Chapter Twenty-Four

Over a week later, after the King's daily bath and underwater blow job, he finally uncaged my cock. We had returned to bed where he laid me down and began a campaign of pleasure on my body. But no matter what he did, my cock refused to respond to his touch. Not that I didn't enjoy him sucking at my nipples or biting my belly. I enjoyed it very much. It was sheer ecstasy to lie beneath him and be the recipient for once. I writhed and moaned, but my cock remained flaccid. Instead of being upset by this, Vax grinned.

"Well done, slave," Vax said as he played with my flaccid flesh.

It twitched but then went still.

He chuckled. "Maybe I can leave the cage off."

I released a breath and dared to ask, "Why?"

"Watch." He lowered his head and sucked my cock into his mouth. Moaning, he tongued my limp dick, playing with it.

A jolt went up my spine, and I cried out, hands itching to grab his hair. But then I flinched, and the pleasure withdrew, pooling in my belly. It stayed there, just behind my balls. Waiting. I wasn't sure for what.

Then Vax lifted his head and said, "You may harden now." He went back to sucking me.

Instantly, my cock swelled, and the King made a rumbling sound of pleasure around it. The vibration intensified the sensations, and I arched off the bed, rapture unlike any I'd known before running through me. The motherfucker had trained my cock to obey him. I wanted to be angry, but the way it magnified my pleasure couldn't be denied. Getting angry would be hypocritical.

Vax drew back and sat on his heels. "Don't come yet, slave."

"Yes, Your Majesty," I panted, cock aching and bobbing.

"Good boy." He tapped my balls approvingly. "Pull your legs back."

"Yes, Your Majesty." I grabbed my knees and pulled them back.

Vax usually preferred to fuck me from behind. This change heartened me. He was going to allow me to look upon his face as I came. If my dick hadn't been so well trained, I would have erupted right then, with the mere thought of what was to come. Ha. To come. That would be me! Finally! I'd never been so sexually aroused without having an orgasm for so long before. It was worse than getting cut up by that Hulfrin.

"That's a good slave," Vax said.

I knew he was trying to be scornful, but the words came out tender. I hoped that meant he was on the verge of forgiving me.

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

A ribbon of water brought a bottle of hress nectar to Vax. He poured a little on my entrance, then rubbed it in. Watching me for any sign of climax, he played with my hole, teasing me with gentle prods before slipping a finger inside. I pulled my knees back further and begged him with my eyes.

Gods, he was beautiful. Even when Vax was trying to punish me, even when he denied me, my desire for him didn't wane. It only grew stronger. There was something between us that I didn't understand. It was a testament to my loyalty to Teng that I'd left Vax at all. The Sea King was magnetic.

I remembered the way I'd found Vax when I returned. Curled up in the ashes like some tragic beast from a story. He had mourned me. Torn apart his home for me. Knowing he felt as much for me as I did for him gave me the strength to keep this game going. And yes, it was a game. I knew it, and Vax knew it. The longer it went on, the more anxious I should have become. Worried. Frantic, even. But I wasn't. I knew this wouldn't last. He was a king. A man of pride and power. He needed this to move forward. Because in his mind, I had committed the greatest sin—rejecting him when he offered me everything.

So, yes, I continued to play the part of his bed slave. Shit, it was starting to feel normal.

"Do you want me to fuck you, slave?" Vax demanded.

Yup, this was part of our routine. Vax needed constant reassurance that I still wanted him. That I hadn't sunk into true slavery and was merely obeying. That, too, gave me hope. Vax cared about me despite his anger. Either that or he didn't want to be a rapist, not even an accidental one. I wasn't a normal slave, after all.

"Yes," I said. "Please fuck me, Your Majesty."

Vax made a satisfied grunt but didn't withdraw his finger. Instead, he shoved it deeper. Harder. Harder still. My body shook as he pounded his pointer finger into me, the rest of his fingers balled up to punch my ass. My cock bounced, my ass jiggled, and I think I saw the face of Jingtin, the Neraky God. He wasn't as beautiful as Vax.

