Page 9

Chapter Nine

Axum

“Thank you, Xolag,” I tell the blacksmith, closing my hand around Rainn’s gift. It is small, so I tuck it into my bag so I will not drop it.

Xolag bows, his cheeks flushing a deeper green. “You are most welcome, Your Highness. I am glad it is to your liking.”

“It is perfect. Please, if there is anything I can do for you, let me know.”

He lifts his head with a wide grin. “Doing this for you was honor enough. I can tell my children and my children’s children that I made a token for the emperor's consort. What a tale for them to pass down.”

Placing my hand over my heart, I tip my head to him. “You honor me with your words.”

With that, Xolag and I part ways and I head back to the palace to retrieve Rainn. I know how much he loves nature and the outdoors. I just hope he loves my secret place.

I only get two steps into the palace before a ball of energy jumps into my arms. I stumble back, catching myself against a pillar, laughing when Rainn wraps his arms around my neck.

“Eager, are we?” I ask when I right myself, my hands going under his ass to keep him close.

“Very. I’ve been up for ,like, an hour waiting for you to come get me. I even packed us a bag. I’m ready.”

With my free hand, I push the flap back of the bag slung over his shoulder and see there are refreshments and a blanket stuffed inside. I did not inform Rainn where we were going, but I am glad he had the foresight to pack a blanket.

Holding him close, I take measured steps down the hallways, not missing the soft grins my guards give us. “We should eat first. Then we can go.”

Rainn pecks me gently on the lips, sending sparks over my skin.

We eat breakfast quickly, then, hand in hand, we walk in the opposite direction of the barrier. We walk along the road for a few minutes in peaceful silence before I turn Rainn down a gully. He looks at me curiously, but I prod him on and he starts forward.

Carefully, we walk along the edges, watching as the water rushes by unimpeded. Rainn looks down and smiles as a school of Kirabura swim by. A few jump out of the water, flapping their fins before descending back into the depths of the gully.

On and on we walk, until we get to a game path. “Watch your step,” I murmur to Rainn, helping him step over a large root. He thanks me and we continue on our trek.

Alone, it would take me a little less than an hour to reach my secret place, but with Rainn and his short legs, it takes close to two hours before I see the familiar break in the woods.

“Are you okay?” I ask, watching the sweat drip from his brow.

He nods, wiping his face. “Yeah. I hike often, remember?” He points down to his boots. “Luckily I had these on when I crossed the barrier. They’re broken in, so this trek doesn’t bother me.”

I nod. Around the empire, he walks around either barefoot like the rest of us, or in the soft shoes Larshka fashioned for him with magic.

With my hand on his shoulders, I lead him into the space between the trees that is hidden from all those that may venture here. Rainn looks at me quizzically, but I urge him on, telling him, “It is safe, I swear it.”

“I trust you,” he says with a grin, then ducks under a low hanging branch. I push the branch aside with ease and pass through the tight confines.

Most do not know of this location because of how tightly the branches grow together. They would assume it is just a bramble of trees, nothing to see and nothing to explore.

But I am not most.

After we pass through the initial tight passage, we find ourselves on another path, though this one is littered with roots. The trees around us tower high, higher than those directly around my palace. I love this area because the trees make me feel small and put my life into perspective.

Rainn looks up at the trees, like sentries standing guard over us. Their canopies block out the heat, cooling the sweat that accumulated on our skin.

“Holy fuck, Axum. This place is?—”

His words are cut off when he trips over a tall root, almost falling face first onto the ground. Only my hand on his bag keeps him from hurting himself. “Careful, sweet Rainn.”

When he is back on his feet, he dusts himself off and grins. “I’m good. Thank you.”

“We’re almost there. Would you like me to carry you?”

His laughter is high and sweet, a melody that washes over me and makes my heart leap. “I swear I’m not always so clumsy. I can manage.”

I lead him a little further into the cover of tall trees until I hear the babbling of a brook.

Rainn looks at me with wide eyes. “What’s that?’

“Come and see.” I push aside a curtain of hanging reeds and wave him through.

