Raelee tried to act normal when Daron arrived back in their room.
The other guards were going to be a little longer at the bathhouse.
That helped Raelee breathe a little easier.
Daron asked Raelee to re-plait one of his braids. She was sat behind him on the bed as she twisted the fine hairs.
"I am not looking forward to this." He grumbled.
"It won't be that bad. At least we don't have to serve the drinks." She tried to joke.
"True, but nor will we be allowed to partake. We get to watch our glorious King eat and drink while we stand guard over a throng of drunk dwarves."
"It is just for one night." She tied the braid in place.
"And we don't even get to stand together." He stood and handed her the rota.
She read over the plan. Herself and Calel will be stationed together by the High table while Daron and Fandriel were stationed by the doors.
"He hates me." Daron grumbled.
"Who?"
"The King. He obviously doesn't trust me to stand guard while he eats."
"It's not like he will be in any danger. The dwarves need the Greenwood for trade. They wouldn't want to ruin anything."
"I suppose so. Just as well, I don't know if I'd like the thought of you facing off against an axe-wielding dwarf." His hand traced the curve of her back. "I wouldn't want you to get hurt."
She bit back a snide remark at his worry. If there was going to be a fight at the feast, her safety shouldn't be the first thing on his mind, it should be the King's.
She turned to the mirror to give herself a quick once-over.
"You look lovely." He began to kiss her neck as she tightened her belt.
Unconsciously, she tilted her neck to give him more access.
"I think Calel and Fandriel are taking their time." His lips traced over her pulse.
She leant back into his embrace. After her self-exploration, she had eliminated some of her frustration, but she was eager to kiss… someone.
But the person she wanted to kiss didn't seem to want her in the same way.
"Shame we don't have our own rooms." His lips traced the shell of her ear. "All the fun we could have if we were all alone…"
At his raspy voice, she turned to search his eyes.
He gave her a teasing smile and bent down to catch her lips.
She gasped when he opened his mouth to deepen their kiss.
He pressed her against the wall, and she groaned as his hand gripped her waist. He went back to kissing her neck and she moaned in pleasure.
His hands moved down to her hips.
She groaned in discomfort. The bruises were still tender.
"You like that?" He smirked at her.
She didn't have time to respond before he was back attacking her neck.
She cried out as his teeth scraped her neck.
He wedged a thigh between her legs and began to grind.
A hand trailed up her waist to palm her breast.
A swift pinch of her nipple made her gasp aloud.
She became lost in the moment and let out a loud groan.
Raelee opened her eyes when she heard the door open, revealing a mildly surprised and then smirking Calel and Fandriel.
She pushed Daron back with a sheepish grin.
She was certain her cheeks were bright red.
"How were the pools?" She set about fixing her tousled hair.
"Stimulating." Fandriel grinned. "Maybe we should have stayed there a little longer?" Fandriel gave her a once over.
Daron laughed as Fandriel sent him a wink.
"We will need to report to our posts soon." She was blushing with embarrassment. This was not how she wanted her company to view her.
"Brace yourselves. It's going to be a long night." Calel groaned as he checked his pocket-watch.
As they left, she gave Daron a kiss on the cheek. If she acted like the happy bride-to-be, no one would suspect anything amiss. And after the light-hearted teasing Calel and Fandriel were giving Daron, she was sure they never suspected a thing.
xxx
The King and his council members were partaking in the Dwarf Kingdom's festivities tonight. A grand feast with all manners of pomp and ceremony.
Both kings sat high on the dais, overlooking the entire hall. Raelee and Calel were standing either side of the high table at the top of the hall while Daron and Fandriel were stationed at the back.
Throughout the evening the dwarves sang, drank and ate enormously.
Her mother was right. They were uncivilised and boorish.
They weren't subtle either.
"I mean, which one is the maiden? They all look the same." A drunk dwarf with a bushy black beard spoke a little too loudly.
Raelee's gaze moved to seek out the disturbance.
"Are we sure that there even is a maiden among them?" Another asked, just as loudly.
