A Pryktian's Pride Ch. 08

It took much longer to get back to Grysn's home after the hearing. The mostly straight path we had taken before was exchanged for a long, roundabout route, twisting back on itself and encircling blocks of buildings at random. I had a feeling it had to do with the entourage that accompanied us after the spectacle we, or I, was made out to be.

The further we went, the fewer our followers became. Trickling off us like ripples left in a pond. By the time we were turning back onto a familiar block, we no longer resembled a walking exhibit.

Relaxed by the surroundings of his building, Grysn slowed while I continued up the stairs at full force, desperate to be inside, alone -mostly, at least- and off my aching feet.

Before my foot even landed on the top step, my eyes locked with that of a grayskin's that happened to be lounging against Grysn's door.

I froze as he held my gaze, yellow eyes as wide as mine must've been.

"You really brought one home?" he said, finally breaking contact to look behind me to Grysn, who gently pushed me forward.

I glanced up to Grysn as he brushed past me and the drygson in front of us to unlock his door. He seemed unphased by this intruder, so I calmed myself down and kept close to Grysn. "Did father send you to scold me?" he asked with a laugh, opening the door.

As I watched the stranger waltz into the flat ahead of us, I looked up cautiously at Grysn for any signs of betrayal, but was met with only a relaxed smile. He had mentioned a brother, I remembered that much. And it had sounded like he was very fond of him.

My worry came less from his behavior and more from experience of being alone with multiple men. And that damned dream, still fresh in my mind.

A shiver ran through me as I followed Grysn into the sitting room where our guest was already seated comfortably, staring at me the moment I was in view.

He smiled, playfully, though I wasn't immediately concerned by it like I am with most smiles of that nature. "Dad is pissed." His eyes moved to Grysn as his grin widened.

Grysn motioned for me to sit down next to him on the sofa, and I did so slowly. After glancing between the two, I decided to focus on my hands, clenching and unclenching rhythmically.

"He refused to stay for the verdict," Grysn said, and they both laughed, as though that wasn't a punishable offense. Although, maybe that sort of thing wasn't here. As the laugh subsided, Grysn turned to me. "This is my brother Kron."

I looked up at that smile, so similar to Grysn's and yet not. They did seem alike. The pale patterning on their face was similar in shape and color. His brother was clearly younger and leaner, though. But if I'm being honest, if you had sat down any drygson in that chair I'd probably see a resemblance. Most of them looked the same.

Kron looked at me, and his eyes were so soft, so bright and earnest, I almost didn't realize he was speaking. "What's your name?"

My mouth opened to answer, but I was caught so off guard by the friendliness he portrayed after sitting through the humiliation the guard people had put me through. I blinked and shut my mouth, restarting. "Nal."

One side of his mouth upturned, revealing a fanged tooth as he eyed Grysn with a quirked brow. "Did you really name her after Naldioshta?" That was the second time I'd heard that now. Before I could ask who or what that was, he scoffed and shook his head. "What was your original name then, Nal."

Glancing at Grysn for permission, I answered softly. "Rueg."

Kron flinched back, his brows knitting together as he lost his joyful disposition. "Rueg?" He repeated, putting an emphasis on the last letter in a way I'd never heard before, changing the sound of the word to something you might spit at a beggar on the street. "The Valley of the Damned, that Rueg?"

I clenched my jaw. Apparently they did steal our religion. Or at least knew some of it.

"I see why you changed it," he mumbled to Grysn.

"Was there something you came for," Grysn asked, rather politely. "Or did you just come to spite father?"

The smile returned as though it had never left as he gave a lighthearted shrug. "When I heard Jingry complain about you having caught a Pryktian, well I had to see it for myself." He turned to me, addressing me as though I was anyone else he would normally talk to. "Grysn's been obsessed with your kind since he was a kid. Refuses to speak about much else. Dad absolutely hates it."

Grysn rolled his eyes. "Are you just going to berate me about my passions or was there a matter of actual importance?" He smirked. "Or maybe you only came because father's worried and needs a report."

