Rated M for steaminess.

Punishment

The melody filling the ballroom was sweet and mellow, the tempo constantly speeding and slowing. On the stage in the corner, the orchestra played with hooded eyes and dancers in their finery spun before them. Musa moved among them in time to the beat, her hips swaying, feet flying across the floor, graceful as always.

The room was dim, lit only by small fires flickering on the massive chandeliers overhead. The light shifted and danced as if it heard the music, painting the room in shadows and gold. Riven stood by the windows, his gaze trained on Musa, following her every twirl. He reminded her of the nymphs as they spun carelessly through the air, riding on currents of wind, unrestrained and free. She had convinced him to dance with her and he'd indulged her for a little while, but then he'd stepped away, preferring to watch her instead.

She was a sight to behold. Her gown was pale blue, turned silver under the firelight and weak moonlight spilling in from the windows. When she moved, the material outlined her small curves and the deep plunging neckline of her dress left little to the imagination. She looked enticing, and Riven wanted nothing more than to run his hands all over her, pull her close. She caught his hungry gaze and gave him a discreet wink. Tease, he thought.

The tune changed, becoming upbeat and swift. Riven continued to watch as she joined hands with the girls and they spun in a circle across the dance floor. With every spin, she leaned back a little further and the neckline of her dress shifted outward to the side, revealing more and more of her scantily covered chest. Riven's breath caught in his throat, his eyes locked on the expanse of her milky-white skin, which grew with each passing moment. He knew it wasn't so but he felt as if she was doing this on purpose, tempting him, testing his restraint, which was dangerously close to breaking.

Just before the dress shifted to reveal too much and her modesty evaporated, she straightened. Riven let out his breath; he hadn't known he'd been holding it. He needed a drink. Desperately.

Moving over to the refreshments table, he chose the strongest liquor and downed it. Not that it did anything to calm him; he still felt flustered.

Had they been anywhere else, he would've grabbed Musa and they would be kissing in a hidden alcove somewhere by now. But they were on Domino, celebrating one year since the rebirth of the realm and there were nobles and guards everywhere. And even if he did take the risk, if they were to be caught, it would defame Bloom by association and she'd probably burn him alive.

Grabbing another drink, he went back to his place by the window and sought out Musa in the crowd. He couldn't keep his eyes off her. Earlier, when they'd been dancing together, he hadn't been able to keep his hands off her either, copping a feel whenever they danced into a shadow. She had been teasing him relentlessly, pressed up closer to him than was appropriate at a ball, and he hadn't been able to help himself.

He cursed himself for being so weak-willed when it came to her.

He spotted her at last in amongst the other guests. She was dancing with Layla, swaying, whirling, looking tantalising. Fixedly he watched her: the movement of her hips, the swish of her rear, the way the light played across her skin. She turned so that she faced him and he saw the tiny smirk curving her lips. She knew that he was watching.

This time, when she leaned back, it was on purpose. She danced near the windows and the moonlight washed over the column of her neck and her chest, making her skin glow. Riven clenched his jaw.

Seeing his reaction, her smirk grew and she spun Layla nearer to where he stood. As she danced past him, she brushed her lips against his jaw, the gesture imperceptible to the crowd. He revelled in the heat beneath his skin where her lips had just touched, eyes still on her as she danced away. She gave him another wink, her smirk a full-blown grin now.

Such a tease, Riven thought. Did she have any idea what she was doing to him? His restraint was as thin as a thread; he fought to get it back. There was nothing he could do, not yet. He'd have to wait till they left the ball.

A few songs later, he couldn't take it any longer, having watched her glide through the room in her ridiculously form-fitting dress, whose neckline he swore was shrinking. She had been glancing at him coyly throughout the songs, winking mischievously at every opportunity. His jaw hurt from all the clenching and grinding.

He strode across the ballroom to her and put his arms around her waist. His mouth dropped to her ear. "You've been teasing me," he whispered, his voice husky.

Musa smirked. "And you've been enjoying it."

