The Game
Queen Aelin of Terrasen shook her head as she easily scaled the palace walls, creeping closer and closer to the Monarch Suite of the palace in Orynth. She would definitely be having several words with those in charge of the royal guards about needing to look everywhere while on guard - including above their heads.
She made it to the window that led to the main room of the Monarch Suite, where she and Rowan would often spend long nights curled up reading in front of the massive fireplace, with a fire roaring in the fireplace.
She scanned the room a few times, and saw no sign of anyone inside. She pushed against the window she knew she had left unlocked, and it didn't budge.
Aelin grinned. He was going to make her work for it tonight, was he? Fine. More fun for her.
Aelin made sure her grip was steady before letting one hand off the ledge to reach into her sleeve and pull out the lockpicks she kept tucked away, just in case. In a matter of seconds, she had the window opened, and put the lockpicks back in her sleeve before effortlessly and silently slipping through the window.
Aelin almost wanted to use the mating bond or the blood oath, to force him to come from wherever he was in the palace. If he wasn't even in the suite, the game would be over before it even began
Their game of the Prince and the Assassin was one that had started near the beginning of her reign. The rules were simple. She could use any skills that she had when she had been Celaena Sardothien to make her way into the Monarch's Suite. If she made it all the way to the bed without being caught by guards - or by the King Consort himself - she won. If he caught her, he had fifteen minutes to get her to reveal her "plans" - who she was sent to kill, who sent her, and how much she was being paid. He had everything at his disposal that he would have had when he was still in Doranelle - so he was without the limits she had. If he got her to talk before fifteen minutes, he won. If she held out, she won.
Some might think limiting her to no magic while Rowan could use his was an unfair advantage, but Aelin didn't mind. The extra challenge made it more exciting for her.
Once Aelin was inside the room, she closed the window silently. She started moving silently toward the bedroom.
And was knocked back by a strong wind that pinned her to the wall by the window.
"So close, and yet so far."
Aelin gave a grin to the white-haired man who stepped out of the bedroom she had been headed for. His shirt was already removed, showing off his muscular chest, "What gave me away, Prince?"
"That's King to you. The fae have amazing hearing, lady assassin." Rowan said, "I heard you scaling the wall a good foot below the window. It gave me plenty of time to prepare."
Aelin huffed a laugh.
"Now the question is…what do I do with you?" Rowan asked, "An assassin sneaking into the Monarch's suites…I'm sure the guards would love to speak with you."
Aelin grinned, "You mean the same guards who have been lulled into complacency by the peace of the realm? They didn't even glance my way once."
"My mate and I will definitely have to have a word with their superiors about that." Rowan said.
"I thought the same thing." Aelin said.
"Who sent you?" Rowan asked.
"Oh, you didn't think I would just tell you that information, did you?" Aelin asked, "If you want me to say anything, you'll have to convince me."
Rowan gave a wicked grin that had Aelin quivering with anticipation, and struggling to keep to her character. He made his way over to her, his wind that kept her pinned to the wall not relenting at all. Once he reached her, he tilted her head up, and pulled down the neck of her black suit - made to match the one Arobynn had ordered for her back when she lived and worked in Rifthold - to reveal the two puncture marks at her neck. Her marks from Rowan claiming her.
"Listen to that heartbeat of yours." Rowan all but purred in her ear. Aelin fought to keep her knees from giving out beneath her, "Does this excite you, assassin?"
"An attractive male pinning me to the wall?" Aelin let out a snort, "Sounds like an average night for me."
"And does this happen on an average night?" Rowan asked, licking his tongue slowly over those puncture marks. Aelin fought to keep her breath even. Rowan's tongue ran its way up her neck from the puncture wound until his hot breath was at her ear. Striking as quick as an asp, he nipped her ear gently, forcing a moan out of her.
Rowan chuckled, "And here I thought it would be hard to get answers out of you. I've barely even started, and you're already moaning."
"C-caught me off guard, that's all." Aelin said, trying to keep up her swagger while her body screamed at her to just call this whole game of theirs off, and drag her husband, her consort…her mate to bed. "You won't get so lucky again."
Rowan reached around behind her and began slowly, so so slowly peeling the suit off of her. The suit came away from her shoulders, down to expose her breasts, which Rowan took his time paying special attention to each one. Licking, nipping, sucking, and tracing lazy circles around each breast until they ached with need.
Lower and lower that suit came. Even with his attention on every inch of her body, that wind holding her in place never budged. When he reached her knees, he forced her knees wider apart. As far apart as she could get them within the confines of the suit.
"You better not rip or damage that." Aelin growled, "It costs a queen's fortune."
"A queen's fortune, hmm?" Rowan said. His hands started just above her knees, slowly rubbing up the side of her legs, closer to her aching center.