The edge of Kron's smile dipped as he shifted to prop his left leg up on the other. "You know how he is. Always thinking I can talk sense into you." He shook his head. "Was it really wise of you to bring her here? It is no small thing you are attempting. It could easily end badly, for both of you."

"Is that his message, or yours?"

"Mine, brother." Kron relaxed his smile more to reflect his serious tone. "You need to be careful with father right now. He feels you are disgracing mother's memory by sympathizing with the tians, and in his eyes, you may as well have-" Kron cut himself off with a shake of the head and a small exhale. "Nothing different, except now you have brought a tian home, bringing all of his fears and insecurities to the forefront."

Grysn was quiet, his eyes downcast, nodding gently in thought.

"But, please, don't you worry," Kron said turning to me. "Things always seem to turn in Grysn's favor." He winked as Grysn groaned dramatically.

"Oh, spare me."

I was lost going back and forth as one after the other spoke. Even though I wasn't speaking much, Grysn's brother was including me in their conversation. It had been a very long time since I'd been a part of a group conversation like this. Included and spoken to just like the others.

"I'm glad you stopped by, Kron, but we have much to attend to still, " Grysn said, rising with emphasis. When his brother rose also, Grysn grasped his brothers forearm. A long, intense gaze passed between the two before Grysn pulled him close into a hug. "Thank you for coming, brother. I've missed you greatly."

"As have I, Grysn."

With a hefty pat on both backs, they pulled apart and started toward the door as I waited to see if I was meant to follow.

"If it weren't for your new house guest, I would tell you it's never too late to come back home."

Grysn laughed quietly in the hall. "You know that place is no longer my home. And, besides, I much prefer it here."

The door opened with a creak before the sounds of parting footsteps faded through it. As Grysn returned, I caught an unfamiliar, darker smile and immediately stood, hoping I'd not done something wrong.

Seeing my expression, he laughed softly once again. "No, Naldi, you are fine." He moved to the kitchen pulling out a pair of thick glasses. "Seeing my brother is always bitter sweet these days."

I nodded, busying my hands in my skirt as I sat back down. "He seems... unusually nice."

A brief nod was his only response. He sighed, and then his distant gaze was replaced by a new brightness. "Enough of that, it's time to celebrate." He took a large bottle from a high shelf. It gave a startling 'pop' as he removed the cork. The dark green of it glittered as he poured a golden liquid into the two cups.

"They didn't say I could stay, though," I said, as I hesitantly accepted the glass. From how he had reacted to the hearing's outcome, I expected more negativity from him. "Why are we celebrating?"

He clinked his glass gently to mine before answering. "There are many things to celebrate, including the positive reception the Council had with you."

I swallowed nervously as he took a sip of his drink. Looking down, I swirled the liquid and inhaled the soft, floral scent. "What else are you celebrating?"

He waited to answer, staring at me expectantly. So I took a sample, and then, pleasantly surprised by the taste, took another. "Our safe return home, a successful hunt, and the start of a fruitful year." He paused, then softly added, "Finding you."

I looked up from a nearly empty glass to see Grysn already moving on from a rather foreboding statement.

"I also have a couple of promises to make good on today." He stood, taking my glass with him to the counter to top us both off.

"What promises?" I took the glass back and immediately began draining it.

"Whoa!" He swiftly intervened, pulling the cup away from my lips. "You'll make yourself sick going that fast."

My brows knit angrily together as I looked up at him. "What is it?"

He returned the glass to me, though I was now much less eager to drink any more. "Mead. And not the weak kind."

"Mead?" I repeated, my mouth staying open as I held the glass to the light. "Like... like the alcohol kind?"

He nodded, all but biting back a laugh.

I glanced to his amused smile before returning the drink to my lips. I wasn't sure if he realized this was the first time I'd ever tasted real alcohol, but I wasn't about to tell him that what little, bitter smelling alcohol we had in town was strictly forbidden for women to consume. I was not in the mood to deal with that pitiful look he gave me every time I spoke of my home.

As I finished the last of it, he took the glass from me, setting it down on a side table, and held out his hand, inviting me to take it. "Ready?"

No, but I took it. Standing seemed fine, though a warmness I could not remember ever feeling before was spreading through my stomach that I could only guess was the beginning effects of the alcohol.

