Chapter 32

L iana’s ploy worked.

Kaxim became hungrier than ever before for her.

She hated that she’d needed to dangle sex in front of him and tempt him, but it appeared that the man required coaxing to fall in love.

So even though she’d denied she was toying with him, she played her game to the hilt.

Over the next few days, she seduced him and loved him tender.

A stroke along an arm, a light touch on his cheek. Husky promises of what they could share when they were ready for each other when the time was right.

She tormented him with glimpses of her body, the curve of her hips, the swell of her breasts, the hint of her thighs.

Liana witnessed Kaxim struggle with his ratcheting desires.

Hating that she had to tease him so.

She was convinced it was the only way to ease his reticence: to make him yearn to know her better and trust that she meant well for him. While still giving him a sample of the divine.

She had no plans to be married to a frigid, unyielding man.

She wanted a lifetime with a lover who showed passion, adored her, and gave her the intimacy, partnership, and even family life she craved.

Outside their bedchamber, Kaxim remained cold, his actions cautious and controlled. Still, Liana noticed a change—a softening in his gaze and a warmth in his touch that he didn’t seem to realize was there.

She grew more enamored with him as he struggled to control his fervor.

Liana perceived that the desire burning within Kaxim was a sign of something far more significant than mere lust. It was a fire forged by destiny, a fever scorching hotter every day until it consumed them both.

Each night, she made him writhe under her ministrations.

She found a dozen ways to tease his cock, to massage his throbbing erection.

To push him to the brink of ecstasy and then pull back, edging him til he could scarcely stand it.

While doing so, she assured him that she was his, that he belonged to her.

She whispered sweet nothings in his ear, promising him that soon, she would be his, and he would be hers.

She traced the outline of his body with the tips of her fingers, making him burn with longing and ache for her touch.

She teased him, taunted him, pushed him to the brink, and then pulled back, building his desire until it was a raging inferno.

Her lips to his skin drove him wild with want and need.

Each morning, she would wake him with gentle kisses, trailing her lips over his sinewed length, awakening him to a world of bliss that he never thought existed.

And he would beg for it, begging her to take him, to claim him as her own. But she would not let him have it yet.

Each time she held him at arm’s length, teasing him with the threat of pleasure just out of reach, she fell deeper in love with him.

Liana was a woman of patience and strategy.

The way to his heart was to bypass his brooding, overthinking mind and enchant him with a sensual touch and a caring aura, winning him over, inch by inch, until she captivated him.

And so, with each passing week, Kaxim sank more under Liana’s spell.

She wanted Kaxim to understand what it meant to adore someone completely, to be wholly immersed by that affection.

For she was falling.

She had never been so consumed this way, this intense connection, this burning desire that engulfed her every thought and action.

It was mind-blowing, and she welcomed it. She was never more alive than when she seduced the unexpected love of her life.

The mighty Kaxim of Katánē, Sky Ash, the most decorated Commander of the Katánian army, was sulking.

It had all begun earlier that day when in bed, Liana had driven him off the edge, pelvis jerking, cock spurting, as she suckled him, hard and long.

From dawn, she’d been edging him for hours, loving how his sinewed arms had bunched. His neck veins were jutted, and his hips rutted, driving his length in between her lips.

As he came down, her hands had used a delicate cloth to wipe off the excess spurts from his thighs and her tits.

He’d stared at her, chest heaving.

‘Fokk Liana,’ he groaned. ‘I can’t take more of this without returning the pleasure.’

She’d smiled at him, given him a soft kiss, and sailed out of the sleeping quarters, where she’d marched to the bathhouse and washed.

He’d joined her minutes later, amped up and frustrated.

‘Woman, you’re skating on thin ice,’ he’d growled when she palmed his tight ass.

‘Calm down, soldier, you shall be rewarded in due time.’

He spent the rest of the morning growling, grunting, scowling, and snapping at his soldiers.

Kaxim’s frustration had been simmering for days, a contained storm beneath his gruff exterior.