"Yes! I heard a tale that there were feminine screams coming from the guards' room. They echoed apparently." He laughed lewdly.
"Screams of terror?"
"No, screams of pleasure." Another dwarf winked at the group who then looked towards Raelee.
Raelee tried to keep her facial expressions blank. She didn't want them to know how disgusted she was with their line of conversation.
"How would you know what that sounds like?" That provoked another loud burst of laughter among the group.
"Perhaps the elves aren't as frigid as we thought." The group laughed and drank and joined in on another song. The conversation seemed to be forgotten.
Raelee couldn't stop the blush spreading all over her face. Calel was composed, but there wasn't a doubt that he heard the same thing she did.
She glanced at Daron to see if he heard too but he was stoic in appearance. Perhaps he was too far away to have heard.
While Daron and Fandriel may not have heard the dwarves' conversation, the king's steely gaze on her made her certain that he had heard every word.
He was gripping his goblet a little too tightly.
She couldn't read his temperament. He wouldn't do anything to her now. Not in front of his council members and the court of Erebor.
Her gaze moved back to the festivities. Soon the court would retire and those not constrained by royal etiquette would be allowed to properly enjoy the feast without embarrassing the royal family.
That time came as soon as both kings stood and made their way out of the halls.
The elven guards followed accordingly and bowed to the Dwarf king as he left.
Thranduil walked towards his chambers and entered without a word to his attendants or councillors.
The guards retired and immediately set about getting ready for sleep.
"Those creatures are foul and completely uncivilised." Calel was speaking when she moved towards the table to get a drink. She stopped at his words.
"They certainly are brash." Daron agreed.
"If I were you, I would have been far more uncouth with my words." Calel said to Daron.
"What is that supposed to mean?" Daron frowned.
Before Calel could explain what happened in the halls, Raelee gave him a look. She begged him, with her eyes, to remain silent.
He looked like he wanted to speak, but then a knock sounded at the door.
They all stopped and stared in confusion.
"Who could that be?" Daron asked, laying down on his pallet.
When none of them moved, she went and answered the door.
From the first glance, she thought there was no one there.
"Down here, elf." A gruff voice sounded.
She looked down to see a rather short, old dwarf tapping his foot at her.
"May I help you?"
"The Elven King requires the she-elf's presence." He grumbled.
"Oh-kay" Her grip on the door increased a fraction.
"You're not meant to go on duty this early." Daron sat up with a raised brow.
He was right. The sun had set, but according to the schedule she received ahead of the journey, she wasn't due to take her place outside his chambers for another two hours.
"Come along, I don't have all night." The dwarf grumbled.
"Very well." She turned to grab her bow and bid the others goodnight.
"Is it urgent?" She asked as he led her down the hall.
"It sounded so. Perhaps he needs you to brush his hair." The dwarf smirked.
She bit back a response at his snide remarks.
They turned a corner, and she could see the ornate doors at the end of the hall.
"Your king has been a right pain in the arse since he arrived. How you don't bash his head in with an axe, I'll never know." He complained.
Raelee could imagine the Dwarf kingdom's staff struggling to keep up with the demanding king's requests.
"Anything else I should be aware of?"
The dwarf hesitated for a moment before answering.
"A letter arrived for his majesty after the feast. He… looked affronted by its mere presence."
"A letter?" She furrowed her brows. Why would a letter be sent here?
"It looked important. After reading through it, he sent me to collect you." They arrived at the door.
Before she could ask any more questions, he spun around and left.
She took a deep breath to collect herself.
Once he was gone from sight, she entered after making sure the halls were clear.
It was a similar set up to his chambers.
A small atrium where she could sit between the outside hall and the King's chambers.
She left her bow by the door.
Raelee entered the main chambers and was rather impressed with the grand room. There was a massive table, covered in all manners of foods that looked like they hadn't been touched. A roaring fire lit the room in a soft glow.
Her eyes settled on the massive bed and felt her heart beating faster at the thought of ending up there with the King.
Speaking of the king, he was standing by the balcony. An empty carafe of wine was on the ledge beside him.
His back was slightly hunched.