He pulled back and stared down at her, his gaze dropping south past her lips. "You shouldn't be allowed to wear dresses like this," he said, his fingers skimming the skin the plunging neckline showcased.

"You don't like it?" she asked, feigning innocence. She angled her body towards the moonlight, making her skin glow in its luminescence.

"I like it too much." He whispered the words against her lips and felt her shiver. "I don't know if I can control myself."

"Then don't," she said simply.

His eyes darkened; hers glinted challengingly. He brushed his lips over hers, teasing, once, twice. Then his thread-thin restraint snapped and he bent lower, putting his mouth hard over hers, tongue probing past her lips. But before their kiss could escalate, a cough came loudly over their shoulders. They broke apart, suddenly realising where they were, and turned towards Layla, who stood shaking her head disapprovingly.

"You do realise," Layla hissed, "that you're standing in the middle of the room where everyone can see you. Riven being careless I understand – in fact, put a beautiful woman in front of any man and he'll start thinking with his groin. But you, Musa?" Layla shook her head. "I expected you to keep your head at least."

"Riven kissed me," Musa protested, cheeks burning.

"Only because you've been teasing him all night." Layla fixed her with a pointed stare. "Don't think I haven't noticed. I saw you kiss him when we danced past him earlier. That's right – you're not as subtle as you think! I doubt there's much blood going to his brain right now anyway, so it's not his fault that you're embarrassing yourselves in front of everyone."

Riven opened his mouth to protest, but Layla was right: his blood was definitely not going to his brain.

"Come on," Layla said, grabbing Musa's arm. "Let's go outside and give Riven some time to cool off."

Pushing away her embarrassment, Musa began following after Layla, but just before Riven was out of reach, she brushed her hand subtly against the place where his blood was going to.

"Seriously," Layla said, appalled, as Riven tensed. "You need to get a grip, Musa! I saw that!"

Musa laughed and then she disappeared outside. She was going to pay, Riven decided, but first, he really did need to cool off. He grabbed another drink and went to join his friends standing near the windows, hoping that their conversation and banter would make the ball end sooner.

It was pitch-black outside when the ball finally ended and everyone filed outside. The moon hid behind dark storm clouds and in the far distance, thunder rumbled. Riven walked hurriedly down the palace steps, tugging Musa behind him. Their carriage waited among the others, gleaming in the weak moonlight. The driver sat with his back straight on the seat at the front, loosely holding the reins attached to the two small dragons that pulled the carriage. He was young, barely a young man, probably one of the servant boys who had been relieved of his duties for the night to drive the guests back to their residences.

Riven waved his hand in dismissal at the boy before he could jump down from his seat and open the door for them. Instead, he did it himself, helping Musa into the carriage. The space inside was large, with two cushioned seats, illuminated by a lamp dangling from the ceiling. Riven waited till Musa had settled herself on the seat, then he licked his index finger and thumb and put out the flame inside the lamp.

"Why did you do that?" Musa asked as the carriage began to move. She could barely see him in the moonlight coming through the windows, but she could feel his smirk.

"So I could punish you for teasing me all night." His voice was deep, seductive.

Anticipation coiled deep within her. She felt him inch closer, and then suddenly she was in his arms and his mouth was slanting over hers, and there was nothing but the taste of him and the feel of him and the heat surging through her.

Their kiss escalated quickly, tongues stroking, teeth hitting one another's as if they couldn't quite get close enough. Musa moaned when she felt him bite on her lip and then soothe the bite with his tongue. She felt intoxicated. The only thing she was aware of was the kiss; it was hot and lustful, and she was on fire.

Riven pushed up the skirt of her gown, revealing her long legs. She got the hint and moved to sit on his lap, grinding down hard against his hips and then swallowing down his wanton moan. By the dragon, he was sexy when he moaned.

"Like that, huh?" she said into the kiss and he moaned in assent.

She repeated the motion, moaning with him, until he pulled away, air whooshing out from between his lips, eyes shut tight. Rising from his lap, Musa unbuckled his trousers and pulled them off him. Then she ground down against him again – only underwear between them now – and watched and revelled in the way his eyes shut tighter and his head fell back to rest against the carriage wall.

