Aelin Week Day 1 - Beltane
Well, here is my contribution to Aelin week. I wouldn't be surprised if it was my only one. This does contain smut! So if you don’t like that you might want to skip. So enjoy day one!
***
It was dusk when Rowan dragged her out to the large grassy field the next day. The sun was starting to sink lower in the sky and the people of Mistward were using the last slivers of light to assemble large piles of wood for the fires being lit. More people had begun milling about the grounds, adding tables and tables of food that were starting to pile high.
Rowan was rambling on about something that Aelin had barely paid any attention to; too busy shoveling food in her mouth to fill the ever-gaping hole in her stomach.
“Are you even paying attention?” Rowan snapped and Aelin guiltily lifted her eyes to his face. The permanent scowl that seemed to live there had grown deeper and Aelin lifted her lips in an amused smile.
“I don’t know why I thought you would lift the whole broody warrior act for a holiday. You should be out there with one of those women who won’t stop ogling you.” Indeed, pretty women flitted around each other at the sight of him, some of them in loose dresses that swished around their ankles and were designed to flare out with each twist of their body. Even as the words left her mouth something primal sparked in her blood at the way the women had been dancing around him all night, though none of them had been quite bold enough to approach him with Aelin at his side.
“We’re not talking about this.” Rowan growled and something in his tone skittered along her bones that she dutifully ignored. It had been some time since she had been in bed with anyone, Chaol was a far distant memory that she didn’t feel like dredging up. Besides, she looked damn good tonight. She had gotten her hands on a nearly sheer gold dress that fluttered around her like butterfly wings, iridescent and shining, it caught the sunlight and shimmered around her. It wasn’t the most extravagant thing she had ever worn, but it just might be the most alluring.
She had caught the sideways glances the men had tossed her, their eyes lingering just slightly too long. She wouldn’t deny that she had looked at them back, Fae were much different than the men back in Adarlan. Bigger and a bit rougher looking, with years of experience, Aelin wouldn’t deny that she had thought of laying with one to get the experience. But Rowan’s presence seemed to be a slight problem. The second they spied him at her side, they quickly looked away.
Glancing to the side, Aelin caught him giving the male a scathing glare that sent him scurrying away. A male that Aelin had been watching before that. Jamming an elbow into his side she glared up at him. “Stop that.” She hissed.
Rowan didn’t even deign to look at her, the elbow leaving him completely unaffected. “They shouldn’t be looking at you like that.” Unruffled he gave another look to someone passing by and she rolled her eyes.
“I do not need your territorial bullshit right now. I am more than capable of deciding for myself with what I want to do for the night.” Aelin snapped back, agitation now boiling in her blood, keenly ignoring the fact that she wanted to snarl at any female that looked at him for slightly too long.
Rowan stiffened so imperceptibly that she almost missed it, but his scent didn’t change, and she let it go. But Rowan tossed a pointed glance at Aelin's finger that was now bare. “And what about the one back home.”
It was Aelin’s turn to tense, her hand automatically going to where the ring had sat before she had chucked it into one of the streams. “It was- he-” She paused, unsure what to say when Rowan had now turned his attention on her, drinking up each slight waver in her tone, “It was nothing. He didn’t like that I was Fae.” She finished baldly, there truly was nothing else to say. There was no sugar coating what happened between them and the pain that came with it.
Rowan gave out a rough laugh, the first she had heard from him since the day he found her wandering the streets. That laugh was the first thing she had ever heard from him that had sent fear bolting through her. But now it raked along her spine and Aelin locked down any scent change that came with it. That godsdamned sound. “He was a fool.” Aelin’s brows shot up, the closest Rowan had ever come to complimenting her and a tight feeling coiled in her stomach. But then - “You are a queen, you wouldn’t have belonged with him anyway.”
The feeling dropped right out to her feet, the reminder of being queen sending something queasy across her stomach. But she said very quietly, “I belong to no one. I will decide who can be with me. Not my title. Not Maeve. And certainly not you.”
He looked at her, his mouth opening slightly as if he was going to say something, but he snapped it shut, giving her a curt nod and looking ahead.
Shaking off the conversation she twisted back to the fires that had been lit, dusk almost falling completely tonight. As if on que, her magic swirled inside of her, aching to go and dance with the music that had picked up a lively tune.
But still, she found herself sneaking glances at Rowan, unable to help herself. He was set apart from any other male there. His broad shoulders commanding the space, the pale fur coat flowing down making the breadth larger. Dominating. His silver hair gleamed in the fire light, his green eyes glowing underneath the night sky as if something primal had awakened in him. Gods, the others stood no chance to him. Warrior-Prince and General he was a prize that would be coveted for the rest of his days, the wars he waged talked about even after. A prince worthy of a queen.