He hated how much he longed for her touch, voice, and kemí , subsuming to utter adoration.

His attempts to consummate his ardor for Liana had been met with constant obstacles—chief among them her refusal to consummate their union.

He understood her hesitance; their marriage had been a matter of duty, not love, but that didn’t make it any easier for him to bear.

His frustration grew each time she pulled away.

It had begun to seep into every aspect of his life, most noticeably in how he treated his soldiers.

They were the unfortunate recipients of his ire, enduring his sharp commands and stern rebukes without complaint, though they were walking on eggshells around him.

One afternoon, he snapped at a young soldier who had done nothing more than ask for clarification on an order.

Kione, who’d appeared at the edge of the training field, cast a knowing look his way.

Since the wedding, the Kíríga’s Second Armorer had remained at KySyene on Killen’s orders to assist Kaxim as the K?str?l threat loomed ever closer.

Kaxim’s mentees scattered as soon as they were dismissed, eager to escape the commander’s foul temper.

Kione waited until they were alone before speaking. ‘You’re more bear than falcon today, Kaxim,’ he remarked, folding his arms across his chest. ‘What’s got you in such a mood? Not the war. You’ve faced worse odds with a forced grin.’

Kaxim grunted, wiping sweat from his brow. ‘It’s nothing,’ he said. The irritation in his growl betrayed him.

‘Nothing?’ Kione raised an eyebrow. ‘You’ve been barking at everyone like they’ve insulted your mother. If I didn’t know better, I’d say you were in pain.’

Kaxim shot him a glare. ‘I’m fine.’

‘Fine,’ Kione echoed, unconvinced. He stepped closer, lowering into a murmur. ‘This have anything to do with your Kwen? ?’

Kaxim stiffened at the mention of Liana, his jaw clenching. ‘Leave it, fokker.’

‘Ah,’ Kione said with a knowing smirk. ‘I see. The mighty Kaxim is feeling something other than anger or duty. Tell me, what’s she done to get under your skin?’

Kaxim’s eyes narrowed, but Kione’s grin only widened. ‘You’re falling in love with her, aren’t you?’

Kaxim’s silence was all the confirmation Kione needed. He clapped his friend on the back, though the smile faded as he saw the tension in Kaxim’s expression. ‘What’s the problem, then? Shouldn’t you be happy about this?’

‘I don’t know how to handle it,’ Kaxim muttered, the admission seeming to cost him. ‘I’m not good with words. I don’t know how to make her understand I want more.’

Kione considered this for a moment. ‘Maybe she’s waiting for you to tell her how you feel.’

Kaxim shook his head, his cock jolting like he did each time he visualized her stunning face, her soft lips, and her crimson hair.

Liana had ignited an unquenchable fire that burned within him, and it scorched, consuming his every thought.

He could not escape her pull and needed to be close to her, to touch her, to cherish her. He hissed, letting out his frustration for his friend to see.

Kione raised a brow. ‘Damn, the formidable Sky Ash has got it bad. You have to tell her.’

‘I told you, I’m not good with words.’

‘Then show her,’ Kione pushed. ‘You’re a man of action, stank sucker. Do what you do best. She’s your wife, your queen. Make her see how much she means to you.’

Kaxim frowned, his mind mulling over the notion. ‘Show her?’ he murmured, more to himself than Kione.

Kione grinned, sensing his friend’s internal shift. ‘Actions, you dickcissel. Whatever it’ll take to translate those grunts of yours into meaning.’

He winked, earning a scowl from Kaxim, before pivoting away. ‘Good luck, fokker. And don’t forget to smile now and then—it won’t kill you.’

With that, Kione was off, leaving Kaxim alone with his thoughts.

The idea of demonstrating to Liana how he felt gnawed at him, growing stronger with each passing hour.

By nightfall, he’d made up his mind.

He spent the rest of the following day planning.

His tent, ordinarily a place of stark functionality, was transformed.

