“But not this morning, Mary Mage. This morning I’m going to do to you exactly what I said I would.”

I blinked at him anxiously.

He slid his arm down the wall next to me and slid his hand beneath my gray mage’s robe and swept one side off my shoulder. Letting it fall to the ground behind me. He reached across to the other side and did the same. His hand brushing my breast on the way by.

Making me hiss an indrawn breath as my nipple hardened at even that meager touch.

His gaze fell to that taut bit of flesh and he flicked a thumb over it as he made an appreciative sound. “Take your clothes off, Mary.”

I made a whimpering sound as I tipped my head back in defeat. Straightening my arms to let the robe fall over the bush next to me.

“Now the dress.”

“Hawk…” I tried pleading one more time. “What would make you let me go?”

“An icy day in Hell, Mary.” He smirked wolfishly.

***

I plucked at the laces on my dress. Taking as long as possible.

I could feel his breath along my lips, so close from where he leaned an elbow on the wall next to my ear.

“Stop.” He nudged my chin with his to force my eyes up to his. Inches away.

I looked at him. My shaking hand pausing.

He brushed it away with his free one and he gave me a slow study before leaning off the wall and leisurely dropping his attention to the laces and slowly peeling them apart with his nimble fingers. “Why are you so scared.”

“I don’t understand why you’re doing this to me.”

“Because I want you. And because when we link, we exchange power.”

“Exchange? Or you steal mine?”

“How can I steal from you when it is you taking me in? Wouldn’t it be more likely you’re taking mine?”

I blinked at the strange logic in it. “Am I?”

“We both are. I already told you. If you’d give into it. You’d realize that every time we touch, we’re fueling each other’s power. Renewing our own. You can’t feel it because you’re afraid of it.”

He peeled open the sides of my dress to expose my breasts. But his gaze returned to my face and he nudged my chin with his knuckles. “Afraid of me…”

***

“To your knees, Mary Mage.” He sighed. As if reluctant to break eye contact with me. Disappointed to be giving me instructions I wouldn’t like, yet again.

I slid down the wall with a sob and knelt before him. He unlaced his breeches and freed the bit of flesh that was already partly upright.

“Take it into your sweet mouth for me, Mary.”

I looked up at him then back down at it, but he seemed willing to wait patiently. My mouth opened as I struggled to find the words I wanted to say. Whether it was to rage curse words at him or beg him to let me go back to the Training Garden.

“Please, Mary.” He coaxed, uncharacteristically. “I’d rather you meet me along the way rather than me forcing you. I can you know…”

I chewed my lip briefly and realized he was right. This will be on my terms.

I still remembered the pain of that first time when I’d fought him, then tried to flee and he’d entered me so forcefully I’d thought he was trying to pierce me to the hilt.

***

Grasping his rod in a light grip, I guided it to my mouth.

He made a surprised sound. Clearly stunned that I’d do it without the direction of his magic. His hands falling to stroke my hair.

When it slipped between my lips and along my tongue, I felt it immediately hardening. Making me straighten as I wondered how I was to do this.

He helped by gently urging my face forward to coax himself deeper into my mouth until he touched the back of my throat.

I yelped slightly and he groaned at the abrupt feeling of my mouth moving to make the sound while taking him in.

He then led my head back and nearly withdrew himself from between my lips. “Take a breath, Sweet Thing.”

I obeyed.

And soon I learned the rhythm he was teaching me. Bobbing my head forward and back to take his cock into my mouth then withdrawing it.

His pelvis leaned forward, offering me more. And his fingers turned to grip into my hair. Encouraging faster movements.

I was willing to do this, different as it was to keep him from entering me the way he had before. Where he could look at me.

See what he’s doing to me.

***

But he was far from willing to comply with my hopes. Once he was sure he was fully erect and eager he lightly pressed my head back.

“I want inside you.”

“You were though?” I peered up at him.

He was just in my mouth.

“No, I want to fill you, Mary. To feel you all around me, under me.”

I was still staring at him in confusion when he leaned to catch my waist and lift me. Moving me to the side of him and facing away.

He knelt on the ground behind me. His pants still riding low on his thighs. He pushed my shoulders, forcing me to drop down on all fours. He caught my skirts and reached my undergarments. He gave it a quick jerk and ripped my petticoat at the seam.

I was quiet, bent down as I was, the most I could do was try and crawl away and I knew he’d just drag me back. I felt the draft along my lower lips and knew he’d accessed me.

He dropped over my back and whispered into my ear. “I told you what’d happen if you left me. You did this Mary Mage.”