Flame Thrower (21 page)

* * * *

That night Tillian swallowed her fears while she was led into the hall for a formal dinner announcing their engagement. He formally introduced her to each of the nobles while she sat in a receiving line, while each one kissed her hand and professed their loyalty to the new Queen. Part of her still resisted because she didn’t feel worthy but she sat there as each one filed by and held a smile on her face.

This wasn’t as terrifying as the previous night but she still found being around men to be unnerving. The only thing that kept her from falling apart was Ryan’s presence to her right. He was all laughs and smiles while each noble congratulated him on finally finding a woman worthy of being Yorath’s Queen. Ryan’s enthusiasm was enough to keep her emotions under control.

“Princess Tillian,” a familiar male voice called. Wallace stood before her, last in line and wearing a worried expression on his face. “Congratulations.”

“I know you disagree with this too,” she whispered and received a look of wonder from the Captain. “You have to get him to not send that note and not to go through with this.”

“It is too late, Milady. The note is miles from here and the announcement made to the nobles. It is done. Now we must pray that a war does not result,” he added.

June gently pushed Wallace out of the way and approached, giving Tillian a formal curtsey before she smiled brightly. “I’m thrilled for you, Princess. You will enjoy Yorath and I hope that one day soon you will call it home.”

“Thank you, June.”

Wallace talked with Ryan now, so Tillian took a moment to watch her future husband. With his trimmed beard and glowing expression, he was absolutely charming. He had chosen to wear a formal doublet that was tailored to his body and hugged him alluringly. The leather pants didn’t hide much either, and she felt her cheeks flush at what she knew was underneath. Her heart pounded at the power he held over her and she felt a familiar fire burn between her legs. Tillian suddenly wanted to leave and be alone with him again, but wasn’t sure what other ceremonial responsibilities they had left.

June didn’t miss the line of sight that generated the blush, and started to try and help her new friend. “King Ryan, I congratulate you on your engagement and honestly think you should let the Princess get some rest before all the planning starts.” She had the nerve to wink at Tillian while she said this.

Ryan turned his head, confused at first until he too saw the blush that tinted Tillian’s cheeks. There was no mistaking the desire that lighted her green eyes and that spurred him into action. After shaking Wallace’s hand, he cleared his throat and he announced they would depart. The faster he could get them away, the better. He dodged the looks of disappointment that showed on the faces of those gathered who had hoped to mingle with their future Queen further. They all bowed gracefully in consent, confused to say the least. The evening should have carried on longer, and the King’s sudden departure was confusing. He didn’t care. Whisking her away was his primary concern, and he winked in June’s direction in gratitude.

Ryan stood, held out his arm, tucking her hand snuggly on his arm. When they were halfway towards the door, he whispered softly, “That wasn’t so bad, was it?”

“Depends on how you look at it,” she replied, trying to quicken her pace in order to get away faster. She heard his amused chuckle before his pace slowed to her frustration.

“We have all night, love. We have to look regal after all.”

“I don’t feel regal at the moment and I want to be out of this gown they’ve dressed me in.” She looked down at the frilly thing that poofed out at all angles. The top was so tight that her breasts were smashed behind the stiff corset top and it interfered with her ability to breathe. Not to mention it was indecent, exposing too much flesh in all the wrong places.

“Pity. You look fantastic,” he said, eyeing her body from head to toe. It was a traditional dress for Yorath, but he understood that it being so different from Folkyn’s more severe style, this most likely made her self-conscious.

“You would say that, because you are not wearing it,” came her tart reply. “Can you please walk faster?”

When they were beyond the hall, Ryan unceremoniously picked her up and tossed her over his shoulder.
She wanted to go faster
,
well then,
he thought.

“Ry—” Her words were cut off while he adjusted her. She found her breath after a moment and demanded, “Put me down!”

“No, not until we get inside. You said to go faster and I have longer legs. I’m only doing as you asked, my dear,” he teased while she batted his behind with her hands.

It didn’t take long to return to his private rooms. Once inside he placed her on the bed and pacified her with a slow deep kiss. Through this, he pushed her back into the soft downy mattress.