Aelin swallowed tightly and shook her head at the thoughts that were now running rampant. She was no better than every other girl here wanting a taste.
Not mine. Not mine. Not mine.
The chant echoed in her head as she tried to focus on the party. She needed to leave his side, and fast.
Right as she was about to turn to him and come up with some lame excuse to abandon him, she caught his eyes straying to a lovely woman who had started dancing to the music. Beautiful brown hair spilling down her back and soft green eyes and pale skin. She was as lovely as a fawn in the sunlight and Aelin turned sour. The complete opposite of Aelin who was all hard muscle and had a collection of brutal scars that his fingers would catch on if he ever touched her body.
It was ridiculous, to ever think that he might be interested in her at all. It made sense. Rowan had enough war and ruin in his life. He didn’t need to add her to it.
Not bothering to stay a moment longer, she turned on her heel leaving behind that she was going to go dance. She could feel his eyes boring into the back of her head, his wind kissing against her arm as if asking her to come back but she ignored it.
It didn’t take long for her to loosen up anyway. The music catching her up in a tidal wave and sweeping her away. Moving almost automatically, Aelin closed her eyes and danced, oblivious to the rest of the people moving in tandem around her. Her fire sent sparks tumbling around her, flowing out of her fingertips as she danced, lighting up the sky like a thousand fireflies.
Each twist and turn of her body sent her back to the day when she danced for fun. The days when she wasn’t an assassin, no blood stained her hands, and she could pretend that maybe she would have grown up to be a dancer or a healer. Someone who brought joy into the world. Not someone who delivered it.
But she wasn’t. She was an assassin queen who had no one and nothing. Her world was filled with blood rain that drowned out the sounds of their lives leaving their bodies. Each set of eyes that were filled with terror would haunt her as she lived.
Aelin opened her eyes, blinking away the memories and trying to find Rowan in the crowd to steady her. But he was nowhere to be seen, and neither was the green-eyed brunette.
A pang shot through her like a physical hit. The potency knocking the breath from her, and she struggled to breath around it.
Ignoring it, she turned, finding a man with dark hair and blue eyes watching her. Handsome enough and completely opposite from Rowan.
Tossing him a sly smile she inclined her head in invitation, which the man eagerly accepted; his well-muscled body moving easily towards her. Strong hands wrapped around her waist and tugged her close, a charming smile dancing on his mouth.
Aelin ignored the way his hands didn’t feel right against her, how they were not quite as big, the callouses not quite as grounding. But he was warm and here and would dance with her so Aelin looped her hands around his neck and pulled him close, enjoying the feel of his body moving against her and for a long time in a while Aelin felt like she could breathe.
The songs went on and on and Aelin lost herself in the feel of him, even if when she felt wind pressing against her she ignored it, letting the tug of music carry her away. Feet flying the man whose name she never learned, flung her out in a dramatic sweep and she fully expected to get tugged right back in. But the hand never came back.
Strong arms banded around her waist, and before she could even react a hand clamped over her mouth and dragged her into the darkness. Reaching with her magic, fire sparked at her fingertips but were snuffed out just as quickly. No matter how much she struggled her fire didn’t rise to the surface, content to slumber as it was kissed by its equal.
In a blur of a movement, Aelin found herself slammed up against a tree, a hard body pressed against hers, her hands pinned above her head and for once in her life she found herself utterly unmatched.
Breathing hard, Aelin stared into pine green eyes, fury making them gleam with predatory intent as he kept her pinned to the tree, refusing to break his break.
Triumph flared through her when his eyes left her, but her breath caught as his strong hand came up to grip her jaw, his thumb tracing across her bottom lip.
“What the hell do you think you are doing?” Aelin could barely understand what Rowan said, a growl lacing his words and there was no stopping the full body shudder that wracked through her. She knew Rowan felt it, his entire body pressed flush against her letting him feel everything.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Her voice came out breathy and high and she cursed herself for giving her wanting away.
Rowan didn’t seem convinced, simply raising a brow as he went back to examining her. He probably could have seen right through her even if she had been able to deliver her speech with all her usual bravado. “Oh? So you didn’t dance with that male just to tease me? You didn’t ignore me trying to get my attention so you could keep his hands on your body.”
“I figured you would be pretty busy with that female you were eyeing earlier.”
