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The Trials Winter Solstice: Mine, and Mine Alone

NSFW / 18+

Part two of The Trials: Winter Solstice expanded fic.

(The Trials chapters here)

Plot Summary: After a day of battling Gregory's advances and Jane's all-too-polite responses, Theo reminds her who she really belongs to.

Pairing: Theo Deschamps x Jane Warfield!Reader (note: reader-insert friendly! Jane's physical description kept very vague.)

Content: manor, telepathy, angst/arguments, hard mdom, restraints, magical vibrator, edging/orgasm denial, handjob, penetration from behind, praise/good girl, mutual orgasm, aftercare

Can be read alongside listening to The Trials: Winter Solstice (episode two) on Quinn.

Additional credit: Tyler McCall - original creator of The Trials audiobook/characters.

___________________________________________________________

The morning had dawned with the white sun of winter and a stiff, shivering frost that blanketed everything.

Jane had spent the dawn trying to swallow the rising anxiety in her throat. Watching Theo sleep. Revisiting the itinerary. Planning her strategy for the duel. Making sure the pieces were in place where she needed them in order to push Theo’s abilities to the surface.

Her thoughts were still barrelling through her, an endless barrage of firing synapses as Theo pushed open the doors to the manor’s morning room. Bright, cool light flooded it from the long wall of arched windows, the effect of it against the polished floors and marbled accents acting like a flash bang to her irises.

She squinted, head swimming as they walked in. It was already packed, tables filled with chattering faces and scraping cutlery, clinking of glasses and the metallic stirring of coffee mugs. A long breakfast bar adorned one wall, holding an array of lavish breakfast foods, while a coffee bar stood at the other end of the room.

Jane’s gaze was wandering absentmindedly, her mind on an endless reel, when Theo spoke.

“Wow, quite the spread they have here.” He gushed. “Between the palatial rooms they’ve put everyone up in, last night’s fully stocked bar and this breakfast buffet –”

His eyes were wide as he scanned the food. “Is that caviar?”

Jane rolled her eyes.

“Oh don’t look at me like that. It goes beautifully with scrambled eggs.” He grinned, piling a hefty spoonful on top of his eggs. Jane’s stomach lurched, twisting with a tide of nausea as she looked at his plate.

“Theo,” she said. “I think that’s meant to be a garnish…” Amusement came over her face as she watched him heap on another spoonful.

“Darling, if they’d intended for the caviar to be a garnish they shouldn’t have put such a big spoon in it.” He said, eyebrows aloft like he was making an important point. “Anyway, one begins to wonder how the Black Ravens amass their wealth.” His gaze dragged from the food to the room, lingering on the marble, the intricately decorated ceiling, and the huge, lit fireplace.

“Well they sure know how to spend it extravagantly.” She said, gesturing around as she picked over the food. She took a small, simple bowl of granola and ladled in a spoonful of yoghurt.

“That’s exactly my point darling, if anyone knows extravagance, it’s me. And this weekend so far has been extravagant.” He said pointedly. “I suppose packing your organisation with two centuries of legacy families has its perks… lots of alums willing to donate to the cause.”

He scanned the room again, eyes trailing over the décor.

“In fact -” He huffed. “In fact now I think about it, I’m fairly certain my father paid for the renovation of this morning room.”

Jane wasn’t listening, not really. She was fighting a war with the nausea twisting inside her still, her anxiety demolishing any appetite she should’ve had.

“I need coffee,” she said, sighing at the food.

“Ah, if you’re going to the coffee bar, I’ll grab a few pastries.” Theo said, kissing her softly before she strode away. “Oh, and could you please get me an iced latte darling? With caramel syrup if they have it?” He called after her.

His eyes followed her as she waved her hand vaguely in affirmation, falling down the line of her back, until his peripherals were suddenly invaded by the squat shape of a man.

“Ah. Gregory.” Theo said through his teeth as Gregory hovered beside him, so close he could see the oily sheen of his skin. “Good morning. I don’t suppose you noticed that there was a line behind me, did you?”

Gregory rocked on his heels, ignoring the question. “Did I hear you mention your father? What a shame he isn’t here.” He said sarcastically.

“Hmm. My, you do love eavesdropping.” Theo growled. “Yes, I was talking about my father. Regrettably he won’t be making an appearance this weekend. An important prior engagement, I’m led to understand.”

“Oh yes - I’m sure.” Gregory scoffed. “The importance of him not wanting to be embarrassed.”

“He didn’t want to be embarrassed by what, exactly?” Theo scowled, shoulders tight.

Gregory raised his eyebrows pointedly. “The mere ‘plus-one’ of it all.” He said, eyeing Theo up and down.

“Well, while my father might be a bit irritated that his only heir turned down the Black Ravens, he certainly has nothing to be embarrassed about.” Theo huffed. “Because for the thousandth time, I was offered spot, and I refused it. Which is the only reason you’re here.”

“You just can’t admit that I’m more powerful than you, can you daddy’s boy?” Gregory jeered, his thin lips stretching into a smirk.

A loud, sardonic laugh tore from Theo’s mouth. “Powerful?” He spat. “Sure, if that’s what you have to tell yourself to sleep at night.”

Gregory’s eye line trailed over the room, landing on Jane at the coffee bar. He bit his lip, the urge of provocation too delicious to ignore.

“And uh, how would you say she sleeps at night?” He said slyly, eyes sliding back to Theo.

“How Jane sleeps at night is none of your business.” Theo hissed. “Don’t think I didn’t notice your pathetic attempts at flirting last night. Please, understand that there would never, will never, ever, be a time when Jane would look twice at you. Understood?”

“She might.” He shrugged. “After I impress her in the duel.”

“Yes, the duel.” Theo grimaced. “If you think you’re going to have a shot in hell at beating Jane in a magical sparring match you’re wrong. But even if you could, that wouldn’t be enough to impress her.”

Gregory smirked. Theo’s eyes darkened several dangerous shades as they bore into Gregory’s.

“A word to the wise Gregory,” he growled, leaning in to whisper menacingly into his face. “Don’t flirt with my girlfriend. Don’t fuck with her during her big week. And don’t even think about pulling any bullshit in the duel.”

Gregory faltered, rendered temporarily mute by Theo’s intimidating energy.

“Now, if you’ll excuse me, there’s a build your own waffle bar calling my name.” Theo snarled. “Have the day you deserve, Gregory.”

Theo walked off, striding quickly up the breakfast bar, almost running right into Jane who was already walking towards him, coffee in hand, eyebrows lofty.

“What was that all about?” She asked, nodding in Gregory’s direction.

Theo sighed. “Ah, Jane. You, uh, you didn’t see that did you?”

Jane’s mouth curled up as she stifled a laugh. “Theo, are you - running away from him right now?”

He scoffed. “Um, please. Please, I’m not running away from Gregory. I just – I was worried. That the waffle bar was going to run out of whipped cream.”

“Sure.” Jane smirked. “Though, that would be a tragedy in your eyes.”

“Do you think they have chocolate chips?”

She chuckled, shaking her head, her loose waves of hair swinging softly.

“Well don’t laugh,” Theo said defensively. “We have a packed schedule. The morning potions session, a midday hike, afternoon seminars. And I want to keep my energy up.”

His eyes were wide as he poured over the waffle bar.

“Oh you do have chocolate chips – lovely!” He gushed to the breakfast attendant. “Would it be totally outrageous to have those and strawberries, please?” He said, flashing his most charming smile.

Jane stifled another laugh as she watched the man behind the bar pile both on top of a fat, steaming waffle.

“Excellent, good man.” Theo grinned.

