Savage Shifters Box Set, page 65
Experimentally, she began to move and watched his jaw clench as he still tried to control himself—an effort for him, because he obviously didn’t want to hurt her. In response, she kissed his mouth and drew him in, whispering that she was more than ready and wanted him to move.
Blue eyes darkened before he slid his shaft out until only half of it was inside her. Then he surged back in, and the action sent pleasure spiking that she gasped. He kept moving, thrusting deep and firm, and she moved with him, arching her hips up over and over to match his rhythm. Her legs wrapped around him again as he increased the pace, hips pistoning against her as he pounded hard.
Her second orgasm came in a blur of sensation, and she embraced the pleasure of it as she kissed him. He kissed her back, hunger imminent and lips desperate as he practically fucked her raw and extended the vibrations of her climax in her muscles. She could tell he was near from the way that desperation took over his thrusting hips, and the groans that spilled out of his lips made her stomach weak. She bit his ear softly, then sucked the lobe.
And she felt him arch, right before he spilled inside her and followed her into that pleasure.
*****
Prince Oscar is out in the weapons dome with the king. I believe they are having last-minute discussions before the second battle.
Lili nodded and thanked the woman who gave her the information through sign language, pleased that she was getting the hang of it. Then she signed back and told the woman to take charge of the food distribution, right before she found another fish that could help her swim through faster. She reached the weapons dome in no time, where she found King Garth, Prince Oscar and General Rigby discussing plans—actually, not much discussing but more arguing, a certain tension in the air that she could feel deep in her bones. They saw her and acknowledged her before returning to their talk, an indication that she was allowed to be there and listen.
So Lili listened, trying her best to be quiet as she absorbed the words and understood the points of each person. As it turned out, there weren’t two points but three, each from the powerful men who tried to argue that their solution was the best. What King Garth wanted was to hold still with the same formation and wait the attack out, confident that his kingdom’s barrier would last whatever assault was thrown on them. General Rigby wanted to change the men’s formation, in case the attackers changed tactics and threw them in a loop. Oscar, in the meantime, wanted to be on the offensive, feeling like this battle was drawing itself out without reason and just using up their men’s energy with all the waiting when they could easily drive the enemies away with their highly designed traps. He further argued that his weapons were ready, and this was the best time to put them to use. He emphasized that the only thing his weapons couldn’t penetrate was hardened armor from sea lava and rock, something that was rare and only a few of them knew.
Lili turned to look at the weapons now, which stood in a line on rows of tables. It was of marble and metal design, with a switch on them that allowed the mechanism inside to move at a fast speed. That fast speed would lend to an energy that would gather into a ball, which would blast out towards the target. She supposed it would act like a laser gun and had watched the testing earlier, one that blasted a rock into pieces.
It was a pretty good idea to use it now, but…
Before she could reason it out, she cleared her throat. The sound had all three men pausing from their talk, the surprise on their faces indicating that they hadn’t been interrupted like that before.
“Princess Lili,” General Rigby began, to which she nodded her head and spoke before he could continue.
“I know this isn’t standard, especially when experienced men are discussing, but I’m a reader of the art of war. Would it be alright to give my thoughts on the matter from an outsider’s perspective?”
There was an awkward pause before Oscar nodded. The confidence on his face told her he was expecting her to side with him. She ignored it.
“Thank you. I believe King Garth’s method is very effective…if the second battle involves the same tactics the enemies used before. I strongly believe they will be using different tactics now. They seem to know what they’re doing.”
The king raised a brow at her, frowning. “Princess, with all due respect, I also know what I’m doing.”
“I understand. And with all due respect, Your Highness, standing still is predictable. Those fires they shot at you are fireworks.”
“Fireworks?”
“Yes. Where I came from, those are colorful devices that’ll make you look up because of how pretty they are—and how explosive. Artful distractions.”
“Are you saying those shots were distractions?”
“Very possibly, because why would it last for eight hours when it was obvious your barrier would hold? It’s a grand show for you to grow confident, so you wouldn’t see the next sneak attack coming. A camouflage.”
She turned to Oscar, who was eyeing her in shock.
“And your plan to move forward and attack?”
“Yes?”
“Plain reckless and cocky,” she intoned. “Again, fireworks. They’re making you think that’s all they can do, so you can walk out of there with whatever traps they set up. Don’t fall for it. It’s stupid to risk an ace too early in the game without knowing all the cards they have in store.”
She turned to the general, who looked dumbfounded.
“General, I have no comment on your plan, because I agree with it. Again, that’s just humble input. I believe your experience will let you reach the right decision. I’ll see myself out.”
Then, before she could get in trouble, Lili nodded her head and slipped out as promised. While she was prepared to give her opinions, she wasn’t exactly prepared to receive the king’s and the prince’s wraths for her disagreement with them.
Now, that would be the dumbest thing of them all.
Chapter 96
I’d like to speak with you in private, Lili.