At his barked command, a substantial stone bathtub appeared.

Flowers were brought in, candles set out, and a bath was drawn with fragrant oils. It wasn’t the grandest gesture, but it was pure—a raw, tangible display of the feelings he couldn’t quite put into words.

As the last candle was lit, Kaxim stood back, surveying the scene.

Unsure what Liana would make of it, he hoped it would be enough to show her that she meant more to him than just a duty.

That evening, when his wife entered the tent, she froze at the entrance, her eyes widening in surprise.

She’d come from a long day visiting the wounded at the camp clinic, and he tagged her soul weariness in their khamana .

The soft glow of the candles cast a warm light over everything. The scent of flowers mingled with the steam from the tub created a cocoon of comfort and intimacy.

‘Kaxim,’ she whispered, her husky utterance trembling as she took it all in.

He stood by the bath, his heart pounding, fists clenched at his side.

‘I thought you might like it,’ he growled, his tone gruff but laced with a vulnerability that surprised even him.

Liana’s eyes misted as she walked further into the tent. ‘I see you, the man behind the warrior—the one trying to reach me. It’s beautiful,’ she said, her voice breaking. ‘ Sante .’

He almost dropped to his knees in relief, reaching for her, his chest burning as he wiped the tears from her eyes.

With an inhale, he led her to the bath.

The room was brimming with candles’ warm glow, casting dancing shadows across their bodies as he removed her cloak, then her armor and undersuit.

They fell to the floor in a whisper until she was naked before him.

Liana quivered, not with cold, but with need, her insides churning, her pussy so wet and ready for him.

Her eyes drank in Kaxim’s beauty, and he stripped and stepped into the stone tub filled with hot water, petals, and fragrant oil.

Reaching a sinewed hand for her, he helped her in. The liquid cascaded down her curves and glistened in the soft candlelight.

Kaxim leaned in to kiss her shoulders and neck from behind.

She shivered at the sensory experience of his muscled bulk along her spine, the scorching length of his cock, and the tender touch of being bathed by him.

With a moan, she turned her head, seeking his lips.

They met in a heated clash, mouths melding, passion ratcheting as their bodies intertwined in the water.

Kaxim pulled from her with a groan. ‘Let me bathe you, woman because if we keep kissing like this, I’ll blow.’

She sat back with a tremulous smile as he set about ministering to her body.

The gentle sounds of splashing and Kaxim’s breath lulling in and out filled the room, creating a peaceful atmosphere as he bathed her.

They didn’t speak, but the silence was comfortable, imbued with their newfound understanding.

It was an unspoken, wordless promise of care and love.

Kaxim’s touch was like a soothing balm, and with each stroke of his hands, Liana relaxed, her mind drifting into a tranquil state of bliss.

It was a tiny ritual but one that held immense significance, a symbol of their deepening khamana .

Afterward, he lifted her from the water, dried her, and nestled her into a robe before leading her to the small table he had set with food and wine.

They ate in stillness with a quiet intimacy more potent than words, their khamana bond palpitating with the feelings arcing between them.

When the meal was finished, Kaxim pulled her into his arms, holding her close and striding with her to bed, his lodestone pulsing.

Once horizontal, they kissed, and their bodies melded.

At one point, he tore his mouth from hers. ‘Will you let me love you tonight, or will you fokkin’ tease me tonight?’ he demanded.

She pursed her lips and shook her head. ‘I wouldn’t dare. But first, allow your queen her greatest desire, an experience she’s been waiting for, the feeling of you inside her.’

‘How can I refuse, my Highness?’ he rasped, dry and hoarse with raw desire.

Her hand reached for him, and he understood what she wanted.

He shifted, turning onto his back, presenting himself to her.

Liana smiled against his lips, her eyes glinting with desire. She gazed at his throbbing erection and straddled him.

‘ Sahasí ,’ he growled, shuddering with need as she took the head of his massive member and tapped her clit, sliding it over her wetness, driving him wild.

‘Please, woman,’ he begged.

