Page 50 of Drawn into Oblivion

Then their purpose had become all too apparent. They were trying to end Rosuke’s suffering and offer Mai an alternative.

Her reaction confirmed Vallen had seriously misjudged her character, although Rosuke could’ve told him that. Her face was slack as she slowly scanned his bedroom. Her mouth opened and closed like that of a fish gasping for air. He wasn’t sure what she was holding, but her grip had loosened so much it was a wonder she hadn’t dropped the item.

His body, unfortunately, reacted in its usual manner, albeit even more eagerly than normal. Getting her into his bedroom had been his most desperate desire of late. Pink petals still clung to her long, silky hair, and the necklace he had commissioned from Master Gin beckoned his gaze to the dip in her neck, where he knew she was both fragrant and sensitive. He was already as hard as his sword, which Vallen had left propped against the wall behind her, rendering it harmless, the same as he had been.

Mai had never seen Rosuke’s bedroom before and was surprised by how well it fit him. All the furnishings seemed to have belonged to the palace’s original coal-wood furniture. Unlike her room, his had built-in cabinetry, the larger upper doors of which were partially open, revealing a set of armor she’d yet to see him wear. Next to it sat a writing desk covered with stacks of papers. The walls were made of stiff straw panels, the same as hers, but dyed dark blue. His bed linens matched.

His bed was larger than hers, its mattress lifted off the floor on a wooden frame, and was better suited for his height. A pillow held his head up so he could see her, and his arms were stretched straight out from his shoulders, his wrists bound with what looked like horse reins. Only a foot of space separated his ankles, which were also tied down. Vallen seemed to have taken the liberty of removing Rosuke’s shoes for him, leaving his feet bare. Already, his wrists and ankles were an angry red from his struggles to get free.

“I had no idea what Vallen was planning. I swear it,” he avowed. “I’ve tried every incantation I know to cut these bonds or loosen the knots, but nothing magical has worked. The spell he cast is tricky, and the damned bedframe is from the old court, so it’s magicked too. I can’t overpower its protections.”

“I don’t understand,” she stammered, shaking her head. “Why would the high general do this?”

“He must have learned I’ve been…restraining myself,” he ventured slowly, as though trying to choose the right words. “I think he incapacitated me so you could…you know, have me without fear.”

Her eyebrows shot up. “Oh.” She wasn’t surprised the high general had surmised the status of her relationship with Rosuke—only that he’d go so far to meddle in it. Thanks to her illuminating conversation with the empress that morning, she had become quite aware of how much attention other people paid to her and Rosuke’s interactions, that they’d deduced what she had thought to be well hidden.

Her first instinct was to free him. He surely felt vulnerable and therefore angry and embarrassed. His efforts to free himself were evident enough. But the sight of him was so very compelling…

Everyone else was at the festival enjoying games, food, and music. Only a handful of people knew where they were, and none of them would come looking for hours and hours. Nothing and no one would interrupt them. She had expected to be the one on the bottom, but straddling him was also—

She blinked away the mental image, appalled she’d even think of taking advantage of his situation. The tension between his eyebrows and the impatient fidgeting of his four bound limbs spoke to his discomfort and anxiety.

Then a thought occurred to her, as plain as the sun in the sky. All she had to do was ask him what he wanted.

Rosuke wanted to howl in anger at Vallen, for Mai was clearly too shocked to speak. The woman to whom he had lost his heart the night they’d met, who faced life with such courage and fought on despite her fears, despite the odds, had been rendered speechless by Vallen’s stunt. How much damage had been done to the tenuous hold he had on her heart? What could he say to convince her neither he nor anyone expected any sort of action on her part? That no one meant any harm or malice? What could he say to fix this?

“I…” she said, cheeks redder than ever. He held his breath. “You know, I’ve realized something.” She set her item down by the door and shucked her shoes. “I’ve seen many of your expressions. They’ve run the gamut from joy to grief, humorous to serious. I’ve seen desire—hunger—more times than I can count. But never pleasure.” Her voice grew stronger with every word. “And I find myself curious.”

He breathed out hard. “How curious?”

“Incurably.” She slowly approached the bed.

“And my bonds?”

She licked her lips. “That’s up to you.”

His heart hammered. “That’s… It’s not what I planned—or imagined. But if it’s what you need…” Already his magic was reaching for her. Already his cock was straining against the waist of his pants. Already his control was near its limit. Perhaps Vallen’s stunt had been the right idea after all.

“Need isn’t the right word,” she said, rounding the corner of his bed, “but the idea is surprisingly tempting. You know so much about my body, and I want to know about yours.”

“I have the feeling I’ll respond to anything you do to me,” he said with an uncertain smile. “I only worry I’ll not last.”

She stood next to him and touched his wrist. “Would that really be so bad?” By the gods, she was beautiful in her bashful lust. Cheeks pink, she pinched her lower lip between her teeth.

“No, but for a man it’s…exhausting.” Although, did he really think his desire for her would wane so quickly, that his body wouldn’t immediately crave her again, over and over?

“We have hours,” she pointed out.

“It’s not just me who wants you, but—”

“Your magic also?”

So she knew. He wasn’t surprised. He had felt the gentle, seeking touches of her magic the last few times he’d given her pleasure, and she had surely asked Shumei about it.

“Yes, and it cannot wait any longer,” he said, though he didn’t dare admit how testy his connection to his magic had become. The last time he had trained with Vallen, it hadn’t responded to his will as it used to. Vallen must have noticed.

She touched her abdomen, panting lightly. “I suppose I can learn about your body afterward. I also desire…completion.”