The gesture had Lili narrowing her eyes at him as if she suspected he was up to no good. She was probably expecting him to scold her. But she nodded her head and pointed to an empty space in between some domes. In response, Oscar shook his head and pointed to a dome out far instead—one of the closed taverns he still had access to through the back entrance.
Reluctantly, she nodded again. Then she followed him, kicking her flippers as she swam and wriggled her butt in the water. He watched it for a second, highly distracted, before they reached the area, where he ushered for her to enter first before he followed.
Inside, they took a few seconds to dry up and transform. He watched her back while she did so before she whirled on him, her face determined as she opened her mouth.
“Are you here to scold me for disagreeing with you and interrupting your discussion?”
He shook his head, watching her slowly backing away from him. He kept up, walking forward until awareness and defense flashed in those hazel eyes. Her body was vibrating, revved up, ready to fight.
Little spitfire.
“Then are you here to try to change my mind? Because what I said still stands. I read it in a book, and it’s a pretty damn good book. And you know I read all kinds of books and am not easily impressed.”
“I know. I’m not going to change your mind.”
“Then what are you here for?”
“Look down, Lili.”
She did, and he waited. Those eyes widened as she took in what he wanted her to see—his bulge beneath the loincloth, not exactly easy to hide. The defense disappeared as her awareness increased, and her gaze darkened. Slowly, almost casually, he removed the loincloth, letting his erection free, where it jutted up. She bit her lower lip before her gaze snapped up, cheeks turning pink.
“Oscar, why are you…?”
“It started when I heard you talking so firmly in the weapons dome, telling us your opinion and damning the consequences. The way you stood up to my father…let’s just say everyone mostly agrees with him, especially the females. Even the queen. You’re one of the few to openly contradict him and me at the same time.”
“And that aroused you?” she blurted out.
“You’re a brave, confident woman with so much knowledge and so much common sense. And that arouses me. I wanted to grab you and pull you in earlier, Lili, but I doubt they would have liked that.”
“They wouldn’t,” she scolded. “That’s a very bad idea.”
“True. That’s why I brought you here.”
Her back hit a wall, and he only stopped moving when he was inches away from her.
“Oscar…”
“I’d like to be inside you, Lili.”
“Now?”
He smiled. “If you want.”
Her eyes clouded with desire when he touched his thumbs over her nipples, which were poking through her cover. He pulled her strings down and stared at them, the desire flooding him. But to his surprise, she started shaking her head.
“No. Not yet.” She pushed him, just a few inches away.
Then, to his next surprise—or shock, really—she knelt down. Turned the tables on him.
“Lili?”
“I want to do this first.”
Oscar looked down, stunned to find her head at level with his cock. Her eyes locked with it, turning darker, and she licked her lower lip as if the sight pleased her very much. Then a hand wrapped around him, and whatever protest had been about to come out of his lips faded off as she started to stroke him—firmly, eagerly, pulling and pushing until his blood pounded.
Then her lips wrapped around his tip, and he was lost.
She didn’t stop there. Lili opened her mouth wide and practically swallowed him, murmuring to let her know if she was doing something wrong. But there was nothing wrong with what she was doing, as it was the most pleasurable thing in the world and all he wanted was to savor it for a long time. He stifled his groan, aware there was a crowd outside, as she licked and sucked and made pleasant humming noises. The need to be inside her grew until he could no longer fight it, and Oscar stepped back enough to separate from that mouth.
Then he was turning her around and plunging his cock from behind her without warning.
Her muscles clamped around him like a vice, and he turned her head to the side so he could swallow her moans up with fervent kisses. She pushed her hips back, and he didn’t hesitate as he started moving inside her. There was nothing slow this time as he fucked her raw, pounding into her as if his life depended on it. Restlessness pushed through, and he turned their bodies around until it was her back against the wall.
Then he lifted her and continued fucking her.
Their bodies moved, and so did their mouths as they turned the heat up. Electricity ran all over his body at the feel of her, so soft and tough and smelling so good. Sweat poured down their backs, and the slapping of their skin together permeated the air with sounds. It didn’t take long, as her body bucked and her legs wrapped around him. Fingers clawed on his back. Then she clamped so tight, her orgasm taking over until her body shook with it.
He bit back a curse. Then he pumped a few more times and emptied himself inside her, the force of his own climax shaking him to the core.
They slumped against each other, breathing the smell of their orgasm in. She buried her face on his neck and groaned, then bit. After a while, Lili looked up to glare at him.
“You’re a sex fiend,” she accused. “You’re a horny bastard.”
“Yes,” he agreed. “So are you. Great sex tends to do that.”
Amusement jumped in her eyes, and she gave him a reluctant smile. “So which plan are you going with?”
“Rigby’s. As it turned out, your little speech helped. My father’s fairly impressed.”
She laughed. “Good.”
“And just a little warning.”
“Yes?”
“If you talk like that to anyone again, and maybe put me in my place, I promise to talk dirty to you the whole night.”
In response, she only laughed harder before she smacked him on the arm.