When he steps past them, a soft gasp reaches my ears. “Axum. This is amazing. How did you find this place?”

He turns to look at me and I am struck speechless. I never knew the true meaning of sun-kissed until I saw Rainn’s skin as he stepped into a shaft of light. His brown skin, glistening with beads of sweat, almost glows, the sun reflecting back what true beauty is.

Rainn ducks his head, a blush high on his cheeks. “What?”

“I…you are gorgeous.”

His smile lights something inside me. “Thank you. But this…this is breathtaking.”

“It is almost as beautiful as you.”

He glows more with flaming cheeks as he looks around my secret space. I try to see it through his eyes, as a new surrounding.

The stream that flows through this hidden glen gurgles softly, drifting lazily over the rocks along the bed. Surrounding the stream are black and blue Buqicona flowers, their large bulbs hanging lazily.

Rainn spins around, beaming radiantly. “How did you find this place?”

I smile as I pull the blanket from his bag and unfurl it on the ground. “When I was in my eighteenth year, my sire wanted me to learn how to hunt Vilope. I did not want to be on a hunt, so when his guards brought me in this direction, I ran away. I wanted somewhere I could not be found and saw the small break in the woods. The deeper I came through, the more beauty I found. When I saw the hanging reeds, I pushed through and found this marvelous place. I come once every few months just to sit and think, if I have the time.”

“It’s amazing.”

“You are the first person I have brought here,” I confess softly, helping him to lower himself to the blanket.

He leans against me, settling between my legs. “Thank you. It’s really beautiful.”

We sit for a few hours, exchanging some of the refreshments Rainn packed and sharing stories about our lives. I tell Rainn more about my mother, whom I adored.

“It cannot last,” I tell him, plucking at the necklace around his neck. “Peace helps the kingdom thrive. I am striving to prove I am different from my sire.”

He nods. “Other orcs see it, you know?” He turns to look at me, placing a soft hand on my thigh. “I heard them talking in the market. They are happy with your leadership. They love a life of peace. Don’t let your father’s legacy be yours. You’re doing great.”

My heart flutters with happiness. Rainn is undeniably my mate. Not only has he integrated himself into my world, acting as emperor consort without even knowing, he is going out of his way to set me at ease.

An emperor’s consort is their rock, helping them run the kingdom while also being available for counsel. I did not even have to ask Rainn for counsel and comfort; he gives it to me freely. This is what I wanted if ever I mated. Someone that could effortlessly be with me without feeling the pressures of court. Rainn does not know what he is doing for me by just being him.

“Thank you, sweet Rainn.” I finger the necklace again, not loving the loose piece of jewelry. “I have something for you.”

“A present?” His face lights up with excitement. “Is it something from the market? There is so much I want to buy, but I didn’t feel comfortable asking. Since I don’t have coins, you know? I just?—”

I cut off his adorable rambling with a finger to his lips. “No, it is not from the market. I had it made for you.”

Reaching into my bag, I pull out the bracelet I commissioned from Xolag. It is delicate, but expertly crafted. The bracelet is fashioned into vines and every few centimeters, a different flower native to Daz Vrorkrad hangs as a small charm. The color of each flower flashes with brilliance as I clasp it onto his wrist. It fits him perfectly.

Rainn stares at it, tears brimming in his eyes. “Axum. This is….this is perfect.”

I pull the necklace from around his neck and stash it in my pouch. “I imbued it with the magic of translation myself. I am not a blacksmith, but I am an adept spell weaver, so I could do that for you.”

“It doesn’t matter that you didn’t make it,” he says, a single tear leaking from his eyes. I wipe it quickly. “It matters that you thought enough about me to have it made. I don’t have to take it off at all. It’s lightweight and fits perfectly.” He looks up at me, eyes shining. “Thank you.”

“You are—” My words are cut off when Rainn launches himself at me, planting a kiss on my lips that has my cock growing half hard in my breeches.

I pull him onto my lap, planting my hands on his small, but round ass. Rainn thrusts his tongue into my mouth and I groan, the feel of him heady.