“Sweet enough for you?” Jane asked as he turned to her, looking like a kid on Christmas morning. She stole a kiss on the cheek as he grinned.

“Come on, let’s sit in the conservatory. It’s such a nice morning.”

“Well, other than Gregory popping up,” Theo said, rolling his eyes. “I’d say this is shaping up to be the perfect morning. Let’s just hope that’s the last we see of him today.”

***

After breakfast, they’d made their way to the conference room. A slightly more modern addition to the manor, but with every bit of the extravagance that the Black Ravens had boasted already. Various tables had been set up, each adorned with a stands holding a tiny vials of Jane’s perfected potion.

Hushed, excited voices and clinking sounds echoed through the room as people inspected the potion, pouring it into small glass dishes, stirring it around, taking notes.

Jane felt a wave of pride as she glanced around the room, watching everyone gush over it.

“Hmm, okay, interesting.” Theo remarked, eyeing the vial closely. “So they’ve invented a potion to render the drinker invisible for up to an hour…”

He whistled, sitting back in his chair. “Well, that is a level of magic they’ve been trying to crack for decades.”

“Actually,” she grinned. “All that work I was doing for months, which I was sworn not to disclose? This is it.” She bit her lip, unable to hide her excitement. “I invented the formula.”

His eyes widened. “They based it on your formula, Jane?” His eyebrows rose in admiration. “You are remarkable… not even officially initiated and already delivering breakthroughs?”

He leaned over, kissing her softly on the forehead, her skin tingling under the pressure of pride in his lips.

“That’s my genius girl.” He gushed. “Go on, do you care to give me a few insider tips on how this gets made?” He held a hand up. “Oh no, actually let me guess.”

He popped the cork out of the vial with his thumb, and inhaled at the small, swirling puffs that emanated from it.

“Hmm… a honey base, for binding…” He mused, taking another inhale. “Dried nettle for cleansing the users energy…” He swirled it before giving it another sniff.

“Ground amber resin for clarity and…” He paused, eyes darting over to her as he considered it. “Is that – is that cinnamon? For protection?”

“For taste,” she curled her lip, stifling a laugh. “I’ll never forget your face when I made you drink that potion after the second trial. I thought I’d be nicer with this one.” She grinned.

“For taste?” He laughed. “Of course. You think of everything darling.”

He leaned back into her, brushing his lips over hers this time. The room melted away for a miniscule, fleeting moment.

Until the sound of heavy footsteps approaching made them both look up. Theo exhaled irritably.

“This fucking guy…” He muttered under his breath.

Gregory was peering down at them, hands behind his back with some kind of false authority.

“Gregory. There absolutely has to be someone else that you can bother.” Theo said flatly, his eyes rolling up into his head.

Gregory ignored him, his gaze planted on Jane. “I was thinking I’d take some of this potion home, to study closer. If you don’t mind.” He smiled, so sickeningly sweet that it had the opposite effect.

Jane shuddered imperceptibly, her own smile looking more like a grimace.

“Well you can’t take a little of this potion to study at home because it’s Jane’s formula.” Theo interjected.

“Actually - it’s fine.” She said politely. “Sure, take some.” Gregory shot Theo a pompous look.

“What do you mean its fine?” He hissed, stunned.

Theo’s eye were narrow as he watched her shrug like it wasn’t something she’d spent months perfecting in secrecy. Like she wasn’t handing it over to the most irritating man on earth for no good reason.

“Jane, are you sure?”

“I said it’s fine, Theo.” She smiled. She handed Gregory her own vial.

“Well, if Jane is sure then I guess… help yourself.” Theo surrendered, his voice a reluctant grumble, like the words made him feel ill.

The vial clinked as Gregory stirred it with a tiny glass rod. He held it up to the light, inspecting the ethereal shimmer, face held in an arrogant expression as if he knew what he was looking at.

“This is impressive.” He said.

Then, his hand moved.

It landed on Jane’s shoulder, his fingertips squeezing into her. She went rigid, eyes shutting slowly like she was trying not to vomit. She swallowed, throat tight.

Before she could speak, Theo jerked forwards at lightning speed and slapped Gregory’s hand off of her with such force that she rocked in her chair.

“Yes, the formula is impressive. You can complement her without touching her you absolute creep.” He hissed loudly, making several heads turn. His eyes were dark under his brow, his jaw clenched like it was holding his whole body together.

Gregory flinched for a moment, his lips parted like he wanted to say something. He decided against it, feeling the dangerous static coming off of Theo. He scowled at him instead, turning on his heels and striding away.

Jane shot Theo a warning look. “There’s no need to slap him,” she hissed quietly.

“I hardly slapped him Jane.” Theo retorted, his voice growing more frustrated. His skin felt boiling, the anger bubbling aggressively underneath it. “I merely – swatted his hand away.”

Are you sure it’s a good idea to let him have the potion?

Jane’s stare softened as Theo’s thought shot loudly through her mind. She tilted her head expectantly, watching as he grimaced, his fingers shooting up to his temples.

“Ugh, damn.” He inhaled sharply. “That headache again…”

“That keeps happening whenever he’s around.” she said pointedly, letting the words linger purposefully. “But - try not to worry about it.”

“I know.” He sighed. “And it’s hard not to worry when Gregory is concerned.” His eyes trailed after him narrowly, watching him pomp around the room with an annoying air of importance.

“Theo,” Jane said, leaning closer to him, elbows sliding across the mahogany.

She took his hand from his temple and held it, weaving her fingers through his, her other hand wrapped around his wrist. “Do you trust me?”

“Yes, yes of course I trust you.” He said softly, his eyes swimming in hers. “I promise.”

She smiled, squeezing his hand, making his skin tingle with warmth. She pulled him closer, brushing her lips against hers.

“Good.”

***

The midday sun was almost blinding as Jane and Theo’s steps crunched in tandem along the steep incline of the mountainous hiking trail. The ground was cold and hard, frosted from within, but the sun was warm. Enough to make them break a sweat as they climbed.

The mountainside wasn’t far from the manor. A steep, rocky terrain scattered with sparse bushes, evergreen pines, and capped at the very top with a blinding white peak of snow. The cool blue sky was painted with clouds; drifting through the winter breeze.

Below, a river snaked through the valley, thin and miniscule from their high vantage point, shimmering like a thread of fine crystal.

It would have been a picture of pure serenity, if the songlike chittering of the birds hadn’t been demolished by Theo’s rasping, heavy breaths.

“Are you okay?” Jane finally cracked, halfway between a laugh and a groan, her ears hearing nothing but his intense panting for the last hour. “Do you want to stop?”

“Me?” He gasped. “Yeah no, I’m fine…. I am fine, great even.” He pushed through his heaving chest.

“You sound like you’re about to cough up a lung, and I’ll have to clean it up.” She groaned. “Please don’t do that to me.”

He grinned through his panting, trying to laugh and achieving nothing but a strained wheeze.

“Ugh, it’s uh – it’s been a long time since I’ve made this kind of trek without any magical assistance.” He rasped.

“And it is gorgeous, don’t get me wrong I just – don’t see the point in it. Like why would the Black Ravens send us on a hike?”

“I thought you liked hikes. In fact you made me go on one for hours if I recall correctly,” She pointed out.

“The hike during the trials was different.” He squeezed through his breaths. “We weren’t going straight up a cliff - that was more like ambling through the forest with magically animated monsters to fight.”

Jane’s shoulders bounced as she laughed. “And that was preferable to this?”

The ground crunched aggressively beneath them, deepening every breath.

“Yes, surprisingly I find battling magical monsters a significantly easier task than climbing a mountain.” He panted, his forehead shining with sweat.

