Chapter Twenty-One
We bid the mermaids farewell, although they do attempt to drag me back into the pool with them. Several times, I almost give in, my legs still wobbling. I can see why sailors are lured to their doom.
Luthian dries me with magic and suggests a nice, sunny spot for us all to bask in, and the prince and my pretend mate catch up while I doze in the grass. Now and again, I open my eyes to watch faeries and other creatures pass by, but then my lids slide closed, and I let myself drift.
That is, until I spot a faery with autumn leaf wings walking with a piebald minotaur. I push myself up on my hands. There is no doubt the faery is Firo; I would recognize his striking profile and gorgeous brown skin anywhere.
When there is a lull in his conversation, I ask, “Luthian, I think I see someone I know. Would you mind if I greeted him?”
“Not at all.” He nods toward Firo. “Tell him I send my fondest regards.”
I get to my feet and skip across the grass, toward the hedges that line the crushed stone walkway. “Firo! Ambassador Firo!”
He turns, seeking out the sound. When he sees me, he flashes me his gorgeous smile. “Cenere!”
I run into his open arms and give him a crushing hug, hoping he doesn’t mind my still-damp clothes.
“You’re here with Luthian?” He nods toward the two faeries who are still occupied with conversation.
“Yes. My mate thought it was time to return to court.” I stress the mate part.
Firo’s brows lift. “Congratulations on your binding.”
“Thank you.” I turn to Firo’s companion. “Sir.”
Firo takes a breath as if suddenly remembering his manners. “Cenere, this is my friend, Utrax.”
The minotaur makes an expression I believe to be a smile, though it’s difficult to tell on a bovine head. “We’ve met, Firo.”
“But I did not get your name,” I point out.
He snorts a bullish laugh. “It wasn’t the usual introduction.”
Firo’s eyes widen. “The two of you?”
“His Majesty is very generous to his friends,” I say with a slight purse of my lips that can leave Firo no doubt as to what I’m implying.
“How long have you been here?” the faery asks.
“We arrived yesterday.” I laugh at his look of surprise.
“And she’s made quite an impression,” Utrax says. “There are many who wish to have her. I’m honored to have been among the first.”
“After the king, of course.” I give Firo a little smirk.
Firo’s lips twist in amusement. “I had no doubt you’d do well here at court. And if ever you’re in need of me...”
I blush hot as his gaze travels down, over my exposed breasts and what little of my body is hidden by the thin linen. “Your meaning is perfectly understood.”
His eyes pinch at the corners. “Is it?”
“Cenere! Lovely Cenere!”
I turn at the prince’s voice.
“Go,” Firo says. “I’m sure we’ll meet again.”
“If you survive me,” Utrax says, leaning close to Firo’s ear.
I hurry off, but I note that the king’s friend isn’t just walking with Firo, a faery I know. He’s speaking with the ambassador from the Court of Time and Destiny. Firo’s position at court is wholly political. To be making friends with someone so close to the king is...interesting.
I’ll tell Luthian later.
Cassan puts his arm out and motions for me to sit beside him on the grass. When I do, he pulls me in close. “I was just telling your mate about my birthday wish.”
“Is he giving away wishes for free now?” I tease.
“I told him that I want you,” Cassan goes on. “Presented to me on a bed of silk, denied for so long that you beg for my cock. In such a frenzy that you come the moment I enter you.”
“Because His Royal Highness knows that he’ll last only seconds in a cunt as exquisite as yours,” Luthian says.
I turn my adoring gaze up to Cassan. “I’m flattered that you think I would make such a pleasing gift for you, but when is your birthday?”
“In two weeks.” He sighs deeply at the tragedy.
I shake my head. “I will hardly be a novelty. Surely, you’ll take me before then. Two weeks seems like such an agonizing wait.”
“I don’t know why I can’t simply have my celebration now.” His cock, still unencumbered by his breeches, begins to stiffen. “We could have the entire scenario arranged by this evening.”
“Cassan doesn’t understand the concept of patience,” Luthian says, and tips his forehead just slightly toward me.
Anticipation. A cornerstone of our lessons. I take the hint and run away with it. “That’s too bad. I find the waiting, the longing, is such an aphrodisiac.”
“You two are made for each other,” Cassan says, as if Luthian and I share the same infuriating flaw.
“Just think of it,” I say, trying to picture a scene that will flatter and entice the prince. “Me, laid out before you on a bed of silk, wild with desire.”
He groans low in his throat, though my words are but an echo of what he’s already imagined.
Emboldened, I reach out and dance my fingertips down his cock. Another groan. I take it as my permission to go further, and wrap my whole fist around him, stroking slowly. “Can you see it, Your Highness? My bare body writhing while I whimper and plead for release? My wet cunt clutching, aching to be filled by you?”
“Fuck…” He puts his hand over mine and guides me to go faster. “I’m going to have you right now.”
“You may,” Luthian says, sounding bored.
The prince has me pinned before I can take another breath. He forces his knee between my legs to spread them, and he’s in position, cock at the very entrance of my body before Luthian adds, “Or you could wait. Tantalize yourself with restraint until your birthday and have her for the first time there, in front of an adoring court.”
“Ooh, what a lovely idea,” I say, though I have no doubt that Cassan is only a heartbeat away from sheathing himself deep inside me. “I do so like being displayed. You could spend all day being denied, as well. Think of how incredible it would be, both of us reaching our ecstasy together in the same breath.”
He pushes forward, just a little. Just enough to feel the slickness at my opening.