He grinds his ass on my cock and it lengthens without effort. A simple touch from Rainn turns me on. His mouth on mine? Makes me want to bend him over and rut into him until he is leaking with my seed.

Rainn pulls his lips from mine and trails kisses down my neck. He breathes in against my throat and shudders. “You smell so fucking good. Flowers, pine trees and fresh air. I’ll never get used to filling my lungs with you.”

“Gods, Rainn.”

He presses his small hand against my chest, pushing at me until I am lying on my back. Rainn thrusts up my shirt, kissing and licking my torso. He has done this before, but now he is more frantic, his lips moving over my pecs and nipples with urgency.

Rainn lowers himself until he is resting between my thighs. As he pulls my pants down, he flicks his gaze up to mine. “Can I?”

“Please.” I hardly recognize my own voice.

His grin is mischievous as he tugs my pants down to my knees. With sure hands, he wraps them around my cock, stroking me slowly. “You know,” he says, his soft breaths ghosting over my cockhead, “I have an orc dildo at home. It’s my favorite.” Rainn’s tongue peeks out and drags over me gently.

“Your favorite?” I ask on a moan.

“Yes. But it doesn’t have a knot.” Rainn closes his mouth around my crown and suckles me. I flex my hips, though not much more of my length goes down his throat.

He cannot fit much in his mouth, but his enthusiasm makes this the best blowjob I have received in my life.

Rainn jerks me as his saliva drips down my shaft. My groans fly high, surely reaching the canopy of the trees.

My sac tingles as I look down at Rainn. His eyes are closed and a blissful expression is on his face as he sucks me.

“Fuck. Rainn. Feels so fucking good.”

His gaze flicks up to mine, the lust evident in his eyes. He hollows his cheeks as much as he can, sucking me hard.

“Yes, right there. Fuck. My knot will appear if you keep going. Show my knot as much attention as you show my shaft.”

Rainn pulls off my dick, jerking me fast and rough. “Let me see it, Axum. Show me.”

Then he dives back on my dick, more vigor in his ministrations, and lewd sucking sounds filling the air.

Pleasure licks along every inch of my skin as I watch Rainn trying his hardest to deep throat me. I love the effort, it is such a turn on that I cannot control myself.

“Rainn. My knot,” I say through clenched teeth, grabbing his hair to pull him away from my shaft.

As he moves his mouth from my dick, my knot inflates, the cool air drifting over it. Rainn dips down, licking my knot with fervor. When he closes his lips around it, my body bucks and my orgasm shoots through me.

“Oh Gods. Fuck!”

I explode, my cum shooting in the air, landing on my torso, since Rainn is holding my cock forward to get to my knot.

Rainn keeps attacking it with his mouth, making my orgasm seem endless.

Since I am not inside him, my knot withdraws after only about a minute. I collapse heavily to the ground, aftershocks rolling through my body.

He licks up my chest, collecting some of my release in his mouth. “You taste sweet,” he says, lapping at me. ‘I’ve never tasted anything like this. Like the sweetest fruit I’ve ever had.” He cleans me up with his tongue, collecting all of the orgasm from my belly.

He presses himself against my chest, kissing the underside of my chin.

I flip him to his back, making him giggle before I swallow the sound with a long kiss. I taste my orgasm on his tongue, mingling with his natural flavor.

After I have kissed him until he is panting, his blunt nails hard in my back and his legs spread wide for me, I pull back and peer down at him. I have had Rainn in this position before, as we’ve learned each other in my chambers. Our chambers. But we never took it further than our hands exploring. Now, I can taste Rainn. I can commit his flavor to memory, calling it up anytime I think about him.

Pulling away, I adjust the blanket so it is spread fully, then roll Rainn onto his belly. He gasps as I pull him up onto knees, his ass propped into the air.

He looks phenomenal like this, at my mercy, trusting me with his body.

I run gentle hands over his body, kneading his flesh. I find the space along his sides near the bottom of his ribs, lightly gliding over them, making him moan and wiggle under my touch.

