Beauty and the Damned

32 | To k****e the Fire

"Haven't I made it perfectly clear that she's my bride and nobody shall lay a hand on her, even you, brother?"

Rowan's hand on her waist was tight. She looked at him and he was looking at Leo who inserted his hands back into his pockets while giving them an adder's smile. 

"She wasn't protesting," Leo said and looked at her. 

Ariadne raised her brows and was about to say something when Rowan beat her to it.

"I do not care if we share our father's blood but the next time I see you lay your hand on her will be the last time you have hands," Rowan said, voice low. A clear 

Unsurprisingly, Leo met Rowan's icy stare and let out a small smirk before he said, "Then I shall be careful that you won't see it."

Leo looked at her and smiled before he walked down the stairs. When he was out of their sight, she heard Rowan sigh and he faced her.

"Are you alright?" he asked.

"He did not stab me or anything. I could have pushed him off the stairs if you didn't come. Thank you for saving me the trouble." She waved a dismissive hand before she turned.

She was about to walk down the stairs when she felt Rowan's grip on her wrist. Ariadne looked at him, baffled. Rowan looked like he wanted to say something. His mouth was open but he closed it immediately as if changing his mind.

"Do you want to take a walk?" he said, much to her surprise. 

"A walk?" She blinked. Ariadne was not expecting it and it took her several seconds before she responded, "Sure."

Rowan smiled at her and offered his arm where she wrapped hers.

"I haven't really shown you Cern. Though one day won't be enough to show its whole." 

"Then I guess you'll have to take me to several walks, Prince." She smiled in his direction. 

They didn't take the horse and she's thankful for it. The townsfolk recognized him and gave him greetings but she could notice him giving her secret glances. She knew they're curious as to who she is but she is not yet entitled to introduce herself to them. Rowan did not introduce her to the people too as if he knew it would make her a little uncomfortable. 

"What did you think when you learned the truth about your mother?" she asked after the long silence. Around them was bustling and yet it was quiet between them.

Rowan gave her a sideward glance before he said, "I got mad. I was angry. I felt betrayed."

He was then silent for a few seconds as if he was thinking of what to say next. "But when I saw her state, all of it disappeared. As much as I wanted to curse her and tell her things she lacked to do as a mother all went to the drain. It wasn't easy for her as it was for me. I forgave her."

She nodded and looked ahead. "Your mother and father..." she trailed and looked at him, "were they in love?"

Rowan chuckled. "My father said he was. He said my mother was the only woman she ever loved. I didn't believe him." He looked at her and she looked at him too. "After all, if he really loved my mother, he would have never left her there to die, sad and alone. He would have made away. He would have done everything he could just to be with her. He was King for god's sake. He could do almost everything but he couldn't save the woman he claims he loved." Rowan sighed and looked ahead.

"So I didn't believe him," he said.

"Do you believe in true love?" she asked. Rowan was silent for a moment as he stared far ahead.

Then he said, "I do." She felt him look at her the moment he said and she couldn't help but stare back.

"I didn't like fairytales and I never believed them. But then I saw you and your curse." Rowan gave her a sideward glance. "And I came to think that if curses are true, so is the cure. So I believe in love, Ariadne."

She let out a small smile as she thought about it. Now that she has heard what he said, she couldn't help but agree. If the curse is true, then so is the cure. So is love.

Ariadne sighed and looked ahead. She realized they were on the west side of the kingdom where she could see many shops selling cloths, silk, and many more.

"That dress...did Leo give that?" Rowan asked, eyeing the dress she was wearing. It was once flimsy but then she placed something on it while they were still in the woods and she didn't have the chance to change. 

"Yes, he did," she answered and her groan was enough for Rowan to understand that she doens't want to talk about it. 

However, Rowan gave her a blank stare before he said, "Leo was never good at choosing clothes for women." And before she could even protest, Rowan grabbed her hand and they walked towards one of the shops that sell clothes.

He didn't give her a chance to say something and he approached the lady in the store.

"I'm leaving her to your hands," he said to the lady and the latter smiled before looking at her. The lady looked at her dress and then drags her to the dressing room. She looks at Rowan who was busy looking at the dresses. She did not sign up for a sudden dress up and she wants to protest but when the lady showed her the dresses, she changed her mind. The woman makes wonderful dresses.

“I use materials I could find in this place. I am encouraged to promote our resources and so far, so good!” the woman beamed as she was tying the ribbon at the back of the dress she chose. She couldn’t help but gape at how well the dress was made. If she knew the woman before, she would have hired her as her personal dressmaker.

The moment she was done fixing the dress, she beheld herself in front of the full-body mirror. There were mirrors everywhere, and a small couch behind her where all the dresses were placed. Her mouth was wide open as she looked at herself in the dress. The gossamer fabric was peach in color and it reached all the way down her knee. The fabric covering the upper part of her body was laced with floral patterns. It was fresh. Perfect for the weather outside.

When the doors opened, both of them looked only to see Rowan peeking inside. When his eyes found hers, she couldn’t help but clamp her lips to prevent herself from smiling. The lady bowed her head and immediately made her way out leaving her and Rowan alone in the room surrounded by mirrors.

Rowan went straight to the couch and sat there. He had his arms spread on the head of the couch and his legs crossed as his eyes traveled from her head to her toes. He liked it, she thought. She could see the approval on his face as he looked at her.

“How is it?” she asked though she already knows what his answer is going to be.

