Page 77 of The King's Maiden

“I’m ready to be your good girl now.”

He crushed me in his grip before he quickly released me, swallowing deeply as he stared into my eyes. “Well, then it’s time we do this properly.”

Guiding me to his bedroom door, he gestured for me to go inside. Once I did, he let the door shut heavily behind me. His voice rumbled in my ear and sent a shiver down my spine as he pressed his body against mine.

“Welcome to The Quest, Maiden.”

“Can I ask you something?”

From where Landon stood at the end of the bed, securing my ankle into a padded cuff, he turned toward me. His fingers paused in their task of fastening the restraint. But they brushed my skin idly as he waited for my question—something I had noticed he often did without thinking about it.

I gestured to my restrained ankle. “How doesthishelp me win The Quest?”

He chuckled softly, returning to his task and binding the cuff with the Velcro closure. “Do you want me to tell you?” Tugging on the strap secured under his bed, he pulled my leg taut. “Or do you want me to show you?”

My breath caught in my throat.

Landon smirked before walking to the other end of the bed. His fingers wrapped around my free ankle. But when he grabbed the other cuff, he didn’t immediately strap me in.

He jerked my leg toward him. “I asked you a question, Maiden?”

I huffed. “Fine. Show me.”

He arched an eyebrow, his grip tightening slightly.

“Show me, please.Sir.”

I caved far too quickly under that tiny fraction of pressure, and if I hadn’t already suspected it, I would’ve known then I was in trouble. If he only had to tighten his grip to get me to answer him like a submissive, what the hell else could he get me to do?

If he increased the force of his command, would I comply even faster—whatever the ask?

My inner voice practically pantingyesconcerned me.

But I couldn’t dwell on it because, at my response, Landon had quickly fastened the second ankle cuff. When he pulled tight on the strap, my butt slid forward, and I fell back on the mattress.

Propping myself up on my elbows, I glared at him.

But he didn’t see it.

His eyes fixed on my bare legs as he circled the bedpost and came to stand between my very spread, bare legs. Hardly covered by the black satin negligee as it was, if the damn thing rode up any farther, my matching black thong would be fully on display.

Landon seemed to realize that as well.

As he traced a line from my ankle up to the apex of my thighs, my core tightened, and the air rushed from my lungs. But I didn’t squirm or try to shield myself—even though I still could. I wanted to tell myself it was because resisting seemed futile, but that would be a lie.

I didn’t hate the way it felt to have his eyes on me—even though I still shouldn’t want them there. It grew harder to remember why I had to hold myself back the longer he stared at me. And the darker his eyes became.

“Most of the other Knights think twenty-one days of sex is enough to keep their Maiden from giving into temptation at Pendragon.”

He came around the bedpost, one hand stroking the solid wood as his other reached into his pocket. Pulling out a red tie,he draped it over my bare thigh. As he dragged the silk up my body, it trailed between my legs and up my stomach.

And when it teased over my peaked nipple, my back arched reflexively.

He looped his end around my neck and let it fall between the valley of my breasts. I watched the crimson fabric rise and fall with the rapid pace of my breathing.

Landon’s hand cupped the back of my head, tilting it up so I had to look at him. “Twenty-one days of orgasms, however mind-blowing, don’t guarantee loyalty.”

“They don’t?”

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