Battle of Ego's

While everyone settled into their chambers, Maya roamed inside Ironstone from one corridor to another until she had lost her way.

She looked around, trying to remember which way she had come, but the place was a maze dug inside a mountain. With no one in sight, she moved through more corridors and found herself inside what looked like a secluded part of the house. House, she scoffed.

Her fingers itched to open doors and look around, but she couldn't go and snoop around people's homes. That would have been rude. As she walked through the corridor, her eyes fell on a door that stood out from the rest. It was a beautiful inlaid door, with two birds spreading their wings on each door. The doorknob shined in the brightly lit corridor. She looked left and then right and pushed the door open and stepped inside the room but froze when Dakran stood in the middle of the room naked, dripping with water. His lips curled în a satisfied smile, didn't say anything even though everything was in plain sight.

Her cheeks burned, and she suddenly felt hot, but she could help but stare at the length that dangled in front of him as he walked to the bed and lent against the bedpost.

Still wearing the same smile, he crossed his arms over his chest and waited for her to say or do something.

" Please come in?" he smiled, stood straight and waved his hand.

Maya flustered, her gaze finally moving away from his cock " I think it's time for me to go!" Maya took a step back, pulling the door with her.

Dakran grabbed the door with one hand and, with the other, her arm pulled her into the room.

" This my home, little red, and now is yours too!" his low voice rang behind her, seductive even.

She didn't dare to turn around to look at him. He was naked, in all his glory. Strong arms and legs, muscular abdomen and his thing was, she felt hot again and fanned herself with her hands.

" Are you feeling alright?" he amusedly asked, stressing the word alright. He stayed behind her. Dakran didn't move to her forefront.

Maya hummed and nodded " Yes!" she panted, her chest heaved, and she kept fanning herself.

" Are you hot? You should take the cloak off!" Dakran suggested and pulled on the string of the cloak, took it off her shoulder, walked past her and placed it on the chair's backrest.

Oh, my! This isn't good. She was still very hot. Beads of sweat trickled on her cheek, and Dakran turned to look at her.

" D- d- d....clothes!" she stammered, and bearly managed to put one word together.

" What's the matter, little red? You've seen a naked man before, right?" he picked up a robe. Her knees went weak, but she stilled herself.

Her cheeks burned so hotly, she felt on fire, she blew air on her face trying to cool herself, but it didn't work. Dakran draped the robe over his shoulders and tied the rope, and she released the breath she was holding and closed her eyes. Thank you, she mumbled to herself.

Dakran let out a soft chuckle " You know, little red! he grinned and walked to where she was " You should get used to it. We will be married soon!" he pinched her chin and kissed her lips.

" I never said I'll marry you!" she shot back fiercely. A quality that he loved. It made all that much better when she would finally give herself to him.

Dakran hummed " No, but you will!" he confidently said. Maya's fierce gaze on him stayed, defiance plastered all over her face. God, he couldn't wait for their wedding night. It would be something that he would carry with him for the rest of his life.

" I said I'm willing to try it!" she reminded him of her exact words. He hadn't forgotten. It was the best moment in his life since he could remember.

Dakran took a deep breath and let go of her chin " Yes, I remember!" he turned around and walked to the wardrobe " I'm hoping that you will change your mind! If not, we don't have to be married!" he nonchalantly said, turning around to look at her with a burgundy shirt and pair of black trousers in his hands and placed them on the bed.

" Then I don't have to wait anymore! We can just start now!" he walked to where she was and popped one button at a time until he reached the last. He looked her in the eyes.

There was mischief in them. He was testing her. He wouldn't dare to take her without her saying so, or was she wrong? This was his house. After all, he could do whatever he wanted, and she was just an outsider—a girl from the Southlands.

He tugged on her jacket, peeled it off her, and threw it on the floor. He pulled the string of her tunic, slowly tugging on it to loosen it. It was a battle of egos to see who would cave in first. He would stop if she agreed to marry him, and if she wouldn't, he might actually. She gulped at her thoughts and closed her eyes. She didn't want to bear witness to what he was doing.

He tugged on her tunic again and pulled it out of the waistband of her trousers, and slipped his hand under it, caressing her skin. His calloused hands grazed her soft skin; watching her expressions, she licked her lips, and her chest heaved again. She was so beautifully shaped. Her thin waist fit perfectly in his hands, and her soft skin felt like the most exquisite silk. His hands travelled up, his thumb brushed her breast, and he was at the breaking point. He wanted to taste her lips and mounds and worship the defiant bundle of cuteness in front of him.

He leaned in and pecked her lips. Her eyes stayed closed, and she didn't move. She stopped breathing for a moment when he palmed her perky mound, and his thumb brushed her hard tip. She stifled a moan, and everything went blank and went for her lips like a madman, pushed her against the door, and pinned her there. He ground himself against her like a dog in heat.

The bulge behind the thin robe, pressed against her belly, made her think of unholy things, sinful things. Thoughts that she never had, not even with Sylus. Her fingers itched to touch and feel his cock, but she couldn't give in. That meant that he would win. He would win either way, no matter what her answer would be. Yes or no, he would still get what he wanted.

He pulled away from the kiss, cursed under his breath and let go of her " I'm sorry!" he raked his hands through his hair, and his robe opened. In the name of all the gods, what is that? His cock was. She brushed away the thought and looked up at his tortured expression.

He turned away, slipped out of his robe and began dressing as fast as he could. His shoulders slumped, and he raked his hands through his hair one more time. He caved in first. He let out an exasperated grunt and punched the bedpost.

She walked to where he was, took his hand in hers, and he turned to look at her. He seemed rather distraught over what he just did. She had no power to fight him. She was at his mercy.

" I'll marry you", she paused for a moment ", But I have a few tiny things that I need you to give me your word you'll never do!" Maya said a little offhandedly.

Dakran stayed silent.

Maya cleared her throat " Never force yourself on me" she paused for a moment and looked at him with a questioning gaze " Don't lie to. me, and I want you to respect me!" she finished speaking, her eyes darted left and right, unsure of what it will happen next.

It was a bit unusual; women didn't get the right to utter such things to their future husbands. It was an exchange, some married for love, others married for their benefits, but ultimately, women didn't have much say in their households. Men were at the front, ruling, and their word was law.

Dakran fell to his knees and hugged her waist, kissed her belly and laughed. It was easy. He would have done those things anyway. She was a beacon of light in his life. His little red was as sweet as nectar, and he loved her so much it hurt.

" I love you, little red!" he looked up at her and pulled her to his level.

" Do you hear me?" he stood up and opened his arms " I love you!" he shouted as loud as he could and lifted her in his arms and twirled around the room, laughing and crying at the same time.

Holy crap, he was thrilled! He laughed so hard, and soon she began to laugh as well. Her sweet laugh rang in his ears, and he couldn't get enough of her beautiful smile.

Panting and out of breath, he stopped in the middle of the room and put her down.

" Anything for you, little red!" he kissed her cheek and pushed her into the bathing chamber " Have a bath. I've been away for quite some time now. I need to check on some things . I'll come and get you!" he wrapped his arms around her from behind and kissed her head.