“Smmmph,” she mumbled into his mouth. She pulled away further in order to speak. “Stop this,” she ordered.

“Why is it that you keep fighting this?” he sighed. “You have to trust me.”

“Ryan, this is foolish. I love you, I do, but I’m not worth a war.”

“I sense there is more to this than that, am I wrong?” He could see the familiar pinch of insecurity in her eyes and that bothered him. He wanted her to be completely engaged in this wedding or he would wonder if he’d forced it on her for the rest of his life.

When she looked away, his concern grew. He gently forced her face back to meet his gaze, pleading with her desperately. She groaned in defeat. “You are so frustrating!” She rolled her eyes. “I’m not fit to rule at your side, Ryan.”

He actually laughed. “Why is that? More of this tainted business?”

“It’s not funny, but yes.”

“Did my nobles look like they cared tonight? Did any one of them display displeasure at our engagement?”

“Well no, but—”

“I take that as they don’t care, Tillian. They all know your history and will defend you as their Queen. You really must let this go.” When she frowned he added, “Now may I please get that contraption off you so we can begin our evening events?”

That brought a smile to her face and she answered. “Gladly!”

Tillian stood caught in a dream. She wore a full white gown, thin veil that properly obscured her face and an unbelievably long train that dragged behind her for fifty feet. Tillian stood at the altar, next to Ryan who lovingly caressed her arm to keep her from fainting.

This was her wedding day.

She gulped in a pathetic attempt to calm her nerves, but it was impossible. In a moment, the two words she uttered were going to start a war, and no amount of arguing her point would persuade the man next to her to change course.

Two weeks ago, Tillian learned the carrier departed with the note to Folkyn and knew that it was a matter of time before her Father sent someone. She also knew that whoever he sent, they would be fuming.

Tillian looked up at Ryan who towered over her in his formal midnight blue velvet doublet, edged in gold thread. He wasn’t watching the priest before them but staring down at her with affection and tenderness. His eyes spoke volumes with just a hint of mischief that she had to smile at.

“You really should be paying attention, love,” he whispered. “He’s getting to the good part.”

“Shh, take your own advice, Ryan,” she replied nervously. She was utterly terrified and no amount of jesting would erase that away.

The past few weeks were something out of a dream. Slowly, with tender care and patient love, he helped expunge the horrid memories of her captivity and replaced them with pleasant memories of being passionately loved. She still had nightmares of the three who abused her, though. According to Ryan, her nightly thrashing while she relived her terror in her dreams no longer plagued frequently. As it stood, she had not dreamed of them in two days.

Tillian missed everything the priest said because her mind had wandered to memories of his loving attention. She acutely felt Ryan’s fingers pinch her arm, and looked down in stupefied confusion.

Was this real?

The priest’s mumblings were a jumble to her, but her attention was brought back when Ryan uttered proudly, “I do.” The roar of the crowd alone would have woken her from any daydream. She looked around and gulped at the sheer volume of people who had come to watch their beloved king get married. Tillian went numb when she stared at the many faces staring back at her.

Tillian turned back around and stared, frozen, at the priest’s lips moving while he spoke to directly to her. She heard no words, though. Not a one. It was impossible to hear anything over the pulse pounding in her ears while her poor heart beat rapidly in absolute terror. She realized both men were both staring at her with expectation.

“Tillie?” Ryan asked with an amused expression. That cute half smile was back.

“Sorry.” A crimson blush of embarrassment spread across her cheeks and down her neck into the generous cleavage of her dress. Tillian smiled and whispered, “I do.”

It was Ryan’s turn to swallow away his distraction, for his eyes couldn’t break away from following the blush down into her dress and his mind raced through all the lovely things he would be doing shortly once he got this damned dress off.

“Children, please turn and face the audience,” the priest asked under his breath when the two nimbly turned while jockeying around her train. Together, they gracefully faced his people.

My people now
, she thought suddenly. Yorath was now her home.

With a loud booming voice, the priest announced, “May I present the King and Queen of Yorath!”

The air was filled with horns, screams of joy and white flower petals ripped from their stems and thrown in handfuls into the air to fall around the couple as they made their way down the aisle. Her first step down the stairs of the dais nearly caused her to stumble, but it was Ryan’s firm grip on her arm that held her upright. She smiled innocently up at him, drinking in his support as they made their way down the long carpeted isle.