Rowan snarled, his hand slipping to her throat and pinning her harder, his face coming so close she could feel his breath on her lips and her heart stuttered. “I was watching you, you brat. I was fucking babysitting you to stop you from getting in trouble like you were about to do.”
“I still want to get in that trouble Rowan. You’re letting my fun get away.” Aelin snapped her own anger rising at his audacity. She would follow through with her word to challenge him, even as her body balked at the thought of leaving Rowan’s grip.
“No?” Aelin snarled as low and primal as Rowan gave her. “No? You don’t tell me what to fucking do Rowan. I don’t give a shit who you are, or what orders you have from sweet Aunt Maeve, but I will do whatever the hell I want to.”
“No.” Rowan simply repeated, and Aelin thrashed at the answer. Rowan slammed his body harder against her leaving her no room to move even a fraction of an inch, his scent intoxicating filling her lungs with every breath. There was no kindness on his face as he repeated the simple word. His face lethal with rage, his dark tattoo drinking in the light, making him look like a dark god. “Maeve gave me orders to train and protect you. I have deemed that male a threat; therefore, I am upholding my orders by not letting you near him for the rest of the night.”
Aelin’s mouth popped open, shock flooding her system. “You have no right-”
“We’re leaving.” He said flatly, pulling away from her but leaving a firm grip on her bicep, no doubt seeing the chance that she would run.
“We are not leaving. I was having fun.” She snapped, her patience snapping.
“This isn’t up for negotiation Princess.”
Aelin took a deep breath, then another, then another, and when Rowan finally loosened his grip slightly, she launched at him. She had fully committed to the punch when she saw the wicked gleam in his eyes and Aelin had the very strong feeling that she had made a fatal mistake.
Moving with impossible speed, Rowan scooped her up and tossed her over his shoulder, the breath whooshing out of her in one heave as she slammed onto his shoulder. Stalking back through the woods, Rowan paid no heed to the curious stares tossed their way as he made his way back to the fortress. He had that ability. No one would dare stop Prince Rowan Whitethorn from doing anything unless they were willing to forfeit their lives in turn.
So, despite the string of curses falling from her mouth, Aelin found herself carried all the way back to what she could only assume was Rowan’s room.
Practically throwing her off his shoulder Rowan folded his arms and planted his feet and watched as she bounced on the bed. Scrambling off, rage filled her head and she saw red as she went for him. She might have been moving fast enough to get him, but Rowan didn’t move. Opening his arms, he grabbed her he flipped her around, so she was pinned with her back to his chest unable to move.
“I hate you.” She seethed even as her body melted against him.
“Someone needs to keep you safe, Princess.” Usually the nickname grated her nerves, but tonight, his voice was lower, his accent stronger than she had ever heard it and she found herself unwillingly falling to it.
“I can protect myself in case you have forgotten.”
“Then someone needs to teach you a lesson about recklessness.” Rowan’s breath tickled her ear making Aelin instinctively arch into him, her blood sparking at the threat.
Maybe it was that recklessness that made her do it. The same silver tongue that had gotten her into trouble for years before, doing it again. Or maybe it was the fact that she had been surrounded by him for weeks and his scent was stifling her lungs and every time she watched him moved she ached.
“And you’re that person?”
Rowan stilled behind her, and Aelin wasn’t sure he was breathing as she uttered the words. Until suddenly he disappeared from behind her, his warmth leaving. Twisting around, the rejection plummeted in her stomach, and she watched him walk through the door, no doubt leaving.
Shame burned her face and she suddenly wished she could snatch back her stupid words.
But Rowan didn’t leave. There were no other sounds in the room other than the deadbolt locking with a resounding thud that Aelin felt in her bones. Turning back to her, Aelin nearly collapsed with relief that he hadn’t left her.
“Strip.” Rowans voice was as unreadable as his stony face. Resuming his position, he folded his arms over his chest and watched her and Aelin was hit with the full unbridled attention of a centuries old warrior. “I will not ask again, Aelin.”
Her name on his lips sent a bolt of confidence through her and sent her moving. She wanted to hear it again. Near trembling, Aelin grabbed one of the little straps and slipped it down her shoulder, the other one following suit and soon her dress lay in a puddle at her feet, leaving completely bare before him.
Rowan’s pupils blew wide as he watched her, his nostrils flaring the only sign that he was affected by what she was doing. Stepping gracefully out, Aelin could feel the slickness between her thighs, and she knew Rowan could smell it.
“Do not move.” Each word booked no room for argument and Aelin appeased him for now, not wanting him to leave. She was acutely aware of how this was. Her completely naked for him, while he stood fully clothed ordering her around.