He led me only a few paces across his home to a closed door at the opposite side of the hall from his room. After opening the room and switching on a dim lantern on the other side, he stepped aside for me.

A threadbare blanket was folded neatly on what seemed to be a child's old, wooden bed. In the corner sat a small, empty desk accompanied by a chair that needed a block under one leg to stand upright. There was barely enough room between the desk and the bed to pull the chair out to sit down.

Standing just inside the doorway, I took up half of the empty space left in the area. "What is this?"

He cleared his throat, a moment of uncharacteristic insecurity. "I understand that it is not much, I will be going to the market tomorrow for additions. But I thought you may feel more comfortable with a space of your own."

My own?

I blinked. My lips parted as my feet guided me in closer to the bed. The dust in the air swirled around my body, highlighting my movements. I touched the coarse fibers of the folded blanket.

"I have only one rule. If there are others present in my home, you must come out when called." I turned back to him with blurry vision. "There is a lock also. I hope that will give you a sense of safety and privacy here. Go ahead," he nodded, sensing my desire.

My hands were heavy as I pushed the door closed, leaving him outside the room. I turned the tiny bolt on the handle, listening intently to the click of the lock sliding into place. The tears fell down my cheeks before I could realize what I was feeling.

The muted tick of the clock through the wall was the only noise I could hear. Sitting down on the bed with a wince inducing creak, I allowed myself a few silent tears, reveling in the four walls closed around me.

After my cheeks were wiped dry, I opened the door to Grysn with his back against the wall. He looked at me, not surprised, not expecting a thank you, nothing but kindness in his face. I looked down at my too small shoes, humbled by yet another gift. "Is that why you made your brother leave, to show me my room?"

His lips curled into a slightly mischievous smirk as he shook his head. "You will be needing another glass before we get to that."

He led me back to the couch and took a moment to replenish our cups.

"You didn't need to lie about celebrating." I nursed my newly filled glass, trying to mitigate the fuzzy feeling slowly enveloping my body.

Grysn sat next to me, sipping a cup of water. "Why do you assume I lied?"

I took another taste. "You're just trying to get me drunk so it'll be easier to use me."

His shoulders rose and fell dramatically with a sigh, though his smile remained gentle. "I don't need you to be drunk. You have already proven to be quite obedient. The drink will help soothe you, and perhaps allow you to more openly enjoy yourself."

I gritted my teeth and tried to hold my words. "That's stupid."

He chuckled but remained quiet.

After another taste, I turned back to him and asked about how his stove worked. Then I asked about how long he had lived in this place and why he didn't have a house like Lyn if he was a hunter of some renown.

I'd seen liquor make large men cry and young men stupid. But it seemed like all it was doing to me was reducing the space between my thoughts and words until the words were out of my mouth before I'd fully produced the thought behind them. If his smile was any indication, he didn't mind one bit.

I asked him why everyone so rudely referred to us as 'tians,' I asked if he had ever been with a tian before. Then I immediately told him I definitely did not want to know that. I asked him if he had been in the war, then upon seeing his confusion defensively apologized for forgetting how long ago that was. I asked about appliances. I asked about his family. About the lights and the fireplace.

I couldn't say if he was even answering my questions before I started a new one. I was acting like an inquisitive child. Question after unnecessary question, wanting to be heard and not even bothering to hear the answer. My face was heating with embarrassment as the words tumbled out of my mouth, despite desperately wanting to sit in silence.

A hand on my thigh stopped me mid-question. I stared at it heavily, my hot frustration suddenly cooled to ice. "What?" he said coyly.

I shook my head quickly.

He smiled, patted my thigh, and took my glass, finally empty of its contents, and set it aside. "Are you ready?" he asked quietly.

Again, I shook my head but stood, then quickly sank back down to the seat as my balance betrayed me.

Grysn took my hand and helped me to my feet.

"I don't need your-"

And then I was silent as he lifted me, one arm under my legs and the other behind my back. I had seen an illustration in one of the children's stories of a princess being carried in such a manner. Whether it was caused by the alcohol or my sudden weightlessness, or perhaps the strange delicacy he used with me, my head spun as he carried me into his bedroom. His arms and hands radiated around me through the fabric of my clothes.

