Broken Defiance

He thrust against my hand a few more times and I learned the motion he was teaching me. Withdrawing my finger, a bit then letting him push it back in with his momentum.

One of his callused palms skid up between us and folded over my breast. Feeling it bobbing in his hand as he pressed forward and back against me.

Teaching my finger to fill me and withdraw.

Like he's going to do to me. I was suddenly very sure of it.

I was wrong about him not wanting my body. I'd hoped to merely be his slave.

"You will be." He said against the shell of my ear. "For my flesh and your own."

I glared at him, but the motions of his body were unrelenting. Rocking the table beneath me as his thighs lightly brushed it.

My back surged up and pressed my tits against him. A small instinctive sound of pleasure gurgled up my throat.

Feeding his intent and making him move more harshly. His brows lifted and his eyes widened as he watched me riding the wild waves pulsing through me.

"Ahh." I moaned as my body tightened and my knees rose to pinch his hips between them as I vibrated against him and pressed further down against my own hand.

"Good." He pushed off the table and took a step back. Lightly rubbing beneath the laces of his breeches. "Enough teasing for now."

I blew a relieved breath. Happy to have a reprieve.

"Don't get your hopes up." His blue eyes narrowed on me. "It's temporary."

I climbed off the table. Sweeping my legs under me and shocked when they shuddered weakly, and I thought I'd fall. I had to keep one hand on the table to ensure I was held up.

I looked around the floor, searching for some bit of my clothing.

"No need." He said dismissively as he turned and adjusted his cloak. Looking through the pockets for something. "You won't be wearing any for a long while."

I shot him a horrified look.

"Go to the corner and step into the tub." Without looking up to meet my study, he pointed to a far corner near the bed. A huge metal bin stood there.

I tried to cover my body with my hands as best as I was able. I walked unsteadily to the corner and peered into the bin. It's clean.

But it was dry as a bone.

What's he expecting me to do in here? There's no water. I was aware I was still covered in mud and filth over my face and my hair was matted with it until its soft reddish brown shade was nearly black.

"Get in." He called gruffly. As if losing patience with me. As he pulled bits of metal from his cloak and filtered through them.

What is that? I was looking at him instead of obeying.

Which was apparently a mistake.

He turned slowly to peer at me and before I registered, he was moving, he appeared several feet closer in a puff of black smoke. Then disappeared and appeared several feet closer on the opposite side of the room. Then even closer before he was suddenly standing over me.

"What'd I command you to do, she-wolf?"

"Jade." I corrected. Glaring fiercely up at him. Willing to be as unmoving as him.

"In!" He demanded. His lip curling in a snarl and his eyes flaring yellow.

Clearly not caring this moment what the hell my name is.

My eyes heated to yellow in retaliation. The she-wolf rolling deep beneath my skin, ready to defend herself. I felt my back ripple slightly and bits of fur peel apart pores along my shoulder and upper arm as I was perilously close to changing.

I inhaled through my nose, trying to hide the fact that I was fighting to control my wolf. If he really is a wolf and I change into mine he'll respond in kind, to mount me.

It was something my aunt had frequently warned me of.

Especially this close to the mating moon.

The nature of males became far more aggressive and predatory.

And Warlord certainly seems to be exhibiting those symptoms.

Becoming a wolf now would send my scent wafting through this castle and summon any wolf or half-wolf within miles.

Hoping to mate.

Assessing the impudent expression on my face, his posture suddenly changed.

"Fine." He shrugged and stepped back with slow grin. "Have it your way, she-wolf."

What's that mean?

Despite his words I was very sure that I wasn't going to like whatever is coming.

He's dangerously powerful.

He stared at a spot above the bin and water began to pour from that spot in a fountain of water.

I stared in shock. There's nothing there.

I twisted to examine the spot where the water emerged. Spinning a full circle and stepping around the bin to assess it from a different angle. But no matter where I moved, it didn't change the fact that there was nothing generating the water.

My gaze slipped back over to Warlord who stood unmoving. Watching me in that predatory way he did, which required no movement of his. Just a slightly lowered head and hooded eyes.

"Get in." He said the words so quietly I barely heard them over the fall of water.

When I reached into it, it was freezing.

I gasped and snatched my hand back. "I'm not getting in there."

"Yes, you are." He hissed. "I don't think you understand the way of this little game yet…"

"Get in…" He used that far off echoing voice that made me feel sleepy and lightheaded.