Chapter 199
Chapter 199
Months later at Deepacre
I was made of gold. My skin was warm like the morning sun, yet parts of it ached with a fire that rivalled it. I let out a little grunt, not willing to open my eyes, not yet as I felt hands cover my breasts. Thick, callused fingers found my nipples, tugging on them just to the point of pain, but not beyond it. That harsh sensation awakened something in me, and what a way to greet the morning. I opened my eyes as my hips ground backwards, finding him hard and naked beside me.
Draven?
Part of me wanted it to be him, even though I knew it wasn’t. I had an embarrassment of richness in my bed every night, and one of them would wake me like this in the morning.
“Ged…”
I rotated my hips slowly, feeling the way his length pressed into my softness, already craving the feel of him forcing himself inside me.
“Yes, milady?” His cunning fingers worked faster, forcing twin points of pleasure to spiral within me. “Something you need?”
“We are not playing the lady of the house and her manservant again.”
My voice was all raspy from sleep.
“No?” One hand pulled free to hook my leg up over his hip, opening me for him. His hands slid between my legs, groaning at what he found there. “Then what are we doing, because bloody hell, this pregnancy has you wetter than an otter’s pocket.”
“Mm…”
My moan had a hard edge to it because he was right. “Increased blood flow”, the midwife told me when she came to check on my progress, then nodded to my men. “Though you’ll have no problems getting your needs seen to with this lot, if you’ll forgive me for saying it, milady.”
I forgave her. There was no insult to be taken, not when I had this. His thumb found my pearl, stroking it over and over as his fingers traced my entrance.
“Ged…”
“I know. I know. We drew straws last night, and I won, again.” His fingers pulled free and my hand slapped down too late, wanting to shove them back in again. “That may have something to do with the fact I marked the straws, but no mind. Shh… I’ve got you.”
My whines were becoming frantic, but there was no need to worry. I had everything I needed right here. He was brushing the head of his cock against me, then shoving inside, both of us gasping when he was buried to the hilt.
“Gods, I’ll never get used to this.”
I looked back over my shoulder to find Ged staring back at me, something vulnerable in his eyes. It wasn’t just the pleasure each one inspired any time we touched. What we had went far beyond rutting. The way he held me, as if I was precious and he’d never willingly let go. I nodded as I leaned back to kiss him. He swallowed my sighs, moving harder, faster, holding me in place to drive himself deeper. I took everything he had to give, wanting it, needing it, and murmuring that whenever our lips parted. It was a litany we all said often, because we were still enjoying the freedom of that.
Of kissing in the hallways, in the dining room, in the orchards as we collected the last of the summer fruit, there was something almost exhibitionistic about our carryings on. We had to make up for lost time, proclaiming to my entire estate my relationship with my men, because they didn’t know we were making up for lost time. Perhaps that’s why we didn’t stop as we heard footsteps coming down the hall.
“Maid…” I gasped, clamping down hard around him. “Might be Cook…”
“They’d have to be stupid, coming in here. Perhaps the old biddy wants to see her ladyship in all her glory.”
His hand worked my pearl faster, driving out all thoughts, until the door creaked open.
“Well, well…”
Brom had changed the most coming here. Setting aside his dress uniform, his armour, had allowed another man to come forward. One who smiled freely, and he did that as he came inside. “And here am I, ferrying ginger ale and crackers up to my wife to make sure she can keep something down today.” His hand landed on my belly, stroking it with a kind of possessiveness he now gave free rein. “Only to find her rutting with one of my friends.”
“A true friend would set the food aside…” Ged groaned. “And make sure our lady starts the day right.”
“True.”
The tray was deposited on a nearby chair and I stared as he dropped to his knees. Just one mischievous look and then he disappeared between my legs. I started at the feel of his tongue, the soft, slick sensation in contrast with Ged’s savage thrusts. He forced me into Brom’s mouth with each stroke and that drove me mad.
