Page 16 of Royal Deception (Royals of the Underworld #2)
CLARY
I breathe in and out slowly, still feeling like I’ve swum to the surface after a long dive.
“I’m okay,” he says finally, breaking the silence. His voice is low, but there’s certainty in his tone. I shift in his lap, momentarily thrown. He doesn’t seem like he’s holding back. He’s just content.
“Are you sure?” I ask, trailing a finger along his chest. Rory captures my hand in his, bringing it up to his lips before placing a gentle kiss on the knuckles.
“I want this,” he says, holding my gaze. “I’m here to take care of you, Pet.”
My insides turn to jelly at his words, the unexpected nature of them touching me deeply. No one has ever treated me like this before. I frown as I look at our interlocked hands, my mind churning.
Something about being turned down isn’t sitting right with me. I know that Rory doesn’t need me to reciprocate, but I feel as though I’m the only one who’s enjoyed this entire situation between us so far.
All my life, I’ve let people take what they wanted from me. I’ve gone along with the flow way too many times to count. With a determined glint in my eyes, I stare at Rory, then lower myself down to kneel before him, tugging at the belt around his waist.
“Excuse me, what do you think you’re doing?” Rory asks, tugging at my hair to pull me away. I’m too quick for him, though, and I get his half-hard cock freed from his pants and boxers. He’s uncut, and I push his foreskin back before slipping the length into my mouth.
A flicker of surprise crosses his gaze before his expression darkens, something unreadable passing over it. His fingers tighten in my hair and for the first time since we started this arrangement, I know I’ve caught him off guard.
“Be careful, little girl,” he warns, though the warning tapers off into a moan as I pull back, licking the tip. “Bratty behavior gets punished.”
I ignore him, the prickles of pain along the base of my scalp mingling with the unexpected pleasure I feel from taking control.
His hand stays in my hair, though his grip loosens a little as I continue to work my mouth up and down the length of his shaft, swirling my tongue around it in circles.
His cock swells, filling out under my ministrations.
Despite the looming threat of consequences, I find myself enjoying doing what I want for once in my life. I press forward, ignoring my gag reflex as I swallow around him, taking him down as far as I can before the pressure gets too much and I have to pull back again.
Using one hand to steady myself, I wrap it around the base, a thrill running through me as I watch the muscles in his abdomen contract from the contact.
I lean on the other hand and repeat my previous actions, pushing down as far as I can once again.
His cock jumps in my hand, his erection throbbing as precum pulses from the tip in slow, steady drips.
Seeing how turned on I’ve made him spurs me onward, running my fingers over the veiny underside, then down to the base again to caress his balls.
I mouth over the tip again, probing the slit with my tongue.
He shudders and tries to push me back, but I stay firm, unrelenting in my mission to take charge.
Some part of me is even a little excited at the idea of being punished for this. I know it’s sick, and maybe a little twisted, but I can’t help the way the idea itches something just right in my brain. I don’t want to be bad, but it also feels so good to be put back into my place.
With renewed vigor, I stroke up and down his shaft with my hand while my tongue and lips suckle the head, swallowing down the salty, musky precum as it continues to seep out. It’s bitter on my tongue, but I find I don’t mind, more intrigued by how much I’m affecting Rory right now.
His breathing has become labored, his knee bouncing almost restlessly as he holds himself back.
I tongue my way back down his shaft, my lips stretched wide to accommodate his girth.
Drool trickles from the corners of my mouth, and I feel almost as blissful as before, back when he was putting me under his spell with a few gentle touches, some whispered words.
With excited hums, I swallow around his length again, tired of the tease.
I start bobbing my head up and down, the pinpricks of pain in my scalp mingling with the increased heat in my center, desire pooling inside me.
The arousal is there, but in a distant way that makes me understand how Rory must have felt earlier.
There’s no pressing urge to take care of my own needs right now. Not when I have Rory’s cock in hand and all my attention is focused on pleasing him. I glance up, my eyes wide and unassuming, and he stares down at me, his eyes dark and smoldering, mouth parted open.
Speeding up my movements, I curl my fingers into his thighs, keeping myself steady as I suck. I can tell he’s close by the way he’s shifting slightly, almost squirming under me. He throws his head back, sucking in a deep breath.