It took Rowan several seconds before his eyes went back to her face. “Bewitching,” he answered and she couldn’t help but giggle. Rowan did not leave his eyes from his face and she started to feel the heat creeping up to her cheeks. She walked closer to him without tearing their gazes from one another. When she was within arm’s reach, she stopped.

“Should I wear this for the rest of the day?” she asked but instead of answering, Rowan grabbed her hand and pulled her close. She almost yelped when she landed on his lap. Her hands were on both sides of his head as she braced it against the headrest of the couch.

“What are you doing?” she asked, giving Rowan an incredulous glare.

“It’s better if you’re not wearing anything at all,” Rowan said and before she could even react, his hands found the ribbon at the back of her dress. With one tug, he was able to untie it and loosen the dress on her. His fingers traced her bare hands up until they reached the sleeve of her dress. He looked at her, smirking as if he’s enjoying what he’s doing and what he’s about to do.

“Rowan, we’re not in the castle—“

“We’ve done it in the forest,” he said as if it would give an explanation to everything. Then he buried his face on her neck. "Who says we couldn't do it here?" 

When she felt his lips kissing her neck, she gasped and closed her eyes. Her arms wrapped around his neck and pulled him close as if wanting him to suck her neck more.

“What if somebody sees?” she asked while closing her eyes. Rowan’s hands have stopped becoming idle more active and were now pooling her dress on her waist.

Rowan pulled back and looked at her before he said, “Then let them see.” He grabbed her exposed breast and put the peak of her breast to his mouth. Her hand flew to her mouth and she tipped her head back to stifle the moan threatening to come out. Rowan’s tongue played with her breast and she couldn’t help but writhe under the sensation. It was ticklish and yet she wanted more of it. And Rowan must have heard her wish for it as he pulled back and sucked her other breast. Ariadne let out a small moan.

“You like it when I suck your breasts?” Rowan said while biting her n*****s gently. She clamped her lips and grabbed his head with both her hands pulling him closer than he already is.

“Because I love these,” he said while having his mouth on her breast. He then squeezed them and continued sucking. When she looked down on him, he was looking up to her, grinning while biting her n*****s. It was too much for her to take that felt something in between her legs. She’s wet with just his mouth on her n*****s. She started grinding on the bulge of his pants but his arms wrapped around her waist as if to stop her.

Ariadne looked questioningly at him and she grinned before he said, “I’m going to finish soon if you do that and I am not planning on ending this quick.”

She swallowed hard as she saw the seriousness in his eyes. He is not kidding. He is going to take his time. Then he went back to trailing kisses on the side of her chest and then to her neck, her jaw, her lips. He took his time exploring her mouth and she couldn’t help but moan when she felt his hand on her bottom.

She pulled back and looked at him in the eyes. Rowan looked at her with confusion. She smirked and reached down to his pants. Rowan’s lips suddenly curved into a dominant male smile as he let her do what she wants to do. With one motion, she let his c**k out. It was already hard and she smirked as she looked at him. Ariadne wrapped her hand around him and slowly moved her hand up and down. She saw how Rowan’s face filled with pleasure as she moved.

When Rowan closed his eyes and tipped his head back because of the pleasure, she knew she was doing it right. When Rowan let out a low grunt, she moaned. His mouth was slightly open and his eyes were still closed. She couldn’t help but continue to move her hand, this time, faster.

By the time Rowan was hard enough, she positioned herself on top of him. She shoved her underwear and made her entrance available. She let out a soft moan as she felt his tip on her entrance. Their eyes were locked and she couldn’t help but bite her lip as she slowly moved down, sliding him in and in and in until she reached the hilt.

Ariadne let out a gasp as she felt him throbbing inside. “f**k. How do you always feel so good?” she heard him mutter. She was breathing hard as she slowly settled him in.

“You like it?” she asked and she couldn’t believe the kind of voice that came out of her mouth. Rowan was not expecting it either but another grin curved his lips as he tilted his head.

“I always do,” he said and thrust his hips up suddenly that she wasn’t able to stop the loud moan that came out of her mouth. If there were people outside the room, they would have heard it but at the moment, all she cares about is his shaft inside her. Big and hard.

Her hands found his shoulders as she pushed him down to lean back on the couch. “I’m moving,” she said and then started to move her hips up and down. She heard Rowan suck in a breath and then chuckling at her before she moved again.

“f**k, Ariadne,” he muttered and his hands found her waist. “Faster,” he said and she did.

With his hand guiding her pace, she moved faster up and down on top of him. With her controlling her movements, she couldn’t help but keep going. The feeling of him inside was too much to bear and yet she still wanted more. She leaned close, wrapping her arms around his neck. Ariadne could feel his warm breath on her chest. She kept moving up and down and she could hear her moans getting louder and louder. She could also hear Rowan’s soft moans and curses under his breath before she felt his mouth on her chest once again.

Her movements became faster and she could feel she is near. Ariadne could feel Rowan’s abs constricting too and she knew that he too, is near. So she kept moving until she could feel Rowan’s grip tighten around her waist.

Then she felt herself shivering on top of him as she had her release. The next thing she knew was a warm liquid flowing inside of her as she felt Rowan’s c**k throbbing.

They were both panting heavily when they reached their peak. It was always good with him and there was never a bland moment. She pulled away and stared at Rowan who was already leaning back on the couch and was breathing hard. He was still inside her.

“What if all I could feel towards you is just lust and not love?” she asked all of a sudden. Rowan opened his eyes and looked at her.

It took him a while to answer her question but then he said, “And what if it's love and not just lust?”

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