Headed by a Snake

Chapter 747 Worthy Of Loyalty

?** Content Warning: Sexual Activity **

Tycondrius took great satisfaction in making his woman writhe in pleasure. He darted a deft hand past her meager defenses and took control of a particularly sensitive area.

"Y... yes!" Elle gasped, "That... ahhhh... mmm... Definitely... yes."

The two lovers shared another series of wet, hungry kisses before Elle pulled away.

"Y... you were my first, y'know," She sighed.

"Mm?" Tycon raised an eyebrow, "Have I been too rough?"

"N...no..." She shook her head, "I like... how gentle you are."

"Again, there is a conflict." Tycon chuckled to himself, "If you weren't aware, your entire backside is marked red with *my* handprints."

"Oh, believe me," Elle puffed her cheeks. "I know."

"Tell me, then," Tycon kissed her again to distract her, "what else do you like?"

Her frustration properly allayed, she continued... "I like... how you embrace me fully, like... you don't want to let go."

"I don't," Tycon laughed... "figuratively, of course."

Elle half-sat up, gently pulling away from Tycon's embrace... "Tychon... is... this real?"

Tycon responded by running his fingers across the woman's full posterior, causing her to nearly jump out of bed.

"Does that answer your question?" Tychon chuckled.

"Y-yeah," Elle giggled. "But I mean... you... and me... what does this mean?"

Tycon shot her a sly grin, "This may come as a shock to you, but... that shite boyfriend of yours we previously discussed-- I request that you end that relationship."

"Ch-yeah," Elle rolled her eyes, "There is no boyfriend... I've... never had anything like that. Or h've done anything like this..."

"Would you be interested in a monogamous relationship?" Tycon smiled. "I'd quite like to have you all to myself."

"Wh... why are you making it sound like a contract?" Elle squeezed her lips together in a cute pout.

"It is, of sorts," Tycon shrugged lightly.

The woman in bed with him, Tycon was enamored with everything about her... be it her wit, her honesty, or her battlefield presence.

He would not take a relationship with Elle lightly.

He would not make the mistake of being vague with her... as he did with a previous lover.

Thankfully, Tycon already had several advantages.

He had saved her in a dashing manner, with actions comparable to a storied Tyrion hero.

He was her first. For the rest of her life, she'd never forget the way he made her feel... or the way he felt inside of her.

And most importantly... he was very handsome.

Tycon wanted her.

...For selfish reasons, he also wanted a monogamous relationship with her.

But Elle was worth far more than her desirable physical attributes. She had the potential to be a powerful ally.

In the field, she tried to defend him with her body, to provide what she likely thought was the barest hope to emerge, victorious. By that alone, Tycon judged her to be worth recruiting.

Few were willing to sacrifice themselves to achieve an overall victory.

Even fewer would make the choice on their own.

"I... I want to..." Elle pursed her lips.

Tycon playfully poked her cheek, "But?"

"I... have my contract still... with Guild Metal Wolf."

"Tss. Weak." Tycon scoffed. "Your contract, I'll purchase it. And your Divine Armor, as well. With Januarius' recent... reduction in personnel and the fact that Talks-With-Fire requires a new power source to restore its functionality, I daresay he'd near beg me for the chance."

"That..." Elle frowned, "but... the coin for that would be..."

Tycon brushed a strand of hair out of Elle's eyes... "--well worth the expense."

"I... I'm not worth that much..." Elle leaned back, trying to cross her arms.

Tycon grabbed her wrist before she could close herself off, "Are you upset? Is it because *you'd* rather be the one begging for the opportunity instead of your Centurion."

There was an obscene amount of coin in such a transaction... enough that he was almost certain the woman had no idea what he was actually offering.

"Y-you can't purchase me, Tychon," Elle pulled at her wrist... "and besides... you've already had me on my knees."

"And on your back. And either side. And on and against all available surfaces present," Tycon smirked. "Shall I continue?"

A furiously blushing Elle pulled the covers over her head.

Tycon ventured a guess to the young woman's concerns.

If he were to directly purchase both her contract and her Divine Armor, she'd feel bound to serve him. If he were an unjust man, he could lord such favors over her to manipulate her.

Her reluctance showed... a sense of realism.

It only made Tycon desire her even more... professionally, emotionally, and physically.

Relationships were tentative. Elle had known him for less than a few bells, and most of that time was spent in throes of passion where thinking and logic were relegated to the least of their priorities.

It also conveyed her sense of duty. If Tycon were to force the issue, Elle would serve him without question...

...but as a slave to her contract.

It would be an abysmal waste of her potential.

While the thought was tempting in its own right, Tycon did not want Elle as a rank-and-file soldier to add to his ever-growing list of allies.

He wanted her trust. He wanted her loyalty.

He wanted to cultivate her... to eventually stand by his side as an equal.

For that, he needed to earn her trust.

He needed to be a man worthy of her loyalty.

Tycon gently took his woman's hands... softly lowering them to reveal her crimson face, "If that is unacceptable, I'll offer your Wolves my patronage."

Elle's eyes shot open, "You'll... what?"

"You may remain in Januarius' employ until the end of your contract. But with my financial support, I would be the one to direct the movements of your company."

"You..." Elle dropped the covers, revealing her ample bosom, "you'd buy a whole company... just... for me?"

The honest answer was no. The correct answer was... not that. The answer he leaned towards was yes... 'and also'.

As Elle was adjacent to him, fully naked, and with her thoughts slightly clouded by post-copulation haze, Tycon decided to forgive her self-centeredness.

"I've already decided," He smiled before stealing a quick kiss from the tall, blonde beauty.

"Y... you just want a plaything," Elle countered... though, from the tone of her voice, she scarcely believed her own words. "You're... a noble. Teneca... she called you 'Lord.'"

"I want a pilot with the skills to control one of *that* person's Divine Armors," Tycon smirked.

He couldn't be certain that Elle's Divine Armor was crafted by Harkus Mors... so he left his declaration vague enough to not be wrong-- while simultaneously validating his woman's self-worth.

Elle's eyes brightened immediately, "R-really?"

Tycon returned a gentle smile, gazing into his lover's eyes for a moment before allowing his attention to wander.

"Ah... and if I'm being perfectly honest with you... you're the most beautiful woman I've ever seen."

"Y-you!"

Oops.

Tycon's careless words returned Elle to a state of indignation and she, again, tried to pull away. He immediately made up for his mistake by caressing her body and showering her lips and neck with kisses.

Once she was properly mollified, Tycon judged that she had long enough of a break...