Chapter Seven
Anna
The room she was in was a far cry from the cells that she had been held in thus far. It was quite large, though not as big as Indulf’s chambers. It came equipped with a large bed, a bench at the window, furs around the hearth and a low table surrounded by cushions. There was a private room off of it that had a chamber pot in it. She had been very embarrassed when a maid first came to clean it, but she didn’t have any other options but to use it.
Was she still technically a prisoner? She wasn’t certain. Her mind wouldn’t stay focused on that possibility. Instead, it kept returning to a certain kiss that had happened.
Alright, she’d say what it really was. She had made out with the dragon king. Her! Just plain Anna, the one nobody looked at, the nerdy girl with too many curves and not enough height for them. And Indulf, a king, a dragon, a man who had everything, wanted her…
Maybe not everything, she thought sadly, remembering the pain in his eyes when he told her that his son had betrayed him. How must that feel, to have someone you love turn on you like that? She knew there was more to the story than she knew, but still. It had been evident just how much this hurt him. The desire to go and comfort him burned in her chest, but how was she meant to do that?
The flash of heat, of his mouth against hers, left her breathless. When he had kissed her, everything else disappeared. She has tasted smoke on his tongue and it felt like a fire was kindled inside of her. Heat surged beneath her skin, fireworks going off in her blood. Even now, just remembering it, there was a throbbing need between her legs.
With a groan, she threw herself onto the bed, wondering if she’d need to take care of this herself like she always did. Before she could decide if it was something worth distracting herself from the kiss for, a knock came to the door. She hopped up and straightened the covers before she rushed over to the door.
Indulf stood on the other side. Her heart leapt, until she saw that he was dressed in full armor. Her eyes widened at the sight of him. The armor was made of stiff leather, a breastplate on his torso, greaves on his forearms. At first, she wondered why he didn’t wear metal, but then she remembered he was a dragon. He needed the space to shift, and burnt leather would do less damage than melted metal.
“C-come in,” she stuttered, a cold hand squeezing her insides.
Indulf nodded and stepped inside. He had a hand on the pommel of his sword. He had been attempting to teach her how to use it, but she hadn’t been serious enough about using proper techniques. Now she wished she had been.
“What’s happening?” she asked, wrapping her arms around her waist.
“Warmund has rallied several of my uncles and brothers to his side. They have extended an offer of battle. If I don’t accept it, then I risk them marching on our towns and cities. The damage would be… catastrophic.” He ran a hand through his dark hair and shifted on the spot. She couldn’t be sure with his dark skin, but it almost looked as though he was… blushing.
She wasn’t certain why he’d be embarrassed about any of this. It sounded horrible. “Do you fight as dragons?”
“Yes, when it is called for. It’s etiquette to try to resolve things without that level of violence, though. So, sword and shield to begin with. As Warmund isn’t necessarily trying to unseat me, I believe that there will be no need for shifting in this battle.”
His eyes flashed with some unspoken emotion and Anna found herself moving forward. “You look… nervous.”
Indulf looked startled for a moment before dropping his head to acknowledge her. “It has been over three hundred years since I last battled, and then all my brothers were on my side. Now we’re split in two. I had no idea they felt this way...”
Anna nodded. She wanted some way to reassure him, but her mind was reeling. Even though she was aware of how old he was and was content to reassure herself that they were, technically, about the same age as far as physical maturity went, being reminded of that took her breath away. After all, he wasn’t just old. He was a king, a dragon, and had seen more at this stage of his life than she would in her entire lifetime. Or at least, more than she had expected to before she came here.
“I… I know that this is not...” Indulf ran a hand through his hair again, stumbling over the words. “I know that this is, uh, unusual, considering how… When we saw each other last, I pushed you away...”
Heat rushed to her cheeks, but she managed to smile at him. “It’s fine. I know that it must be more, uh, complicated for you since you’re a king and all.”
Indulf gave her a small smile. “Then I might as well just come out and say it. It’s customary here for a warrior to take solace in a warm bed before going to battle...”
“And by a warm bed, you mean...” Her eyes widened. Heat flooded her cheeks, and a deep throb started between her legs. She wanted to just throw herself into his arms, but held herself back. “What are you really asking me?”
“I am asking for the honor of your bed… taking strength from your body before this battle. But if you don’t want to—”
“That’s not the issue,” she said quickly, then gulped. Was it? She kept her eyes on his face, though she longed to look over him. He was such a handsome man. She’d go so far as to call him beautiful. Muscles everywhere, that strong jaw, full lips, steely eyes. Her lips tingled with the desire to pull him in and forget about the bed altogether. The furs near the fire looked soft enough. But there was more she needed to know. She took a deep breath. “How likely is it that you’re going to die?”
