Chapter 7
She was so comfortable.
Carys opened her eyes. It was still pitch black. She felt cool air on her back and blazing heat on her front.
Then she realized where she was. In the mine.
Wrapped up in Sten’s arms.
Her belly fluttered. She turned her face into his neck and his arms tightened around her. He held her flush against his hard body. She shuddered out a breath, and desire filled her—hot and sharp. In his sleep, his hand slid down and cupped her ass.
Oh. It made her yearn for more. For touches, caresses. For sex. She’d shared a few uninspired kisses here and there, but that was it.
Sex was too complicated when you were a queen, and your entire planet was watching. At least, that was her excuse.
She breathed Sten in. The truth was, there was only one man she imagined peeling her clothes off, touching her, putting his hands on her skin.
The one man who didn’t want her.
For now, she’d steal this moment. She rubbed her face against his chest. So warm. Safe. She drifted back to sleep.
Carys opened her eyes,shaking off sleep. She was still tired.
Wait, she wasn’t in her bedroom in the palace.
She blinked at the mine roof that soared overhead. The small lantern was on low, giving off a golden glow. The walls were a dark rock, black and forbidding. She could tell it was still nighttime.
She stretched her sore muscles. The lumpy sacks didn’t make the most comfortable bed.
The spot beside her was empty. Where was Sten? She sat up, touching the depression where he’d been lying. Her knightguard was missing, but she knew he wouldn’t be far away.
She already missed touching him. Missed the sense of safety she only felt in his arms. She pushed her hair back and finger combed it. A faint noise caught her ear, and she straightened.
A low groan.
Sten?
Was it his injuries? She rose, and, as quietly as she could, she moved toward the sound. She rounded a corner and saw Sten. He was turned away from her, shirtless.
Her gaze ran greedily over the slabs of muscle in his back. He was built for strength and power.
Then his head dropped forward, and he groaned again.
She took another step, and everything inside her clenched tight.
His pants were undone, his cock free.
Oh.
He was stroking himself roughly.
She flushed and damp heat built between her thighs. He was touching himself. Stroking his cock. She knew she should walk away, but she couldn’t.
She was frozen.
But her body was far too hot to be frozen.
She hungrily drank him in and licked her lips. His cock was long, thick, and ruddy. He groaned, his hand moving faster.
She pressed her thighs together and her nipples beaded. His muscles were so tense, strained, and she saw a grimace cross his face.
He muttered a curse, his hips thrusting forward. “Yes. Carys.”
She saw fluid hit the ground as he jerked his cock. Her mind went blank.
He’d said her name.
He finished coming with a low groan, and she quickly turned. She moved silently back to their bed. With every step, her thighs rubbed together, and she felt close to coming, herself.
She dropped back onto the sacks, and pressed her hands to her flushed cheeks.
He’d said her name as he’d found his release.
He’d touched himself while thinking of her.
Sten wanted her.
Emotions crashed through her.
Thorsten Carahan, the man she loved, wanted her.
Nerves coiled in her belly. He was a man. He was older, more experienced. She felt a slash of jealousy. She’d never seen him with a woman, but she hated anyone he might have touched.
She heard him returning and quickly lay back down, pretending to be asleep.
He flicked off the lantern, plunging them into darkness. Then he dropped onto the sacks.
“Sten?” she murmured.
“Sorry for waking you.” He lay down. “We’ve only been asleep a few hours. Go back to sleep.”
“I’m cold.”
Instantly, he moved closer.
As she pressed into him, she bit her lip.
They were in a terrible situation. They had no idea what planet they were on, and they were being hunted by the Gek’Dragar.
Sten had vowed to get her home, but she was realistic enough to know that they might not make it.
Did she have the courage to ask for what she wanted from him?
For what she’d only dreamed about?
There was no way she wanted to risk dying without ever having been with him.
“You’re so tense.” He stroked her hair. “Sleep. You’re safe.”
She drew in a steadying breath. “I don’t want to sleep.”
He was quiet for a second. “What do you want?”
She paused and gathered her courage. Remember, you’re a grown woman. You’re the knightqueen.
“I want you to kiss me.”
Sten went rigid.
Was he dreaming? He was pretty sure he was awake.
Had Carys just asked him to kiss her?