“But you, all the training you’ve been doing since the trials has been paying off.” He wheezed, looking down at her. “You could run circles around me right now couldn’t you?”

“Shall I give you a demonstration?” Jane teased, her own chest rising and falling, albeit with much less effort.

Theo’s grin faltered as he caught the aggravating, unmistakeable shape of Gregory lunging up behind him.

Jane sighed; silently sick of his appearances, but knowing it was a necessary evil.

“Hi, Gregory,” she smiled politely, her voice so strained that anyone but him would realise she felt the exact opposite.

“Gregory.” Theo said flatly. “Excellent. So glad you could make it.”

His voice dropped, inaudible to everyone but Jane. “So I can push you off a cliff…”

She hid a grin behind her lips, battling back the laugh that almost tore from her.

“What was that?” Gregory scowled. “I couldn’t hear you on account of your ridiculous wheezing. Bit out of breath, are we?” He jeered.

“Nothing, no nothing at all.” Theo shrugged, eyes forward like he couldn’t bear to even look at him. “I am absolutely not out of breath,” he panted, very obviously out of breath.

“Well, not all of us are so lacking in stamina.” Gregory scoffed, eyeing Jane as he said it, like he was expecting her to be impressed.

She stared blankly, trying not to throw him off the cliff herself.

“My stamina is just fine thank you.” Theo hissed. “Especially where it counts.”

Jane chuckled breathily, shaking her head, her ponytail wafting behind her.

“Jane, are you giggling at that?” Theo grinned, leaning over to bump playfully against her shoulder.

That was all it took for her balance to careen off centre. Her foot caught, slipping on a loose shingle of rock. Her knee buckled as her foot shot back, her arms flying out, making her teeter precariously on the side of the trail.

“Woah woah, watch your step there.” Theo exclaimed, jerking towards her, his arm shooting out to catch her.

He went rigid as he saw Gregory’s hands, already on her, gripping her waist. His eyes were so dark the blue was shrouded, shadowed, full of an almost blinding rage.

His voice wasn’t loud when he spoke. It wasn’t a yell.

It was a sinister. A menacing, villainous growl.

“Gregory. I suggest you get your hands off her. Right now.”

His jaw clenched so hard he thought he might just break his back teeth.

Jane’s eyes darted between the two of them, heat blooming under her skin at the sight of Theo so dominating. It twisted her stomach in a way that made her want to rip his clothes off in front of everyone.

Gregory’s breath caught almost inaudibly at the palpable anger Theo was vibrating with. For a fleeting moment, his heart leapt, convinced Theo was about to push him over the side of the cliff.

“I’m – only trying to help.” He stuttered, trying to diffuse the situation he had caused.

“She doesn’t need your help.” Theo growled, his fingers locking around Gregory’s flimsy wrist, a vice of pure, ice cold hate. “I’m here.”

Gregory held his hands up in surrender, laughing awkwardly. “Dude, what’s your problem?”

“I’m fine, Gregory.” Theo hissed. He leaned in closer, amplifying the static of his anger. “My only problem is you.”

Gregory swallowed. It wasn’t provoking anymore. It was dangerous.

“Fine. See you up there then.” He surrendered, walking ahead of them, his pace quick and fleeing.

“Yeah, yeah we will see you at the top.” Theo called. “Asshole.”

“Theo,” Jane said calmly, watching his chest heave with lingering anger. “Calm down, please. It’s fine, really. You’re going to make a scene.”

“No, Jane, no - he held onto you for longer than was necessary.” He scowled. “That was too much.”

Jane searched his eyes, narrow and strained, her expression of concern twisting into a smirk.

“You are jealous, aren’t you?” She teased. “Look at you.” Her eyes darted down to his shaking hands.

“No, no. Like I said before I am not jealous.” He protested in a huff. “I just – I just don’t understand why you’re being so nice to him that’s all.”

“I’m always nice,” she grinned playfully. “If I wasn’t, I’d never have given you a chance.”

He rolled his eyes, the corner of his mouth curling up. “I know, you’re nice to everyone darling. It’s one of your best attributes.”

His gaze trailed up the incline, following Gregory as his shape grew smaller. The urge to run after him and throw him to the ground shot through him for a fleeting second as he thought about his stubby little hands on Jane.

“Not everyone deserves it though.” He rasped.

Jane’s skin prickled, Theo’s energy still a precarious force that was hanging in the air around them.

She didn’t like making him so uncomfortable. Not really.

Sure, she liked the thrill of his anger, the hot spark of his rage lighting him up. The way he became her pyre; bright, violently burning.

It wasn’t that she liked it. It was that this was what she needed. She needed him emotional, grappling, clawing at the seams of himself. Desperate and surfacing.

***

The afternoon had brought back the slowly creeping chill. The air that had been so brightly lit all day was iced with the threat of frost, the ghost of snow.

The dark, ornate fireplace crackled in the conference room, a warming backdrop to the sea of whispering voices and scraping mahogany chairs.

“So what’s the subject of the seminar? International magical relations? Fascinating…” Theo murmured.” His eyes trailed over the floating candles, bobbing in place near the high ceilings.

“This should be like a walk in the park for you,” Jane laughed, her chin resting on her hands as she watched his irises reflect the candlelight.

“You know I could email my buddy Ben and –”

His face contorted suddenly as he caught the unmistakable, infuriating sight of Gregory ambling closer to their table.

“You have got to be fucking kidding me.” He griped. “Why is Gregory coming over?”

Jane bit her lip. “I – might’ve invited him.” She said softly, like it would somehow land better.

It didn’t. Theo’s annoyance was plain on his face, his jaw tightly wired.

“Well what did you do that for?” He frowned, voice rasping against the whisper. “Why on earth would you invite him to sit with us?”

She was silent for a moment, stewing on the right word.

“Testing.” She said slowly.

“Testing? Testing what?” Theo’s eyes were tight with frustration.

“It’s – part of the plan. Just go with it.” She insisted. “Please?” Her eyes were wide in that deliberately innocent way that made him fold every time.

He sat back in his chair with a huff, surrendering. “This plan of yours again Jane… you’re being incredibly cryptic.” His brow furrowed as he shook his head.

Gregory’s short fingers hooked around the back of the chair next to her. It scraped loudly across the floor as he pulled it, making Theo’s teeth clench harder.

“Excuse me. Excuse me that seat is taken.” Theo’s gaze was a hard glare.

“By who?” Gregory grinned, sliding down into the seat.

“By literally anyone other than you.” Theo scowled. “And there are dozens of empty seats in this room, none of which are by Jane and –”

Gregory scooted his chair closer to Jane’s with another loud scrape. A single, disgusted shiver ran down her spine, but she kept her composure polite.

Theo’s jaw popped aggressively.

“- Why would you get closer?” He snarled.

Gregory flashed his teeth, satisfied at Theo’s taught expression. He gestured over Jane’s arm, waving his hand over her paper. “Notes.” He shrugged.

“To get Jane’s notes?” Theo laughed incredulously. “You still can’t get anything done and –”

Gregory pulled his hand back from the page. He was staring directly into Theo’s narrow eyes as he dragged his fingers, lightly but deliberately, over Jane’s arm.

Her hairs stood on end at once in screaming protest as she swallowed the thick urge to slap him.

“Don’t touch her arm like that.” Theo growled, his voice shaking in his throat. His fingers were locked around the arms of his chair, knuckles white, knowing that if he let go his fist would careen straight into Gregory’s face.

The whining little weasel.

Jane grinned all of a sudden as the thought landed in her head, unable to stifle a choked laugh as it jumped from her dry throat.

