Oberyn awoke the next morning in Ellaria's arms. Even though he was in his loves embrace he couldn't help the way his thoughts turned to Reyna. Seeing her in his house colors last night had stirred something in him. It was a primal possessive feeling that was only strengthened by watching her flirt with Ser Joran.
He had half expected to be waking up in Reyna's rooms this morning, but when she had declined his offer it had made him want her even more. It took an especially strong woman to say no to him. Oberyn found that just thinking about Reyna aroused him. He could just imagine her pale hands caressing his dark skin and he could practically hear her moaning as he pushed into her.
Oberyn finally couldn't take it anymore and started to palm himself through the thin linen of his pants. He closed his eyes, still thinking of the Tyrell woman. Her plump lips on his throat, kissing down his chest, wrapped around his cock. He heaved a heavy sigh and felt Ellaria move next to him.
"If you needed help, you only needed to ask," she purred as she crawled on top of him. Oberyn shed himself of his pants and lifted himself up to capture Ellaria's lips. He knew he should've felt guilty for thinking of Reyna while he was with Ellaria, but he knew that she wouldn't mind too much. Ellaria approved of Reyna and had told Oberyn that she would help him in seducing the woman.
"Still thinking of her?" Ellaria moaned as she sunk down onto Oberyn. The prince couldn't control his moan as Ellaria's velvet smooth skin surrounded him. He managed to nod his head and lay back while she slowly rode him.
"There's something about her that I find intriguing," Oberyn finally managed. Ellaria sighed as Oberyn jerked his hips up into her.
"She pretends to be so prim and proper. But I can tell that she's wild," Ellaria answered in a breathy tone.
"Well, Lord Tyrion's hired sword is in love with her so she must be doing something right," Oberyn smirked as the image of the knight's possessive stare flashed in his mind. Oberyn flipped them over so that his lover was underneath him and with a sharp flick of his hips he began to pound into her.
"I'm sure you'll be able to convince her that you are the better option," Ellaria gasped out. It didn't take long for Oberyn to finish, what with the thoughts of Reyna and the feeling of Ellaria tightening around him. He slumped to the side, sweat dripping down his chest and looked up at the smoky ceiling of his Red Keep room. Ellaria had a point. He had felt the way Reyna's body had reacted to him last night, her resolve was weak when it came to him. He just needed a few choice words and a simple touch here and there to have her in the palm of his hand.
Later, when he had satisfied himself once more and dressed, he decided to walk the gardens and was pleasantly surprised to find Reyna with the royal wedding planner. Reyna was wearing one of her usual revealing dresses, this time a pale green silk. She and the planner were looking at a piece of paper and she was frowning.
"Move the gazebo five feet to the right so we have room for the dancing," she ordered as she pointed her finger at a spot on the paper.
"Have you reconsidered our dance?" Oberyn smirked. Reyna lifted her eyes to him and something unusual flashed in them. She dismissed the planner with a small tilt of her head and turned her back to the prince.
"Did you sleep well, my prince?" She asked tersely. Oberyn chuckled and placed himself right behind her. He traced one finger up her exposed back and was pleased to see that goosebumps followed his touch.
"I was plagued with dreams of you," he purred. Reyna stiffened and spun around so that she was facing him. Her lips were pursed in an adorable little pout and her cheeks were flaming red. Oberyn's chest swelled with pride knowing that he had caused this reaction from her.
"I'm sorry that you did not sleep well," she apologized, slightly out of breath. Oberyn took a step closer and traced a finger along her collar bone. Reyna's lips parted and a shaky breath of desire left her mouth. Oberyn lowered his head so that their lips were inches apart and looked into her eyes, asking for permission. As he was about to connect their lips Reyna turned her head to the side so that Oberyn's mouth met her cheek.
"You love to tease me," he purred against her skin and his hands found her waist. Reyna immediately slapped them away and took a step away from him. Oberyn easily disguised his disappointment by letting an amused smirk mask his features. Reyna rolled her eyes and immediately turned and started walking away. Oberyn easily caught up with her and continued to walk with her through the gardens.
"Is there anything I can help you with, my prince?" Reyna snapped rather coldly. Oberyn couldn't suppress the amused smile that crossed his lips at her tone. He had seen women do this kind of thing before. They acted angry with a man because they didn't want to admit their true feelings. It was an admirable effort on Reyna's part, but Oberyn knew that it wouldn't last long.
"Walk with me. I'd like to explore the gardens with someone who knows a little something about flowers," he suggested. Reyna paused mid step and turned to take in the prince. Something unusual flickered in her mesmerizing eyes, but then after another moment she nodded her head. Oberyn held out his arm for her and she reluctantly laced her arm with his. They walked silently for a long time, but Oberyn was just enjoying her company.
"Will this wedding be a spectacle?" Oberyn finally asked. Reyna's face lit up as she started to list off all the various performances and all the things she helped organize. It seemed like she was really excited for the upcoming nuptials.
"I'm not excited about the pairing, but the wedding will be beautiful," she finished with a sad smile.
"You do not approve of Joffrey for your sister?" The prince asked. Reyna scoffed and her grip on Oberyn's arm tightened a little.
"I do not approve of Joffrey for anyone, least of all my little sister," she practically snarled. To Oberyn she seemed more like a snake than a rose in that moment.
"I am still surprised that I never heard of your engagement to Lord Dayne," Oberyn said, quickly changing the subject. The color immediately drained from Reyna's face and her arm became limp in his.
"Your brother, Prince Doran, soon grew tired of the alliance and broke it apart," she replied in a stilted voice, almost as if she were reading from a script. Her skin was now the same grey color as her eyes and it worried Oberyn. Something had obviously happened between her and Lord Dayne, but he felt he shouldn't push her on it.
