The Queen and the Lion - Chapter 24
With a sweet smile, Lysian clawed at Aslan’s heart.
“Well, it’s only natural for Heiban to want back their famed Black Lion. Did you know they would come for you? You must be glad to return to your homeland. Or… is it that you’re happy to leave me behind?”
No. He wasn’t happy at all.
At Lysian’s sudden mockery, Aslan felt as if a hawk’s talon had gripped his heart.
He should beg her not to send him away. Plead to stay by her side. Whether as her guard or even her stable hand, he would do anything just to be near her. If he earnestly begged, perhaps Lysian might grant his wish.
But the words caught in his throat, unable to rise.
Lysian slowly stood from her seat.
Step by step, as she approached him, Aslan’s heart thudded louder with each step.
When her hand wrapped around the back of his neck, Aslan bent his body as Lysian desired. She leaned in and whispered into his ear.
“But you are still mine.”
Her whisper bound Aslan tightly. He realized he felt relief at her words. He didn’t dare wish for her love. He only wanted her to keep him shackled, for it felt like proof of her interest in him.
Lysian’s hands encircled Aslan’s neck, and their lips met. Their tongues intertwined, and their gazes locked.
Lysian stared at Aslan, her eyes wide open, as if determined to imprint every flicker of his crumbling expression into her memory.
With the truce between Heiban and Florea, the shackles that had bound Aslan’s arms were removed. Tentatively, Aslan’s hand reached for Lysian’s waist, carefully gauging her reaction. She didn’t resist the cautious touch of his palm. Gaining a bit more courage, he pulled her slender waist closer, holding her tightly.
But that was as far as he dared.
Unsure of how to handle the fragile Lysian in his grasp, Aslan hesitated. Her waist fit perfectly within his two hands, but he didn’t know what to do next.
Their relationship had always been dictated by Lysian’s lead. Now, with this small bit of freedom, Aslan was at a loss. He simply held her waist, unsure whether to embrace her fully or lift her onto his hips and take her with unrestrained fervor. He feared that doing so might displease her.
When had he become such a timid man?
It was an uncharacteristic worry for the Black Lion, known for his bold and straightforward tactics on the battlefield. Yet Lysian was the only woman who could unsettle him this way.
Still kissing her, Aslan lifted Lysian and seated her on the desk in the study.
Lysian’s eyes widened in surprise at his sudden action, but she didn’t stop him. Her fingers gently played with his hair.
When their lips finally parted, both of them were left breathless. Aslan’s arms formed an unyielding barrier around her, caging her between his body and the desk. His broad frame loomed over her, casting a shadow across her face.
Lysian lightly traced her fingers down the arm braced beside her. No longer encumbered by the cold, cumbersome shackles, her touch glided smoothly down to his hand.
“Now that I think of it, the shackles are gone today.”
“…You once said you liked restraint.”
Aslan looked down at her with uncertain eyes.
Perhaps she wasn’t interested in him now that he wasn’t bound. It was a possibility, given what he knew of Lysian—a queen who would kick out a man she had enjoyed moments before simply because he had disobeyed her whims.
But the answer Lysian gave was far from what he expected.
“Then today, do as much as you want.”
“…”
“I promise not to kick you away this time, so don’t worry.”
With that, Lysian brushed her lips lightly against Aslan’s rough chin.
She had intended to kiss his lips, but their height difference made it difficult for her lips to reach. Unlike her soft, supple lips, Aslan’s were perpetually rough, no matter how well he ate or how well he was cared for.
But Lysian liked his lips that way. The roughness made them fun to nibble, and she enjoyed smoothing them with her tongue. Sometimes, his lips even bled, but Aslan always let her do as she pleased.
The more she possessed him, the more content she felt.
But mere possession wasn’t enough anymore. Lysian wanted Aslan to stay by her side because he wanted to. That’s why she was letting him do as he wished today.
Men were said to enjoy taking the lead in bed, and Aslan was likely no different. She was also curious about how he had held other women before her.
Thinking of the women who might have been embraced by his strong body soured her mood, but not knowing his preferences irked her even more.
Aslan, however, couldn’t understand why Lysian was acting this way. It felt as if she were granting his last wish before a final goodbye.