“I’m close,” he warns, giving me an out, allowing me to pull away if I need to.
But I stay right where I am, focused on the way his cock feels in my mouth, so hard, yet so silky soft at the same time.
With a grunt, he tenses up and explodes into my throat, wave after wave of bitter, salty cum painting my tongue.
It reminds me of the bitter taste of the soap and I close my eyes, savoring every last drop.
By the time I’m pulling off, Rory is hefting me into his lap again, panting hard as he tries to catch his breath.
The two of us stay there together for a long moment, the room quiet save for the soft sighs of our breathing. Finally, Rory sits up, helping me to my feet.
“I believe our time together has come to an end this evening, Pet,” he murmurs, stroking my hair. “I’m going to stay in here. You go into the other room and get dressed. Once you’re done, go ahead and take off, but leave the collar on the chair. I’ll see you again next week.”
I find it hard to walk away, especially after such an intense scene, but I know the terms of this arrangement. I signed the contract myself. So, I nod and don’t let myself linger.
Taking off the collar is the hardest part, and once it’s off, I feel a strange sort of emptiness inside. As I set it down, I let myself stroke over the leather once before turning and heading out the door.
On the way home, I dial Ana’s number, hoping she isn’t busy. I need to decompress and maybe work through the confusion in my head, and I could use a friend right now.
The subway car rumbles beneath me as I lean against the window, my phone pressed to my ear. Ana picks up on the second ring, her voice warm and familiar.
“Hello, stranger,” she says, her tone light and teasing. “Almost thought you’d disappeared on me.”
“Just been busy,” I say, a smile on my lips at the sound of her voice.
“I hear that,” she says. “I’ve been busy too—mostly from doomscrolling social media and pretending I have a social life.”
This is exactly what I need right now, just a normal, mundane conversation with someone who has no agenda, no desire to push me out of my comfort zone for once. “I saw a post about the walking paths near Thornville Zoo. Do you want to try a new route?”
“Oh, I saw that post too,” Ana gushes. “The view was so pretty at the top of the hill there.”
We fall into a rhythm, chatting about work, the latest drama with one of Ana’s sisters, and the ongoing saga of the couple at our favorite coffee shop. Ana thinks they’re on the verge of breaking up, but I argue that the man is just secretly planning to propose. It’s light, easy conversation.
“I’ve been seeing someone,” I say, the words slipping out of my mouth before I can think about it.
Ana pauses for a beat, her breath hitching just slightly. “Oh?” she asks, curiosity in her tone.
“Yeah,” I say, watching as the city blurs past. “It’s still new.”
“That’s always fun,” Ana says, her voice cheerful. “Spill the deets, girl. Who is he? What’s he like?”
I hesitate for a moment. “He’s… someone I met through work,” I say, keeping it vague. “He’s hot, but in a buttoned-up way. A little bit of a control freak, but I think I like that.”
“Interesting,” Ana says, drawing the word out like a hum. “You okay with that?”
The question catches me off guard. I don’t know how to answer without revealing more than I’m willing to divulge, so I shrug, clearing my throat. “I’m just seeing where things go for now,” I say instead.
“Then I’m happy for you,” Ana declares, as if that settles it. I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding, a small smile tugging at my lips as I look out the train’s window.
We continue to chat the entire rest of the ride home, but I hang up as I arrive, unwilling to accidentally upset Kate by being on the phone.
Thankfully, she seems to be out for the evening, and I head upstairs, glancing at the sketchbook on my bed. Sudden inspiration strikes and I grab my laptop, sitting down on the floor with it and a notebook as I pull up my bank statement.
Taking charge with Rory felt good—so good that it makes me want to take control in other areas of my life, too.
With a baby on the way, I have to think about how my actions will affect him or her, and I have to be prepared for the changes that will come.
I scribble down notes, a tentative budget coming together as I try to figure out how I can save for the baby and fashion school. It’s overwhelming to see the numbers laid out like this, but for the first time in a long time, I don’t feel powerless. I feel like I can do this.
Maybe I’ve been too passive in the past, but it’s time for me to take control of my future.