Removing his fur cloak and then his jacket, he very gently draped them over the back of a chair. Each movement completely controlled. Aelin’s mouth went dry. His white shirt had been tugged open, giving her a good view of his broad chest the same dark tattoos that swept down his face, peeking through. Swallowing became even more impossible when he began methodically rolling up his sleeves giving her a clear view of his strong forearms that flexed with each movement.
It was only after he had gathered himself did he look at her. And Aelin had no shame as he surveyed her body. Any ounce of shame had been washed away a long time ago.
“Are you actually going to do something or are you backing out?” Aelin smiled slightly causing Rowan’s eyes to spark at the challenge. But he didn’t fall to her games, instead it seemed he moved even slower as he made his way over.
Stopping in front of her Aelin’s heart thudded, nothing could prepare her for Rowan as he circled her like a hawk his hand drifting across her skin like a phantom wind. She lost track of time as he touched her so softly that she could hardly feel it, yet she was left panting and squirming desperate to have him closer.
As if moving beyond her command her hand slipped down to her aching core, coming within an inch of it before Rowan grabbed her hand tightly, and she whimpered at the denial. “Please Rowan.” She didn’t know what she was begging for, didn’t particularly care either she just needed something.
Rowan tsked softly and she could have sworn she heard him laugh slightly. Fucking sadist. “It’s time you learned some patience, Princess. Each time you whimper, and beg, I’m going to make you wait until you are fucking crying for me to touch you.” He growled in her ear his hand tightening over her wrist as his other buried in her hair and tugged. “I will not lay a single godsdamned finger on you until your pretty little face is streaked with tears and your ass has my belt marks all over it. Got it?” Aelin let out a pitiful whimper at the threat but nodded as best she could. That wasn’t good enough for Rowan, his hand tightening in her hair, “Got. It?” The threat was clear in his voice and Aelin barely managed a verbal reply before he was dragging her to the bed and bending her over to the side.
More exposed than she had ever been, Aelin could only brace herself as Rowan trailed a possessive hand over her back and down her spine, trailing over the curve of her ass and back up fisting into her hair.
“Are you listening to me, Aelin?” Rowan asked, the tops of his thighs pressing into the backs of hers and she suddenly found herself almost incapable of answering. But she managed out a “yes” and was immediately met with the soft reward of Rowan trailing a hand up and down her ribcage, igniting a fire beneath her skin. “Very good. Your safe word is Adarlan. Do you understand?”
Aelin nodded causing him to tighten his grip on her hair, and she gasped, “Yes, I understand. My safe word is Adarlan.”
Withdrawing again only slightly he captured both of her wrists and place them behind her back with an order to leave them there which she obeyed eagerly. The more she listened the quicker Rowan got to touching her.
The rattle of his belt startled her, and she tried to twist around to see what he was doing, the earlier threat coming to mind. But he didn’t spank her. Instead, he looped the belt around her wrists, securing it so she couldn’t move and leaving her completely at his mercy.
“How does this feel Aelin?” Rowan rumbled behind her, his broad hands returning to her ass and thighs, spreading her open until his wind kissed her. “I could do whatever I wanted to you right now, how does that feel?” Aelin wisely kept her mouth shut despite the words desperately trying to not have him carry out on making her cry. Another laugh sounded no doubt at her lack of silence. “I think this might be the most obedient you have ever been. So domestic.”
Aelin gritted her teeth so hard she thought they might crack, words threatening to burst forward but she forced herself to remain quiet. He was goading her into trying to talk. She wanted Rowan to touch her. That commanding confidence he possessed with every step he took turned on her. His fingers sure and steady, working her to where she needed.
“I think maybe I should just leave you here, dripping and waiting for someone to touch you. Do you think that would be punishment enough. Hmm?”
“No Gods! No. Please Rowan no.” The words burst out of her without warning. Panic setting in at the thought of leaving her like this, she truly would combust and die.
A stinging slap came down on her ass, making her jerk forward and an involuntary yelp coming out of her mouth. The burning pain was soothed almost immediately my Rowan’s hand kneading her flesh, changing the burn to something delicious.
“I thought I told you to stay quiet, Princess.” He purred, satisfaction rich in his tone. “Is that all it takes to get you begging? A few filthy words and suddenly you need my cock.”
Aelin groaned at the words, “If I went with the other guy at least the night might end with me coming.”
A serious of blows rained down on her, each swat harder than the last and she had no doubt she would have bruises tomorrow. But he didn’t stop at one this time. His palm connecting against her with brutal force until she was left crying and begging him to stop.