My lips trembled as I urged my thoughts to maintain some semblance of order.

I was fine with this. I've done it so many times before, there was absolutely no reason to worry. And yet I felt nothing but terror. I knew he wouldn't hurt me, I knew that deep in my bones. And I knew there was no threat of creating a child with him. So why was I so scared?

"Would you prefer your clothes to remain on or be taken off?" he said, softly, as he set me down on the edge of his bed.

I shook my head not knowing which answer I meant.

He nodded and began to delicately disrobe me, taking his time to neatly fold my dress and set it on the other side of the bed. "You've become rather quiet," he said as he continued on with the remaining articles.

I gave no response.

He sighed but my silence continued. I couldn't speak for fear of what words might leave my mouth.

Sitting there, once again naked in front of him my mind was blank. This was his home, and I suppose mine now also. And this was my job inside of it.

A black cloud covered my vision. This is what the rest of my life will be like.

Soft lips pressed to my knee brought me back and I blinked at him, kneeling on the ground in front of me. "This is how it will go," he said, steadfast and confident but not loud or demanding. "I want you to focus on me, and if I think I'm losing you, then I will bring you back. Do you understand?"

My lips parted but no response came.

He nodded. "Lay back." After moving my body to the very edge of the bed leaving my legs to dangle over the side, he began to spread my legs open. Still kneeling, his face came closer.

I panicked and sat up. "I'm already prepared," I said quickly. "I don't need any assistance."

His hands on my thighs did not allow my legs to close completely as he tilted his head. "Prepared for what? What do you mean?"

I brought my elbows in toward my stomach trying to hide and be strong at the same time. "For sex. I don't need any help."

He shook his head almost sadly. "This is all we will be doing. There will be no intercourse tonight."

My legs twisted in a vane attempt to close as panic overtook me. "What are you talking about? Are we not having sex?"

"Sex is more than a means of insemination, Nal."

"But- there's no chance of pregnancy without insemination?"

He smiled as he rested his head on my knee. "It is a mighty good thing that pregnancy is not our goal then."

I shut my mouth before asking the next question that came to mind. I didn't need to ask what the goal was. That's when I understood what this promise he kept referring to was.

Pleasure.

My pleasure.

The memory of that first and second night with him filled my head as vivid and colorful as a fresh painting. It happened only days ago, but it felt like years had passed since then.

I trembled with every breath as he once again spread my legs. And I- once again- fought to close them, and with a huff he turned his attention back to me, waiting for my next complaint. "Can we please just have normal sex?"

He waited a moment. "Why."

My eyes darted around the room, trying to come up with a decent explanation. The only thing that had ever stopped him before was...

"I-I don't like it."

"What is it you don't like?" His vibrant eyes made it clear that he didn't believe me but would give me the benefit of another try.

I swallowed, frowning. "It's humiliating. I don't want your face that close to my... private areas." And it was true. True and didn't mention the fact that I didn't want him to bring me any pleasure if it could be helped. "This is unfulfilling for you anyway."

"I will not simply stop because of your self-consciousness, though I assure you there is nothing for you to be embarrassed over." With force enough to not mind my struggles, he finally splayed my legs fully open, despite my efforts to the contrary. "And I promise you this will bring me a great deal of enjoyment. If I were a better man, perhaps your pleas and struggles would not add to that enjoyment, but I'm afraid that's simply not the case."

Fear filled my expression easily, the mead making masking my expressions all but impossible. He didn't say it like it was a joke. He said it like it was a serious problem he wished he did not have. It gave his gentle touch a sinister edge.

His warm breath stung my wet folds. How I was already so wet, I suppose, must be due to the alcohol as well. He... this certainly wasn't the cause of it, right?

"If you still don't enjoy it after today, we will not revisit this activity, and that will be fine. But it is important for me to know what your body enjoys. And what it doesn't." He spread my lips open with his fingers, keeping his elbows firmly on my legs to keep them spread. "Whether you admit to it or not."

My back arched as his words pushed his breath onto my exposed wetness. It was impossible that he didn't know all of the things he did. How much experience did he have to make me react so easily to every little thing?