Rowan paused with his hands just below. He glanced up at Aelin, "Anything you wish to tell me now?"
Aelin gave a quick glance to the clock on the mantle above the fireplace. Rowan had taken his time working her suit down, toying with her, savoring every inch of skin as he revealed it. Ten minutes were already gone. If she could just hold out another five minutes…
"Hmm, we've already covered the dire need for new guards, haven't we? I can't think of….oh gods!"
Aelin was cut off as Rowan slipped first one finger between her legs, then two…three…he slowly pumped his fingers in and out of her. Aelin's breath caught.
"What was that?" Rowan asked.
"Bastard!" Aelin said, gasping as she tried to move around, to escape those fingers slowly working their way in and out in a lazy rhythm.
"I'm sorry, I didn't quite hear that." Rowan said. He picked up his tempo, causing Aelin's breath to come in quick pants. She glanced at the clock again. Four minutes. Four more minutes…
She could feel her release quickly approaching. Right before she was sure she would burst, Rowan removed his fingers. Aelin was panting as he slowly rose up to look at her. Slowly he licked each of his fingers, humming softly as he tasted her.
"Why did you stop?" Aelin said, trying to sound cocky, "Are you unable to finish the job with your Queen, too? How disappointing that must be for her."
Rowan chuckled, "I think my Queen would tell you I never disappoint her. But why should I give you, a lowly assassin, any sort of relief? Unless…there is something you want to tell me? I might be willing to reward you if you answered a few simple questions."
Aelin glanced at the clock. Two more minutes to go. Rowan turned and looked at the clock as well. He looked back at her, and Aelin grinned, "You still haven't convinced me to talk, Prince."
Rowan grinned, "So be it."
Rowan dropped back to his knees, and his tongue began lapping up the side of her legs, until it reached her throbbing core. He licked at her entrance once, twice, three times…and Aelin was sure the only thing keeping her upright was his magic pinning her to the wall. Aelin groaned.
Her groan turned into a cry that was a mix of pain and pleasure as he turned his head to gently nip at the inside of her thigh. He turned and nipped the other thigh, causing another shriek.
Aelin glanced at the clock as Rowan started licking up the inside of her thigh again, getting closer and closer to her center again, no doubt planning to repeat the process.
Twenty seconds. Just twenty seconds.
That cruel tongue of his lapped at her entrance a second time, and this time poked inside. Causing Aelin to gasp.
Ten seconds….
Another nip on her thigh, slightly higher that the first set of bites. Another yelp from Aelin.
Five seconds….
The other thigh got the same treatment.
"Time!" Aelin called out as the clock finally ticked over to mark the end of fifteen minutes, "Time's up! I win!"
Immediately, the wind holding her against the wall dropped away, and she slid down the wall until she was on the floor in front of him.
"I thought I was going to win that one." Rowan said, kissing Aelin's temple.
"It was a close call." Aelin admitted.
The two of them sat on the floor together, their heads pressed together, just soaking up the scent of each other. After a few minutes, Aelin cleared her throat, and pulled away. Rowan looked up at her.
"I seem to mention a certain consort saying he never disappoints his queen after I mentioned that he was leaving a job unfinished."
"I did" Rowan said, he grinned, knowing full well what she was getting at. To prove it, he began tracing lazy circles around her abdomen with his fingers. "Why? Does my queen want something?"
"Buzzard." Aelin said
"Clearly not." Rowan said, "Surely if a queen wanted something, she'd ask politely."
"Cold-hearted bastard." Aelin groaned.
Rowan laughed, and stood up, pulling Aelin to her feet. "Do you think you deserve a reward for winning our game?"
"Absolutely" Aelin said, and before she could say or do anything else, Rowan's mouth was pressed to hers, and he began leading her towards the bedroom while they kissed. Aelin began tearing at his clothes. Rowan tugged at her black suit, pulling it the rest of the way down.
By the time they were at the bed, both of them were naked.
Later that night, completely spent and satisfied, Aelin laid next to Rowan on their bed.
"I wasn't too rough on you, was I?" Rowan asked with a wicked grin, his eyes dancing with mischief.
"Do you remember, before the war, and while it was going on, that you mentioned you were keeping a tally of all the horrible things I said and did to you?" Aelin asked with a huff.
"Yes," Rowan said.
Aelin grinned, "Let's just say I've started my own tally, Your Majesty."
Author's Note 1: Sorry if this completely sucks. Romance is a new genre for me. I just got this idea in my head during Empire of Storms, and just couldn't get it out of my head while I finished reading, so I had to write it.
Author's Note 2: This will either be a stand-alone, or a collection of one-shots. I am open to suggestions of other ideas that you guys would like to see.