Theo was wincing, his ghost white knuckles flushing pink again as he rubbed his head.

“Jane, why are you smiling?” Theo breathed.

“Whining weasel,” she smiled. “That’s a good one.”

Gregory was looking at the pair of them with a bemused expression, like he was in on the joke and not the ass end of it.

“Well whining weasel was funny.” Theo said, his pained grimaced shifting into a deeply confused frown. “But I - didn’t say that out loud, did I?”

Jane didn’t answer him. She shook her head and brought her pen to her page, scrawling “whining weasel” in the corner, still smiling in amusement.

The rest of the seminar was a dragging bore even by Jane’s standards. She spent the next hour listening to the speakers drone on about the importance of the cooperation of magical Governments, ferrying off Theo’s snide remarks and intercepting the hard kicks he kept firing towards Gregory under the table.

By the end of it, Theo had a permanent crease in his usually marble-like brow and a visible shake in his frame. Jane had a blooming purple bruise on her ankle, and Gregory was looking thoroughly pleased with himself, having found an excuse to touch her arm at least four more times.

She’d never seen Theo stand up so fast when the ending chime rang out. Before she could blink he was bolting up out of his chair in a blur and collecting her in his arm, sweeping them out of the room with a final look of utter disdain towards Gregory.

***

They hadn’t seen Gregory in a few hours, and Theo’s hardened exterior from a day of caging his anger was finally softening.

Jane had led him around the manor that evening, opening every door she could, admiring every single statue, painting, and view from the windows. His eyes had been glued to her the entire time, the bursting excitement in her irises at everything she saw, the way her lips softly parted in a way that told him she was speechless.

He hadn’t dropped her hand once as they flew up and down the stairs and down the elongated elegant corridors, finally stopping when she found the library.

It was dark and majestically grand in the way that simpler minds would find brutally intimidating.

Thick, dark shelving, intricate rugs woven across the floors, and thousands of candles floating in place, their light reflected by the curved glass of a high, domed ceiling.

The perfect place to get lost for a while. To get lost in each other. The amber light dancing across the angles of Theo’s face. The way Jane’s skin felt beneath his fingers, trailing up the side of her inviting neck.

They had been tangled against the shelves, Theo’s hands hooked under her thighs, their mouths crushed passionately together when they’d heard the obnoxious, unmistakeable sound of the dinner chime ringing throughout the manor.

Theo groaned as Jane bowed her head into his neck, her lips seeking out as much as they could before she surrendered, slipping her legs from his grasp to find the floor.

“We should go,” she said sadly as he huffed against the shelves, the look on his face telling her that their stolen moments were far from concluded.

***

The ballroom had been laid out with three long blackened mahogany tables for dinner that night. Each was adorned with an ivory table runner edged with gold silk, and topped with an array of lavish dishes, the likes of cuisine right out of a French palace.

Jane couldn’t help the way her stomach twisted at the sight of it.

The anxiety of her plan working out, the looming of the duel, and the constant humouring of Gregory’s sickening advances had left her with a lingering sensation of nausea.

Dinner was hard to swallow. The best food she’d ever had laid in front of her was somehow tasteless and sticking to the front of her dry mouth. She chased it with wine, trying to screen out the chatter, her only comfort the feeling of Theo’s long fingers tracing absentmindedly up her thigh under the table.

When the hollow scraping of plates and empty clinking of glasses had become apparent, the Black Ravens elders graced the stage in their sweeping black robes. Jerry spoke first, his magically amplified voice booming across the craned heads.

“Tomorrow marks a truly momentous occasion!” He announced brightly. “An initiate duel, the first in over a century, on this most noble of grounds.” He let his words settle over the crowd with a grin.

“But first, and most importantly, the rules!”

Jane nodded silently as the elders took turns prattling them off.

No harming spells. No dangerous conjurations. No physical brawling. No experimental incantations. No usage of unregulated magic.

And of course, the very real risk that their invite may be revoked.

Theo’s brow was furrowed as he listened, growing deeper with each passing minute, his nerves firing oddly under his skin.

His fingers tightened on Jane’s thigh as Jerry returned to the front of the stage.

“I know they’ve just explained the rules of the duel, and I’m glad they’ve forbidden any harming spells… but I still don’t feel good about this Jane.” He said, his eyes tight with worry.

Her fingers found his cheek, brushing reassurance up to his temples. His shoulders dropped under her touch.

“It’s going to be okay Theo.”

“They’re going to ask if you and Gregory accept the terms of the duel, and - and you can still say no.” He whispered.

A gavel pounded, breaking up the chatter.

“Jane, please.” He whispered, desperately now, his face frantic at the looming finality.

Jerry’s voice boomed across the hall. “Jane – do you accept?”

She stood up, chair legs scraping across the polished floor.

“I accept.”

Theo’s breath left him.

“Shit.” He murmured. “I know you told me you’d accept but I still hoped -”

The gavel pounded again, halting his sentence.

“You don’t believe in me, do you?” Jane asked sadly.

Theo rose out of his own seat at the absurdity of the question. “No - it’s not that I don’t believe in you, it’s that I just don’t trust –”

At that moment, the heavy doors groaned open, and in loped Gregory with an air of having been somewhere important.

“- him.” Theo muttered.

“Gregory!” Jerry’s voice boomed. “Do you accept?”

Gregory’s head turned straight towards Theo, his mouth curling up in a smirk. “I accept.” He said loudly.

“Wonderful! Then we welcome you all to the duelling grounds tomorrow, to spectate what ought to be an impressive and historical display!” Jerry announced, to the whoops and cheers of the room.

The elders returned to their seats while the chatter grew amongst the many heads.

To the absolute delight of Theo, Gregory was already making his way over to them, striding along obnoxiously.

“Jane,” he said, ignoring Theo’s dagger stare. “Can I speak to you, alone?”

“Gregory. Why would you need to speak to Jane in private?” Theo pressed, his eyes sharp and glacial.

“To – prepare. Not that it’s any of your business.” Gregory retorted.

“It’s a duel. I don’t think it makes sense for the two of you to prepare together.” Theo said, his voice slipping into a sinister register.

He didn’t give Gregory a moment. Before he could speak, Theo had moved in a blur, landing with his hand fisted tightly around the front of Gregory’s robes.

Several heads turned towards them. Theo leaned in, his voice a menacing growl directly in his face, specks of spit flying.

“I am warning you, Gregory. Stay away from her.” He hissed. “I know I have made my feelings about you crystal clear.” His fist tightened. “Or were you hoping for another all expenses paid trip to Florida?”

Jane grabbed at Theo’s bicep, a silent plea. He didn’t turn his head an inch; he was completely locked on Gregory, his face contorted in a snarl.

“I know I promised to play nice Jane but he’s -”

Jane’s grip tightened.

Theo exhaled, feeling the weight of her wordless appeal. He pulled back, his grip on Gregory loosening a fraction, but not surrendering.

“I’m not afraid of you, daddy’s boy.” Gregory jeered.

Theo’s grip tightened, twice as hard, making Gregory stumble slightly.

“Not afraid of me?” The laugh that tore from him was a sinister, malevolent thing. “You should be.”

He leaned in again, ignoring the fact that half the room was now watching them in apprehension.

“You got lucky tonight.” Theo snarled. “You won’t, tomorrow.”

Gregory’s face was tight and stony, but his throat lurched aggressively as he swallowed.

“Now, Jane wants to speak to me in private. If you’ll excuse us.” Theo scowled, releasing Gregory’s robes, his fist still hanging in the air between them, a lingering threat.

His energy was shooting through Jane like a live wire, marring the space between them.