She was left slack on the edge of the bed when he stopped, tears pricking at the corner of her eyes as she gulped down cool air, no doubt curtesy of Rowan.
“Honestly Aelin. You would think you would not want to come with your fucking attitude.” Rowan mused as he gently massaged the pain away, his finger dipping lower and lower each sweep, leaving Aelin arching, trying to meet his hand.
Tossing him a weak glare over her shoulder as a last act of protest, she let her head drop to the bed, her hands still uselessly behind her. For once, Aelin finally figured that she might have bitten off more than she should chew.
“Good girl.” Rowan pressed a soft kiss to the bottom of her spine and surprise sparking through her at the compliment. “Look at you. Fucking magnificent.”
Her heart ached at the gentle praise, and she twisted her head to see him. Kneeling behind her Rowan met her eyes, his expression softer than she had ever seen on his face and it made her breath stop for a second. Frozen in time.
“Face forward, Aelin.” He murmured and Aelin mutely obeyed.
A barked curse came out of her as Rowan gave a broad sweep of his tongue against her clit, his laugh vibrating through her as he went back in again, his tongue making flat hard circles against her until she was grinding back against his face. Each stroke of his tongue sent her blazing, chasing higher and higher until she was seconds from coming apart.
But Rowan pulled away right before and Aelin thought that this might be how she died, not the assassins trying to kill her, or Maeve, or anyone else. But from Rowan who teased and pulled at her very being. The one who had given her friendship and kindness and was rewarded by having her pliant in his hands.
He was perhaps the only one she would allow this with. He was the only one she trusted enough to tie her up and have her completely open to him, her body, his to control.
But Rowan didn’t stay away very long, his tongue replaced by his fingers touching her just barely. “I told you, Princess, you don’t get to come until you cry for me.”
Aelin didn’t have anything to say, to overstimulated by touch to come up with anything coherent and witty.
He slid a long, thick finger inside of her and she moaned, not bothering to cover it up. She clenched around him as he eased in and out of her, adding a second one in at the third thrust and her thighs shook from the delicious stretch. He curled them over, and over again, oh so slowly until she began to beg again for him to go faster.
“You’re not being quite convincing enough, Princess.” Rowan admonished, ignoring her useless pleading as he slowly eased in a third finger. Full she was so fucking full, and finally tears spilled down her cheeks.
“Please, please Rowan, I can’t take it. I’m so fucking full.” A helpless sob slipped out of her mouth as she mindlessly rocked back against him.
“Finally.” Rowan mumbled and began working his fingers fast until she was shaking around him, and she thought he might stop. Might be so cruel to deny her and leave her crying just so he could watch her. But he kept going, his fingers moving so perfectly that Aelin had no choice but to splinter apart, her orgasm lashing through sending black sparks behind her eyes.
Aelin wasn’t aware of anything as it rocked through her, leaving her slumped over, the only thing supporting her was the bed and Rowan’s hands. Eventually the fog faded, and she found herself blinking slowly. Rowan was stroking her hair back from her face as he gently unlaced the belt from her wrists, rubbing out the indents the leather had left on her skin.
Sitting her up slowly, Rowan stroked a thumb along her cheek, and pressed a gentle kiss against her forehead, murmuring soft words of praise that she greedily digested.
“Too much?” Rowan asked carefully, missing nothing as he checked her over.
“Oh, please. I was half worried you wouldn’t be able to do it.” Not true, her mind seemed to say, and Rowan read the silent words in her eyes, mirth dancing in his own.
“Seems like you haven’t had near enough orgasms to tame that tongue of yours.” Pressing a gentle kiss to her lips Aelin groaned still amazed after all these years the way Rowan could coax a response from her body.
“Never.” She grinned against him.
“Shame, since we won’t have any more time.”
Aelin pulled away; confusion etched in her brow. “And why is that.”
Rowan smirked at her, “Well since I’m going to have to kill Dorian for dancing with you like that, we are going to be at war soon.”
A bright laugh spilled out of her, “Says the one who couldn’t take his eyes off Lysandra.”
Rowan’s eyes softened, and Aelin marveled at it. This King who had been a hardened warrior when she had first met her, now a gentle and a fierce protector to their friends. “It’s nice seeing them so happy. It makes everything we went through worth it.”
Aelin looked down at their folded hands, before sending a cheeky smile at him. “Well, we better make up for lost time. Including the future war with Adarlan.”
Rowan’s eyes went feral with delight as he tossed her on the bed. His clothes quickly being tossed away, their worries forgotten along with them as they spent the rest of their night making up for lost time. After all, they did have forever.
