Raelee groaned into the pillow.
Last night had been a marathon of debauchery.
Between her heightened sexual awakening and Thranduil's unending stamina, she was beyond exhausted.
But the smile on her face wouldn't go away.
Especially when Thranduil was so keen to make it up to her.
She had to tear his face away from between her thighs last night when he tried to get her to come four times in a row.
His ever-present shit-eating grin was the last thing she saw before she passed out.
She must have been dead to the world because she could hardly lift her head off the pillow.
A tutting noise to her left caused her to groan.
"Someone needs to work on her stamina." He chuckled beside her. His lips peppered kisses along her neck
"Someone needs to stop overcompensating."
"So you would like me to stop?" His fingers trailed along her inner thighs.
"No." Raelee allowed him to spread her legs.
He settled between her thighs.
Raelee sighed as his tongue began to flick her pebbled nipple.
Her chest arched into his touch, encouraging him to take it into his mouth.
He rewarded her by sucking the bud with vigour.
It didn't take long for her to wake up properly as he ran his big cock along her soaking pussy.
His lips migrated up to her neck and began to suck.
"No marks." She yelped as he grazed her pulse.
"Such a shame, I liked marking you as mine." His breathy voice made her all tingly.
She still didn't know who gave her those marks in Erebor, she didn't know if she'd ever tell him. She knew he had a jealous streak. Daron was still just as clueless.
All thoughts of her betrothed left her mind as he inched inside her. She hissed as she was still sensitive from last night.
She wrapped her legs around him when he was fully sheathed.
"Is my beautiful lover ready for another round?"
"Yes Thranduil." Her hands trailed up his toned back and urged him on as he began to thrust.
Raelee whined with each movement.
She tried to meet his thrusts.
Thranduil's eyes darkened.
Their lips met in a flurried passion.
Their tongues fought for dominance.
Thranduil broke their kiss to take one of her pebbled nipples into his mouth.
Raelee arched into his touch, hissing when his teeth bit a little too hard at one point.
Raelee looked down to see a red mark on her breast.
"If I can't have your neck..." His tongue ran over the flesh.
Thranduil's smug grin stopped any protest that was about to break forth.
Raelee's nails scraped along his back, garnering a hiss from the king. He released the bud and moved so he was right above her again.
"You want it rough?"
"You know what I like."
Thranduil's eyes darkened as his hand threaded into her hair.
Raelee yelped as he thrusted harshly into her.
Their lips collided and Raelee clenched around him as she felt a climax on the horizon.
It was raw and hard and she loved it.
"Yes! Yes! Right there!" She cried out as he thrusted into her over and over.
"Right here?" He shifted onto his knees, deepening the thrusts.
Her breasts bounced at the fast pace.
"Yes! Keep going-I'm gonna come." She moaned.
"Come for me." He growled.
Raelee's fingers reached her clit and began to circle.
"Good girl."
With a strained whimper, she clenched around him. He grunted out his end with a final harsh thrust.
They both panted as he pulled out.
Raelee sank deeper into the bed.
That was intense.
She loved morning sex with the king. It was almost more passionate than their nightly meetings.
"Best way to begin the day." He smirked and gave her another kiss.
Thranduil stood and made his way to the washroom.
"You took the words right out of my mouth." She stretched and followed behind him.
She cleaned herself up as he entered his pools.
"Care to join me?" His eyes trailed over her figure.
"I think I should be going. Wouldn't want to make a habit of keeping Galion waiting."
"Maybe you should take over his job too. Then I could have you all day and night."
"You will simply have to rehire him when I leave." She giggled.
She expected him to join in the laughter.
When he remained silent, she looked back to see him with a thoughtful expression.
"Thranduil?"
"You are correct. I should not speak of the impossible."
With a smile she left the washroom and began to get redressed.
"I'll see you later."
Raelee looked at the pocket watch she left on the nightstand and had about ten minutes before Galion would arrive.
Just as she settled in her post, she could hear a commotion in the halls.
"-it has to be Raelee. Who else has access to the king's rooms?"
She panicked when she heard a voice she didn't recognise.
"She is sneaky when she wants to be. Even the strongest among us cannot resist the temptation."
What were they talking about?
Raelee began to hyperventilate.
"Daron did say she was fond of the king-"
Before she could hear the rest, another set of footsteps echoed.
"Shift change?" The voice called.
"Indeed. I hope the king is in a good mood this morning." Galion huffed.
"I should think so. I heard the king's dry spell ended in his pools last night." The voice giggled.
That was quick, gossip about the king does tend to travel fast.
Before she could hear anymore about their conversation, Galion knocked and announced his arrival.
"Galion, how nice to see you." She smiled and held open the door.
"So is it true then?" He whispered conspiratorially.
"Is what true?"
"That the king had a guest…shall we say, polishing his sword?"
Raelee cringed at his wording.
"I'm not sure if I should-"
"It is no secret Raelee. The king's dalliances with the ladies of the court are common knowledge. As is his account at the court brothel."
"I don't feel comfortable talking about his private business."
Nor did she want to imagine the king visiting a whore house.
Especially when he had her-
No she was not a whore, this was a bargain.