Gregory shook his shoulders out and pawed at his robes pointedly. He tilted his chin up pompously as he scoffed and walked away, a subtle wobble of fear in his steps as he went.

***

Before Jane knew it, Theo’s fingers had hooked around hers like a vice, and she was being swept out of the ballroom, through the entranceway and up the stairs, being dragged by his urgent pace.

Theo threw open the heavy door to their room with more force than he meant to. Jane stumbled lightly in her heels, the door swinging back and almost clipping her as she passed through it.

“I shouldn’t have let Gregory get to me like that I just –” He sighed, exasperated, fingers rifling through his hair in stress.

“You don’t think I’m capable of beating him, is that it?” Jane demanded. “You’re trying to make him back out of it -”

“What?” Theo interrupted, his face contorted at the absurdity. “No! No, of course I think you’re capable of beating Gregory!” He exclaimed. “You’re brilliant and he’s – breathing. For now.”

“He’s harmless, Theo! Come on, don’t you remember what he was like during the trials?”

“Gregory is not harmless.” He scowled, his name tasting disgusting in his mouth. “He’s a conniving little worm, and he’s definitely up to something.”

“I’m not going to let anything happen, I wish you would just trust me.” She sighed, her hands coming down in a frustrated slap of her thighs.

“You not letting anything happen isn’t the point though, is it? I trust you implicitly.” He rasped. “It’s him I’m worried about.”

Jane was silent for a beat, considering his rigid expression.

“You’re being… possessive.” Her voice was oddly lit up for a statement so accusatory.

“Me, possessive?” Theo scoffed, his eyes narrowing. Her eyebrows flickered up a fraction.

His gaze dropped to her mouth, catching the way it had curled up at the corner, a minute sign that would have been invisible to anyone else.

Something twisted inside him.

His voice dropped, wading in the low tones that made her crumble inside. “You hate that you love it.”

He stepped closer to her. Controlled, deliberate. Predatory in a way that made her lips part in open invitation.

“Oh. Oh I see.” Theo purred, closing the space between them, feeling the static bouncing off her. “It excites you, doesn’t it? When you’re mine. When you’re possessed. By me.”

His fingers brushed up the side of her neck, feather light, drawing a tiny breath from her mouth.

“Hmm. I thought so.” He hummed, eyes intense as he took slow, pointed steps around her, his hand brushing over as he went.

“You liked being in control last night. But tonight –” He stopped in front of her again, leaning his face in to growl into her ear.

“You need me to take it from you. Don’t you?” Jane’s spine shivered as he spoke.

“I think you know that I do.” She breathed.

“Good. I can do that for you darling.” He ran his fingers up her neck again. “But first – first you know that you’re safe with me? No matter what?”

She nodded, lips parted.

“Good. And you know I’ll stop, the second you ask me to?”

“Yes.”

“Good.” he sighed breathily. He leaned in, hovering his mouth over hers, his voice dropping further.

“Then I’m going to remind you who you belong to.”

Heat bloomed under her chest, rising to flush her neck and cheeks as he took a step backwards, taking her in fully with his dominating gaze. His stomach twisted wickedly.

“Take off your clothes Jane.” He commanded.

“All of them?”

“Yes. All of them.”

She slid out of her robes first, letting them pool behind her. Her fingers found the zip of her dress and pulled. She drifted it down her arms, letting it catch softly at her hips before pulling it to the floor.

Theo’s gaze was intense as she unclasped her bra, exposing her breasts to the fire light. His eyes trailed over the curve of them and followed her fingers as she dragged downwards, hooking the band of her lace underwear and sliding them over her hips. They fell at her ankles where she stepped out of them, bending down to pull her heels off.

She stood bare in front of his silent gaze, the fireplace throwing amber flares over her flushed skin.

“Hmm. Beautiful.” Theo murmured, stepping closer, so close he could feel her heat sinking into him. He ran a fingertip down her waist, she shivered under it.

“And you?” She breathed, nipples already peaking against the air.

“What about me?”

“Aren’t you going to take your clothes off?”

“No.” He growled softly. “No, I don’t think I’ll take my clothes off just yet.”

He inhaled sharply, stepping around her, taking her in from every angle.

“Look at you. Completely naked. For me.” He purred, letting his finger drag ever so softly over her exposed skin. “And you’re trembling a bit. That’s adorable.”

Her breath hitched at every pass of his finger, her skin tingling with trailing static as he moved.

“Is it the anticipation? Because you don’t know what I might do next.” His voice was caught between a hiss and a purr, a sound that made her neck arch back as it careened through her ears.

He stopped in front of her again, letting his gaze linger, letting her tremble underneath it.

“I could…” He stepped closer.

“Press my lips…” He leaned into her neck.

“To this spot…” His mouth found the hollow of her throat, sucking against it.

“That I know you love so much.”

Her chest rose with a heavy breath, the heat of his mouth making her lungs beg for air.

“Or maybe…” He leaned back out and dragged his hand up her chest, wrapping his long fingers across her throat. Her pulsed kicked wildly beneath them.

“Wrap my hand around your throat.”

His fingers tightened for a moment, pressing into her neck before he dragged them down again, brushing over the swell of her chest.

“Run my hand between your breasts…” He kept going, achingly slowly.

“Drag it down to your -”

Jane’s hips twitched as his fingers ghosted over her lower stomach, leaving a trail of burning embers in her core.

He laughed, tutting at her. “The way your hips just jerked towards me. So eager… Do you think you’ll get rewarded that easily?”

She whined quietly, every word landing electric against her skin.

“No, my darling.” His voice was a gravelled rumble dressed in silk. “I’m afraid not.”

He leaned in to her ear again, the heat of his mouth so close to her skin making her shudder. “I’m going to see how much you can take before you beg.”

“Now, get on the bed for me.” He commanded.

She moved immediately, crawling up onto it and sitting back with her knees bent, her eyes wide and obedient as she waited for his commands.

“That was fast… you must be really desperate for it.”

He stepped closer. “And I want you desperate, my darling. And completely under my control.”

Her eyes followed him silently as he stepped around the bed. Slow, careful paces, his gaze locked entirely on her.

“So I think, just to be sure… I’d like to have you tied up.”

He snapped his fingers, the sound making her flinch in anticipation. Four long ribbons of silk appeared, sliding across the floor and up the sides of the bed.

They snaked softly around her wrists and ankles, making her skin goose-bump, guiding her limbs out until she was flat on her back, splayed across the mattress, chest heaving.

“God I love magic, don’t you?” Theo purred as the ties slithered. “I can have you completely restrained… tied to this bed, wrists and ankles, legs held wide open with a -”

He snapped his fingers again. The silk tightened around her, pulling her in every direction, laying her wide open, bare and flushed under his commanding gaze.

“- snap of my fingers.”

The look in his eyes made her tremble against the bed.

Hungry. Predatory. Merciless.

“Now, look at you. Spread across this bed like a feast.” He murmured. “Where to begin? The mind reels.”

Theo lowered himself next to her, the bed sinking softly beneath his weight.

“Maybe here, at your pretty neck?” He spread his long fingers over her throat, making her breath hitch. “My fingers do look so good draped across it.”

She bit her lip, eyes rolling up as she yearned for more, his fingers so hot on her skin.

“Or maybe… down here.” He dragged his hand down to her breast, cupping it, digging his fingertips in to the supple flesh. “Feel how perfectly your tits fit in my hands… rub a thumb across your nipple…”

He chuckled as a whimper fell from her lips, her nipple pebbling hard under the pad of his thumb. He circled it again, making her chest arch up towards him.

“So light that it makes your back bow up like that, seeking out more. Maybe later.” His tone was an almost menacing whisper, making her heart kick against every word.

