Page 23 of Of Monsters and Mazes

“Human women are easy to bribe. Should you ever stop to talk to one of the tributes before you kill them, you might find them to be more interesting than expected.” I waved a hand dismissively. “Or less interesting, depending on your perspective. I just mean to say that there’s more to women than the warmth of their blood, you know.”

“I don’t know.” He said with a shake of his head, and that made me chuckle. I suppose he didn’t.

Not wanting to get up, I motioned with my finger to draw him to my side, and he obeyed without argument. He knelt before me, lowering his head in a bow, and waiting for my next command. Having control over this man never stopped being satisfying.

Rai had been my pet for a very long time, ever since his treacherous nympho mother had the gall to fuck the livestock. The shape of his horns served as a constant reminder of his bastard conception, while those red eyes were an equally constant reminder of my ex.

Having her son as my slave was, admittedly, the best revenge I could exact. As satisfying as it had been to have her hunted down in the Labyrinth and mauled by her own beastly offspring, her betrayal merited an extended vengeance that would linger long past her death. If she wanted to be so sexually liberated that she had the audacity to produce an immortal heir with something other than myself, then I would assure her spirit never found peace.

How better to do that than to use Olympus’ debt to draw a new human into the maze each year on the anniversary of her death, to live out the same brutal end that she’d suffered.

It was a party, really. A celebration.

I wondered sometimes if my darling Pasiphae’s spirit was sobbing in its grave every time she watched another one of those strong, independent women she adored so much getting slaughtered in her name. I imagined she was mortified to watch the flowers on her grave sprout using the blood of her favorite subjects, while her soul must burn every time she was forced to watch her son on his knees for me from the afterlife. I certainly hoped she was miserable. It was exactly what that unfaithful cow deserved.

I leaned forward, and an annoyed Pumpkin hopped off my lap and settled on a bed beside my throne. Unbothered, I placed a finger beneath Rai’s chin, lifted his gaze to mine, and I stared into those familiar crimson irises for an extended moment. I held eye contact until his nerves rose through him, and he had to swallow them back down with an anxious bob of his Adam’s apple.

Rai was strong when it came to murder, but he was timid when it came to me. He knew not to speak until I told him he could—he knew not to breathe until I allowed it—but those little nervous tells made my heart race inexplicably. Fear was the most delicious aphrodisiac.

“Rai, my pet.”

“Yes, Master.” Rai spoke steadily, like he was walking a narrow tight rope, and each word was a test of his balance.

I drew a line with my thumb along his jawline, then slid my fingers up his cheek, brushing his skin with the backs of my fingernails. I nudged his soft black hair with the back of my hand, pushed it behind his pointed ear, then I laced my fingers through the full thickness of his dark locks. He never took his eyes off mine, no matter how I touched or caressed him. He was nothing if not disciplined.

When I reached his right horn, I stroked the smooth bone built into his skull with a delicate touch. Up and down, I danced light pressure along its length, simulating all the ways I could pleasure him.

His body shuddered involuntarily, as he reacted to my grip along the hollow shaft.

“My lap is cold, my pet.” I whispered to my vicious little toy.

He closed his eyes before he let me direct him to his feet, urging him upright with a light tug on his horn. He followed my lead, rising to his full height before he straddled my lap. I felt my way up the front of his leather vest, then I gripped the zipper at the top, and started dragging it downward, revealing his smooth, strong chest an inch at a time. I eased the zipper past his abs, drawing slowly over every row of muscles, until the fastener unlatched at the bottom.

His hard chest rose and fell in a beautiful image. His powerful build hid his racing heartbeat, and his slow breaths countered his nerves. I pushed his vest off his shoulders, and he obliged me without protest. I traced the outline of his thick pecs, then toyed with the bars that pierced through his nipples, rolling each end between my thumb and forefinger. He let out a low moan as I fiddled with his studs, tugging and rolling the metal. Despite the tension in his breathing, he was already hard. It was never a challenge to get him in the mood.

In a way, he reminded me of Sela. Or Sela reminded me of him. Strong willed, capable, yet desperate to have someone else take control of their needs. Rai had always been mine, but that didn’t mean I didn’t put endless effort into keeping him.

I ran my hands back up his chest, then I gripped his collar roughly and tugged his face to mine. Warm air intermingled between our parted lips, and he made no effort to pull away.

“You’ll fuck yourself on me while I enjoy my show, won’t you, Rai?” I purred into his mouth. He nodded obediently, while he started undoing my belt. I relaxed on my throne, leaning back against the headrest, so I could watch my Fraulein run for her life. That almost would have been enough to get me off all its own, though the cold zing of lube paired with the hot squeeze of Rai’s perfect ass certainly didn’t hurt my chances of satisfaction.

He lowered himself onto me at an excruciating pace, allowing his body to adapt to my cock, and I inhaled roughly through my nose as my pet took the whole of my length. The gorgeous bull started to move in controlled motion, rising and falling, and altering the motion and angle for his own pleasure. I let him work me to climax while I watched Sela feel her way around the Violet Corridor of False Walls.

Rai fucked himself on my lap with impressive restraint, tempering the speed in a way he knew would distract me and coax me to madness. Loyal as he was, he knew how to tease and manipulate me in this position.

But today I wanted rougher. I needed force if I wanted to feel anything.

“Harder, Love.” I whispered, as I dug my nails into Rai’s hips.

“Show me.” He managed through a low moan. Clever devil. Who was really in control right now?

Obliging my pet, I drove him down on me faster and more roughly, until the tempo was sending fireworks through both of our eyes. I pulsed in his perfect body, while I watched my little tribute over his shoulder.

Fuck. I couldn’t wait for her to make her way into the Blue Sector. My cock tensed just imagining her shivering and fighting for her life. Would that be where she gave up and offered herself to me? I was counting down the seconds until I’d have her on my lap, fucking herself on my cock. She could be the lazy princess, sitting on the throne of my lap, and I’d let Rai control the motion as he fucked her from behind. I wanted to lick the tears off her cheek as she came under the combined pressure, then put her on her knees and make her lick off her mess.

A woman like her, dripping in blood, sweat, and semen, would truly be a masterpiece.

Rai held onto me like he’d die if he let go, clawing at my shoulders, and burying his face in the crook of my neck. He exhaled pure fire against my skin every time I nudged his favorite spot. He whimpered, and he attempted to slow my tempo slightly, as if not wanting to give into his own pleasure so quickly. He moistened his lips, grazing my skin with his pierced tongue, the second before he bit down in a desperate bid for his own silence.