"My king?"
"You took your time." He grumbled.
She noticed he was swaying slightly, even though he was trying very hard to seem composed.
"Are you drunk?"
"I suppose I am. I had hoped that this would last me the entire journey, but I fear I may have drunk it all." He held up a goblet and drained the rest in one gulp.
He finally turned to look at her. His lips were slightly stained red.
"Get into bed, sleep it off." She tried to corral him towards his bed.
"Not until I've had you." She found herself on the balcony after he pulled her towards him. He pressed her against the ledge.
"Not tonight. You are drunk." She tried to stop him as he kissed her neck. He kissed a path down her neck to her chest until the king was on his knees. He attempted to unlace her leggings as she tried to haul him back up.
"We have a bargain." He had managed to pull down her leggings slightly.
"We do, but you are in no position to-"
"I have the perfect position in mind." He stood and stared into her eyes. His pupils were dilated.
"You need to sleep and rest."
"Not before I fuck you." His hand moved to her exposed centre, but as soon as he touched her his eyes grew wide.
"You're not wet." He sounded shocked.
How could he expect her to feel aroused when he was like this?
"You haven't given me any time to prepare." She winced as he continued to circle her entrance, waiting for her to respond.
His blown eyes narrowed.
"I heard that dwarf mention tales of feminine moans coming from your rooms, was he lying?"
"No, he was not." She winced at his attentions.
"So, you and your betrothed consummated your engagement, I take it?" He spat at her while he continued to press her against the balcony wall.
"Not that it should bother you, but he wasn't there." She snarked.
She watched his gaze turn cold.
"One of the other guards?" He growled menacingly.
"No!"
"A dwarf?"
"Don't be absurd."
"Then what happened?" He snapped.
"I-I was alone." She couldn't look at him.
He paused his movements.
"You were alone?"
She hated it when he raised that eyebrow at her.
She began to feel her body tremble at the memory.
"Yes."
"And you pleasured yourself?"
"I-I did." She stuttered. He began gently circling her opening.
In the time that she remembered her self-exploration, she began to feel aroused. The king noticed too.
"You are getting wet now." Fingers slowly entered her and began to curl.
Her hands held onto his shoulders as he fingered her. He growled as she widened her stance to accommodate his digits.
Raelee stifled her cries as he gently pumped inside her.
"No one has had you?" He withdrew his fingers.
"Only you." She moaned as he began to rub her clit.
"Only me." He mused and sped up.
She felt her climax floating on the horizon. But just like all the times before, he stopped before she could finish.
"Take off your clothes and get on the bed." He commanded as he too began to undress.
She panted in anger.
Frustration.
Exasperation.
Any emotion that had been building up.
The humiliation, the degradation and the despair she felt right now wasn't worth any promise of freedom if this was going to be the way he treated her.
"No."
It took him a second to comprehend what she said.
His facial expression ranged from surprise, confusion and anger.
In all the time of their bargain, she had never refused him.
"I'm sorry, I don't think I heard you." He spoke menacingly.
"I said… no." She stood her ground.
He took a step back slightly. She had shocked him.
"You will not deny me."
She held her nerve.
"I won't do a damn thing. Not until you explain your actions towards me."
"And what actions are you speaking of?"
She steeled her nerves. No going back, she needed to get this off her chest.
"Why are you being so cruel when we're together?"
There, she said what she had needed to ask for the past three weeks. Now she would have to deal with the consequences.
"I don't have to explain myself to you." He sounded so cold and indifferent.
"I beg to differ. You have acted vile and callous. Treating me like an object rather than a person."
"Care to give me some examples of my supposed treatment?"
She balked at him in shock.
"Are you really that blind? Do you think I enjoyed what you did to me the other day?"
"I've done many things to you. You will have to be more specific."
"When you-" she cringed "When you ejaculated all over me. You didn't even ask if I was okay after you did it." And what he did after.
He nodded in thought.
"What else?"
She bristled at his nonchalant tone.
"I'm covered in bruises. I mean- look at me!" She pulled down her leggings slightly and gestured frantically to the fading bruises on her hips.