He dragged his hand down her waist.

“Down the sides of these curves I love so much… look at the goose bumps that trail in my wake. You’re so sensitive here aren’t you?” Jane whined softly, her brow furrowing at her helplessness as he teased down her skin.

“And drift them down, between your legs… just skirting past where you really want them.”

She twitched uselessly against her restraints as his fingers grazed, feather light over the crease between her thigh and her bare heat. She felt herself surge with wetness as the tension gathered like knotting ropes inside her.

Theo shifted down, his piercing blue gaze dropping between her legs.

“I can already see that you’re aroused. Are you that needy for me?” He jeered, eyeing her glistening wet folds.

Her stomach curled with heat as he admired her, so crude and vulnerable, so open for him. “I’m always needy for you,” she breathed.

“Well, let me drag my fingers down to your knees.” His hands curled agonisingly around her thighs, grazing downwards. “Take your calves in my hands… scrape with just a little bit of fingernail down your ankles…”

A jolt of static coursed through her as he grazed his nail against her skin, making a soft moan tumble from her lips.

Theo laughed, a breathy sound caught between awe and mockery. “Ah – that made you moan?”

“It tickles.” Jane whined, trying uselessly to kick her ankle away from his fingers.

“Well then I’ll make my touch a little rougher for you.” He grinned, teeth flashing dangerously. “Back up to your thighs and – actually, let me get a better view.”

He shifted again, moving to the end of the bed to sit between her legs, held wide open for him.

“I am going to sit right here. Between your legs.” He whistled as he admired her exposed flesh, so flushed and slick. “Look at you. So ready for me…”

“Theo,” Jane whined, wriggling against her restraints needily.

His eyes met hers, so hazy and filled with unspent lust. “Shall I finally relieve some of that ache for you darling?” He trailed two fingers up her inner thigh.

She nodded too fast, her hair sliding over the pillow.

“Ask nicely. Those are the rules.” Theo growled low in his throat.

“Please… please Theo.”

“Hmm. The way you say please gets me every time.” He grinned, trailing his fingers up further, agonisingly slowly.

He whispered them over her swollen bud with barely any pressure, watching intently as her thighs tensed. She whimpered, barely audible, brow furrowed at his tease.

“The way your whole body tensed up at the first brush of your clit,” he purred. “Oh this is going to be fun, isn’t it?”

He drew his finger back, watching as her head fell back against the pillow in frustration.

“I know exactly how you like it. Which is why I’m going to rub you here… just beyond that spot that drives you so wild.”

He spread his fingers apart, dragging them down the sides of her crease, framing her soaked heat with torturous strokes.

Jane’s hips writhed instinctively, helplessly, her core seeking him out, begging for friction, for anything.

He laughed, a cruel sound to her desperate desire.

“Look at you.” He grinned, pleased with himself. “Trying to scoot your hips over even though you’re tied up. Adorable… needy little thing.”

He kept dragging his fingers over the sides of her folds, purposefully avoiding them.

“I promise… this is just as hard for me as it is for you.” He hissed. “Actually – no, it isn’t. I’m enjoying watching you squirm under my hand.”

His taunting broke her, forcing pleas from her lips that were so soft they were almost silent.

“Hmm? What was that?”

“Please, Theo…” She begged, louder.

“Oh… ‘please Theo’? So pretty…” His eyes lingered on her face, so contorted with frustration.

“Since you asked so nicely I can move my fingers to where you like it.”

“Really?” She breathed, chest rising.

“Yes… right there.” He trailed his long fingers up, landing on her sensitive bud.

He traced slow circles around it at first as she moaned out, her back arching up at the relief of finally being touched. Heat tightened in her core as he worked her, his fingers dancing faster across her clit.

“Fuck…” She whined as he sped up, deliberately pressing harder, coaxing her towards the edge.

“Oh, you’re close already, aren’t you? I can tell.” He teased as he continued circling her, watching the swell of her chest heave with quiet gasps.

“And I’ve barely even touched you. I’ve just toyed with you, teased you… and still, I can make you come so fast, can’t I darling?”

“God, yes - don’t stop…” She begged, her belly winding tightly with pleasure.

“I bet I could get you off with just a few more strokes but -” He pulled his fingers away abruptly, the sudden loss of sensation an empty, hollow shock. “- I don’t think I will.”

“Theo!” She groaned in defeat. “You’re being so cruel.” Her breaths were ragged from being yanked back from the edge so fast.

He chuckled, flashing his teeth. “My sweet, needy thing throwing a tantrum, my my. You were close weren’t you?”

She squeezed her eyes shut, so helpless and completely at his mercy.

“Not very fun, is it sweetheart?” He inhaled. “So, here’s the thing. You remember last night in the bathroom, don’t you?

Jane made a breathy sound of desperation as she remembered the threat of punishment he’d left her with.

“Yes.” she sighed.

“Good. And you thought it was fun to tease me. To leave me on the edge. Is it fun now?” His voice lowered into a growl again. “When you’re the one dripping with need on the mattress?”

She bit at her bottom lip, her teeth leaving an indent as she swallowed her stubbornness. “No… I’m sorry, Theo.” Her voice was whiny, desperate.

“I didn’t think so.” He murmured. “My poor Jane… maybe I’ve made you suffer enough. What do you think?”

She nodded teeth still tight in her lip.

“Ask nicely.” He growled.

“Yes, yes, you have. Please, I’m sorry… please, please touch me.” She begged gracelessly.

“That’s my girl.”

After a beat of silence, he snapped his fingers.

A quiet but insistent buzzing sound suddenly disrupted the tense air around them. Jane craned her head up towards it. Floating next to him was a small, bullet-shaped vibrator, already on and humming eagerly.

Her breath hitched as she watched it shiver aggressively in the air. Theo grinned, sliding his tongue over his teeth.

“I did say how much I love magic, right? The ability to conjure a vibrator out of literal thin air that I can control with a snap of my fingers. I’m not even holding it… and yet I remain in complete control.”

He snapped his fingers again with silent instruction. The vibrator swept down between her legs, landing against her swollen, needy clit. She cried out at the sudden intensity, neck arching tightly towards the ceiling as the rapid vibrations hummed against her nerves.

“Does that feel nice?” Theo purred, watching her like a hawk, taking in every single helpless movement as her chest bowed up against the pleasure.

Her lips fell open for a moment before her teeth clamped down against her lip, brow furrowed as she barrelled steadily towards the edge.

“You look like you’re already on the edge again.” He teased.

“I am – fuck, please don’t stop…” She whined, her arms pulling against the restraints, hands looking desperately for something to grab.

“So, what I’m hearing is… that you need more?”

He snapped his fingers again. The vibrator doubled down, buzzing twice as fast against her clit, drawing a helpless, pleasured yelp from her lungs.

“The way you cried out at that… it’s too good, isn’t it?” Theo grinned wickedly. “But you can take it a little longer can’t you?”

“No – I – can’t,” she gasped through her breaths, her core a tight, pressurized spring about to snap. “I’m – so – close.”

“Close already? Jane…” He tutted. “Ask me. Ask me if you can come.” He commanded.

“Please, please can I come?” She groaned, begging as she felt her inner walls fluttering, the waves of release rapidly approaching.

“Aw, please and everything but –” He snapped his fingers, silencing the vibrator at once. It fell to the soaked mattress between her legs. “No. No not yet.”

She whimpered desperately, a choked sound, her eyes welling with tears of deep frustration.

“Oh dear you look like you might cry… do you need to come that badly?” Theo jeered, his voice bordering on cruel.

All she could manage was another strained whimper. Theo softened as he saw her almost pained expression.