She stared down at the mountain of her man, keening for her pussy, and was hit with a measure of pity. ‘As you wish, my warrior.’

One of her hands braced on the muscled, firm ripple of his chest and abdomen. She squeezed the throbbing length of his cock in her hand, positioning it over herself.

With a moan, she lowered her pelvis and worked his mushroomed head into her.

He bucked, thrusting with care until, finally, he was enveloped in her cunt.

She gasped at the girth as he filled her, the delight washing over her like a tidal wave.

Her head tipped back, eyes closed in bliss.

‘Kaxim, kadari ,’ she wailed.

She began to move, her hips rocking with deliberation, then picking up speed as the intensity grew.

Her lover’s hands roamed over her body, his fingers tracing gentle patterns over her skin, his touch feather-light as he sought to heighten her pleasure.

His thumb found her clit and worked it, alternating between flicks and rubs that drove her wild.

He groaned as the sensation of her heat enveloped him. Her muscles tightened around him, and he jolted as his zeal ratcheted.

Liana moaned as she squeezed him inside her.

It was like coming home after a long journey; the sensual familiarity and how they fit so well together were overwhelming.

His hands cupped her tits and plumped them, pulling her close so he licked and laved them, suckling, and she pulled away and threw her head back.

She began circling her hips, sliding up and down and around on his cock, her body surging in time with her movements.

‘Woman, you’re fokkin’ beauty,’ Kaxim grunted. He found her hips, gripping them. He moved with her, groin thrusting up to meet her each time she slid down.

‘So are you, lover.’

Their khamana bond flashed as she spoke, sending shards of pure golden delight through them.

A ribbon of gold energy arched between them, and Liana gasped. It was rising from the crimson feather on Kaxim’s chest.

She paused her undulating pelvis for a moment to stare at it.

He was, too, stunned as the gilded inferno danced, flitting over their bodies and heightening their passion.

‘Liana?’ Kaxim growled. ‘Are you doing this?’

‘ Nada , kadari , I think our khamana k?tu has combined with my kríffin power, ignited by our sex.’

‘Whatever the fokk it, it’s freakin’ fantastic,’ he growled.

The flames flared and bathed them with even more sensual energy.

Kaxim bucked into his woman as scorching need and bliss washed over him.

Liana, too, cried out, thrusting down in pure abandon as her pussy clung to the length of his heated cock.

This was magic beyond comprehension , she thought, riding the waves of pleasure that kept mounting higher, wilder.

The rhythm ratcheted as they flamed.

Their eyes locked, and their desire reflected each other’s gaze, a silent plea for the other to give in to the ecstasy they were experiencing.

Liana’s eyes flickered shut, her head thrown back.

Her moans grew louder, more insistent, straining against him as she neared her climax.

Kaxim matched her cadence, his pelvis pistoning in time with hers, their bodies becoming one, their passion rising like a storm.

Her muscles contracted around him, and he roared, the sensation sending a jolt of pleasure through him as she climaxed, her body trembling in rapture.

He followed her, knifing up to bury his face in her neck as he worked his hips harder into her, growling and panting into her nape.

His seed scorched her as she thrust into him in a moment of pure bliss.

Surrounding them, their soul flames exploded, falling into flecks of pure energy that touched their skin before flaring out.

Liana stared at the exploding golden motes in wonder, holding her Djuik tight in her arms.

‘Who knew waiting would bring such sweet pleasure,’ she breathed. ‘Was it worth it, kadari ?’

‘It was fokkin’ hell, but the payout is heaven,’ he growled into her collarbone, still slicking in and out of her.

Their lips found melded as they came down off their high.

Every touch and kiss was a silent confession of the feelings he had been too afraid to voice.

In time, they fell back into bed, their bodies entwined.

His cock still twitched inside her, and Liana was imbued with a sense of peace she hadn’t encountered in a long time.

His thigh slid over her, her breast cupped in his hand as they slipped into sweet slumber in each other’s arms.