"Have you thought about the Fertility Dance?" Oberyn purred as he pulled Reyna even closer into his side. The color reappeared in her cheeks as a blush overtook her face. She lowered her head so that her hair hid her face, but Oberyn would have none of that. He stopped them in the middle of the gardens and turned her to face him. With two of his fingers he lifted her chin so that her eyes met his.
Oberyn was once again struck by the strange color of her eyes. They gave Reyna an otherworldly look about her. If she looked at him in that way long enough she could bend him to her will. Oberyn had never met a woman who held such power over him before. He couldn't tell if her innocent nature was all an act or if she was indeed sincere.
"Don't ever hide that face from me," he whispered. Reyna's lips pursed and a small smirk crossed her lips. She raised her hand up and gently caressed the side of his face. A breathy moan crossed the prince's lips and he couldn't help how his eyes fluttered shut.
"You want me," Reyna's voice purred. Oberyn gripped her wrists in his hands and a groan rose in his chest. It was at times like this when he felt her true self showed.
"Sleep with me," he groaned and pulled her into his chest. He felt her lips touch the base of his throat, her warm breath spreading across his skin. His body had a strange reaction to her then. Instead of taking control it melted into her touch. He felt strangely submissive and it both scared and excited him.
"No," she whispered firmly and stepped away from him. Oberyn opened his eyes and took in a large gulp of air. Reyna was standing about ten paces away, her hands planted firmly on her hips. The amused look on her face told Oberyn that she knew the effect that she had on him.
"Why not?" He asked curiously, crossing his arms over his chest. Reyna tilted her head to the side and turned slightly so that her profile was showing. Oberyn traced her delicate curves and felt an animal-like hunger gnaw at his belly.
"Because you don't deserve me yet," she stated simply. With another intense stare, she turned and strut back down the way they came. Oberyn watched her go in shock, a huge wave of disappointment flooding his chest. He wouldn't let her get away that easily though.
He followed her at a distance, making sure that he still kept pace with her. She was taking a rather unusual course, twisting and turning in the gardens in a manner that seem memorized. She rounded a corner quite suddenly and Oberyn paused a moment before following her. When he did he saw something that made his blood simultaneously quicken and boil at the same time.
Reyna and Lord Tyrion's hired sword were locked in a heated embrace. Reyna's hands were tangled in his hair, pulling him in as close as possible. The hired sword had his hands on Reyna's waist, his fingers digging into the fabric of her dress.
So this was why the man had tensed when Oberyn had flirted with Reyna. They were sleeping together. And judging by the way he caressed her face Oberyn's assumption that he was in love with the lady was spot on.
"Here's one thing that Dornishman can never say he's done," the sellsword growled as he slipped a hand under Reyna's skirt. Reyna let out a throaty moan as his hands must have brushed somewhere sensitive. Her lips met the sellswords in another passionate kiss as her hips bucked against his hand.
"Let's go to my rooms," Reyna purred and pushed the man's hand out of her skirt. The man smiled and they both started to walk towards Oberyn's hiding spot. Oberyn turned and quickly hid himself behind another hedge. First Reyna emerged and stood for a moment, looking around to make sure it was clear. She tucked her hair behind her ear, straightened her dress and continued walking. The sellsword emerged a second later and did the same kind of look around. He adjusted his belt and placed a hand on his sword before following after Reyna at a distance.
So this was why Reyna had rejected his advances. She was seeing someone else. Either that or she really wasn't interested in him. But Oberyn remembered how her body had reacted to his. If she wasn't interested then she wouldn't have acted in such a way. She didn't seem to be as in love with the sellsword as he was with her, maybe it wasn't as serious as Oberyn's mind was making it.
"Why are you hiding back here?" A sweet voice asked. Oberyn turned and found Reyna's sister Margaery, standing close by, her blue eyes full of suspicion.
"Taking in all the beauty these gardens have to offer," he smirked and approached the young woman. Margaery's nose scrunched up in distaste as she glanced around her.
"This is nothing compared to our Highgarden," she scoffed and motioned for him to follow her. Oberyn obeyed and the two casually walked together in the lush green pathway.
"Do you prefer it to King's Landing?" He asked, making polite conversation with the soon to be queen.
"I like the capital because I feel I can make a difference here. Reyna does not share my opinion. She was planning to stay in Highgarden after my first husband died but then I became engaged and so I had to have her come down to be with me," Margaery explained. Oberyn nodded his head a little disinterestedly.
"She is quite smitten with you," Margaery suddenly announced. Oberyn stopped walking and turned to face the Tyrell girl. She sported the same amused look that Reyna had given him minutes ago.
"And how do you know this?" Oberyn asked suspiciously. Margaery giggled and looked around them, almost as if she expected her sister to appear at any second.
"She told me this morning. She detailed your little… interaction in the hallway and told me how much strength it took her not to invite you into her rooms. I've never seen my sister so flustered before," she teased. Oberyn couldn't help the little smile that flickered at the corner of his lips. So she was just playing hard to get.
"May I ask you a question, Lady Tyrell?" He asked, suddenly remembering something from his earlier conversation with Reyna. Margaery nodded her head and watched him expectantly.
"What happened between Reyna and Lord Aren Dayne? I asked about him earlier and her reaction was rather… odd," he asked carefully. Margaery's eyes widened and she looked like she had just seen a ghost.
"Nothing happened my prince. Now if you'll excuse me I have to meet with my wedding planner," she said curtly before scurrying away. Oberyn watched her go, confusion clouding his brain. Were the Dayne's and the Tyrell's in some kind of family squabble? He would have to write his brother and get to the bottom of it.