Chapter 172

As soon as the newly replaced doors of Kit’s pleasuring chamber were locked, Landon wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. The exhaustion and overwhelming frustration of the day took over. Forcing out thoughts of everything that had gone on was difficult as Kit rested her head on his shoulder and tried not to cry.

The feel of his fingertips brushing through her hair was soothing. His lips were soft and warm as he kissed her gently on the temple. In a husky whisper, he said, “We don’t have to, Kit, if you’d rather not. I know it’s been a long day.”

The sentiment was so sweet and thoughtful, it somehow endeared him to her even more. Kit slid her hand down his stomach to encircle his waist and rested her forehead on his chest. Even through his thick, forest green jerkin and white tunic, she could feel the strength of his massive chest muscles. The steadiness of his breathing and his heartbeat were calming.

There wasn’t any doubt in Kit’s mind that she wanted to be with Landon. He had a way of forcing the rest of the world outside of these four walls, leaving only the two of them, and that was exactly what she needed at the moment, to lose herself completely in his firm grasp.

She lifted her head slowly to find his intense blue eyes taking her in, trying to decipher what was going on in her mind. Kit made her sentiment clear when she lifted herself up onto her tiptoes and found his lips with hers. It was gentle at first, but then, as he parted his lips, an eagerness rushed into Kit’s core, and she reached up to grab the back of his neck, to press his mouth down to meet her need, her tongue conveying her urgency as his hands began to explore her through her layers of clothing.

Landon pulled away and gave her another sly smile, no longer wondering whether or not she wanted to have the night off. He began to walk her toward the bed, kissing her passionately with each step until Kit felt the mattress against her backside.

His hands were already reaching for the hooks on the back of her dress before Kit even turned around. When she did, Landon took the opportunity to pull her to his chest as his hands came around to find her breasts. Her dress was low-cut, though not as severely as the one she’d worn to the maze run. It didn’t prohibit Landon from sliding his hand down her bodice. With the top three hooks of her dress undone, he managed to free her breast from her chemise and stay. The sensation of his fingers running over her sensitive skin was tantalizing; Kit leaned back into him, letting out a soft moan as she did her best to grip his arm and shoulder. His lips were on her neck, sucking, teasing, biting, his other hand holding her in place while sliding lower from her abdomen to the fire burning between her legs.

Seeing how much of a fury he was causing, Landon began to slowly gather up her skirts with the hand that wasn’t exploring her breasts. Once they were above her waist, he slid his hand inside of her knickers. With her eyes closed, Kit imagined they were off in the corner of one of her mother’s balls, in a secretive location where no one might know the wicked methods Landon was employing to make her lose her senses. When his fingers slid inside of her, Kit’s moans became a cry of rapture, and the man hadn’t even undressed her yet.

With each probe of his fingers inside of her, Kit rocked backward into his chest, nearly lifting off of the floor, but when he moved to pull out of her, Kit’s hand went to his wrist, begging him to stay. Landon chuckled in her ear. “You’re as wet as fresh dew on a flower petal, my Princess.”

Kit turned her head to find his lips, and he plunged his tongue in long and hard to match the work of his nimble digits, rubbing and pressing into her as expertly as any man she’d ever known. The fact that they were still clothed was becoming an obstacle despite the naughty images it brought to Kit’s mind. When Landon withdrew his hand from her knickers, she let him, but only because she needed even more of him.

He made short work of the remaining hooks, letting her gown fall to the floor. Once again, he took her chemise off without lifting it, as he had every other time she’d been alone with him, and Kit could’ve cared less if he ruined every undergarment in her wardrobe so long as he was undressed alongside her.

Her stay came off, leaving her in her knickers. Kit started to turn around, but he stopped her. “As much as I love to see your beautiful face, Katrinetta, you seem extra excited to have me behind you. Perhaps I shall stay here.”

She turned her head to look at him, not quite sure how that was possible, but she thought if anyone knew how, it was Landon. He worked her knickers down over her hips, leaving a trail of kisses down her back as he stooped to help her step out of them. She had no idea where her slippers were but they were no longer on her feet.

Her tiara and other jewels came next, and then Landon unpinned her hair. “I love it when it flows freely around you, like a wild horse’s mane,” he whispered into her ear. He ran his fingertips across her breasts again, trailing down her stomach to rest on her hips for a moment while he tasted her shoulder before he let her go, and Kit imagined he was taking his own clothing off.

She realized she could see him in the mirror above the dresser if she turned her head and wondered if he’d been watching them the whole time. It was exciting to see herself standing there, glowing from his touch. Landon caught her eyes and smiled. His jerkin and boots were already off, and he made quick work of his tunic. Looking at his chiseled chest in the mirror, Kit couldn’t help but let her hand move to rub against her nipple. She could tell by the twinkle in his eye that he liked seeing her touch herself, so her other hand dropped lower, and she began to stroke the soft mound between her legs.

Landon’s trousers and breeches came down at the same time, and then he was directly behind her again. His thick cock pressed against her buttocks, and Kit slid up and down against it until he let out a low rumble.

He lifted her onto the bed, but Kit had no idea what he wanted her to do. “On your knees, in the middle,” he said quietly, and she moved over as instructed, hoping she understood.