She paused, staring at him for a moment. Moonlight washed over his face and when he opened his eyes, the lust in his gaze was plain to see.

She bit her lip. "Punish me, Riven," she whispered, leaning in to him, her voice demanding and sensual.

"Oh, I will," he promised, smirking against her ear. Trailing a line of kisses along her jawline, he reached her mouth and captured it another heated kiss. His hands stroked her thighs, stopping at the apex just once to rub firmly before retreating. She groaned, arching into him, and Riven wondered for a moment whether the boy driver could hear them, before deciding that he didn't really care.

He moved his mouth down Musa's neck, leaving a line of love bites. He loved the sounds she made, each and every moan and sigh and mewl. Reaching the junction between her neck and shoulder, he bit down while gripping her thighs firmly. "Riven," she breathed huskily and he was suddenly very glad that his trousers were off.

The skin exposed by the plunging V-neck of her dress was cast in a blueish sheen under the moonlight; Riven kissed his way down the strip of skin and skimmed his lips over the inner part of each of her breasts that the dress revealed. Musa tried moving the material to uncover more of her skin, but he caught her hands, holding them behind her back as he continued to kiss her chest. She whimpered, bucking on his lap, feeling his need through his boxers. For a moment, she wondered if she was really the one being punished; at least she was getting some relief with his mouth on her body.

His hands roamed her legs again, slowly wandering to her rear. He pulled her against his groin and groaned when he felt how much she wanted him, but her punishment was not over yet. Lightly his fingers skimmed her underwear, turning her into a whimpering mess above him. She rocked into his hands but he didn't increase the pressure. He kept up with his light and torturous rubbing, his tongue tracing her collarbone, hot breath fanning over her chest. Goosebumps covered every inch of her skin and her fingers knotted in his hair.

Without warning, he dipped his fingers beneath the waistband of her underwear and tugged upwards on the material, hard. The friction made Musa scream. A ripping sound came a heartbeat later and she realised he'd torn through the lace. Before she could scold him, his fingers resumed skimming and rubbing, this time with more pressure and no material to obstruct them.

As her head flew back, the carriage began to slow. The boy driver's voice floated back to them. "Is everything all right?"

Riven took Musa's earlobe between his teeth, increasing the pressure of his fingers. She clenched her jaw, trying to keep from screaming again.

"Answer him," Riven ordered. The strokes of his fingers became faster. She shook her head. "Answer him, Musa, or I will stop."

She whimpered, then took a deep breath, fighting against the heat consuming her. "Everything's fine," she said weakly.

"Louder," Riven growled.

Her keens filled the carriage as she felt his fingers ease into her body, where she wanted them most. There was no way she was going to be able to answer the driver coherently. Words flew out of her mind; there was only his fingers, driving her insane.

"Answer him," Riven said again, his teeth tugging on her earlobe.

"I can't," she whimpered, breathless. "Riven…"

She felt his fingers retreat and knew she had no choice. "Everything's fine," she shouted loudly through the window, clenching her thighs together to keep his fingers where they were. She knew she'd sounded breathy but she hoped the boy wouldn't take much notice or worse, stop the carriage and come check on them. She held her breath and a moment later sighed in relief when the carriage picked up speed again, the dragons at the front beating their wings harder.

"I hate you," Musa hissed and tugged on Riven's hair angrily.

He laughed. "No you don't. Besides, you brought this on yourself."

She bit her lip, resolving to keep her voice down and gave in to his ministrations, rocking back and forth. One of his hands came up to brush over her dress-covered chest; her nipples strained against the material and he rolled his thumb over them. It wasn't enough. She needed his mouth. She pushed his head towards her chest but he was intent on suckling on her neck.

Deciding to take matters into her own hands, she unzipped her dress before he could stop her and pulled it over her head, throwing it behind her. She stared at him, giving him the most seductive look she could muster.