“Okay, well I’m not made of stone. I’d love to make that happen for you.” He said softly.

“I just need you to beg.”

“Please, Theo…” Jane whispered, eyes shut tightly.

“You can do better than that.”

“Please… please let me come… I’ll never tease you again, I swear,” She whined.

“Better, I almost believed you.” His lip curved up into a sly half smile.

She huffed in frustration, finally lifting her head to towards him. She looked at him with desperate, pleading eyes, watery with frustration, her voice coming in loud, anguished pleas.

“Theo, please… I want to come for you, I want to be your good girl… please let me…” She whined.

“There we go.” He praised, snapping his fingers.

The vibrator sprung to life and lifted off the mattress, burying itself in her desperate folds. She cried out immediately, the intensity abrupt and jarring.

He drifted his finger through the air, making the bullet slide up from her entrance to her clit. It buzzed forcefully against the swollen bud, firing rapid vibrations directly into her core. Her neck arched back as the pressure built, the relentless jolts making her surge with wetness.

Theo groaned, his hard length throbbing against his pants as he watched her arousal pool from her, soaking the sheets between her legs.

“Oh, look at that pretty mess you’re making,” He growled. “I’m going to love watching you come like this… and I’m not even touching you. I’m just doing this with my magic.”

Jane’s legs were trembling, a hollow space beneath her back forming as she arched against the crescendo of pleasure that was racing towards her.

“And you know what?” He huffed, eyes intense on her soaked flesh. “You could take control anytime you wanted to because your magic is stronger than mine… and yet you’re not. Because you love this. You love surrendering to me. You love when I take control of your pleasure.”

Her mouth fell open in a silent scream, the pleasure strangling the noise from her throat. She was so close.

“That’s right sweetheart,” He praised as she writhed against the restraints. “I’m going to let you come this time, and it’s going to be my name on your lips when you do, isn’t it? Because you’re mine.”

A strangled gasp tore from her as her orgasm began cresting, a tidal wave about to swallow her whole.

Theo moaned, a primal sound of satisfaction and his own heated arousal as he watched her. “Oh that’s it baby, I want to hear you scream.” He commanded.

His coaxing brought the wave down on top of her.

“Fuck – Theo – ” She cried out.

It was a violent, earth-shattering climax of relentless pleasure that barrelled through her in sharp, pulsing bolts straight to her core. The intensity drew a loud shriek from her already open mouth as she thrashed against the mattress, the posts of the bed canopy groaning against the force of her limbs pulling helplessly as she came.

“Oh that feels good, doesn’t it?” Theo growled as he watched her writhe, watching her skin bloom in hot pink flushes as her orgasm ripped through her.

“God I almost feel sorry for you watching you clench around nothing while you come… you need something inside you, don’t you?”

She whimpered, spent and trembling against the mattress, chest heaving in bursts of ragged breath as she descended from the peak.

Theo snapped his fingers, vanishing the vibrator, his gaze misty and intense on the slick mess between her legs. “Do you want me to fill you up darling?”

Jane’s core twisted at the thought, her body still thrumming. “Yes… please.” She whined.

“And I will. But first, I need you to get me ready for you.” He snapped again, and the silk ties unwrapped, releasing her wrists and ankles. Her skin was pink from pulling against them so hard.

“Come here and kneel.” He instructed.

Jane slid off the bed obediently, her legs still trembling. Her knees buckled as she tried to stand.

“Woah there,” Theo chuckled. “Are your legs still working after that darling? Here, let me help you.” He took her hand, holding her steady, kissing at the red skin around her wrist.

Her eyes were wide on his as she lowered herself, fingers shakily reaching for his belt. She unbuckled it and slid his trousers off, taking in the delicious sight of his thick, rigid length.

“You’re so pretty like this…” He purred. “Still hazy from climax, on your knees for me. Do you see how hard you make me? How much I love making you feel good?” He ran his fingers through her hair.

“I need you to spit on it for me. Please.” He instructed.

She leaned up a fraction, collecting a pool of warm saliva behind her lips, and let it fall slowly from her mouth onto his flushed head, already slick with his own arousal.

“Good girl. Now gently use your hand to -” His voice broke into a raspy breath as Jane wrapped her hand around him, enveloping his rock hard shaft firmly in her grip.

She stroked him in long, fluid movements, her hand sliding gracefully along his length, her eyes wide as she watched his breathing quicken.

“Still so eager…” He gasped, soft moans tumbling from his lips as she sped up her strokes. “You’re so good at that… and your hand looks so good wrapped around me.”

His head fell back, eyelids shutting as she worked him in slick, firm draws.

“I want you in my mouth Theo,” She said, gaze hungry on his cock moving through her hand.

“Hmm? What’s that?” He murmured,

“Let me taste you… please.” She begged.

“Oh, asking if you can use your mouth, and very politely might I add…” He huffed through his breaths.

He drew in a lungful of air as she gripped him tighter, doubling her efforts, racing her grip over his length, her thumb swirling over his slick tip.

“Please?”

“As good as that sounds, I have other plans for you.” He breathed.

Jane’s eyebrows flicked up as his gaze returned to her, hungry and dominating.

“Stand up. Turn around.” He commanded. “Forearms on the mattress darling.”

Her breath hitched. She stroked his length for a moment longer before obediently standing up and turning around. She fell forwards onto her arms, leaving herself fully open and exposed to him.

“Hmm.” He growled as he eyed her still dripping heat. “I’m not going to be gentle with you. Do you understand?

“Yes,” She sighed, her needy desire hot and obvious in her mouth.

“And don’t forget, if you say stop - we stop. Tell me you remember.”

“Yes, I remember.”

“Good. Good girl.” He praised, lining his thick head up with her slick entrance. “Now brace yourself.”

He drove into her with a single stroke, a deep moan tumbling from him, the kind of sound that came straight from his core.

Jane whined, her hips pushing back as she stretched around him, his cock filling her so perfectly.

“Oh fuck…” Theo rasped. “Do you feel how easily you took me? How ready you were for me, hmm?”

He was right, he wasn’t about to be gentle.

He drew out of her in one long stroke before forcefully driving himself forward again, slamming into her and setting a relentless, punishing rhythm. His fingers dug into her hips, pulling her back hard against him as she cried out, every thrust sending a powerful jolt to her core.

“It’s like you were made for me… made to take me like this… hard.” He growled, his voice breaking with exertion as he ruined her, his fist tangling in the back of her hair, pulling her neck back into an almost painful arch.

Jane cried out louder as he drove into her, the head of his cock slamming against her most sensitive spot, deep inside of her soaked walls.

“The next time you want to tease me I want you to remember this.” He rasped. “You, bent over the mattress getting fucked from behind, loving every second of it.”

A loud whimper broke out from her mouth as he drove harder, spurred on by the feeling of her thighs trembling against him. The sound of hips slapping against her bare ass seemed to drive him into an urgent, desperate frenzy.

“You’re mine.” He growled, teeth bared like an animal. “I want to hear you say it. Say you’re mine.” He commanded, tightening his fist in her hair.

She cried out at the jolt of pain, immediately contrasted by the intense pleasure that he was driving in to her with every thrust.

“Fuck, Theo… I’m – yours,” She gasped, her voice hoarse and broken.

Theo’s muscles tightened, his cock pulsing threateningly inside her. A gravelly moan tore from his mouth as he fucked her harder in possessive response. “Do you feel what it does to me to hear you say that?”

“Don’t stop…” She begged, her crescendo building. “Keep fucking me… harder…” she moaned.