This was what I loved the most, a feeling of surrender so complete, every muscle relaxed and every nerve ending singing. I could never truly relax in the capital, but I could here. I cradled Brom’s head gently, stroking his hair and telling him how much I loved him, right up until my whole body went rigid. Gold, that’s how it felt to reach my peak, a great spray of perfect golden energy that had me panting.
“Oh, you’re not done yet.”
Ged scooped me up and set me on my hands and knees, the feeling of him driving himself back inside me too good. My mouth opened as Brom tugged his pants down and freed his cock. I took both of them hungrily, greedily, because I had learned my lesson. This could all be snatched away in a second, so I needed to take my pleasures where I found them.
But with them came memories.
My eyes rolled up, staring into Brom’s eyes, because he loved that moment of connection when I sucked him. Where had he developed that preference? Did he always see me, or sometimes, just as I did, was it Draven’s blue eyes, not mine, that he saw? He gazed at me with such a look of tenderness; it drove away any doubts. His knuckles grazed my cheek as he rasped, “I’m close. Pull away if it will make you sick, Pippin. Gods, Pippin, pull…”
I couldn’t, even if it would make me ill. My stomach was notoriously fickle, but today I knew I needed everything they had to give. Every jolt of seed down my throat. Ged’s fingers digging into my hips, leaving marks there to kiss away later, as he erupted inside me. I was picked up and tucked in against his chest, the smell of hay and sun that was all him filling my nose.
“Mm… that was a wonderful way to wake up.”
“Could be a wonderful way to go back to sleep.” Ged’s jaw cracked as he yawned.
“None of that, lazybones.” Brom slapped a hand across my arse, laughing when I yelped. “It’s harvest day.”
“Ugh…” Ged and I groaned, then nestled back down under the covers.
“The people will expect to see you, touch your stomach for luck,” Brom said.
“Too sick…” I mumbled into Ged’s armpit, which just had him chuckling.
“Come on, Lady Bountiful.” That had become my new pet name, because pregnancy seemed to have done more for my figure than a corset. I was finally developing wider hips, fuller breasts. “You know you’ll want to be there for the harvest.”
“Not actually harvesting wheat.” Brom shot me a meaningful look. “You have people to do that.”
“Well, I always help with the gleaning.”
“Not this time.” He said as he pulled me from the bed and held me close, his hands going under my stomach. “You’re growing someone very important to us in here. Focus on that and we’ll make sure every stalk of wheat is accounted for.”
“Gods, you’re beautiful.” Ged blushed the moment he said it, then shook my head. “Sorry?—”
“No, don’t be.” I reached down and pulled his shirt from the floor and tugged it on. “I’m already starting to waddle like a duck, so I may need some reassurances that you still find me desirable as the pregnancy continues. What if some pretty girl at the harvest sets her cap for you?”
I tried to keep the fear from my voice, but hell, pregnancy seemed to strip all the hard won self-control from me.
“Tries to get between me and my wife?” I shivered at that last word. Ged stood up and wedged me between the two of them. “You know we need to formalise that. The priest, he’s started asking some rather pointed questions after the service on holy days.”
“We will.”
I stared up at him, willing him to understand.
“Pippin, it’s been months.”
With no word from Draven. Of the city, there was plenty. There had been protests, even riots, each one ensuring I never regretted leaving the capital.
But Draven?
He was like a ghost that lurked in the halls, haunting us long after we tried to exorcise his influence. I shook my head, then smiled.
“After the harvest,” I promised. “There’s always a big get together once it’s done. We’ll turn it into a joint celebration. I’ll stand beneath the stars and claim each one of you in turn, making clear to any lasses who you belong to.”
“A good reason to work hard at the harvesting.” Brom kissed my temple. “Now, let’s get going…”
And so they did, each man throwing himself into the work of the harvest.
