HUNTRESS and HER BEAST -AASHLOK OS

Perfect was never the word she would use for it. It was never perfect between them. Rough, wrong and ruthless sounded much better. As she lay under the rough jute spread, on the cold hard floor, she felt the irony biting in. Here they were in their bedroom, with the cold of the dying night seeping into her skin as he lay beside her. It was evident that this would never translate into something new, never did and never will. Exhausted with too many thoughts she tried to turn around and lie on her back, forgetting the rule no.1 - Never wake the lion before you're ready to fight. A sharp tug at her waist pulled her back to the floor, the harsh cold stinging her front further.

"You never do learn do you?" his voice was clear, not drugged with sleep or exhaustion. Which meant that he had not slept at all. Before she could curse her miscalculation she felt his breath on her nape, sending warmth down her freezing frame. "Why do you try? Haven't we already established that you belong below me?" there was pure, unadulterated ego in his tone.

"I am not your slave you p.." her angry whisper was cut short by the frozen fingers caressing her mid-riff. It was enough to spark a shiver in her limbs as the calloused digits scripted imaginary lines on her torso, every word closing an inch's distance towards his destination.

"Of course not darling, not my slave. Just a slave to your own desires aren't you?" he drawled in that husky tone which was effortless in stimulation, "You know, now that I think of it, all of it seems planned. The arrogance, the audacity, the..innocence" The way he rolled the last word on his tongue reminded her of the way that pink organ wreaked havoc earlier that night. Quelling the urge to satisfy the churning fire within, she directed her energy at the innuendo he had hinted at.

"Planned? I would rather burn in hell than waste my time and thoughts on luring an animal as you. It was you who plotted this. Your false charms, pathetic attempts at seduction and the fake chivalry never fooled me." She knew that she was baiting him. His attention was always piqued when challenged and it had worked if the sharp nip at her shoulder was any proof.

His answer to her taunt was physical as it always had been. Scratching her tanned smooth shoulder with his rough stubble, he dragged his moist lips over the shapely shoulder blades. The wet trail received an unnoticeable gasp from his victim as he went on to blow over his marking. The fingers which had written a fantasy till her abdomen, stilled there, only his thumb drawing concentric circles at a sensitive spot. Never one to be left behind, she stroked his calf with her foot, having mastered the art of using her pliancy in this game. Arching her spine to have a better angle, she twisted at her waist, now facing the darkened eyes which brimmed with the renewed wildness. The eyes which were now trained onto her puckered petals, adding a glow to her passion filled face.

As he torturously lowered himself to fit the puzzle, she was tempting him with, his hands tugged at her wrists, twisting her arms behind her. The action pushed her forward, inches away from the blazing form she had spent the past hour draped over. As the mercury levels burst through the sky and her inner volcano threatened to erupt he breathed over her lips.

"You got one thing right. I am an animal", the words in combination with the warm spurts of breath tantalised her but she knew her final card.

"And I am your tamer." The ultimate answer that it was, the beast went on to prove his dominance as his favourite huntress fought him with her own will. This was no war of the word, clash of brilliance or battle for the prize. It was a combat of desires, rising and falling over each other in the quest for the ultimate conquest. As the air resonated with broken gasps and half-formed cries, the imperfection became perfect again.