Indulf’s eyes widened, then he smiled. “Is that what you’re concerned about? Let me reassure you, then. Dragons rarely die in battle. It’s merely a show of courage and devotion to the cause. And let me assure you, I have never had significant problems with my brothers or uncles. None of them are going to be after my blood.”
Relief washed over her—this wasn’t some final request situation. It wasn’t as though this was the last time she was going to see him. She was free to refuse, if that was what she wanted. But it wasn’t. Not by a long shot. With a small smile, she held out her hand to him.
“Then I am honored you chose me and I’d… uh… like to formally… accept?” She was certain her face was as red as a tomato.
Indulf laughed softly, accepting her hand. He kissed it, then pulled a small leather pouch from a hidden pocket. “Don’t worry, I have protection. You needn’t worry about having a child.”
“Oh! I… didn’t even think of that. Dragons and humans can have kids together?”
“Kids,” he repeated. “If you mean children and not baby goats, then, yes, we can. But I assure you, you won’t have to worry about it. We have second skins that men can wear, made from—”
“I don’t need to know what it’s made from.” She stepped in close, lifting her mouth to his.
He kissed her eagerly, greedily. Heat flared through her body as she once more tasted smoke on him. A pleased gasp escaped her when Indulf answered that heat with a fiery passion of his own. With a growl, he backed her into the wall, pinning her there. The armor between them was hard, squashing her breasts. Her hands ran over it, trying to find a buckle or string that she could undo.
Indulf chuckled into her mouth. “Allow me.”
He took her hand and guided it to a buckle at his side. When she failed to open it with one hand, he flicked it open. She started on the buckle on the other side, but once the first one was open, Indulf merely lifted the armor over his head. Anna wasted no time in tugging his shirt off and letting her hands greedily explore the smooth contours of his muscles.
“You are beautiful,” she sighed and Indulf dove into her neck.
Her skin sizzled wherever he touched her, his hands as greedy as hers. They traveled up her back, around her waist, down her back. She gasped, arching herself to him. His teeth scraped along her collarbone. She couldn't stop her hips from bucking forward, grinding on him. She felt how hard he was with their clothes between them, and pushed at his stomach a little, so she could get access to his belt.
A growl answered her, deep and primal. He pressed against her again, catching both her hands. Indulf’s eyes glittered as he moved back and pinned her hands to the wall behind her. A wicked smile spread across his face, revealing pearly white teeth.
“Now, now. For tonight, you are mine. And I take care of what’s mine before I allow that sort of nonsense.”
Anna’s breath locked in her chest and her heart nearly stopped. She had never known a man to want to give her pleasure before he got his. Meekly, she allowed Indulf to lead her to the bed. Once there, however, a wicked desire came over her and she turned suddenly, pushing him down onto his back before she straddled him. Indulf’s eyes widened, and she pinned his hands beside his head.
“No,” she breathed. “Tonight, you are mine.”
Indulf slowly grinned at her words. He didn’t struggle against her hold as she started to roll her hips, grinding against him. Her angle sent shivers down her spine as she felt him harden. Soon she was panting, grinding herself harder into him between their clothes. He lifted his arms, but she pushed her weight on his wrists, reminding him she was in charge.
When she couldn’t take it anymore, she released him. He was more than happy to immediately tug her pants down. A hand slipped between her thighs as she struggled with his belt. Desire made her fingers clumsy. She could feel his fingers slipping, speaking to how wet she was already. Then she grabbed his hands again, pinning them once more. She slid down his body and took him into her mouth.
Indulf gave a surprised little grunt, but it soon turned into a full-out moan. She sucked hard, loving the feel of him getting longer and harder. A burning filled her core and she had to slip a hand between her legs as she worked on him. Indulf held himself up on his elbows, watching her. He threaded his fingers through her hair, ever so gently.
The throbbing inside of her reached a point of pain, and her own touch wasn’t enough anymore. Anna gasped for breath as she crawled up him again. He handed her the pouch, and she pulled out what looked like a condom, only made of a soft beige leather, rather than latex. Her hand actually trembled as she guided him into position and sunk down, her head rolling back as he filled her. Indulf’s hands traced down her thighs, so light and gentle. His fingers tightened on her knees when she began moving. Heat flared through her body and echoed in his glittering eyes. He gasped with her, her cries a little louder than his, but not alone. Her hands pressed against his chest, both of them moving together in a steady rhythm. Her skin was too tight, she was about to explode. Indulf hissed. His arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her down over him. His mouth found hers, hungry and greedy.
Everything came undone. Pleasure rushed through her, heady and exciting, and suddenly he rolled. The dragon king held her tight as he thrust harder and harder, keeping her pleasure at such a peak that all she could do was gasp out his name, again and again. She never wanted this to end.
And when Indulf kissed her, her name on his lips, she could almost believe that it never would.