*****
The second battle started an hour after he sought out Lili, with the general’s plan of changing formations from time to time in place. There were more explosions—or as Lili called it, fireworks, rousing the three men’s suspicion as they ordered the warriors to be extra watchful. It lasted another hour with the barrier staying in place, the king’s expression serene as the second explosion started, albeit it was lesser.
They’re weakening…
King Garth’s gesturing stopped when a glow started on the barrier, spreading through—an odd phenomenon they’d never seen the barrier do before. It was brighter than its usual glow, green in color, so similar to Pushka’s eyes that Oscar tensed. It coated the dome from top to bottom, leaving no space behind. It mixed with the dust that settled from yesterday’s flames, turning a muddy color that sent dread at the pit of Oscar’s stomach.
A louder explosion rocked the kingdom, one that cracked some of the harder rocks. Some of the men looked down and swam higher up. But Oscar kept his eyes on the barrier, which shook like yesterday. But unlike yesterday, something new was happening today.
It was starting to crack.
He glanced at his father and didn’t miss the color draining from his already pale face, right before the king gestured and ordered the formation for defense. Rigby repeated the order, and they watched as a second explosion rocked the barrier and more cracks appeared. Tiny shards began to fall, crystallizing on the sand and leaving gaps of areas where the glow clung to and mixed with more of the dust.
This time, the next explosion that rocked them slid to the inside and threw some of the warriors to the ground. They were the first in line.
King Garth held up his hand. Stand your ground. Draw out your weapons. General, to the second line. Command them.
They all followed, Oscar drawing out his own weapon in a defensive position. More shards fell until the barrier disintegrated altogether down the front. The interruption on the sand turned the front area brown and them blind, but it only lasted a few seconds before they settled down again, leaving the water clear.
Creatures poured in, swimming forward—faster than Oscar had anticipated, probably almost twice their speed. He leveled his gun higher as the creatures, looking exactly like Pushka but in different colors, kept swimming forward, claws raised and sharp teeth out. In front of him, far off, the general directed the second in line, which the surviving men from the first line also joined.
When they were about ten meters away, the general raised his hand, then slid it down. Oscar watched as the second liners clicked the designated button of their weapons, then kept watching as balls of energy shot out of the weapons in an almost synchronized fashion. They sped forward, directly in the trajectory path of the creatures headed their way. Some of the energy balls speeded through faster than the others, reaching the first of the creatures and hitting them right on the chest.
Sand flew up everywhere, removing visibility again. Because of the power of the throw, it should have blasted them to pieces, much like it did the rocks. If their hides were thicker, it would still definitely have injured them, as it was meant to do. Oscar waited for the first creature to drop with a thud as the warriors blasted again.
The first creature that was blasted leaped out of a cloud of sand and towards the nearest merman, webbed feet clinging and claws sinking in. It slashed, and Oscar stared in horror as the merman’s organs left his body. A scream gurgled silently in the water before more creatures were leaping up and towards the second line.
They kept blasting their weapons and hitting their targets—but as if immune, the creatures kept moving, even when they were hit on the torso. Some warriors tried hitting the head, but the spikes there grew sharper, snapping out and deflecting the energy balls.
Blood flowed. It followed the sand in causing non-visibility, and it just kept getting thicker and thicker. Entrails and body parts trailed everywhere, floating in the air before landing at the bottom of the sea. It was a bloodbath—or more specifically, a nightmare.
Rigby signaled again, which the king repeated.
Second line, retreat towards the third line!
The warriors that were still alive did, carrying and dragging the injured ones with them. Oscar tensed as the creatures followed, not knowing the correct path and falling into the traps they set up—nets, spears, and the likes. The spears were useless as whatever deflected the energy balls also deflected that. The nets worked for some, but the other creatures managed to use their spikes to cut through it and escape. They climbed over each other like mindless beings, trying to race on who could get to the nearest live warrior. They latched, tearing flesh and eating, sucking blood and destroying.
The third line tried to combat it, but they eventually fell, too. General Rigby was carried by one of the rookies, who ran as fast as he could and deposited his unconscious form on the ground. One of his legs was gone.
Oscar turned to his father, a growl already in his throat. But before he could state it, his father was already signaling.
Retreat! Everyone retreat!
The warriors did their best to, even while the fast-sprinting creatures tried to catch up. The king signaled for them to fall back into the next barrier, which had already been set open for them. They all spilled into the opening before it got smaller, the lords taking the lead and everyone following. The king stayed behind, directing the men outside even while they protested.
Oscar went to Rigby, lifting him over his shoulders and swimming off. He passed by his father and told him to retreat, too, but the king only nodded and saw through his men. Then he joined the last line of retreaters.
A creature managed to slip in and leap for Oscar, and he managed to toss Rigby aside before the creature drove him to the sand. They wrestled and rolled, with Oscar taking hold of a spear and driving it through the creature’s neck. Before the creature could stand up, he took two more spears and drove them in the creature’s webbed feet. Then he drove the last one through the chest, finding gaps in between scales that reached and pierced the heart.
