Chapter 102
CHAPTER 102
Rosalina
T he deck of the ship is a bustle of activity. Farron, Nori, and I dismount our Pegasus, and it takes off back into the sky, falling into formation with the other winged horses that flank the ship. Dayton’s laugh booms over the shouts of the crew as he flings Delphia in a circle, squeezing her so tight all the breath shoots out of her in an exhale.
I scan all the faces aboard the ship before my gaze meets Ezryn’s atop the bridge. My heart stutters. He came back, like he promised he would. Delphia and Nori are safe, and the Huntresses of Aura have come to our aid.
I never doubted you , I whisper across our bond.
The smallest flash of a smile flickers on his face. Do you always have to be right?
Yes, actually. At least when it comes to you four , I say in my mind, raising a brow.
His gaze narrows, and the small smile turns wolfish. Get over here and let me kiss you.
Eagerly, I dash across the deck, winding through the bustling crew. My heart hammers in my breast, every moment out of his arms feeling like an eternity.
Just as I’m about to reach the stairs leading up to the bridge, a voice calls my name: “Rosalina!”
I turn to see Delphia and Nori standing together.
“Girls.” I walk over to them and pull them in for a group hug. “You did it! You survived the Ribs!”
They wiggle out of my grasp, and Delphia crosses her arms. “Wasn’t like it was even hard,” she says.
Nori picks at a fingernail. “Speak for yourself. I still have sand in my hair.”
“I’m so proud of you both,” I say.
“Yeah, well,” Delphia shrugs before her eyes flick up to the bridge, “we had some help.”
“Did you take good care of him?” I ask, following her gaze up to Ezryn. He’s been intercepted by Dayton and Farron. Day seems to have begun an epic tale, to judge by the extensive hand gestures he’s making, while Fare and Ez listen, enraptured. A flood of warmth rushes through my bond, and all three turn to look at me. My face heats under their combined intensity. More feelings rush through the bond: contentment, joy, relief. Dayton must be telling them about our mate bond.
“We took real good care of him,” Delphia says. “He needed a lot of help.”
“He’d probably still be wandering the desert if it wasn’t for us,” Nori says, words lacking any inflection.
I chuckle. “I don’t doubt it. He’s lucky to have had such capable travel companions.”
Delphia shrugs. “It wouldn’t be the worst thing to adventure with him again. He wasn’t so bad.”
“For an old man,” Nori adds.
Laughing, I grab the girls in a hug again, then turn back to the bridge, anxious to get to Ezryn. As I start ascending the stairs, a hand grabs my wrist. I turn to look into a woman’s harsh, weathered face. Based on the Pegasus feathers pinned in her hair, she must be one of the Huntresses of Aura.
“Rosalina O’Connell?”
“Yes?” I peep. Her hawk’s gaze makes me nervous.
“I am Matron Valeria. Your mate, Ezryn, son of Isidora, says you are the Queen’s daughter.”
Forcing some command into my voice, I say, “This is true. I am daughter of Aurelia.”
She looks me up and down, then nods. “Yes, I see this. Moreso, I feel this. Your mate was able to command the Queen’s Army in your name.”
My breath catches in my throat. Ezryn was able to sway the Queen’s Army from his brother’s side. “Ezryn is a remarkable leader.”
“Of that, I was not certain.” Valeria’s gaze narrows. “When he first entered our domain, we tracked his movements across the desert. He seemed determined to serve only his own interests. So, when he came to us for aid, we sent him away. However, my heart urged me to keep watch over him and his young charges. I saw how he restored faith in the soldiers who found themselves adrift. To command an army is one thing, but to win their trust and loyalty is another. I knew then that the son of Isidora spoke honestly during his plea. To see the Queen’s Army restored to their righteous purpose can only be a sign that the Queen has come again to bring balance to the Enchanted Vale. This is your path, Golden Rose, and the Huntresses will aid you and your mates in what ways we can.”
I take her hand; it’s rough and heavily calloused. “Thank you, Matron Valeria. It is an honor to fight beside you and your warriors.”
The Huntress gives a stiff nod, then melds back into the crew. I let loose a breath and begin to make my way up the stairs again. I take one step before smacking into Ezryn’s hard chest.
The moment I look up and meet his dark gaze, the bustle around us seems to quiet. Everyone else on this ship blurs away into ghosts. There’s only me and him, the air between us sparking.
It was true what I said in my mind—I never doubted him. So why do I feel like my heart is going to explode out of my chest at the sight of him here?
I search his face, trying to pinpoint it. He’s different somehow. On the outside, he’s the same: ruggedly handsome face, intense gaze, clothing made for movement. But I feel something within him, something through the bond. Quiet. A tranquility, even. Like his inner self finally matches the stillness he embodies.
“Hi,” I say.
“Hi,” he responds.