She watched as he pulled a sheath and lubrication from the drawer, which was on in a split second before he was on the bed behind her. He pulled her back into him again, her back pressed against his chest, and his hands quickly brought her nipples back to hard peaks as his tongue worked over her neck and his teeth nipped her earlobe.

His cock was situated beneath her bottom. Kit couldn’t help but spread her legs slightly and wiggle against it, wishing it was inside of her. She could tell he was ready by his heavy breathing and how hard he was. He reached forward around her and grabbed one of the pillows, moving it closer to her.

“Lean forward, onto the pillow.” His voice was raspy, like he was trying to contain himself but was on the cusp of coming undone.

Kit was still confused. “Like... a horse?” she asked, hoping that was a close enough estimate to the position he had in mind.

“Yes, with your bottom up.”

She did as instructed, though she felt a little silly with her backside in the air, but she had a feeling it would all be worth it.

Landon spread her legs and moved between them on his knees. His hands were on her buttocks, and despite the awkwardness, she liked having them there, particularly when he leaned down and licked the flame between her legs. Even though she’d had his mouth on her more times than she could count, in this position, everything felt even more pleasurable. He thrust his tongue in and out of her, sucking and pulling on her heated flesh until Kit thought she might come before he’d even entered her.

Sensing she was at her peak, Landon drew his mouth away from her opening and slid his finger in for a moment before his thick cock came barreling inside of her. Kit was ready for it, but the power of him thrusting into her from behind was unlike anything she’d ever felt before. Her stomach pressed into the pillow, and she could see why he had put it there. He pulled out completely, and she braced herself for the next intoxicating blow.

It came quickly, and she cried out in pleasure as waves of euphoria shook through her body. Landon didn’t pull completely out this time, but he continued to take long, deep strokes, his hands working over her hips, down to her breasts, as Kit backed into him as much as she could, trying to keep enough breath in her lungs as her head swam in ecstasy.

Kit imagined she was a boat on the ocean, rocking back and forth in an angry sea, though with each assault from the wind and waves, she felt closer to the brink of losing herself in pleasure. Only a few moments into the coupling, she hit her climax and cried out in a wild voice she hardly recognized as her own. Landon kept her there for several minutes until she was clawing at the bedsheets before he added his own guttural roar to her song and gave her one final thrust.

They both collapsed onto the bed, Kit sucking in air as quickly as it would fill her lungs. Covered in perspiration and still vibrating from Landon’s touch, she was thankful she’d fallen onto his arm so she could be near him, though she didn’t know if she’d ever find the strength to move to his chest.

He was strong enough for both of them after a few moments, pulling her over to rest against him, while he was still heaving with exertion and excitement. Kit rolled against him, pressing her palm over his heart, and feeling it pound against her hand in synch with her own.

The moonlight illuminated Landon’s face, his blue eyes a soft glow. He was as handsome as ever, and Kit used her last reserves to lean up and softly kiss his lips. He smiled, and she settled against his shoulder, his arm protectively around her back, the weight of his hand a reassurance on her hip.

“How are you?” Landon’s voice was a gentle breeze now, compared to the primeval growl from before. “I didn’t hurt you did I?”

“Not at all,” she assured him as her breathing finally seemed to even out. “I’m wonderful.”

“Good.” He leaned down and kissed her temple before going quiet again for a long time. Kit’s mind began to wander back to all of the events she’d let go of for a spell when she was lost in Landon’s touch, but now that the world was still again, her thoughts began to catch up to her.

Landon stirred, and she imagined he might be following the same path that she was. “What are you thinking about?” she asked, hoping he had somehow found happier moments to dwell on than those caught in her mind.

“I was just wondering... if I had been put in the commander’s position, if I would’ve been strong enough to take it, the way that he did.”

Kit was confused, so she leaned back to look at him. “You’re just as strong as Eli.” She thought Landon might actually be physically stronger in some ways. His shoulders were broader, and his muscles bulged, where Eli’s were compact.

“No, that’s not what I meant,” he replied, shifting again so that he could more easily see her face. “I mean... mentally strong enough. When someone unfairly lashes out against me, I have a tendency to want to set them straight. I don’t always think about the consequences. Eli took a beating without telling her she was wrong because he knew, if he did so, our entire operation could be in jeopardy. You could get hurt. So could a lot of other people.”

Kit nodded in understanding. It had never been a secret to her that Eli was one of the strongest people she’d ever known when it came to biding his time. “This isn’t the first such incident, I’m afraid.” She imagined there were lots of visits to see the queen Eli had never told her about.

“I suppose not.” He sighed, clearly not deciding what the answer to his question might be. Kit prayed Landon never had to find out what sort of a response he might have in a similar situation.

“We should get some sleep,” Kit suggested, scooting away a bit so she could work her hands beneath the covers they were lying on. Landon hopped up and helped her pull the covers down, and Kit snuggled underneath them, glad when he rejoined her a moment later. As many thoughts as she had fighting for her attention, a good night’s sleep would do her well.

His arms were wrapped around her, and Kit rested her head on his shoulder, feeling herself drifting away to a place where her worries would no longer concern her for a time. Landon’s lips brushed the top of her head. “Sweet dreams, beautiful Princess,” he whispered. “I love you.”

“I love you, too,” Kit murmured. She felt him tense up beneath her but didn’t open her eyes. She may have been half asleep the first time she said those words to him, but that didn’t make them any less true. She could tell him again in the morning, but for now, the princess needed to sleep.