“So beautiful,” I say in a voice so deep, I hardly recognize it. Rainn has me so keyed up, I am almost coming out of my skin. “I would like to see your body surrounded by all this beauty.”

“See me,” he groans, looking over his shoulder at me with lust drunk eyes. “Please, Axum.”

I make quick work of shedding Rainn’s shirt and pants from his body. If we did not have to hike back to the palace I would have yanked them until they ripped, eager to get to Rainn’s nakedness.

He looks so good without clothing. Flawless brown flesh, a tight ass, and a pretty hole begging for my tongue.

I spread him open, watching his pucker contract as the breeze drifts across it. Rainn moans, pushing back against my hands. “Axum, please. Touch me. Do something.”

He sounds so rapturous and I have not done anything yet.

“Soon, sweet Rainn. Allow me to look at you. Allow me to memorize every curve of your body. The beauty of your hole, begging for my tongue.”

“God yes,” he whimpers. He spreads his legs wider, his heavy balls hanging and dick sticking straight out.

I move one hand from his spread cheeks and drop it to his cock, stroking him gently, giving him friction but not enough to bring him to release. My own shaft hardens as I watch Rainn get lost in his pleasure.

I move forward, rubbing my cock against his hole. It looks obscene, how my large dick rests against his tiny entrance. If not for the pleasure oil that will loosen his channel enough to accommodate me, sex would not be possible for us.

“Fuck,” Rainn murmurs, rolling his hips so my dick slides between his cheeks. “Fuck me, Axum,” he begs, reaching back to stroke my dick as I continue to rock against him. “Oil,” he pants, “in my bag.”

I stop my teasing. “You brought pleasure oil? Where did you get it?”

He nods with a mischievous grin on his handsome face. “I may or may not have gotten a bottle from Larek.”

I smile at his forethought and reach for his bag, pulling out the small glass vial. Although I am dying to get inside Rainn, to thrust into him until my knot grows, I know he needs to be prepared first.

Pulling out the stopper, I pour some of the oil on my fingers, making sure they are slick.

“Are you ready, sweet Rainn?” I ask, wanting to be sure this is what he wants.

“Yes.”

With agonizing slowness, I press a finger into his hole, easing it inside. Rainn’s breath hitches, the sound sending a ripple down my spine. I can feel his tight channel widening, his body absorbing the pleasure oil and stretching to accommodate me.

“I am adding a second finger now, okay?” Rainn looks down at me with wide eyes, nodding frantically. “You’re taking it so well.”

“That oil is amazing,” he breathes as he winds his hips. “I can barely feel any pain and your fingers are huge.”

I chuckle and lean over him, kissing him as I push in a third finger. Rainn works his hips on my digits with increased fervor, making mewling noises that rumble against my tongue.

Rainn is panting and whining against my lips, begging me to fuck him. He is as stretched on my fingers as he will get.

Pulling my fingers out, I roll onto my back. “Ride me, Rainn. Take control of your pleasure.”

He scrambles up my body, eagerly positioning his ass over my cock. After adding pleasure oil to his hand, he grabs me with his small fist and smooths the oil down my shaft.

“Will it hurt?” he asks, though his eyes are bright and eager, like he will relish the bite of pain.

“Only until I am fully inside you, then your body will hug my cock of its own volition.”

Rainn curses softly as he places my cock against his hole. He sinks down slowly, his face twisted in discomfort. I grab his hips to stop him until he has adjusted, but he shakes his head. “I’m okay.” His voice is tight, but he continues to sink lower.

He gasps when my entire shaft is inside him. My hands on his hips hold him in place. If he moves now, I will explode.

“I can’t believe I took all of you.” He twists his hips with a hiss, tossing his head back. “Fuck, you feel good.”

Rainn plants his hands on my pecs, balancing himself to raise and lower himself on my cock. His ass is hot and slick, gripping my shaft as if it does not want to let me go. It takes all of my strength not to thrust up into him, instead allowing Rainn to set the pace.

His small fingers tweak my nipples as he rides me, drawing a long groan from my throat. Rainn’s rounded ass jiggles in my hands as I grip him tight, helping him move up and down.