My people were a little nonplussed by the sight of dragon riders picking up scythes to help with the harvest, but when Ged showed them what he was made of, any wariness was dispelled. Bets were made as he pitted himself against one of the strongest lads, and he almost won. Cloudy watched on from where he was half asleep under the trees, Glimmer and the other dragons massed around them. They liked the sun; they liked the coming together of the community, and they liked?—
“What is it, lad?”
Soren’s tense tone had us all looking up. Wraith scrambled to his feet, and so did the other dragons. We followed their line of sight, watching a lone dragon passing overhead.
“It’ll be another man given territory out here.” Flynn tried for certainty and nearly achieved it. “Another dragon rider smallholder with no idea what he’s doing.”
“Remember when that lad and his dragon planted his corn in the middle of winter?” one of the workers chuckled. “Want me to send someone along, help him work out what he’s doing, milady?”
“No need.” Brom looked pale. “He’s coming here.”
Dragons didn’t land on my estate. Glimmer and her mates had claimed this place, and to just saunter in was considered terribly rude by dragon’s standards, so who would dare…? The sound of children chattering and the songs the women sang as they worked all fell away.
The sun had gone behind a cloud. That had to be it, because why else was I so very cold? I took an involuntary step forward, only to find a far larger Glimmer standing in front of me. My hand found her back, reassuring myself with the feel of her warm scales as we looked down the road.
His dragon hung back, waiting where he was left, but watching his rider the entire time as the man walked closer. He was dusty, tired, I could see that in the drag of his feet. He walked closer, and Brom appeared by my side, grabbing my hand and holding tight.
“Is it…?” I asked, looking up at him, imploring him for an answer. I couldn’t look. I didn’t dare, just in case I was wrong. There it was, a widening of his eyes, a spark of hope that was quickly quashed. Brom’s brows jerked down, his mouth a thin line as he started forward.
“Stay here,” he growled.
Silly men, Glimmer said. Obsidian knows better than to boss me around.
I wasn’t sure if that was true. Each one of the dragons rose to their feet, clustering around Glimmer, ready to protect her from any threat.
Even him.
“Draven…?”
Gods, why did I say his name with such longing? I tried so hard to put it all to one side, forced to each day he neglected to join me here. It was the cost I had to pay for my freedom, and I paid it willingly.
So why were my feet moving forward? Why did he stop just short of us, saddlebag slung over his shoulder, completely out of uniform? This wasn’t a king, a prince, it was?—
“Draven?” Brom said his name with far more confidence and not a small amount of anger. “What the hell are you doing here?”
“You told me to choose.” This was as raw as I’d ever heard him. The king looked so much thinner, drawn even. “You told me to choose and I did. Every day since the moment you all left, I worked to make it happen.” He stumbled forward and then fell to his knees. “I worked with the new government to change my role from absolute ruler to constitutional figurehead. I helped them develop a new constitution to help run this government. I worked with my cousin, trying to impart a lifetime of learning in a few months, so Stefan could take the crown.”
“Stefan is king?” I asked, unable to believe what I was hearing.
“He is king and Marcus fucking Lighthands is prime minister.” He raked a shaking hand through his hair. “I told myself it would take days, but that turned into weeks and then months. Turns out that changing a system of government takes a lot more time than I thought, but…” His hands came to rest on his knees. “I did it.” His eyes squinted as he stared up at the lot of us. “I did it. I am no longer Draven, King of all Nevermere. I’m just…” He shook his head, and it came to rest almost on his shoulder, a look of pure misery on his face. “I’m just yours, if you’ll have me.”
“Pippin?”
Brom’s expression was carefully devoid of emotion as he looked to me for an answer. I would decide Draven’s, all of our fate. Even the dragons hung back, watching Darkspire as he collapsed down into the dirt.
Males protect , Glimmer said, starting off down the road towards Darkspire. And queens, they let them.
“Oh gods, is there any other answer?” I rushed forward, wrapping my arms around the last of my mates and clinging to him, just in case this was a mirage and he disappeared. “Yes, Draven. The answer was always yes.”