Dear reader, enjoy some steam as this ship sails for hotter seas. And my gratitude for the reviews and views. They certainly spur on the creativity.
A fluid rush of movement and heat, he pulled her by the hand roughly, throwing her forward and grazing her hip against the table. The wooden furniture scraping and sliding against the wall with a resonant crash. Her body ached from the hit, but the cry on her lips was instantly swallowed by his mouth on her own. That same delicious scratching on her lips from his stubble sent shudders down her spine. His chuckle reverberated in her open mouth, enjoying her eagerness as he claimed her. His hand braced against her back and pulled her flush against his body.
He felt so warm to her, heat from his chest, his pelvis melting into her frame. A lick of tongue between her lips, and she gasped in delighted surprise. Earning herself another roll of laughter from him.
"See how nice it is to slow from your gallop to be broken in, my filly," he rasped, his voice grating in desire through his caresses.
She moved on purest instinct, running her hands into his hair to keep his face close to hers, nipping at his ear, as he had hers that day. The feeling had haunted her all that day, she longed to return the favor. Allowing her tongue to skim the softness of his earlobe, she breathed softly into his ear. "And do you see what you might miss by focusing only on the forge and sorcery and darkness?" This was a new form of battle for her, and for now, she would imitate her opponent.
A growl grinded in his throat, clasping her hands in his, and throwing them over her head. She was pushed three steps in retreat before he slammed her against the cool stone of the wall, the back of her head aching as it hit with a dull thud. Trapped and slightly dazed, her breath heaved in her chest, feeling the weight of him press into her. Her hand remained pinned, though she twisted and pulled against him. No use. "They say smithing makes for the greatest strength in arm and will," he smirked down at her, eyes smoldering with need, jaw tweaking and twinging with intent to kiss her again. "You cannot best me, Galadriel."
"I don't need to best you," she panted, fighting a primal need to fight or flee, to defend herself as the warrior she was. Heart in her throat, she had one idea, one way to counter him. With a mighty heft, she jumped, bracing her shins against his torso, throwing him off balance enough to free her hands and push him a step back. She stood freed for a moment, trying to catch her breath, feeling her chest heaving against her collar's delicate stitching. Her heart did gallop against her ribs, and not in fear if she was truly honest. Those eyes, that smile once inspired comfort, companionship and meaning. His words still ran through her mind. With him she was alone no longer. She had found a companion in place of her brother, her husband, though he had been the one to rob her of them both. And even though it turned her stomach, there was more than just commonalities and mirrored souls that they shared. It had flamed ignored and unnamed in her heart since leaving Numenór.
Not love. But whatever it was, she recognized its tormenting heat and searching drive reflected in the bright depths of his stare. In her heart, a single corner of her being wanted whatever was to come between them in body and in soul, but still, the past was a hard monster to kill, and vengeance a challenging beast to put to sleep.
He waited almost on his toes, assessing her next move. And for her own sake, for her missions's sake, her next move would need to produce a result in her favor. Clearing her throat, she cast her eyes away, to the floorbeams beneath her toes. She allowed her breathing to deepen, knowing full well that the slight swell of her bosom would flush and strain against her dress. "I don't need to best you," she murmured, an uneasy lilt to her words, steadying her gaze on the floor as his presence closed in even more. "I submit, my lord," she breathed. And she sank to her knees at his feet, the brush of his cloak so close, it embraced her in black.
A kneeling vassal in service to her lord.