“Yes, Axum. Oh god. Your dick…Jesus. I’m close. I’m so close.”

His sweet moans wash over me as he babbles. His face is pure bliss, eyes closed and his expression tight with concentration as he fucks me.

“Just like that, sweet Rainn,” I manage to grit out. My knot is tingling, eager to get inside him and claim him this way first. There will be no claiming bite, but I can have him locked on my knot.

His sweet cock bounces as he rides me, precum leaking from his crown. I wish I could lean forward and lick it off, but I need to come inside him. His walls need to be painted with my spunk so all of Daz Vrorkrad, all of Belzod knows he belongs to me. Any orc in this kingdom will smell me on him and know that he is taken. They will know he is mine .

“Axum, oh fuck. Axum!” His dick bounces against his belly, his hips working fast and in an uncoordinated rhythm. Then he shoots his essence all over me. His dick kicks over and over, ropes of his release soaking me.

Before I can contain myself, I grab his ass tightly and fuck up into him, chasing my climax. Rainn screams in pleasure, more cum leaking from his pretty dick. I fuck him through it, watching greedily as his cum runs down my chest.

Then my knot inflates and I roar as I come, my hips bowing off the ground to try and get as much of my dick inside him as I can manage. Rainn squeezes my pecs, whimpering as my knot continues to grow inside him.

“That…oh god…that feels good.” I know my knot is thick and pleasure inside him, milking every drop out of him.

He collapses on my chest, breathing heavily. I continue to rock into him, needing one more release from him before my knot deflates.

Rainn moans softly, rolling a finger over my nipple. “Axum…more, more.”

I thrust shallowly, pushing my cum deep into him. I feel his body vibrating, his legs clamping down around my hips as he groans low in his throat.

A few seconds later, my torso is wet with another release, Rainn’s voice hoarse from all of his cries of pleasure.

I bring him down from his orgasm high, holding him steady so my knot does not rock into him more. Rainn sighs against my chest, kissing me wherever he can reach.

After about ten minutes, my knot deflates and I pull Rainn higher on my chest, kissing him long and deep. My release leaks from his hole, mingling with his already painting my torso.

“Are you okay?” I ask. “Did I hurt you?”

He nods and sits up to look down at me. “I’m okay. I’ll be sore in the morning, but I’m fine. Hell, I might not be able to walk out of here. Holy fuck, Axum. I can’t believe I took all of you. My dildo is smaller than you and I could never fit the whole thing inside me. That pleasure oil is a life saver.”

I chuckle and kiss him again.

Grinning, I pull him into my arms, holding him to my chest. “I will clean you in the stream. Then we must go back before it gets dark.” Rainn nods against my chest.

I walk us into the stream, wishing there was more than water to wash him with. The stream is cold, but it feels good over our heated flesh.

Once we are clean of fluids, I help Rainn from the water, using the blanket as a towel.

After stuffing our refuse and the blanket in Rainn’s bag, I turn my back to him and get down on one knee. “Climb on,” I say. “I do not want you to trip as you did earlier, since it is getting dark, and you might be sore from how you rode me like I was a Rhinoppek.”

Rainn laughs lightly as he climbs onto my back. His small hands tighten around my neck and a soft kiss lands behind my ear, making me shiver. “Thank you for today, Axum. It’s the best day I’ve ever had. You’re amazing.”

“No, my sweet Rainn. That is you.”

I am cautious as I navigate us out of the woods, careful not to hit any trees or brush up against any trunks. When we get out of the woods, I pick up my pace, striding back towards the gully.

“Am I heavy?” Rainn asks.

A loud laugh bursts from my chest. “You are light as a feather, my sweet Rainn.”

“If I get heavy, let me know.” He kisses behind my ear once more.

After around thirty minutes, Rainn lays his head against my shoulder. “I’m going to sleep like a baby tonight,” he says softly.

“And I will hold you all night,” I say, giving his legs a squeeze and turning my head for a quick kiss.

He sighs and kisses me back with more emotion that I’m used to. “I’d love that.”