"Now, grab a pillow and lay back on it so you can maintain focus on me. I would bind you if I didn't think it would further distract you. So instead, put your hands above you head and keep them there. Do you have any questions? Any other complaints."

I shook my head limply as I moved as directed.

His eyes held mine for a long, tense moment. Finally, he began to move and I desperately grasped the sheets above me and turned my head to the side, closing my eyes in preparation.

A painful pinch to the inside of my thigh made me yelp and lift my head.

Grysn stared at me, not apologizing or backing down from my confused glare.

Right. Focus on him.

I nodded as my body trembled.

His nose made contact with the wisps of hair just above my mound. He breathed in deep, and I struggled to keep my position.

His tongue snaked out and slid across my clit and I screamed, back arching. He backed off, lifting his head only just. I recovered quickly, but my breath had quickened to that of a humming bird.

"Breathe," he whispered. "Fighting this will only make the sensations stronger as you try to anticipate them. Deep breaths, Nal. You can handle it."

He waited until I could breathe at a pace that I wouldn't pass out from. How was I meant to watch him and not anticipate or fight him? Was he just trying to be cruel?

His lips started above my clit this time, kissing around it but never directly. I whined, but kept at least one eye open, squinting in his direction while he teased my skin into accepting his advances. His mouth trailed down the side of my entrance.

I focused on keeping my breathing steady as I felt the hot air from his open mouth. My legs shuddered below the weight of his arms as his warm tongue came out. I gasped and bucked as it made contact with the bottom of my opening.

It slowly traveled up, and dipped ever so slightly into me as it went. At the end of its path, he swirled it around my clit.

I bit back another scream as I tossed my head from side to side.

"Focus," he said before repeating the same motion. He lapped at the liquid seeping from me.

He was right. The anticipation was killing me. And my body ached, yearning for more. I felt it writhe around me like a wild animal desperate to escape.

By the fifth time over I was panting and moaning uncontrollably. Every time his eyes met mine a whimper escaped me.

He began to kiss and suck on my clit occasionally running his tongue back down through my slit.

My arms had slipped down to the point that my hands rested just above my head, clutching the blankets. "Please..." I begged, my voice ragged and stretched. "Please..."

"Please what," he said into me. Creating another groan in my throat.

"I can't... please-"

"Yes you can," he said as he pushed one finger inside.

Eyes wide, my breath hitched and then came out as jagged gasps. "Wait, wait!"

Another finger joined the first, rubbing along the upper walls of my insides.

I held my breath, my eyes glazing over. My body vibrated, only increasing when he pushed my legs further back. "Gry- Grys... sn, stop... please..." My eyes rolled back. My hands came to my face, grasping at hair and skin like I was grasping for control.

Then all the pressure building up behind that faltering dam suddenly released as he bit down on that tiny, all too tender nub, sending me over the ledge.

I shrieked, my hips thrashing as his fingers and mouth didn't relent.

It was too late. I'd passed the point of no return and now there was nothing but this- stimulation so strong that it could only be described as pain. Never ending pain that jolted through my body and that I never wanted to end. Nothing existed except that sensation of painful pleasure.

My legs shook as I came down. Breaths disjointed and eyes barely open, I looked down at Grysn's slowed but still bobbing head. I convulsed, aftershocks rolling through me as he finally slipped his fingers from me and licked his lips with a job well done.

I immediately began to sit up before he was sitting next to me on the bed, a hand to my chest to stop my upward progress.

"Hey, we're not done yet."

My eyes widened, worry filling me but words would not form behind my moving lips.

"We are taking a break, letting you catch your breath." He pressed harder until I was on my back again before letting his hand trail to my left breast.

I squirmed in place, my legs squeezing tight together as his fingers circled around my taut nipple. His other hand went down to brush through my pubic hair and I closed my eyes, preparing for the inevitable, glorious sensations, but he stopped short.

Then his fingers made contact with my nipple and I bit my lip to mitigate my nosies. He rubbed it between his thumb and forefinger before twisting and pulling it, experimentally.