"I warned you that not all physical aspects of our bargain would be pleasant. You never complained until now."
"You cannot seriously have believed that I would just continue to lie back and take it."
"There have been many times when you've been content to lie back and take it."
Raelee flinched at his insinuation.
"Do not call me a slut." She gritted out.
He narrowed his eyes.
"That is rich coming from the girl who should be planning her wedding to her oh so lovely betrothed. What would he think of you if he knew the truth? The real reason you took this post. What happens behind closed doors in my chambers. What you allow me to do to you."
Her fists clenched at his words.
"You were the one who wanted this bargain. You know I don't love him. But I don't want to hurt him more than I have to."
"He will be hurt either way. Why give him hope where there is none?" He spoke quietly.
"Why does it bother you so much?" She felt tears of frustration gather in her eyes. "You look like you want to kill Daron every time you lay your eyes upon him." He didn't deny it. "And now you have gotten drunk by yourself for reasons I cannot fathom. You complain that I am not aroused, and you seem to think that I am insane for refusing you when you're like this." He waited for her to continue.
"You know I am bound by our bargain if I want to leave your kingdom and get out of my marriage." She took a deep breath. "But if you do not explain your actions right now, I will end our agreement and suffer the consequences."
He looked like he was weighing her words.
Her heart hammered inside her ribcage, waiting for his response.
"No."
It felt like all the air was sucked out of the room.
She blinked at him.
"No?"
"This bargain is over when I say so." He was deathly serious.
Raelee saw red.
"I don't think I need to remind you that there are two people in this bargain. I have every right to end this as much as you do. You have hurt me every time we have lain together since you caught Daron and I at the pools. You have been rough and almost unwilling to give me any pleasure-"
"You are in danger of forgetting your place. You do not get to make demands. We are not equals." A tear of frustration rolled down her cheek. "Be quiet now and I shall forget your little outburst. Now take off your clothes!"
She hated this.
"I will leave through that door and figure out another way to leave your kingdom." She gritted out. "And I will spend the rest of my life trying to forget about you and what you did to me. What you made me into."
Tears now freely flowed down her face.
xxx
The tears.
They did… something to him.
She couldn't end their bargain. She couldn't.
When he heard the story of her moans echoing along the halls, he knew the tale was true by the blush that crept down her face.
Thranduil had felt such intense… he didn't even know how to describe it.
When he found out that Daron would be joining their company, he had felt fire burning in his veins. It was only made worse when she almost refused his advances that night in his tent.
But now that she was threatening to end their bargain, he didn't feel anger like he thought he would.
He felt panicked.
He didn't want their bargain to end.
Why did he feel like this? Why did she make him feel like this?
Slowly, she had become the highlight of his day.
He had looked forward to their nights together.
She was... his.
When did she become…so necessary?
"We will continue our bargain and I will eventually set you free." He spoke calmly. Like he was trying to reason with a child.
Her green eyes flashed in anger.
"You're not listening to me! I won't continue our bargain if you keep treating me like this; like a whore."
He saw red.
"You gave yourself that title!"
"And I hate it!" She was sobbing now. Her tears roused something in him, but it wasn't sexual.
It took him a moment to recognise the feeling.
Guilt.
"I just wanted the chance to become a guard again, I didn't want this." He had never seen such a defeated look on her face. "I knew I would have to compromise my dignity if I wanted to leave your kingdom, but nothing is worth this." The tears hit the floor as he watched a determined look suddenly cross her face. "I can't do this anymore. It's over."
She fixed her leggings and made to leave. But his hands caught her, stopping her from going any further.
"Stay where you are." He tried to hold her steady.
Her nails dug into his arm. He held on tight.
"Let go of me." She gritted as she thrashed to escape his arms.
No, she couldn't go. He wouldn't let her. She has no right to demand anything from him.
"You are mine."
"You're wrong. I am done being your whore." She whispered harshly.
But she wasn't… she wasn't just his… she was so much more.
It had snuck up on him. The feelings, the anticipation of her arriving each time.