Waiting on the far end of the walk stood another priest, and in his hands rested a blue velvet pillow with her crown of office cushioned gently on the fabric. The newly married coupled paused before the priest while he lifted the delicately worked gold crown from its resting place and attached it onto her waiting head.

“Queen Tillian,” he bellowed for all to hear, sending another wave of chaos to rain through the courtyard.

Ryan looked around at the crowd, feeling their joy as much as he could see it. They loved her as much as he did. “See?” Ryan whispered when she stood tall again. “You’re not tainted. They love you.” With a gentle squeeze he moved her towards the carriage that would take them back into the heart of the castle and the awaiting party. Kincaid promised the ceremony was destined to last well into the early morning and Ryan had no doubt. The party would just have to carry on without them because Ryan had other plans for his new bride.

“I still think this was a mistake, even if you are quite charming,” she whispered as he helped her inside the carriage. Once inside, she sank back in relief to the deafening cheers outside.

“Well, that is to be debated, dear. I still think your Father should be flayed for not recognizing what a treasure he had, rather than treating you so poorly. Although if he had, I never would have the opportunity to meet you and that, Tillian, would be a travesty.”

She held up her hands in mock defense. “All right! You win, for now.” Her laughter lifted his heart. While he settled on the bench across from her, he watched her closely. She appeared happy, but he could see the lingering fear behind her lovely eyes and wanted nothing more than to wipe that clean from her mind. He wanted her absolutely lost in the joy of the moment and comfortable in what they’d just done. He wanted her to experience the joys of her wedding day, not hiding behind the fears that King Irfan could generate even from this distance.

He thought with dread on what awaited them at the castle. Normally he loved a good celebration, but he couldn’t wait to be alone with her, to cherish her without prying eyes. He hated that his stately duties required they attend the reception.

Her newly crowned head cocked slightly watching him. “What’s on your mind?”

“You. I want you. Alone. Not sitting in a stuffy hall with thousands of people stealing your time. I’m dreading this.” He smiled and leaned forward. “I have a small gift for you,” he said eagerly. “Do you want it now?” he asked and received a happy nod in reply. “Open your hand,” he instructed.

“You are being awfully sweet, Ryan,” she sighed before she held out her hand.

“Oh? Shouldn’t I shower you with affection on the greatest day of your life?” he teased back, running his finger down the center of her open palm without breaking eye contact.

“I guess I shouldn’t complain, because I love it.”

Her warm smile stole his breath straight from his lungs. Laughing, he took his open palm and waved it over hers, causing a static shock to jolt her hand. Where the jolt tingled on her skin, an object began to form in the shape of a delicate rose pendant encrusted with tiny sparking diamonds that twinkled in the afternoon sun as the rays touched the stones.

The petals on the rose were somehow made from solid pieces of ruby the deepest red and formed a heart, with the leaves of foggy emerald. The base for the stem was white gold yet the pendant was light, as if it were not made of metal. The entire pendant was no longer than one inch, but it captivated the eye regardless. A feminine gold chain slithered from her palm to dangle down her wrist as this magic completed its transformation and presented her with a stunning wedding gift.

“Ryan—” She couldn’t finish for tears had stolen her sight and her voice. She felt him take the necklace from her palm and quickly attached it around her neck. The rose rested delicately on her chest, just above the curve her breasts. When he finished, she touched it while trying to look down.

“You’ve stolen my heart, Tillian. I vowed years ago I would never marry. I vowed,” his voice began to falter before he continued, “I vowed to never share my throne with another. In three weeks, you have changed all that I held sacred and I willingly gave up my beliefs for you.” He captured her face in a gentle kiss. “I love you.”

“I love you too.” The words warmed her core for she meant them, passionately. From the moment her Father whored her out for money, she gave up on any hope of a quality marriage. Yet here she sat. A Queen. This outcome was better than any dream she could have ever concocted.

