

But everything stops. My eyes open. Mabon is staring at me intensely. Slowly, his hands rise up to cup my face. Slowly, tentatively, he starts to lean in.

Why is he being so cautious? I look into his eyes. The uncertainty and nervousness I see strikes me right in the heart. He is not sure if I’ll kiss him again.

My arms wrap around his back and I yank him towards me and smash our lips together. He lets out an adorable little squeak, and then, just like last time, he melts in my arms. Mabon turns all soft and pliant and gooey and it is the most addictive thing I have ever experienced.

I adore haughty, confident and bossy Mabon. But this soft, needy Mabon steals my heart utterly. Perhaps because it is such a contrast. Or perhaps I’m simply a caveman and submission speaks to my psyche. Who knows? Who cares? I don’t. It’s wonderful, and that is all there is to it.

I kiss him with all of my skill and all of my tenderness. He really is squirming now, and it feels damn good. I could happily sit like this forever. Kissing Mabon while he wriggles delightfully on my cock.

I am definitely going to cum like this.

My hands drift up to run through his glorious hair. It feels so soft, so sleek, so satiny. Warm too. And as I brush through it, more of his delicious scent wafts free.

My fingers snag on a braid. And then another one. I’m pretty sure they are held up by pins. I find one and pull it out and let it drop to the floor. A coil of Mabon’s hair falls free. I find another pin and then another. Soon all of his hair will be loose and magnificent. I will be able to caress it fully and exult in it.

Bright, burning pain explodes in my head. My vision whites out. My ears ring. Coppery blood floods my mouth.

What the fuck?

Mabon is not on my lap anymore. He is standing a few paces away with fury burning in his eyes.

He slapped me. Hard. Hard enough to bruise.

He storms into the bedroom and slams the door shut behind him. I flinch at the sound.

What the hell just happened?

Tentatively, I move my jaw and run my fingers along it. I don’t think it is broken. But that was still one hell of a slap. What did I do to deserve it? We were kissing and everything was lovely.

I wasn’t doing anything wrong? Was I? I was only playing with his hair.

Oh wait, is that the problem?

I rack my brain and think about the three girlfriends I have had. They all cared a great deal about their hair. Hannah left a dizzying array of products in my bathroom for when she stayed over. Hair is a girl’s pride and glory.

I know Mabon is not a girl, but his hair is extraordinary. It’s lovely. So it must take a lot of work.

I get to my feet and walk over to the bedroom door. I knock softly on it.

“I’m sorry, Mabon. I’m an idiot. I never should have played with your hair.”

Silence.

“I’m really sorry I messed your hair up. I won’t do it again.”

I press my ear against the door. It yanks open suddenly and I nearly fall flat on my face. I stumble and then catch myself.

Mabon stares at me. All his hair is tied up in severe braids.

“I’m sorry,” I say again.

He sighs heavily, and then a fond look flows over his face. “You really are dumb, aren’t you? All muscles and no brains.”

His hand reaches out and traces lightly over my biceps. I’m not sure I appreciate being called dumb, but at least he is not mad at me anymore.

“I have nothing to fear from you,” he says, as if speaking to himself. “You even saw a duel.” He stops and shakes his head, but there is a deep tenderness in the gesture that makes my heart skip a beat.

He pulls his hand back and stands up straight. “I’m going out.”

He brushes past me, and I grab his wrist. “Don’t go,” I hear myself say. He seems to have forgiven me, but I still hate the thought of him leaving like this.

“I have to.”

The air is heavy between us. Weighted. Difficult to breathe.

“Is it safe?” I ask.

He chuckles darkly. “Is it safe? This is court. It is never safe.”

My stomach twists. I don’t like the thought of him being in danger. I don’t like it at all and I don’t care if that’s illogical. I’m feeling what I’m feeling and I can’t just turn it off.

“Then don’t go. Stay with me.”

A thousand emotions flash across his beautiful eyes. I hold my breath. I can tell he is tempted. Part of him would like nothing more than to spend the evening with me, in the safety of his rooms.

“I can’t,” he says eventually.

I nod sadly and release his wrist. “Take me with you.”

I don’t know what I can do to protect him, but it has to be more than the nothing I can do if I’m left here. Duke Carian and Lord Gwydion, and heaven knows who else are out there.

Mabon tenderly strokes my face and I shamelessly lean into the touch. “As dumb as you are, there are still things you shouldn’t see.”

My heart rate spikes. Shit. He is not on to me, is he? I suck in a breath. No, I’m being paranoid. Mabon doesn’t know I’m with the Resistance.

His hand drops. He turns and he walks silently away. The door clicks shut behind him. He is gone and I am alone.

Well, at least he didn’t chain me to the bed this time. That’s progress. I pissed him off and he slapped me. But he is still giving me a free rein. Unless he didn’t mean to and he has simply forgotten to leash me.

Despondently, I wander over to the window and stare out into the darkness. My thoughts are a mess. My emotions are even worse. I don’t even know where to start trying to untangle this jumbled chaos.

I sigh deeply. Then a flickering light catches my attention. No. It can’t be.

My muscles freeze and go rigid. My lungs stop working. I watch and watch and count the flashes.

Oh my god. It’s true. It is the Resistance.

And they have a plan.