In all the long years that had followed, there were plenty of women, plenty of pleasure, and plenty for Kronos to occupy himself with.
But there wasn’t this.
His fingers relaxed in her tresses as the acknowledgement fell over him.There hadn’t been the connection, the curiosity, or the desire to cradle as well as to consume.There hadn’t been anything that rivaled the way she’d entirely devoured his attention.
It should have been nonsense to even consider such a strength of feeling so early in their association, but as he lifted her from the marble and his lips finally collided with hers, nothing had ever felt so right.
Kristina was his.
He would have her, hold her, and train her as he’d planned, but as the sound of her moan echoed in the space around them, he acknowledged she had the potential to be so much more than only another submissive mortal.A lover who would understand him, one who would intrigue and inspire instead of irritate, and one he could console and care for.
Losing himself to the caress, the infinite possibility washed over him.Kristina could finally be the one who brought Kronos to heel.
Chapter Nine
Kris
Kris swore time stood still as they shared the caress.Her eyes closed as he pulled her closer, and unthinkingly, she yielded.Some distant part of her brain noted that she shouldn’t cede.She definitely shouldn’t have promised to obey him.Sheshouldhave been looking for a way out of his clutches.Permitting his tongue to make love to her mouth, though, that facet of sense was scarily easy to subdue.
His kiss was soft at first before morphing into something deeper and more punishing.Against her skin, his fingers burned as they grazed over her heated cheek, and all the while, his other hand remained at the small of her back.
Lost to the intimacy, she sensed herself giving in.For the first time in her life, she felt held, yet succumbing to the sensual pleasure, she also felt seen.Kronos had taken her liberty, but he’d also rescued her from men she knew would have harmed her, and when he’d accused her of breaking his rules, he’d acted with control, rather than anger.
It remained to be seen what the penalty for her latest faux pas would be, but deep down, she realized she harbored an odd level of trust in him.It was strange to have faith in a man she hardly knew, especially one who’d abducted her, but even given that, he had a proven track record of being there to protect her and of giving her what she needed.She hadn’t always appreciated the way he’d gone about things, but so far, Kronos hadn’t let her down.
Vaguely aware of a rush of cool air around them, she tightened her grip on his muscular shoulder.All there was in the world was that one scintillating moment between them; their connection, and the mutual intention to bestow pleasure on the other.
Curiously, in the rush of heat, that was enough.
Who knew what would happen next between them, when she’d be able to escape, or, more disturbingly, whether she’d ever be able to find another man who could make her feel that way again?Until she was free, there was only him, and, if she was lucky, exploring the way he made her feel.
When he finally drew away, and her lids fluttered open, she was disconcerted to find their surroundings had changed.Dazed by the kiss, she wondered if, at first, she’d imagined the alteration, but a glance around confirmed the dining room had been replaced by somewhere completely different.
She also noted briefly how she no longer queried his ability to teleport them from one space to the next.Neither did the way she levitated in thin air in front of him.Bizarre how only a few hours in his company had already rewired her scientific brain into thinking those extraordinary things seemed normal.She tried not to dwell on what he could achieve given a much longer period of captivity, preferring instead to focus on the most immediate question.
“Where are we, Master?”
The walls of the new place were much darker; the first space he’d taken her to that didn’t replicate the same gleaming white as the room she’d woken up in.The environment looked to be wood-paneled, the red tinge suggesting mahogany, and it was instantly much warmer than where they’d eaten.The crackling sounds coming from behind his vast body spoke of a real fireplace, a fact that was confirmed when her feet touched the soft fibers of the rug below, and he shifted to his left to let her see.The roaring blaze built in the center of the far wall was magnificent, but reconciling it to the cool, pristine areas he’d previously taken her to was more complex.
“This is my parlor.”
The hand at the small of her back steered her in his chosen direction, and feeling heady at his kiss and the sudden change of temperature, she relented, allowing him to guide her.He pointed to the enormous black seat in the shadows at the end of the room.
“It’s my personal space.”
Her gaze took in the dark red hues of the parlor, her brows knitting at just how stark it was in comparison to the bathroom, the dining room, and the place where she’d woken up.“It’s different, Master.”
“I do not usually allow mortals to come here.”He paused, and when she peered up at his face, it seemed as though he was contemplating why he’d permitted the change.“You are the first.”
Her eyes widened at the revelation.
She was the first?What did that mean?
“I need some time to think about how to deal with you.”Approaching the large armchair, he turned and eased his hulking frame onto it, leaving her standing naked in front of him.“And you need time to think about what happens when you defy me.”
Her heart sped up at that threat.In the frenzy of their passion, she’d almost forgotten his intention to penalize her again, although she remembered the foolish vows she’d made about obeying him.
How could she have sworn to comply with his demands when she had no idea what he’d insist upon?It didn’t matter how good it was being in his arms, or how much his kisses took her breath away.He was still her captor.She had to remember that.