Only difference was that she wasn't being paid in coin.
As her mind battled with itself, Galion brushed past her.
"You're no fun." He scoffed and set about lighting the fires and clearing away the rubbish.
"I'm going to bed." She grumbled and made her way out of the chambers.
Once she closed the door, the two voices she heard belonged to Adrien and another elf she didn't know.
They didn't see her leave and she didn't particularly want to speak with them.
What were they saying about her?
Her heart thudded with the fear that they knew of her bargain with the king.
No. Don't think like that.
She needed to keep reminding herself.
But what if her family found out?
What would her father say?
Before he collapsed in shock that is.
And her poor mother. Learning that her daughter was one of the king's conquests.
It would be worse than any wound from the most brutal attack.
When she reached her rooms, she let out a sigh of relief.
With a loving gaze, she flopped down on her bed.
She wasn't kidding when she spoke of her exhaustion.
So tired.
But it was well worth it.
Especially this morning.
Just as her breathing evened out, she could have sworn that she heard the door open.
"Raelee?"
Her eyes sprang open.
"Father? What are you doing here?"
"What were you doing at the King's pools last night." He ground out.
Oh fuck.
Xxx
Thranduil's eyes gazed over his correspondence and schedule for the day.
Captain rotation.
The reports of unrest in other regions.
Pleas for aid.
And the guest lists needed his approval.
Galion was working away sorting through his wardrobe for the week, when a furious knocking sound echoed about the room.
"Galion, find out what they want."
Galion made his way to the door only to be shoved aside by Bragi.
"Move aside." He huffed out.
A quick look up confirmed the elf's ire.
"Councillor, did we have an appointment?"
"I am afraid this is more of a personal matter."
Thranduil raised a brow and put down his papers.
"Very well, to what do I owe the pleasure?"
"This is about Raelee."
"Who?"
Thranduil gained tremendous pleasure from watching Bragi try to reign in his temper.
"My daughter, your night guard."
"Ah yes, is she complaining to you about her hours?"
"No, she has no complaints as far as she has told me."
"Is that so?"
"Yes, she is rather complimentary of you and how you treat her."
"Good, I would not want her to go home unsatisfied."
Thranduil had to take a sip of wine to stop from laughing at his own quip.
"You are too gracious, but I'm afraid I do have something I wish you to clarify."
"What is the issue?"
"As you are aware, Raelee is due to be married to another guard."
"Ah yes, have you come on his behalf?"
"No, I came as I heard a rumour about you and my daughter."
Thranduil felt his ears begin to ring.
He couldn't possibly think...
Galion was slowing his movements, like he was trying to listen.
"What rumour?" His harsh voice echoed around the chamber.
Bragi, to his credit, held his ground.
"My king, while I was grateful when you offered Raelee this new post, it was my understanding that her duties were to man your bedchambers at night?"
"They are."
"So can you explain to me why you brought her to the pools last night while you had a guest?"
Galion raised an eyebrow as he pretended to dust a vase.
"I needed a buffer in case myself and my guest were interrupted. Not that I needed to ask your permission, councillor."
"Of course not. It is just that I do not wish Raelee to be exposed to your…" Thranduil raised a brow in caution. Bragi took a deep breath. "Raelee is a naïve girl, she is inexperienced with men and I would rather she is not subjected to anything untoward."
"I assure you, councillor, that myself and my guest were perfectly obscured by a large door. Your daughter was instructed to stay in the atrium and keep all visitors at bay. Which she did."
"But, my king, Raelee is a maiden and is to be married soon. I don't want her getting the wrong ideas about the physical side of marriage." Bragi cringed at his own words.
"I can honestly say, with some certainty, that I have no intentions of subjecting Raelee to my proclivities." At least not at this very moment. "She simply waits outside and stays silent. As she always does." He dismissed Bragi with a nod and went back to his letters. "You should be proud of her."
"My king. I apologise if I caused any offence." Bragi replied through gritted teeth.
"None taken, councillor."
Bragi bowed and Galion escorted him out.
In his mind, his thoughts ran around the idea of their bargain being common knowledge.
If Raelee had been any other elf, she would have openly vied for his attentions and not been concerned about others knowing her business.
Sometimes, the rumours surrounding him became more common knowledge than the reality.
Some were amusing.
Others were downright impossible.
The one about his liaison with a water nymph was laughable.
Those creatures had teeth and weren't afraid to use them.
"My king, your lunch is served."
"Thank you, Galion. Do not speak of this conversation with anyone or I will throw you in the dungeon."
"O-of course, my king."
Galion left the chambers.
As Thranduil stood and plucked a ripe berry from the platter.
The juices burst onto his tongue.
He thought back to his evening with Raelee.
She was certainly brazen when it suited.
Her father's impression of her as some naïve child was the complete opposite of the devious elf she was last night.
Her little game was simply brilliant.
So naughty and playful.
Her acting as the innocent helpless Elleth and him being pulled in like a moth to a flame.
He hated to admit it, but she had him wrapped around her finger.
He would do anything to hear her laugh.
See her smile.
Bring her pleasure.
Especially the last one.