"I am not usually this mean," he whispered. "For some reason, the moment you make that anguished face of yours, it's like you turn me into a completely different person. I feel ashamed of it, but seeing you enjoy things, such deliciously wicked things, and fighting so hard to deny it, to stop it..." He tried hard to fight back a smile. "It's almost as though you actually prefer it this way."

Heat filled my face as I looked away from him. I didn't care if he was right or not, but I couldn't face the possibility now in this moment.

He did seem different, startling so. His teasing, his presence, his force, I couldn't dare think about what it did to me.

"Ready?"

"Grysn, please-"

"What happened to 'you stupid grayskins?'" he teased as his hand trailed lower.

"That's..." I trailed off with a small moan as his hands found my overly sensitive center. "I don't want any more."

His golden eyes sparkled devilishly, betraying the soft smile he wore. It made me wonder if I currently had the expression that he spoke of before. "This is what I want," he whispered, bringing his head down to the side of my chest he wasn't handling before enveloping it with his mouth.

All I could do was whimper as I try to stay still.

He bit down gently on the one nipple and squeezed the other as one of his fingers entered me once again. My stunted breaths were leaving me lightheaded.

He increased the pressure of his teeth, grinding the delicate skin enough to make my noises grow in volume and desperation. I brought a hand to my mouth, biting the inside of my palm to stifle the wicked sound. He let go with a plop and I shook my head, tears welling in my eyes.

"If I genuinely believed you hated this, I would stop. You are actually quite sensitive when you're not drifting into your thoughts. You came to a climax much quicker than I expected." He pulled his finger from me and pressed it to my mouth.

I flinched as it touched my lips, the smell of my heat invading my nostrils. I've never enjoyed the taste of myself, the few times I had the displeasure of being forced to taste it. Though it was usually delivered in a much less pleasing.

After a cautious moment, I parted my lips, allowing it entrance. This game was somewhat familiar to me so I gently sucked and licked on his finger the way I knew I was supposed to. Surprisingly, I tasted sweeter than I remembered.

I watched his eyes on me dilate, his breathing getting a little heavier. "I'd be inside you right now if I hadn't sworn to wait," he whispered, his gruff voice so low it made me shiver. He started to pull the finger out, dragging my lip down and to the side with it. A dark smile grew on his face. "I do hope you learn to enjoy this" -his finger slid to the other side of my open mouth, tugging the edge of it wider- "because I'm not entirely sure I can stop."

My lip trembled as he let it go.

"We just need to practice." He slid down the length of my body to get back to his original position.

Desperate to keep him talking and to keep his mouth away from certain other things, I asked the first thing that came to mind. "How did you know?"

His pause was insignificant as he spread my legs. "Know what?"

"That, uh... biting me... would do that."

"I didn't," he stated. "It was meant to be a punishment."

My forehead wrinkled as I tried to come up with a follow-up response.

"You didn't keep your hands above your head as you were told."

Before I could respond, one of his fingers was inside me, speech suddenly alluding me as it found that same spot deep within. A spot that I had an inkling existed but had no idea could cause so much trouble.

Heavy moans escaped me with every breath as he began to speak.

"Due to the difficulty you're having, you can do as you must with your hands and eyes. It would seem I have your full attention now anyway," he said with a chuckle. "The only thing you're not allowed to do is cover your mouth."

I whimpered as I forced myself to stop the action already in motion.

He closed his eyes and shook his head with a wide smile on his face. "I can't tell you how intoxicating the sounds you make are."

I cried out as his thumb pressed into my clit firmly while his finger continued its back and forth caress.

"I think instead we're going to play a game," he said.

I shook my head as I recovered from my sudden outburst and adjusted to this additional pleasure, but he only smiled.

"The only answer you may give is one or two. One for the first thing mentioned and two for the second."

And with that he removed his hand from my body completely. I shuddered a sigh of relief.

"Let's first decide on how to continue." I looked at him wearily as he went on. "We can work on bringing you to climax several more times, or I can continue to give you pleasure but not enough to finish again. Choose."

My eyes widened as I slowly understood what he was asking me. "I ca-"

"Your only answers are one or two. Unless you want to start playing a very... different game," he said in a tone that put goosebumps down my arms.

