"A very high price for a promise," he murmured, his thumb stroking her jawline. "But one I am willing to accept. Rise."
Mu Qing rose smoothly to her feet, her movements fluid and graceful. She stood before him, her head slightly bowed, waiting.
"Your words are one thing," Xu Tianyi said, his hand moving from her chin to the tie of her robes. "Your willingness is another. Show me."
He deftly untied the sash of her outer robe. The fine silk whispered as it loosened, parting to reveal the simple yet elegant undergarments beneath.
Mu Qing's breath hitched, but she did not pull away. Her hands remained at her sides, her fists clenching and unclenching as she fought to remain still under his deliberate, unhurried touch.
He slid the outer robe from her shoulders, letting it pool on the floor around her feet. The cool air of the room kissed her skin, raising goosebumps on her arms.
He took a moment to appreciate the sight of her—a woman in her prime, with a lithe, well-maintained figure that spoke of both discipline and dormant sensuality.
His eyes met hers again, a silent command. Understanding dawned, and with a final, shaky exhale, Mu Qing slowly lowered herself to her knees before him once more.
Her hands, trembling slightly, reached for the waistband of his trousers. She fumbled for a moment, her nervousness palpable, before she managed to undo the fastening.
She peeled back the fabric, her eyes widening slightly as he was revealed to her. He was already impressively endowed, a testament to his powerful spiritual essence, and the sheer masculine potency of him was almost overwhelming.
Hesitantly, she leaned forward. Her breath was warm against his skin. She parted her soft, pink lips and took him into her mouth. The initial contact was clumsy, her inexperience showing.
She was unsure of her movements, her tongue flicking tentatively. Xu Tianyi remained still, allowing her to find her rhythm. He threaded his fingers through her hair, his grip firm but not painful, a silent guide. He could feel her nervous energy, but beneath it, a fierce resolve.
She began to move with more confidence, her movements becoming a little bolder, a little deeper. She took more of him in, her cheeks hollowing as she applied suction, her tongue swirling around the sensitive head.
The wet, rhythmic sounds filled the quiet room, a lewd counterpoint to the soft hum of spiritual energy. It was an act of pure, unadulterated submission, a physical manifestation of the vow she had just spoken.
She poured all her will, all her focus, into the task, determined to prove her worth. When he finally tensed and released with a low groan, she swallowed without hesitation, her lips remaining sealed around him until he was spent.
She pulled back, a thin string of saliva connecting them for a moment before breaking. She looked up at him, her lips swollen and glistening, her eyes questioning, searching for his approval.
Xu Tianyi's expression was unreadable, but there was a new heat in his gaze.
He helped her to her feet, his strength effortless. "That is a start," he said, his voice husky.
He scooped her into his arms, eliciting a gasp of surprise from her. In a few long strides, he carried her from the dining hall and up the stairs, toward his chambers.
He laid her down on his bed, the soft silken sheets cool against her bare skin. The room was bathed in the gentle light of a moonstone, casting a silvery glow over everything.
For a moment, he simply stood over her, his powerful form a shadow that seemed to dominate the space. Mu Qing felt a thrill of fear and anticipation run through her. This was the point of no return.
He knelt on the bed beside her, his hand tracing the curve of her hip.
"Your body is a treasure, refined by spiritual energy,"
he murmured, his voice a low caress. "It is only fitting that it is appreciated as such."
He leaned down, his lips capturing hers in a kiss that was both demanding and possessive. It was not a gentle kiss; it was a claim, a branding.
His tongue delved into her mouth, tasting her, dominating the kiss completely. Mu Qing melted against him, her own inexperience forgotten in the face of his overwhelming presence.
She kissed him back with a desperate passion, her hands coming up to clutch at his shoulders.
His hands began to explore her body, his touch igniting fires wherever it roamed. He caressed her breasts, his thumbs brushing over her nipples, which hardened instantly at his touch.
A soft moan escaped her lips. He broke the kiss, his mouth trailing a path of fire down her neck, across her collarbone, and to the swell of her breasts. He took a nipple into his mouth, sucking and teasing it with his tongue, while his hand continued to knead her other breast.
The dual stimulation was intoxicating. Mu Qing arched her back, offering herself to him, her body trembling with a pleasure she had never known.
His hand slid down her stomach, his fingers dancing over her skin until they reached the warmth between her thighs.
He teased her through the fabric of her undergarments, his touch maddeningly light. She squirmed beneath him, a silent plea for more.
With a soft chuckle, he finally slid his hand beneath the final barrier. His fingers found her slick and ready for him. He stroked her folds, his touch expert, circling her most sensitive spot before sliding a finger inside her.
She gasped, her inner muscles clamping down around his digit. He began to move, his finger pumping in and out of her in a slow, deliberate rhythm, while his thumb continued to work her clit.
The pleasure built within her, a tight coil of heat in her lower belly. He added a second finger, stretching her, preparing her.
The pressure mounted, becoming an almost unbearable ache. She was gasping for air, her hands fisting the sheets beneath her. Just as she felt herself teetering on the edge of release, he withdrew his fingers.
She cried out at the loss, her eyes flying open to meet his. He was positioned above her, his expression one of raw, primal need. He spread her legs wide, positioning himself at her entrance.
He looked down at her, his gaze intense, searching her face one last time. Mu Qing met his stare without flinching, her own eyes dark with lust and surrender. She was ready.
He entered her in one powerful, smooth thrust. A sharp cry of pain tore from Mu Qing's lips as he broke through her final barrier.
He was large, and the sudden stretching was intense. He paused, buried deep inside her, allowing her a moment to adjust to his size. He brushed a stray strand of hair from her face, his touch surprisingly gentle.
"Breathe," he commanded softly.
Mu Qing took a deep, shuddering breath, the pain slowly subsiding, replaced by a feeling of fullness, of being utterly and completely possessed. She experimentally clenched her inner muscles around him, and was rewarded with a low groan from him.
He began to move, his strokes slow and deep at first, each thrust hitting a place deep inside her that sent shockwaves of pleasure through her.
The pain was forgotten, replaced by a rising tide of ecstasy. He set a rhythm, a primal, powerful beat that she was helpless to do anything but follow. Her body moved with his, her hips rising to meet his thrusts.