"Beg for it," Vax said.

You want me to beg? No problem.

"Please!" I shouted. "Oh, please fuck me. Let me come! Please!"

Suddenly, the motions stopped, and Vax slipped his finger out of me. He rubbed my hole again, making delighted sounds. Then, at last, he got into position on his knees and held his cock to my entrance. Gently, he pushed forward. The tip breached me.

Why is he taking so long?!

"Oh, fuck," I whimpered. "Please, Your Majesty."

"How much do you desire me?" Vax demanded.

"More than anyone. There is no one else for me."

This was another of his favorite questions.

"Will you ever take another man's shaft into your body, Zixin?" He pushed halfway in, then withdrew.

"No, never!"

"Swear it again. On your god."

I paused. Now, this was new.

"Swear it!" Vax shouted.

I let go of my legs, draping them over his powerful forearms, and reached for Vax. His hard expression faltered, and he bent into my touch. My hands slid up his chest, then around his neck. He watched me warily. At last, I took his face in my hands.

"Vax, you're all I want. All I will ever want. If you cast me aside, I may take comfort in another man. I would need it to survive. So, I can't make you that vow. But I will promise you this; if you keep me, I'm yours forever."

The King's breath hitched and his eyes trembled, the lids flickering violently. The muscles in his throat worked as if swallowing was painful. I let go of his face and gripped his shoulders, lowering my stare as well so he could process without the weight of my eyes on him.

Slowly, Vax slid into me, going deeper this time. I sighed and gripped his shoulders tighter. With a grunt, he lifted my legs, bending me into a curve, and undulated in and out. In and out. Until he was as deep as he could go. And then, steady as a drumbeat, he pumped.

"Say it again," he growled.

I looked up, my chest bursting with joy to see Vax above me, his hair wild around his shoulders, and those shoulders in my hands. His purple eyes shone with emotions that I prayed he'd confess to.

"Gods, you're gorgeous," I said.

His lips twitched. "That's not what I want to hear."

"Isn't it?" I grinned.

Another twitch of his lips. "Say it, slave."

"I'm yours for as long as you want me. And I hope that's forever."

Vax bent over me and kissed me for the first time since I had returned. I groaned into his mouth, my hearts racing with joy. Hands clutching at him, I sank into our kiss. The bliss of it rivaled the feel of his cock in my channel. This was the connection I craved, and it did more for my arousal than anything else.

Groaning, I came, my body exploding in ecstasy and happiness. Back arching and muscles clenching, I refused to break our kiss. I held on and stroked his tongue with mine as the Sea King gave me the greatest orgasm of my life. It made my head spin. My eyes roll back in my head. My toes curl. All the things. And so much more. My chest seemed to fill with light and that light burst through my body, casting out the darkness. It tingled and awakened parts of me I didn't know were dormant. In short, it was magical. Neraky don't possess magic beyond our ability to breathe underwater and project our thoughts. But Vax had shown me what it felt like to have magic.

The King kept thrusting through my orgasm, kissing me as passionately as I kissed him. But then he pulled back and stared at me. Looked down at my release. Eased back. Hands on my hips, he anchored me and started a savage pounding.

"I didn't give you permission to come, slave," the Sea King snarled.

"Oh, fuck," I muttered. I cleared my throat to say, "I'm so sorry, Your Majesty. I thought—"

"Shut up!" He pounded into me, getting more and more savage until he locked up and his back arched.

Vax looked away from me as he came, his stare going to the ceiling. Nor did he roar or cry out my name. He just grunted and held me against him tightly, filling me. Only after his orgasm faded did he look at me. And then his expression was one of disgust.

"Vax?" I whispered.

He pulled out and shoved me away in one maneuver. Vax stood up on the mattress and stared down at me, more distant than ever. I just lay there, at a loss for what to say. He stepped off the bed and onto the floor. Hearts sinking, I watched him leave the bedroom.

"Fuck!" I hissed and pounded the mattress with my fists.