He knew she enjoyed parts of their bargain too.
Those little sounds she made when she was enjoying herself.
The way her hands brought him closer.
Flashes of her pleasure danced behind his eyes.
But then another flash appeared.
Hurt, green eyes.
The shiver that went through her whenever he pointed out her faults.
The way she practically ran out of the room when he dismissed her.
The tears she failed to hide, and he desperately didn't want to see.
His heart hammered in his chest as she continued to thrash.
In a moment of pure desperate clarity, he gave her a reason to stay.
He reached into his pocket and took out the letter and held it before her face.
"I have spoken with Celeborn of Lothlórien. One of his wardens is leaving to relocate to Rivendell. I have recommended you as a replacement." She stopped struggling and took in his words. "If you leave now, that goes away, and you will have nothing. All of it will have been for nothing."
She didn't speak. He told her what she wanted to hear. She should be thrilled.
Her nails dug into his arms.
Why wasn't she jumping for joy?
He was giving her what she wanted.
She should be thanking him and kissing-
With a sigh, he loosened his grip.
He now knew what else to say.
"I hated seeing you in his arms." The words felt like lead on his tongue. "That night at the pools, it took all my strength not to rip you out of the water in front of that fool. I have never felt such rage, and I know that I have no right to feel such anger towards a man you do not love." Her nails retreated as she listened. He smoothed his hands over her waist. "I am sorry for how I have treated you." She sucked in a deep breath at his words. "You did not deserve my anger."
She didn't speak.
Part of him was worried that she would go through with her threat to end their bargain.
"Say something." He tried to look at her.
She remained silent. Her eyes were focused on something in the distance.
He could see the pulse throbbing on her neck.
"Do you still wish to end our bargain?"
Thranduil was almost afraid of the answer.
Another tear trailed down her cheek.
"I don't know." She whispered.
Those words gave him hope.
"I will never do anything like this again, Raelee."
The silence between them was deafening as he waited for her answer.
He felt her take a deep breath.
"You have to promise." She whispered. "You have to promise that if you are unhappy with me, that we will talk. No silences, and no more demeaning treatment."
He gritted his teeth. No one gave him orders or told him what to do.
But she was different. She always was.
"You have my word."
And he meant it.
If he got to keep Raelee for a little longer, he would do anything to ensure her happiness.
"Okay." She breathed.
He let out a sigh of relief.
She had agreed to stay.
He pressed his nose to the crook of her neck. He took in the sweet scent.
She always smelt wonderful.
He turned her around and was greatly disappointed when she didn't meet his gaze.
He wanted to look into her eyes.
He tilted her chin up to meet his gaze.
Her eyes gleamed with tears. When one trailed down her cheek, he wiped it away.
Both stood not knowing what to do.
"Thank you for forgiving me."
Something flashed in her eyes.
"What now?" She asked shakily, not acknowledging what he said.
What would they do now?
"Would you like a glass of…" He looked around the room for anything to drink. He didn't know what to do or say to her.
It was like a light went out.
His mind was blank.
"Water is fine." She whispered.
He moved to the jug of water as she followed hesitantly behind.
She accepted the glass with cautious movement and took a step away.
He wanted to scold himself.
It was callous of him to think she would be ready to simply throw herself at him.
"It's not often I get put in my place. However, I am willing to accept that you were right. I was cruel to you when there was no need."
"Thank you for saying that." She took a sip. "And… I promise that I will try to distance myself from Daron." That gave him pause. "You are right. I shouldn't give him false hope."
That gave him a sense of pleasure he couldn't explain.
"You need some water too." She poured him a glass.
"If you would prefer to stand at your post, I will not hold it against you. I wouldn't blame you for choosing that."
He took the offered glass and drank it in one go.
She bit her lip.
He almost groaned at the sight.
Her lips looked so inviting. So plump.
Raelee looked deep in thought. He was honest when he said he wouldn't hold it against her if she left, but a larger part of him wanted her to stay.
So he could make it up to her.
"I'll stay." She whispered.
He gently pulled her into his arms and brushed his lips against her cheek.
