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“No—kiss me there. But just one kiss, mind you,” I tell him. “I’m trusting you, my Paladin—no licking or sucking—just a single kiss.”

His eyes are heavy with lust as he nods.

“Just a kiss, my Lady,” he rumbles. “I swear it.”

Then he leans forward and slides his hands under my ass. I give a little gasp of surprise as he pulls me forward—I didn’t realize how strong he is—and half-lifts me to his lips.

“Alaric!” I begin to protest but then his hot mouth comes down, covering my pussy eagerly and he begins a long, slow, open-mouthed kiss. He’s not really licking me but his tongue is still busy, rubbing against me as he kisses. It feels so good I can barely stand it!

I moan and writhe in his grasp—the hands holding me are strong as steel and I know in that moment I made the right decision to collar him.

There’s too much need and desire built up inside him to keep him in check any other way.

He’s still just kissing me, not licking or sucking, but the kiss is conveniently right over my aching clit and his tongue is there too.

I feel what may be my third orgasm of the night building.

“Alaric!” I exclaim, bucking my hips impatiently and tugging at his hair. But he doesn’t stop. His grip tightens and he deepens the kiss instead.

I know I should use my Shadow Powers on him—I ought to make him stop and hold him back.

But Goddess, it’s been so long since I had a man between my legs!

Three lonely years since Kraven tried to Drain me and I fled the City of Night.

And he never looked at me the way Alaric does—like he wants to devour me whole, like my body is his deepest and most secret fantasy brought to life.

Before I can make up my mind if I want to let him make me come again, I’m over the edge and my orgasm is flowing through me. I can feel my power overflowing but luckily my tower has a magical reservoir as well.

I hardly ever use it—my mother used to sacrifice a peasant or a vagabond once a month to fill it with the power of pain and blood. That would keep the tower and its invisible servants running all month.

I abhor her brand of violence and prefer to pleasure myself every night, but the amount of power that brings never lasts more than a day. Now, for the first time since I took over the tower, I feel my power spilling over and filling part of the tower’s backup supply.

It’s a heady experience, even though I know I’m letting Alaric go too far with me.

I buck my hips up, riding his mouth as the orgasm bursts through me.

I’m tugging his hair hard enough that it must be hurting him, but he seems to love it.

I suppose it makes sense—pain and pleasure have been so mixed for him in the past. He’s gotten used to substituting one for the other.

Finally the pleasure ebbs and he seems to sense it because he looks up, his mouth and chin wet with my juices.

“Just a kiss, Mistress,” he growls softly. “That’s all—just one kiss.”

“I can tell I’m going to have my hands full with you,” I scold him. “You’ll have to pay for your insolence later, my Paladin.” I don’t feel like punishing him just now. My reservoirs are full and I’m suddenly very weary. It’s been a long day and Binding a new Blood-servant always makes me tired.

Not that I’ve had that many before Alaric—just two, actually.

I had Hiram just after my mother died, but we never formed a true connection and I had the feeling he wasn’t submitting because he wanted to. It turned out that he feared to refuse me because he thought I’d be as cruel as my mother. When I found that out, I released him from my service.

Then I had Jerome, for a little while. But he didn’t really want to be here in the country near my tower. He wanted to go to the City and try to make his way there so I let him go. After that, I formed my Blood-partnership with Kraven…but you know how that went.

So Alaric is really only the fourth man in my life—the third Blood-servant and the only one so far who actually seems to want to submit.

Though I suspect he doesn’t completely know that himself, the signs are there.

Still, it’s tricky dealing with a man who’s used to being in charge in any and every situation.

Especially one as big and strong as my Paladin.

“Go to your bed,” I tell him sternly.

“You’re really going to make me sleep in that fucking box? What did I do? I just kissed you, my Lady—as you requested,” he says, spreading his hands.

“Don’t act innocent,” I say sternly. “You know what you did. I asked for a simple kiss and you held me down and made me come all over your face. That was very bad of you, Alaric!”

“Couldn’t fucking help it—you taste so fucking good,” he growls. “Besides, you won’t let me come—it makes me so fucking hot I have a hard time controlling myself.”

“You will learn self-control,” I tell him sternly.

“I know you’re used to keeping your desires pent up inside or turning to pain to ease them, but I want you to control your pleasure without self-harm.

And without stepping over the boundaries I set.

For what you did tonight, you won’t be allowed to come all of tomorrow. ”

“The whole fucking day? Fuck!” he growls and I can see his erect cock throbbing between his muscular thighs.

“Go to bed,” I say sternly. “We’ll start your training in the morning.”

That’s where I intend to leave things and I would too…if only it wasn’t for the dreams.