Elvira

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“Answer my question El,” he said, gripping my waist tighter. I yelped and let go of the sheets I was holding in surprise.

His daring tone was threatening to make me yield, but I won’t. I’ve already lost twice to him now, this time I would be the victor.

With my newly found conviction, I bit my lips in an attempt to hold myself together, and as a sign of defiance to Adelio.

It seems like my message was successfully relayed as I could feel his lips that were brushing against my ears, curl up in a smirk.

“Oh, we are playing this game are we?” He asked.

“Yes, we are” I scoffed, trying to ignore the waves of chills his breath was causing on my neck.

“Darling, I told you, resistance and defiance are nothing but entertaining to a dragon. We never get tired of the thrill of a hunt. So if it’s a chase you want, then I’m willing to oblige”

He said, as his hands that were gripping my waist slowly released. I didn’t even have time to register the loss of skin contact, as his hands began to slide up my stomach, pausing right beneath my breast.

Then his slander, golden tan fingers tugged on the lace of the shirt I was wearing, and in one swift movement, he pulled the entire lace off the shirt.

My breast went from barely clothed, to fully naked. Only my nipples were still somehow shielded.

The cold, evening air that wafted in through the small crack of the window, blew into my shirt and my nipples perked up from the sensation.

I instantly threw my hands up to cover my chest, but Adelio was faster. He grabbed my hands and raised them above my head, then he spun me around so I was facing him.

I gasped at the sudden movement, almost tripping on my own feet. However, one of his hands immediately stabilized me.

“No point in hiding yourself, I’ve seen it all already,” he said, as his hand slinked from my back down to my ass, giving it a little squeeze. It was as if he was saying ′Remember who changed your clothes?′

The warmth of his hands felt good and for a moment I wanted him to keep it there.

He brought his nose close to my neck and inhaled. A little rumble vibrated off his chest, and I could practically feel it from the incredibly tiny distance between us.

“The smell of your arousal is enough to push me to insanity.” He muttered, more to himself than to me.

My eyes widened and I tightened my legs, hoping to cloak my smell.

“Hmm, darling that’s not making it any better” he hummed with hungry-filled eyes.

“Let me go, I need to go to the bath” I squealed.

Instead of replying, Adelio dipped his head down and nipped on my breast. His teeth grazed my cleavage as he lapped on it and began to suck.

"Ah” an involuntary moan left my lips, and I quickly shut my mouth.

Adelio paused and lifted his head to look at me. His slit gold eyes were flickering between gold and blue. It was a sight mesmerizing enough to have me in a daze.

“That’s right sweet one, moan for me.” he smiled, as he dipped his head back down to my breast and began sucking again. His hands were fondling my ass, and his lips were sucking on several spots on my breast.

The warmth and pleasure I felt overwhelmed me, and he was barely even touching me. My reasoning was crumbling, and so was my strength. If his hand wasn’t supporting my waist, I’m pretty sure I’d be on my knees by now.

Pleasure began to mix with my rationale as I pushed my breast closer to him and groaned.

His lips were leaving no room for me to think as he insistently sucked and licked the cleavage of both of my breasts, coming close to my nipples but never quite touching them.

I began to writhe in frustration. I wanted him to touch me, I wanted to feel his palm on my nipples and his wet tongue gliding on them.

Then, as if he heard my wishes, his lips started to trail wet kisses from my cleavage, and slowly down to my nipples. Closer and closer and closer until suddenly he stopped.

He let go of my wrist and waist as he retreated from my body.

I let out a puff of air as my body shuddered from the electric current that ran through it. However, I felt unsatiated.

I looked to Adelio for answers on why he suddenly stopped and he just cackled a little at my face.

“Baby, just say your mine, and I’d do everything you want.”

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

For a moment, I thought about saying the words he wanted to hear so badly. The words I so desperately didn’t want to say, because deep down I hadn’t fully come to terms with my feelings and doubts. It was still hard to believe that a mighty emperor like him who could have it all, would choose to have me. The thoughts brought back reasoning to my head and I scowled.

“Jerk!” I yelled, smacking his chest. I then scoffed at him and stormed out of the room.

Stupid emperor. How dare he get me all riled up and then leave me out to dry. I thought he couldn’t restrain himself when he was around me, but the way he just easily let me go contradicts his words. See? I’m not someone he can’t do without.

I swallowed my thoughts and focused on looking for the bath. The hall I had stepped into was fairly large and ornate. The walls were painted gray with large windows that were almost the size of a door attached to them. Two silver chandeliers were hanging from the ceiling, adorned with magic light stones. Several paintings accompanied the gray wall, all the way to the end of the hall where a blackwood staircase could be seen.

I wonder if there were any other people here, the inn has been oddly quiet. Not even a hostess or owner to be seen. From how fancy this inn was, it seemed like we were in one of the major cities, but the silence of the environment was making me doubt that. I found the door Milo described and walked into it.

The bathroom was just as equally huge and as adorned as the room. There was a huge, round porcelain tub right in the middle of the bathroom. Small gemstones that produced small warm lights surrounded it like candles. To a far corner of the bathroom, there was a large, body-sized mirror, also decorated with a silver frame. A distance from it were several blackwood cabinets with towels neatly placed on them.