I licked my lips as my eyes moved aimlessly around the room trying to find how to get out of this.

The first one was a death sentence. There was no possible way I could survive a single orgasm more let alone as many as he saw fit to give me. But what was I agreeing with if I said number two? How long would he expect me to keep that up, hours?

"If you take too long I will choose for you."

"Two, two!" I shouted.

He looked so disgustingly satisfied that I grimaced and second guessed myself. I waited as he slowly and methodically put one finger in his mouth, making a noise like he had just snuck in a taste of dessert before dinner as he cleaned it of my juices. Once he was finally done he asked, "Hands or mouth?"

"Hands," I said without thinking and immediately followed with a strangled cry as Grysn pinched one of my lower lips between two knuckles.

"I expected you to catch on a bit quicker than this, Nal," he teased as the pain subsided, "but I do appreciate the enthusiasm."

I turned my head to the side and covered my eyes with a hard press of my palms. Lots of embarrassing, humiliating things have happened to me before. I always got through them, angry and bitter. Or unfeeling entirely, blocking it out even before it's over.

Why was this so different? All this 1 and 2 crap was more than enough to make me angry, I'm sure. Should I struggle more? Should I try to convince him that I really don't want this?

Could I convince him? I was struggling to convince myself.

"One finger or three."

I uncovered one eye to peer incredulously down at him, positioned patiently between my legs.

Why would he ask me that? Why one and three and not one and two? He had used two earlier.

And I enjoyed it, I realized.

He already knew that's the number I wanted. That's why. One wouldn't be enough for me and three would easily push me over the edge.

My body squirmed of its own accord, my legs yearning to squeeze together, not in order to force Grysn out, no. It was in a vain attempt to feel some type of pressure there again.

My hand came back over my eye as my stomach turned with anxiety, trying to rationalize my decision. "Two," I whispered, pretending I meant 2 fingers to alleviate some of the guilt from giving such a vile, obscene answer.

A large part of me hoped he hadn't heard me before I felt a finger run up the length of my slit while he gave a curious "hm." He continued to rub up and down between my lips, never quite penetrating, as I waited to see if he would push them in one at a time or all at once. I wasn't sure which one would be worse.

Finally he slowly began to push in. I inhaled sharply as he stretched me wide, though not quite as wide as certain other parts of him would have.

Certain other parts that I caught myself wanting as his fingers slowly imitated but not replicated the sensations of that first night.

My breathing quickened and my hips began to move in time with his ridiculously slow strokes. I pulled the blankets around me into my face to stop words from escaping my mouth, the muffled sound of my begging to stop, or perhaps for more, mixed unpleasantly with the slopping of his probing hand.

"Faster or slower."

I ripped the blankets away from my face. "One! One, please, Shyla, please."

He gave a small laugh as he increased his pace, though not by a lot.

It was just enough, the perfect speed.

My head fell back, my mouth open, no sound escaping but the huff of breath as all my focus went to getting closer.

My back arched, toes curled. Legs lifting, widening. My eyes were wide open but I didn't see anything.

So close, just a little more, so, so close.

And then he was gone, a shrill whine leaving me as the frustration from the denial set in. My hips rocked, searching for relief.

"The alcohol does seem to have helped," he mused, sitting on the bed next to me once again. His thumb pushed one of my nipples in circles causing me to jump and moan but it wasn't enough. It wasn't nearly enough.

My hand came to my mouth and I bit down hard on one finger, lessening my cries.

"Had you forgotten?" I looked up at his smiling face pitifully, a tear rolling down my cheek. His smile dipped upon seeing it. "You really wanted to come, huh?" He stroked my cheek with his free hand and brought his mouth close to my ear, his lips gently brushing the top of it. "I'm sure it will feel unimaginable," he breathed, "once I finally let you."

I moaned loudly, nearly getting off with his statement alone. That was impossible right?

What the stars is happening?

"Continue or take a break?"

"Cont-... one, one. One."

He backed off momentarily, a hint of surprise in his expression before he removed the hand from my cheek and reached down. One finger entered me this time, but I was thrilled to find it rubbing the same inner depth as he had previously. And almost immediately I was back to where I was before he had so rudely pulled away.