The world rushes back in, the shouts of the crew, the flurry as people attend to the ship, the flapping wings of the Pegasus nearby. Delphie and Nori have found their big brothers, and the four of them stand in a circle, talking animatedly.
“It’s really busy on the deck,” I say quietly.
“Indeed it is,” Ezryn says.
“Would be good for you and me to, you know … debrief.”
“Absolutely, we should.”
I bite my lip. “No real space up here.”
Ezryn takes a step down until we’re standing chest to chest. His dark eyes blaze. “There’s a closet below deck.”
“Perfect.”
In a flash, Ezryn grabs my hand and tugs me across the deck and down into the galley. An excited giddiness fills my whole body as he pulls me faster. A few members of the Queen’s Army Ezryn swayed to our side try to stop him to talk but he brushes them off.
“Get in. Quickly,” he says, opening a door outside of the berth. It leads into a small broom closet, lit only by a flickering lamp. “Will this do?” he asks.
“Oh, it will do,” I say at the exact same time as I push him against the wall, reach behind me for the handle to slam the door shut, then launch myself at him.
I kiss him hard, my mouth desperate for his. He matches my energy, wrapping me in his arms and pulling me tight against him. Stars, is he already hard? The realization sends a shot of electricity up my spine. “I missed you,” I murmur in between kisses.
His hands cup either side of my face, and he pulls back to stare at me. The dim lamplight makes his eyes spark with a golden glow. “You were with me, Rose. Every decision I made, every action I took, I thought of you. You are my guiding compass.”
My throat tightens, and I kiss him hard again to chase away my threatening tears. His mouth slows against mine, becoming gentle, exploratory. Like he’s studying my lips with each tiny movement. The rough scratch of stubble is contradicted by the softness of his tongue.
“Thank you for coming back to me,” I whisper.
His hand coasts across the point of my ear. “Thank you for leading me back.”
Ezryn captures my mouth again, guiding me into the corner of the closet. His knee nudges my legs apart, then the hard muscle of his thigh presses against my aching center. I cry out, but he covers my mouth with his hand. “Shush, Petal. We don’t want any unexpected visitors.”
I nod, then narrow my gaze teasingly at him. I flick my tongue across the fingers covering my mouth, and he grits his teeth, barely holding back his own growl. I work my lips around the tip of one of his fingers, sucking it, licking its length, reminding him just what my mouth is capable of.
“How can you save my life and be the death of me all at once?” he says, voice low.
The closet is so small, his frame takes up most of the space. Despite my own height, I feel small, pushed into the corner, trapped by his leg between mine. Feverishly, I grab the edges of his tight shirt, pull it off, and chuck it to the floor. It lands with a wet slap, and we both look down to see it in a mop bucket. Whoops.
“That was an accident, I promise,” I say, though I know I don’t seem very sorry as my hands greedily run over the planes of his chest.
Ezryn lowers his brows. “Oh, you’re going to pay for that.”
My laugh is stolen by a moan as he drives his knee up against my throbbing pussy. The contact sends a blaze of need through me, and my fingernails sink into his shoulders. I’m still wearing my Summer sleeping dress, and he easily slips the bodice down, freeing my breasts. He pulls back, eyes locked onto my chest.
“Ez?”
“Sorry,” he says, not even blinking. “I just need a moment to admire these.”
I give a little laugh, then bring my hands to my breasts, fingers kneading the soft flesh.
“Stars, you will be the death of me,” he practically growls. “Don’t stop, beautiful.”
I give him as best a show as I can in this cramped space, tugging on one nipple, then the other, lifting my breasts then letting them fall and bounce. Ezryn palms his hard cock through his pants, groaning with each move I make.
I lean forward and snag his bottom lip between my teeth, nipping lightly. “Now, you’re the one being loud.”
“Better give my mouth something to do then.”
He shoves me back again, then sinks to his knees. He places his hands on either side of my hips, then stills in that cat-like way he does. I brush my fingers through his hair. The way he’s looking up at me: it’s both adoring and awed.
His fingers play down my stomach before pushing my dress up to my hips. “It is the greatest honor of my life to be on my knees to serve you.”
Words escape me as he takes the waistband of my panties between his teeth. With a single swipe, he pulls them down. The cold air is replaced immediately with the warmth of his breath as he lays a kiss against my slit.
“Ez,” I moan.
“Your only job is to be quiet and come on my tongue,” he says, drawing one of my legs over his shoulder. “Do you understand, Petal?”
I nod frantically, then slam my head back against the wall as he draws a long, languishing line across my pussy.
I whimper, my legs trembling at the sheer pleasure of his mouth. He’s always known exactly how to work my body, how to make me melt with a single touch, a single look. His tongue swirls around my clit, dipping inside of me and teasing every nerve ending I didn’t know I had.
I bite my lip to stifle a moan as Ezryn’s intensity grows, his fingers digging into the soft flesh of my thigh, his tongue flicking over my most sensitive spots, driving me wild with desire. I clench my fists on the wall for support, trying not to make a sound. He’s relentless, and it’s both agonizing and delicious.