She hesitated for a moment. But when he felt her cautiously grip his arms, he knew she was coming back.
"Is this okay?"
With another bite to her lips, she nodded.
His finger gently lifted away a stray tear that remained.
Her hands cautiously gripped his biceps.
He lightly brushed her hair away from her face.
Raelee's green eyes shone with an element of fear.
He remembered seeing that before.
The first time he took her in his bed.
"May I kiss you?"
She hesitated.
For a moment he was worried that she had changed her mind about returning to her post.
"Yes." She whispered.
He turned a small brush of the lips into a pensive peck.
Raelee returned it with a tentative nature.
Just like the first time they kissed.
He wanted her just as much now as he did then.
His tongue traced her lips, asking for permission.
When she tentatively opened her mouth, he deepened the kiss.
He pulled back to gauge her reaction.
She looked like she was still unsure. He understood her apprehension.
When she bit her bottom lip, he couldn't help but feel entranced by her.
"You are so beautiful." He whispered.
"You don't have to say that." She looked away.
"It is the truth. You are captivating. More than you realise." He allowed his fingers to trail through her hair.
When he saw her eyes flickering to his lips, he knew she wanted him.
He brought their lips together.
He was like a man denied water finally being given the chance to quench his thirst.
He didn't know why he had denied himself her lips. She responded to his touch with a ferocity that he didn't know she possessed. Her hands made their way up to his shoulders.
He wanted to make up for the past three weeks.
She broke their kiss as he hoisted her in his arms. She looked uncertain.
"Let me have you? Please?" His voice sounded hoarse.
Her breathing increased.
Please say yes.
"I don-" She looked away.
"I won't be angry if you say no."
She took a deep breath.
Their foreheads touched.
"I need to hear you say it. That you won't treat me like a whore ever again."
"I swear that I will never treat you like a- like that again." He held her gaze with an unspoken layer of promise.
She searched his eyes, looking for sincerity.
"Okay." She whispered.
Her legs wrapped around his hips as he carried her into the room and laid her on the bed. She made to take off her clothes, but he stopped her in favour of kissing her more.
He softly kissed her again and felt her hands return to his shoulders.
Pressing her into the bed was akin to coming home. While this was a strange room and bed, all he could see was her.
He pulled back to watch her eyes darken. She looked away with a shy blush.
He felt like he was transported back to the beginning.
When he viewed her as an insignificant girl he could use for his own pleasure.
But now he couldn't imagine not meeting her. Not doing this with her.
He couldn't resist her lips. He dove down to taste her again.
She moaned quietly as he deepened the kiss.
He felt her trying to push the material off his shoulders. He smirked at her actions. She was certainly a little minx now that he was giving her what she craved.
He kissed down her neck enjoying the little mews that escaped her throat. His teeth must have grazed her pulse a little too hard as she yelped in response. He looked at her neck to notice he had left a mark on her.
The sight did something primal to him. He had marked her. He wanted to do it again.
She cried out when he firmly bit into the spot below her ear.
"My king! Please."
He paused in his endeavours.
He wanted her to want him. Not just because of their bargain.
But could they really have such a relationship when there was such a distinction between their stations?
How could he even their standings?
An idea sprang to mind.
"Thranduil." He corrected her as he kissed the new mark he made.
"What?" She asked, genuinely confused as he started to remove his clothes.
"You may call me Thranduil when we are alone, and I will call you Raelee. Nothing else." He never wanted to call her a whore again.
Familiarity and sentiment were close friends.
"Oh-kay."
He peeled her out of her clothes as she processed his words.
He always adored that doe eyed look she made when he did something that surprised her.
She was still in shock when she felt his tongue on one of her nipples.
"Oh, my king." She cried out.
"Thranduil." He reminded her as he took the stiff bud into his mouth.
She resumed gripping his shoulders as her back arched into his touch.
He moved from her chest back up to her mouth and took her bottom lip between his. He felt her tongue trace his mouth asking for permission. He granted it and together they fought for dominance.