“Listen,” he said while he still held her face cupped between his large hands. “We are not staying in there long. We make our greetings, drink a little wine and then we leave. Are you all right with that?” While he spoke his hand slowly dropped from her jaw to her neck, where his thumb caressed in lazy circles on her skin and toyed with the rose resting against her flushed skin.

“Um,” Tillian lost her focus when his hand dropped lower to finger the edge of her dress, caressing the skin just underneath.

He took advantage of the dress’s design. The corset top had a severe neckline and her breasts were pushed high, almost spilling from the dress. He couldn’t resist touching her. He continued to fondle her skin and slid his finger under the rim to rub against her now erect nipple eliciting a moan from his bride.

“Well?” His question was hidden behind the seductive smile radiating on his face. He loved getting this reaction from her and would try until the day he died to see this on her face every day of their hopefully long lives.

“That sounds like a good idea.” Tillian gave into the sensation and laid her head on the padded head rest while he continued to fondle her breasts. She was so distracted by his one hand that she completely missed his second. Ryan had worked up under her full white dress to caress her thighs and most inner core.

She felt his fingers tickle her inner thigh and moaned softly. She knew where this was headed. “Ryan, you should stop this. I’m afraid if you continue, we won’t even make it into the reception at all,” Tillian said between pants. He finger now tickled around her overly stimulated body through the thin lace undergarments.

He was focused. At the moment, the thin fabric of lace separated Ryan from slipping into her ready body and throwing her completely into a state of distraction.

“I just want to give you something to look forward to later,” he whispered and rubbed gentle circles knowing it would push her over in a matter of moments. He enjoyed watching her lose the battle and give into the sensations. He doubted he’d ever tire of being able to elicit this pleasure from her body and smiled when her cheeks flushed with arousal.

“Ryan,” she moaned but she didn’t stop him.

“Let go, love,” he whispered inches from her face before he kissed her deeply, suckling her lips between his own while his tongue lazily roamed inside her mouth. She tasted like honey and he couldn’t get enough of this woman. How was he going to last the coming hours until he could get her alone?

Tillian’s labored breathing announced how close she was to letting go. Ryan knew exactly what it would take to free her, so slipped his finger under the lace and pushed inside her body, stroking her softly until she shattered.

“No fair,” she moaned, her body exploding into a million sensations when the orgasm rolled through her. Ryan loved watching her like this, for she didn’t dampen her expressions at all. Quite the opposite. Her body arched, her face formed fantastic expressions and her velvety soft walls trembled with release. In a million years, he didn’t think he would ever tire of this scene.

Reluctantly, he moved apart from her and smiled into her flushed face. “I think it was quite fair, dear.” He checked out the window. “Sadly, I think we’re here now, so are you ready?” he asked and looked down on Tillian who had slouched into the cushions.

She arched an eyebrow and smiled. “I think I’ll have to repay you for that later,” she breathed out.

“I’ll look forward to it—” His words were interrupted when he released a guttural sound. He felt his entire world tilt when her tiny hand confidently stroked the length of his erection. “Tillian.” He said her name with a playful warning.

“That was to tempt
you
. Hopefully you’ll get us out of there faster with that in mind.” She winked.

“Wicked. Truly wicked.” His soft laughter filled the carriage.

“Only when I’m with you, Ryan. I could never be this free with anyone else.”

He barely heard her and his eyes narrowed in question.

“I only feel safe enough to feel that level of bliss when I’m alone with you,” she said more firmly.

“Well then, I’ll just have to make sure we’re alone quite frequently,” he said huskily. He wanted nothing more than to be alone now but he thought of this reception with a daunting apprehension. He was half tempted to close the curtain and take her here, shower her with years of love that he’d repressed, but the coachman waited outside. Regretfully, he said, “Shall we?

There was a tap on the door and a voice called out, “Your Highness? Is everything all right?” The delay obviously had the coachman worried when both Ryan and Tillian had yet to emerge.

“We’re fine if not a little distracted,” Ryan said when he emerged to find the concerned coachman looking at the door with worry. He tried not to fidget and failed, wringing his hands before him in concern. The sight amused Ryan, causing him to smother a laugh as he turned around to help Tillian.

“Very good, Sir.” With a bow the man stepped back four paces to wait.