“Ez,” I whimper, my self-control crumbling. “I … I can’t …”
He lifts his head just long enough to glare at me with those heated eyes before diving back in, this time zeroing in on my clit. His tongue is a wet, warm trail of exquisite torture, and I can feel myself teetering on the edge of release.
“Ezryn, I’m going to … oh gods, I’m …”
He doesn’t relent; my words have only spurred him further. “Remember your orders, my Queen,” he growls against my skin.
To stay quiet and to come on his tongue. I can definitely accomplish one of those things.
Ezryn hooks two fingers inside me at the same time as he captures my clit in his mouth. I let out a gasping moan as my orgasm crashes through me. Waves of pleasure cause my whole body to tremble, and his skillful tongue moves with each tremor. I sag against the wall, trying to muffle my cries by biting down on my fist. His fierce devouring of me turns into kisses on my thighs, my stomach, and then my breasts as he begins to stand, gently guiding my leg back to the ground.
“Good girl,” he murmurs.
I can only give a dopey smile, my body still shivering with aftershocks, as he claims my mouth with a kiss. I taste myself on his lips.
“Now, I’m going to fuck you, my Queen,” he says softly. “Fuck you and fill you and make you beg to scream my name.”
Heady need roars up my body, and I claw at the back of his neck to bring him in for another searing kiss. My limbs still feel boneless from my orgasm, and I let him maneuver me as he pleases. My dress slips from my waist into a pool on the ground.
He turns me around, so my arms are up against the wall and my hips are flush against his cock.
I hear him fumble with his pants before they fall to the ground. Then, his steel-hard cock taps against my ass.
“Are you ready, Petal?”
I look over my shoulder, holding him with a narrowed gaze. “So ready, Daddy.”
He laughs and shakes his head. “You’ve been spending too much time with Dayton.”
“Maybe we can spend some time with Dayton together,” I purr.
He makes a low sound in the back of his throat then plants a kiss at the top of my spine. “One thing at a time, my greedy girl.” His words are affectionate, and a trill of joy rushes through me.
Because ever since I began living at Castletree, that’s how I always felt. Greedy for wanting the princes for myself. But it wasn’t selfishness at all. My heart knew we were bound together and that it was only a matter of our bonds weaving through the paths of fate.
Now, the thought of Ezryn and my newest mate sends my heart hammering. The command of Spring with the strength of Summer … I let loose a contented sigh and buck my hips back against Ezryn.
“Everyone’s going to be wondering where we are, so I’m going to take you hard and I’m going to take you fast. Can you handle it?” he says, voice full of dark promise. I feel the head of his cock press against my pussy.
“I can handle it.”
“Don’t scream.”
Ezryn thrusts inside of me. He must know me well, because just as a cry is about to leave my mouth, his hand covers my throat.
His pace is punishing, each stroke sending delirious heat through my body. I squeeze my eyes shut, biting my lip hard to keep from calling out his name.
“Stars, Rosalina, you’re so good,” he pants, dropping his hand from my throat. “Such a good girl.”
My head buzzes. Maybe I’m crazy, but there’s something about hiding away in this closet that’s so exciting. I know Ezryn so well now—his history, his heart—but being taken like this almost makes it seem like we’re brand new to one another. Two secret lovers stealing a moment wherever they can.
Each thrust drives further inside of me until I’m stuffed full. He pauses at the apex and swirls my hips against his. I moan out, the feeling of his cock grinding against my deepest point is complete ecstasy.
“If you keep doing that, I’m going to come,” I pant.
He wraps his arms around my middle and pulls me even tighter against him. “How can I say no to that?”
Each movement he makes is intentional, every thrust and grind perfectly synced to send me over the edge. My legs begin to quake, and spots form in my peripheral vision.
“Ez, I’m going to … ah, Ez—”
“Beg me to let you say my name. Beg me to let you come.”
“ Please ,” I cry out, my control a fraying thread. “Let me say your name as I come over your cock!”
He gives a satisfied growl then grabs my hips on either side, pace quickening. “Say my name, Baby Girl. Say my name and I’ll bring you to oblivion.”
“Ezryn!” I scream as his cock pulses inside of me. “Ezryn!”
He cries out himself. My climax sweeps over me like a tidal wave, and it takes him too; I feel his body explode within me, the thought only making my own release stronger. I ride out the tremors in his arms, sighing with each shiver.
Ezryn’s warm breath caresses my neck as he straightens and unsheathes himself. He pulls me against his chest and kisses the top of my head. “Some debrief you give, Rose.”
I snort a laugh and hug him around the middle. “You’re one to talk.”
That brand-new feeling lingers as we hold each other. Maybe I wasn’t so crazy after all. Maybe there is something brand new about him. Maybe there’s something brand new about me too.