With a curse, he rolls off me and lies back panting on the grass. “You both make an excellent point. Which is deeply upsetting. But who am I to refuse such a challenge?”
“I don’t think you’ll be able to hold out,” Luthian says, distracted by examining his fingernails.
“Shall we make a bet?” Cassan challenges.
“Certainly. For no stakes at all, I wager that Prince Cassan of the Court of Pleasure and Torment will not be able to withstand my mate’s charms.” Luthian chuckles. “In fact, I believe that by dinner tonight, you’ll throw her over something and breed her like a mare.”
Cassan groans and covers his face, muffling his words. “I need my cock and my face ridden, immediately.”
Luthian nods to me, and I get onto my knees, shuffling toward Cassan’s head.
“No, no,” he says, giving my ass a slap. “Get naked. And face your mate. I want you to watch him.”
My jaw drops, and I see Luthian’s knowing smirk. I expected quite a lot from our adventure at court, but I didn’t think I would see my guardian get fucked.
Luthian waves his hand and all three of us are naked, still in the grass. A jar of unguent appears in his palm, and he uses it to grease Cassan’s cock. The prince guides me into position and pulls me down, burying his face in my center. I do as he commands and watch Luthian straddle Cassan’s waist. He aligns the prince’s huge shaft with one hand and sinks back on it, a sharp exhale escaping him. I feel Cassan’s moan, more than hear it.
Luthian rolls his hips in a smooth rhythm, stroking himself with one hand. A few faeries stop to watch us, from a respectful distance, so I toss my head and slick my dripping cunt over Cassan’s face from chin to forehead and back.
They should know my worth before I am queen, so I have nothing to prove once I gain the crown.
Luthian’s strong thighs flex as he rocks back and forth, and his cock drips a stream of precum that pools on the prince’s stomach. I’ve seen the same with Firo, when Luthian taught me to find the spot inside that would intensify and elevate sensation. I catch his eye, drop my gaze to the growing puddle, then back up, wetting my bottom lip with a deliberately slow tongue. Luthian’s soft groan is a warning: he’s fighting for control, fighting to maintain his unflappable facade.
He takes such pride in his self-control. If I make him come undone here, if I make him mindless and senseless with lust in front of these courtiers, they’ll be even more curious about my skills than they already are. I’ll be in high demand. And with that popularity will come power. He has to know that.
I lean forward, grinding my clit against Cassan’s tongue, and crawl over his body until I’m face-to-face with Luthian’s shaft.
“Cenere,” he whispers.
I don’t wait for him to tell me not to. I open my mouth and suck the tip of him inside. It’s as far as I can reach, but it’s enough to make Luthian close his eyes and take a few steadying breaths. But when he opens them again, it’s to meet my adoring stare while I lap away the salty fluid.
“Will you come all over my face, Luthian?” I ask, batting my eyes. “Or will you throw me on the ground and spend inside me?”
The noise he makes is pained and pleading. He hastens his speed, and Cassan lifts his hips in rhythm, until a percussive skin-on-skin slap sets the beat for all of our movements. Cassan’s tongue burrows beneath the hood of my clit and sets up a side-to-side motion over the sensitive points of that unprotected and ultra-sensitive flesh. His muffled grunts of pleasure heighten my passion, but it’s Luthian’s unrestrained moaning that’s going to take me over the edge. Even in the moment of climax, he’s always been quiet and controlled with me.
Except for the fire, I realize. I picture Luthian in his bed, though I’ve never seen his chambers. I imagine his toes curling and digging into black silk as he pounds his cock through his fist. I imagine his cries as he watches me, as my pleas for him to come fuck me torture him. I see the sweat on his brow and the rapture twisting his face as he erupts, flowing over his hand, shouting my name.
I come, my pussy flooding over Cassan’s face, and he groans and grabs my hips, holding me tighter, thrusting his tongue into me and lapping up my juices while I squirm and whimper.
Luthian sinks a hand into my curls and pulls my head up, snarling, “Keep your mouth open.”
I obey him. I’ll obey his every whim. Even when I am queen, I will still bow to him.
He pumps his cock, his hand flying fast, and shouts as he slashes cum across my tongue. I swallow again and again, but his release seems never-ending. Cassan’s thrusts speed up and become harder, wrenching another cry of ecstasy from Luthian. The prince arches his back, almost toppling me off his chest, and pulls his panting mouth from my cunt to give a guttural cry as he empties himself inside of Luthian.
Cassan gently pats my thigh in a signal to climb off him, so I roll onto the grass in in a boneless heap. Luthian collapses beside the prince, as well, and the three of us lie in our bliss while the courtiers murmur their excitement.
A group of four faeries have joined us on our grassy spot, limbs and tongues entangling, and Cassan watches them as he wipes his brow. “It seems you’re quite inspiring, Cenere. Luthian, I have a new proposal for our wager.”
Luthian doesn’t open his eyes, but he arches a brow and hums, “Hmm?”
Cassan rolls onto his side. “If I manage to resist your mate’s sweet cunt until the night of my birthday…you will give her to me.”
“Give you my mate?” Luthian laughs. “Fine. It’s a wager you’ll lose. In any case, you’ll have to share her with your father.”
I marvel at Luthian’s plans, how quickly he alters them and lays foundations for more in the future. Allow the king to think he’s taking me from him. Lose me in a bet to the man he plans to put on the throne.
My guardian is more adept at trickery than I knew.
Is he also deceiving me ?