Page 52 of Tristan
“I have enjoyed our time, Tristan, but I fear this day has exhausted even me. I’ll escort you to your chambers now. Corrik should be there.”
Corrik is there. I find him on the bed staring at the ceiling when I enter our bedchamber. He knows I’ve entered, but he doesn’t sit up. I’m not sure what to do—I’ve never seen him like this, and it’s in these moments I realize how much I have to learn about him.
I proceed to get ready for bed not saying a word to him—he can pout all night if he likes, I’m going to bed. Once I’ve washed up, I return to the bedchamber expecting to find him as I’ve left him.
He’s nothing like I’ve left him. Corrik is naked with the covers rolled down, reading a book. The main light is out with a small ball of light hovering above him.
I patter to my side of the bed and hope he’ll leave me alone for the night.
No such luck.
His book snaps closed and the little ball of light floats to hover above the bed so I can still make out his pale form. He turns on me like a predator would his prey. “You and I need to have a little talk.”
I know what his talks are like—I’m sure he just had one withDiekin. I yelp and cocoon the covers around me. Has he found the other item I’ve kept hidden?
“How’s Diekin?” I say trying heartily to change the subject.
“Diekin is well, you may see him tomorrow. I don’t want to talk about him, I want to talk about you and me.”
I swallow. “Yes?”
“Come, here.”
“Corrik—"
He gives me a look that says he’s had enough belligerence from me for one day. I shimmy over to him keeping plenty of blanket wrapped around me. His icy shell cracks and he chuckles. “You aren’t in trouble—we just need to talk, with words,” he defines for me. “Come.”
When I’m within reach of him, he breaks me out of the blanket and presses my naked body to his—his cock up against my ass. Maybe I can convince him to skip the impending lecture I feel headed my way…?
“It took every ounce of my strength not to flay you alive earlier. You can’t make such threats to me; that will be the last.”
I don’t need him to protect me, I’ve been a member of my father’s guard since I was twelve. “Then you must cease to treat me like I’m weak. I’m not your doll.”
“That’s absurd. I know you’re not a doll.”
“Diekin had to be the one to tell me about the Rogue Elves before Heilren attacked me.”
He doesn’t look pleased about that. “You cannot fight an Elf. You’re only—"
“—human. I know. You remind me every chance you get.”
He holds me awhile like he’s simply grateful I’m still alivetohold.
“You can’t protect me at every turn, Corrik. The world is dangerous. I’ve faced certain death many times and I’m sure I’ll face it many more.”
His grip on me gets tighter. “I can protect you and you will not beput in danger like that again. Today wouldn’t have happened if you would have let me do my job as your mate.”
And that is the crux of the matter. He succumbed his logic to my threat on an emotional whim. He didn’t like me forcing his hand in the first place and since it ended badly, he feels justified in never participating in another of my silly tantrums again. I admit that what I did was manipulative, it’s not the kind of behavior I’m fond of employing, but I reacted. I’m not good when I feel trapped. “I’m sorry for what I did Corrik, but you wouldn’t listen—you never listen.”
“I understand things you do not. I don’t have to listen to you—you’re mine and shall do as I say.”
I don’t like it. I’m used to beingheardin the least. Even Father, as intractable as he is, listened to what I had to say—even if he did not end up taking my advisement on the matter.
“Corrik, I vowed to obey you and I will, but I need to be heard.”
“If I had explained everything and still forbid your participation, can you say with honesty, that you would have left it at that?”
“Fine, no I wouldn’t have.” And it’s true that Corrik isn’t unreasonable either; unless my safety is at stake, apparently. I sense there’s something else he’s not telling me. “But if you’re a little more forthcoming with information, I can attempt to understand and even behave myself.”