Riven breathed through his nose, the hand between her thighs speeding up, but her gaze didn't falter. She sat on his lap, not a scrap of clothing covering her, daring him to taste her skin. He resisted, remembered he had to punish her, but when her own hands began snaking up from her stomach to her chest, his resolve shattered like glass and he ducked swiftly to kiss her bust. Her hands came to rest on his shoulders instead, clenching as she felt his rough, wet tongue on her nipples.

She was burning, she was sure of it. Fire raged deep within her core, radiating out to the tips of her fingers and toes. If this was the result of teasing him, she'd have to do it more often.

She lost herself to the pleasure, whispering his name, moaning, her head rolling from side to side. The tension built, faster and faster. She was profoundly aware of his fingers moving and his mouth kissing, lapping, biting. It was becoming too much to take. She hurtled towards the edge, the tension deep within her seconds away from breaking.

It shattered, completely, suddenly, when he kissed her sweet spot above her collarbone. His name left her lips, a strangled cry, her fingers digging into his shoulders hard enough that Riven could feel her nails biting into his skin even through his suit and shirt.

He brushed his lips against hers, waiting till she calmed. As she panted softly, he removed the rest of his clothing, the cool air from the windows drying the perspiration on his body. Once he sensed she'd regained her breath, he removed her from his lap, laying her gently on the long seat and then moving to hover over her.

Her eyes were clouded and there was a small mischievous smile on her lips. "I enjoyed my punishment," she whispered, making his mouth turn up in a rare smile. He stared down at her adoringly, tracing her cheekbones with his thumb.

She closed her eyes and pulled him down to her, running her hands over the hard planes of his back. Riven put his mouth over hers and they kissed lazily for what felt like eternity. Finally, he settled between her hips and joined their bodies.

They moaned in unison.

The feeling was like nothing else.

"I love you," Riven murmured into her hair, his voice strained.

Musa could only moan in response, wrapping her legs around his waist as he began rolling his hips.

They were a tangle of limbs, hands running all over each other, lips kissing, teeth biting. Their pace became frenzied and their moans and grunts filled the air. The carriage jostled unexpectedly over a bumpy patch in the road, pushing them closer together, increasing the intensity of each connection. Musa cried out, raking her nails down Riven's back. He groaned at the feeling, clutching her closer to him.

She could feel his heart pounding against her ribcage, its beating keeping pace with his hips. Her back arched, exposing her throat to him; he peppered kisses all over it, moving down to her bust.

The fire coursing through her had turned into an inferno, all-consuming. "Harder," she cried, wanting to stoke the flames. Riven obeyed, hands holding her waist tightly.

He could tell that she was close to her peak. She trembled in his arms, moaning with abandon, saying his name over and over. At that moment, he didn't care that she was being loud, that the boy driver could undoubtedly hear her; the sounds she made were music to his ears, meant for him, caused by him.

He buried his head in crook of her neck, his breath catching as they plummeted into bliss together. Musa arched into him, her head thrown back, mouth open in a soundless scream.

Riven kissed the pulse on her neck; it was racing just like his own. As they both recovered, his fingers wove through her hair, combing it gently.

It took a few moments for their heartbeats to slow and for their breathing to return to normal. It was only then that they realised that the carriage had stopped moving. He rolled off her, handing her back her gown and then dressing himself quickly.

Her lace underwear, torn and unusable, lay in the corner; Riven picked it up and held it up for Musa to see. "Looks like you'll have to go without," he said, smirking as he pocketed the scrap of lace.

Musa blushed, shoving at him. He caught her around the waist, pulling her in for a tender kiss.

"You can punish me now," he murmured against her lips, "for ruining your underwear."

A wicked glint formed in her eyes and she dragged him out the carriage.

The boy driver sat on his perch, rigid, stiffy holding the reins. He stared straight ahead, his face beet-red in embarrassment. He'd heard everything. Normally Musa would have been mortified, but now she barely spared the boy a glance as she pulled Riven close to her by his shirt collar and walked backwards to their guesthouse, eager to get her revenge.

To find out what happens next, check out the sequel to this story on my profile, titled, SWEET TORTURE.

xxxMusarockz