Her lithe tongue danced against his. A soft moan escaped her when he palmed her breast.
He broke away when his erection became painful. He needed to be inside her.
"Tell me what you want." He groaned as she kissed his neck. He hoped that she took this as some sort of admission of trying to please her and not his recent game of coaxing her to do things that embarrassed her.
He pulled back to see that her eyes didn't hold the same look of apprehension of late, but with something else. Lust. He kissed her again and ran a hand through her hair.
"What do you want, Raelee?" Her eyes widened and her breathing became laboured.
"I want…you." She whispered out, her eyes darting to his lips as she spoke.
Her words undid him. He reattached their lips as he lined up and entered her.
Deliberately prolonging each inch until he was sheathed fully.
Raelee whined into his mouth.
She felt simply exquisite.
Her legs trembled and her breath caught as he pulled back.
He wouldn't last long.
Xxx
Instead of the unfulfilled feeling she had become used to as of late, the pleasure was almost too intense to handle.
Raelee still felt apprehensive about jumping back into bed with the king, but she was determined to see this bargain through.
When he apologised, it took all her strength not to pinch herself to make sure this wasn't a dream.
And when he admitted to hating Daron, it only confirmed her suspicions that he was jealous of her betrothed.
It was a small consolation. At least she wasn't crazy.
He thrusted shallowly, prolonging each retreat and each thrust.
She looked up at the king moving on top of her. He gave a lustful smile as he sped up.
She felt slightly disappointed in herself when she gave into his request to stay. Maybe she should have just gone to her post and they could start again tomorrow.
But his eyes and his sweet words drew her in.
He knew how to get what he wanted. And she wasn't strong enough to say no again.
It took all her strength not to scoff when he insinuated that she had forgiven him. She had said no such thing. But she wasn't about to ruin this bargain after he told her where she would have a position by the summer's end. Lothlórien sounded so different to the Greenwood. It would be a fresh start,
Raelee bucked up when his length hit the special spot inside of her.
"You feel so good." He groaned as his hand trailed down to her knee and wrapped it around his hip.
She felt herself clench around him.
She was still afraid that he would not allow her to come.
Her mouth opened and closed with each delicious withdrawal.
He seemed to delight in watching her.
He leant down to kiss her lips.
When she felt herself tightening around his length, he immediately moved one of his hands down to rub her clit.
He broke their kiss to watch her fall apart in his arms. He looked determined to see her climax.
She cried out with every thrust.
"Come for me." His husky voice sent her over the edge. "Say my name as you finish."
She wanted to scoff at that request. He was still as pompous as ever.
The coil tightened behind her navel.
It was coming.
She bucked against him. It was too much.
Xxx
"T-Thranduil!"
He groaned as she clenched around his cock. He sped up his final thrusts and followed shortly after. He had missed the way she would grip him in ecstasy. Why did he feel the need to punish her?
He had really been punishing himself.
He stayed inside her as he caught his breath.
He wanted nothing more than to fall asleep like this.
So snug and still so tight around him.
Her core clenched deliciously around him from the aftershocks.
"I needed that." She smiled sleepily.
"Did you enjoy yourself?"
She nodded with a content sigh.
He looked down at her satisfied expression. Immensely pleased that he elicited this reaction from her.
His thumb traced over her pouty lips. Savouring the small sounds she made as exhaustion overcame her.
He pulled out of her with a hiss.
Thranduil leant down to kiss her, but noticed that she was falling asleep.
He smiled at her.
"Goodnight, Raelee." He kissed her forehead.
He would let her sleep. She had certainly earned it.
The plush covers were pulled over them as he settled to sleep. They were facing each other.
She really was lovely.
His heart still raced at the memory of her threat to end their bargain.
He obviously wanted the arrangement to continue more than she did.
And he would have to let her go soon. In less than four moons she was due to get married, but according to Celeborn's letter, she could start her new position by the summers' end.
She unconsciously laid her head on his chest while he was musing her future.
Xxx
While they rested, they were not aware that someone had seen them on the balcony.
They had caught every word of their exchange.
Including the true nature of their relationship.