Chapter 37: Roxanne

It surprises me when he laughs. He walks to the table and uses a cloth from his meal to clean himself. His gaze remains steady on mine the entire time. He hasn't said a word for a few minutes and I'm suddenly beyond nervous. He picks up the remaining chair and I close my eyes expecting it to land on my head. I hear the legs of the chair settle against the floor and dare to peek. I watch him sit down on the mattress.
"Come here and sit in the chair."
It's a command. Everything in me rebels at the dictate but what choice do I truly have? I drag my feet closer. He tips his head to the chair when I take too long. I sit.
His voice is soft, entirely too soft, and it makes his words more ominous. "You should not have struck me."
"I'm sorry?" I squeak. I really expected instant retaliation and his delayed response has my nerves completely unraveling. He should just have hit me over the head with the chair. I've struck him twice now and he's yet to punish me... or kill me. Acasia told me the dragons never kill their brides. Chances are good that I might be the first to rewrite the dragon history books.
His voice remains low. "Why did you hit me?"
At this point, I truly can't remember why. "Because you were there?" Again it's more of a question and not the answer he seeks.
His eyes drill into mine. "A bride has never hit me before." Now I hear bewilderment in his tone. Just what does he expect?
My entire life has been dedicated to one goal. I lift my shoulders and straighten my spine. My courage returns like the moons each night. He will do his worst. I cannot stop him. He won't kill me and I feel heavy disappointment knowing I most likely won't kill him either. "Do you insist on talking about umm... fucking with all your brides?"
He appears startled at my question. "Nooo." He drags out the word. "I usually just get on with it. I thought discussing it would make it easier for you."
I'm stunned that his skull is so dense he doesn't seem to understand the problem. "And your brides react to your fucking them with calm control and just accept it?"
He actually squirms a bit and his face goes red. His large hand comes up and his fingers thread through the hair that's fallen across his cheek. "They cry. Well... actually, they wail and carry on. It's quite irritating," he says in exasperation.
I need to move closer to the wall so I can hit my head against it. He's half-witted. But he's also unsure. I can hear it in his intonation. Acasia said male dragons are nothing more than spoiled little boys who want their way in all things. Even fucking. "So it doesn't please you when they react that way?"
"No, it's quite messy and inconvenient."
How quickly can I stand up, lift the chair, and crash it over his head again? He glances to my fingers, which have tightened on the sides of the wooden seat. When his eyes meet mine, I think he reads my intent and he's ready to pounce. I relax my hands and he settles again.
Keeping my voice low and steady, I make myself quite clear. "If you fuck me, I will kill you."
The shock on his face is quite satisfying. Slowly, his puffy lips quirk and his voice thickens. "Well, that's why you're here, my bride. What else would I do with you?" I can think of a million things and none include what he wants. His blue eyes darken. "Talking is getting us nowhere. You can't kill me, you've tried. Why do you fight the inevitable? I am a superior species." He flexes his arm and gives me a heart-stopping grin.
Yes, his muscles and smile have an effect on me, but I won't allow it to keep me from teaching him the difference between right and wrong. All children need this lesson. I stare intently into his eyes so he thinks me serious. "With my dying breath, I will try to kill you whether I can or not. Is that what you want?"
One second I'm in the chair and the next he's leaning back on the bed and I'm on top of him. He moved so fast a short scream is all I manage. His hands hold me tight as he rolls. The bed is small and I'm worried we'll fall. His face is inches from mine, his hair surrounds me when he has me where he wants me.
"What if I say I won't fuck you until you beg for it?" he breathes against my lips.
Somehow this has turned into a game for him. The knot is back in my belly and my breasts, smashed against his chest, are tingling.
"I do not beg, dragon." He pushes my hair from my face, his fingers gently gliding across my cheek. The tingling travels from my belly to lower parts. I want to close my eyes but can't.
"Oh, believe me, you will beg," he says huskily. He bypasses my lips and kisses my neck. A few seconds later, I feel the pinch of suction. It doesn't hurt; it actually feels good. He smoothes my hair farther to the side and flips his hair over his shoulder in a practiced move. My bride's gown is cut low in the front, and his warm lips travel down until he kisses the tops of my breasts. His body is heavy against my own and I can barely breathe. I can't move and for some reason, I don't want to. At the very top of my left breast he sucks hard on the skin and this time it hurts just a bit. Before I object, he's up and standing next to the bed.
His hand goes to the defined outline of his manhood and he pushes it around beneath the strange cloth covering his lower half. I'm completely breathless and fascinated. His blue eyes are darker than they were earlier. "When you look at where I've marked you, think about fucking." He suddenly turns and leaves the room. I hear the bar lower across the door.
I jump up and run to the bathing room. Two marks. One on my throat and one at the top of my breast. I run my fingers over them and my lower belly clenches.
Damned dragon.