"I didn't expect this to be so easy, but I'm ecstatic that I can please you this much."

I was long past the point of blushing, past the point of pride. It was the drinking, that was the cause. I would never be like this if it weren't for the drinking.

I didn't care right now. Even if this was debasing and crazy and shameful. His hand on my breasts, his finger inside, his breath on my ear... I'd never felt this way before.

My hands moved erratically from gripping the blankets to tugging on my braid. Every part of me shook with excitement.

"Do you prefer this... or this," he asked as he switched his hand's movements to a simple pumping in and out that didn't do nearly enough.

I shook my head frantically and shouted, "One! One!"

He nodded as he switched back to his previous movements, my eyes rolling back into my head.

"Yes," I whispered, struggling to breathe as he brought me closer and closer, until I was bracing myself for it.

Which is when he pulled away.

I slammed my fist into the bed squealing in frustration. "Stop it, this isn't fair. Just... just fuck me, please, I can't.. I... I can't," I trailed off, my brain suddenly foggy as he began to rub my clit. My words turned to meaningless mumblings, making way for my absent-minded moans.

"No, Naldi. We will have plenty of time for that in the future. Despite your entire role revolving around sex, I don't think you were ever truly allowed pleasure when you were with your own kind. And, even though this brings myself undeniable pleasure, I wanted you to understand that any enjoyment you give me I will gladly return ten fold."

His words echoed in my head but I couldn't understand a single one in my daze. Panting, my head fell to the side as he continued to circle the sensitive nub with his slick fingers, slowly increasing in speed. My mouth opened wider and wider, ready, waiting. Almost..

And then he stopped again.

I cried out, thrashing my head back and forth, tears beginning to stream down my face. I found him in my blurry vision and glared, too out of breath to curse him.

"You asked for this," he said, innocently, taking two fingers into his mouth.

My menacing expression diminished quickly as he got up off the bed to be between my legs again. "Wha... wai-"

"Shh, no more talking. You're growing tired." He knelt down, his face coming closer to my center. "I think you've waited long enough."

"Not... not like this... please."

He stopped to quirk an eyebrow at me. "Why this? You were begging me to fuck you a moment ago, how is this a problem?"

I shook my head, no answers coming to me.

"Until you have a reasonable answer, we'll just have to listen to what your body says."

I covered my mouth with both hands, continuing to shake my head as he nibbled, gently on my clit, his fingers seeking entrance. I was dizzy, eyelids heavy. He pushed one finger into me, then another, sucked my clit, ran his tongue over it, circled it.

I was all but screaming as he combed my insides with his finger tips. That spot was magical and he knew it. His fingers curled into it at a much more frequent speed than before. With his tongue doing its own miracles, I was screaming between my fingers in no time at all.

He didn't let me move away, grinding his face into my mound, never losing contact as my legs melted around him. My chest heaved, trying to retain enough air in my lung as I bit into my hand, though it did very little to stop the noises.

Everything released at once and my body wouldn't stop convulsing, my insides clenching his finger, my body barely touching the bed as it reached for more. Grysn finally slowed down. But my body pulsed around him, every touch electric, every cell vibrating. I moaned as the feelings rocked me again and then one more time before he finally pulled away, leaving me a sweaty mess.

Cool air stung between my legs, alerting me to just how much moisture was there now.

I couldn't move. Or speak for that matter. It felt like I was barely able to breathe. Is this what a heart attack is?

Grysn stood but my half open eyes were immediately pulled to the wetness surrounding the collar of his shirt.

Was that all from me? I quickly shut my eyes. What had I done? What did he do to me?

And then I was in the air again, being carried out of the room. He silently transported me to the other bed, my bed, and covered me with the blanket.

"Would you like to sleep for a while or have me wake you up?"

"Two," I managed to answer, eyelids too heavy to move.

I was unconscious before he stopped laughing.

*

Author note: this chapter concludes what I have written so far. Going forward, there will be a larger gap of time between posting chapters. This story is very close to my heart and I do have it planned out to completion and fully plan on finishing it. Thank you for reading this far and I hope you continue to enjoy it!