Steam was seeping out of the tub, It seemed like someone had already filled it with warm water.

I sat at the edge of it and ran my finger through the water. I can’t remember the last time I was able to take a bath with warm water, and in a tub nonetheless.

At the palace, we usually just take quick cold showers with buckets of water we fetched from the lake. It didn’t matter the season or weather, we would always bathe with cold water.

As I lifted my hands from the water, I noticed the little callouses on my palms, then the bruises on my wrists. Then the small scars all over my arms, crawling up until they disappeared under the rolled-up sleeves of the shirt I was wearing.

I got up and walked to the mirror in the far corner of the room and looked into it. What faced me was a scrawny girl just barely five foot, three inches tall. Her feet were small in size and held wounds around them like she didn’t know the existence of shoes. Her scrawny legs were endowed with cuts that led up to her thighs. At least her thighs had some sort of curves and flesh to them. From her thighs upwards couldn’t be seen, because she had on a white shirt, sewn with expensive fabric. The shirt was exposing her neck and entire chest which were equally as bruised and scarred.

Her head was endowed with a pretty face that had messy, matted chestnut curls framing it. And her ears...let’s just say it was far from normal.

I palmed my face and groaned. This was what I looked like all this while I was with Adelio? Saying I looked messy would be an understatement. I have never really cared about my appearance before, but all of a sudden I was self-conscious. Embarrassment was starting to tinge my cheeks, and I rushed to undress, so I could drown myself along with my humiliation in that massive tub.

As I took off the shirt, I felt a flash of pain pierce my neck. It was so fast and subtle that I almost didn’t register it. I strained my neck closer to the mirror to see if anything was off, however, something else caught my eye. My chest was dotted with several red spots and teeth marks. It was the same spot Adelio had been teasing me earlier.

Heat came rushing back to my cheeks instantly. I was embarrassed but also somewhat overjoyed. It felt like he was trying to mark and claim me, so he could tell the world I was his.

A dull pain ran through the base of my neck again. This time I focused on checking it, but there was nothing there except the bruises from the chain.

My skin may just be irritated, taking a warm bath might soothe it; I thought as I made my way to the tub. I placed the shirt that smelled of Adelio by the side of the tub and slowly entered it. The moment I was in the water, my body heaved, then gradually adjusted to the water temperature. The tiny wounds on my body were stinging, but it wasn’t something I couldn’t handle.

Everything was calm and quiet. This was peace, something I had never known. I was always either busy with chores, getting punished, or getting harassed by the other servants. I rolled my eyes at the thought.

Speaking of servants, there was Mira. I wonder how she’s doing. I don’t know what excuse they’ll use to cover my disappearance from the palace, but knowing her she’s probably worried sick by now. She wasn’t an outcast like me she would also keep a low profile and be barely noticed, so I’m sure shell be fine on her own. But still, all she ever had was me, and all I ever had was her.

I can’t return to the palace, and would most like have to move far away so I may never get to see her again, and the thought of it makes me sad.

I closed my eyes to stabilize my emotions when a sweet subtle scent waft into my nose.

I recognize this scent, it was Adelio’s. My eyes shot open, a part of me hoping it really was him, and the other part was ready to smack him for breaking into my bath. However, when I opened my eyes, he wasn’t there.

The smell had been coming from his shirt that lay close to my head. I glared at the shirt and sighed in disappointment. It was then I noticed that I missed Adelio and wanted to see him. I was doomed.

A few minutes apart from him and my heart was already aching like I hadn’t seen him in years. I may reject him a lot, but I actually loved the way he treated me. His gentleness, his smile, patience, and attentiveness to me were all foreign and honestly still scare me. But I didn’t hate it. No one had ever treated me or touched me the way he does, and it felt good.

This may be the mate bond speaking, but I wanted to see him. I wanted to run my fingers through his hair and let him kiss me to oblivion.

I quickly jumped out of the bath and toweled myself off, wore his shirt back on, and then raced to the room. My ears were tingling, my heart was pulsating and my skin was buzzing in anticipation.

I got to the door and quickly yanked it open, expecting to be met with charming gold eyes. However, no one was in the room. It was empty and void of any presence.

Panic struck me, as I walked deeper into the room and still could find any sign of Adelio.

Had he finally lost it and gone out to destroy Elysia? Or worse still was he leaving the kingdom right now?

I laughed at my thoughts. Somehow his leaving the kingdom was worse than his destroying it.

I was commending myself on my humor but was caught short as the curtains flopped, and the candles flickered. I felt a presence behind me.

On a usual occasion, I’d think Adelio had returned to the room. But I knew better. I didn’t feel any tingles and there was no delicious smell in the air.

The presence also didn’t strike me as Milo’s. I don’t know how, but I knew that wasn’t his footsteps. This one was lighter and almost concealed, while Milo’s carried some weight to them.

I slowly turned around, daring what I would see. My eyes met with a cloaked individual, holding a knife in their hand.

I froze.

Oh. It seems you were right Lola. Trouble does seem to follow me wherever I go.