Theo’s hand moved to her bare ass, her skin flushed from his repeated, relentless thrusts. “God, I want to leave a mark on you to remind you who you belong to, can I do that?” He groaned.

“God, yes… show me that you own me.” She whined, trembling helplessly underneath him.

“Yes, you want me to? Good.”

His hand came down hard on her ass, a hot stinging force of domination that made her cry out, made her delicate skin break into an immediate purple-pink flush of angry goose bumps.

“I want you to remember the feeling of my hand on your ass.” He growled as he fucked her harder. “The feeling of being owned by me, of giving yourself over to me completely…”

His chest was heaving, his hair flinging wildly as his feral, untamed lust took over him completely.

“Oh god it feels so good inside you that I swear I forget how to breathe… you’re going to make me come, is that what you want? For me to come inside you?”

“Fuck, yes Theo…” She moaned out as his thrusts grew more urgent, the promise of undoing so close. “Please come for me, I want you to fill me… I want to be your good girl…”

“Good,” He growled, fist tight in her hair. “And I think you’ve earned this chance to come with me. Reach between your legs and play with yourself darling.” He instructed through ragged breaths.

The spring of crescendo coiled tightly in Jane’s belly as her fingers found her clit, pressing and circling the swollen nerves as Theo rammed his cock into her, his fever of lust all-consuming as he felt her walls tightening around him.

“Just like that… that’s a good girl…” He grunted as her hips bucked back wildly.

“Keep going… fuck keep going…” She begged desperately.

“Oh, you’re going to come fast aren’t you?” Theo groaned, careening towards his own climax. “You’re still so worked up from before… good.”

Jane’s every muscle tensed as the wave built, looming over her with inevitable finality.

“Just don’t forget it’s my name you’ll be screaming. Mine.” He growled, a final command that sent her thrashing over the edge.

He felt her clench like a vice around him as she came, screaming his name as the scorching jolts of release shot through her every nerve.

His hand grabbed hard at the back of her neck, forcing her down into the mattress, muffling her shrieks of pleasure as he barrelled towards his own undoing

“That’s it, oh that’s it I’m right there with you…”

The sound that tore from his lungs was barely human as his orgasm ripped through him, his every muscle alight, burning with spasming waves of intense release as he filled her, utterly and completely his.

He fell forward onto her, his hand on her neck replaced with his mouth, his ragged pants of breath falling over her as he bit at her skin. His hips moved slowly, riding them both down, their primal sounds morphed into spent, sated whines.

Jane knees buckled violently underneath her.

“Woah… Woah there jelly legs.” Theo chuckled through wheezes. “Let me help you.”

He pulled out of her, the evidence of their passion following him in a hot pool that dripped through her swollen flesh.

He grabbed her hips, but she fell forward onto the bed, her legs giving in entirely to his breaking of her. She panted softly against it, her hair a wild mess that was sticking to her sweat-sheened cheeks.

“Jesus Christ…” she breathed into the sheets.

Theo’s hands were gentle now, a stark contrast to before. He slid them under her arms, rolling her over and picking her up as he knelt onto the floor at the foot of the bed.

“Here, here sit.” He panted. “Sit and –” he snapped his fingers, conjuring a large glass which immediately filled with cold, crystal clear water.

“- a glass of water. Drink it.”

She took it from the air, her chest still rising and falling quickly. She took a sip as he watched her like a hawk.

“All of it?”

“Yes,” he laughed. “Really, all of it.”

She rolled her eyes, throwing the glass back as she drank.

“You’d think I’d fucked the brat out of you.” Theo chuckled, shaking his head. “And yet…”

She took his face in her other hand, engulfing his lips in the type of kiss that made his heart thump wildly.

“Mmm… let’s get some food in you too.” He said, voice gentle now. “What do you want?

Jane grinned, cheeks still pink. “Everything.”

“Everything? Well, that sounds perfect.”

He snapped his fingers, and an array of silver trays appeared, adorned with various foods. They floated eagerly in the air until he waved them down to the bed with his hand.

“Alright, well. They must’ve had leftovers from the picnic down in the kitchen, if this is what I summoned.” He eyed the trays. “Some fresh fruit, a couple of sandwiches and - that looks like hummus, right? That’d be good with those veggie sticks there -”

Jane huffed out a laugh. “You’re fussing,” she said, rolling her eyes again. “I know what food is.”

“I’m just making sure you’re refuelled after all of that.” He chuckled. “And you’ve got that duel tomorrow so… can’t have you worn out, can we?”

His gaze was lingering on her face, trailing over every inch of flushed skin, every angle, every eyelash.

“You’re mine, you see. And I take very good care of what belongs to me.”

A fresh rush of blood pushed through her cheeks as his eyes softened on her.

“And I know that you can take care of yourself but, it does bring me so much joy to take care of you.” His lips found hers in a tender kiss, savouring her taste for a moment longer as the scarlet haze subsided from the air.

“You know exactly how to take care of me, too.” She purred, stealing another kiss.

He grinned, and rose up from the floor. “Now, shove over. I worked up an appetite myself.”

Jane scooted back on the bed, laying on her side, elbow bent up and head resting in her hand as she popped a grape in her mouth.

Theo couldn’t help but muse over the sheer art of her as they picked across the food. All bare skin and soft lines, serene eyes and tumbling hair.

“You’re looking at me like that again,” she grinned. “Like -”

A sudden, deep yawn stole her smile, drawing a heavy breath into her lungs. She whined softly, laying back into the pillows as she realised how exhausted she really was.

“Is that a yawn?” Theo chuckled.

“No… I’m just trying to catch flies.” She teased sleepily, eyes growing heavy in the fire light. “But yes, I will admit, I am sleepy.”

“Hmm, well I bet you’re sleepy darling.” He smirked. “Let’s get some food and water in you, and then we can get you tucked into bed.” He leaned over, inhaling the scent of her hair as he kissed her head.

“I’m refusing to move from this spot,” Jane yawned, arms sprawled above her head haphazardly. “You better cuddle me, or I’ll protest. Loudly and forever.”

Theo chuckled lightly, shaking his head at her, his mussed waves of hair wafting around his ears. “Of course I’ll cuddle you. Nothing on this planet could tear me out of this bed tonight.”

He snapped his fingers, vanishing their midnight picnic, and pulled back the intricately patterned bedding.

Jane wriggled in sleepily, her bare skin warmed by the heavy blankets and the constant heat radiating off of Theo. He waved his hand at the roaring fireplace, reducing it to glowing embers.

He scooted in closer to her, collecting her against his own bare body, sighing into her as his arms wrapped around her frame.

“Jane I - Jane I’m really proud of you. For taking on this duel.” He said, voice like warm silk in her tired ears.

She smiled, her fingers brushing up over his cheek as she fought sleep.

“I mean it. I should’ve said that earlier. I let my ego get in the way and for that I apologise.” His lips found her forehead, whispering against it. “But I have every belief that you’ll kick Gregory’s ass yet again.”

“Why are you so sure?” She murmured, eyes closing.

“Why? Why I would’ve thought that was obvious by now.” He sighed. “Because I believe in you. I believe in you more than I believe in anything on this earth.”

“Because I love you.”

Jane buried her face into his neck at his words, heart blooming with affection.

“I love you too, Theo,” she breathed, nuzzling against him.

“Now let’s get some rest. Tomorrow, you’re going to show the Black Ravens why you’re their best recruit in over a century.”

He kissed her hair again as she sank under his words, under the weighted blanket of sleep. He didn’t move. He held her against him, eyes trailing over her serene face and parted lips, smiling at every soft slumbered sound she made.

Until sleep took him too, washing everything away. Everything but Jane and the steady thump of her restful heart.

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