Emotions churned inside him, burning away at the bit of control he thought he’d found when he’d taken his cock in his own hand.
Sleeping beside her for the last few hours—touching her, holding her. It had been torture. Every one of her breaths had puffed across his chest. Every time she moved, her breasts rubbed against him. He now knew exactly what her full breasts looked like, felt like in his palm.
His cock had been hard as a rock for hours. He’d been forced to find some release before he did something he regretted.
He cleared his throat. “Carys—”
“Please, Sten.” She curled into him, her hand on his chest. Over the heavy thud of his heart.
“It’s not right.”
“It feels right.” She leaned closer, and her breasts pressed to his chest.
He closed his eyes. She was so soft.
“We’re in danger,” she said. “We might die here.”
He growled. “We are not going to die here.”
“I want you to kiss me.”
“Because I’m the only man around?” The thought sliced at him. He was older, scarred, a big brute compared to her. He wasn’t right for her.
“No.” There was a rustle as she sat up. A hand touched his cheek. “I’ve wanted you to kiss me for a very long time.”
That couldn’t be true. This beautiful, perfect woman wanted him?
He couldn’t get that to make sense.
Both her hands pressed to his chest. She leaned in. “Sten…”
“I’m too old. I’m your guard.”
“You’re only twelve years older than me, Sten. Hardly ancient. And you’re a dedicated knightguard. A good man. A strong, attractive man.”
“Carys—”
“I want you to kiss me. And…I know you want me, too.” Her words were a hot whisper.
His brow creased. “What?”
“I saw you. Just before. Touching yourself.”
Heat flushed through him. Embarrassment mixed with desire. He imagined her watching him, and his cock had no problem thickening again.
He surged up, his chest heaving.
She sat as well, shifting closer. “I liked it.”
“Stars… Carys…” He felt like his control was slipping through his hands like sand.
Her body moved, brushing against his back. “Please, Sten.”
He groaned and tugged her onto his lap. She gasped.
He cupped her elegant face and touched his lips to hers. They brushed. “It’s not right.”
“What if I ordered you to?” She sounded breathless.
His hands clenched on her. “I would never refuse your command.”
“Then I order you to kiss me.”
He deserved to be skewered with a sword for what he was about to do.
He closed his mouth over hers.
An inferno ignited in his chest, and he groaned against her lips. Her hands clenched on him, and she kissed him back eagerly.
He explored her mouth, loving the small sounds she made. He stroked his tongue against hers. She tasted like the purest Avernian honey.
“Harder,” she panted against his lips. “More. Show me more.”
He deepened the kiss. Mine. Take more.
She arched into him. So hot, so eager. She bit his lip, rubbing against him. She fumbled for one of his hands and brought it to her breast.
He groaned. “You’re so perfect.”
“Teach me. No one’s ever touched me like this.”
He’d been her knightguard for over a decade. He suspected that she’d never been with a man. He never truly wanted to know if someone had put their hands on her.
“You’re untouched.” He nipped her lips.
“Yes, because there was only one man who I wanted to touch me.”
Stars, his cock was hard. He pushed the neckline of her dress down and her breasts popped free. She arched her back, offering herself to him.
He pinched one nipple between his fingers. “Beautiful.”
She moaned.
He took her mouth again, kissing her deeply as he kept teasing her nipples. She writhed, his hard cock wedged against her ass.
“I want everything, Sten,” she whispered against his lips. “I want you to show me everything.” She ground down on his cock.
He wanted inside her. The idea of teaching her all the things that would give her pleasure made his gut knot. He wanted to gorge himself on this woman.
His queen.
The thought intruded—cold and sharp.
His queen.
He pulled back.
She was panting. One hand twisted in his hair. “Sten?”
She was his queen. The woman he’d vowed to protect for his entire life.
And he was imagining rutting on her like an animal.
He dumped her on their makeshift bed and sat on the edge of the sacks, staring into the darkness.
“Sten? Did I do something wrong?”
“No.” His fists curled. But he had.
She shifted. “What, then? Why did you stop?”
“I told you this isn’t right. I can’t do this.”
He sensed her wrap her arms around herself. “I enjoyed it. Didn’t you?”
Enjoyed it?He’d wanted to kiss her forever.
Wanted to hold onto her forever.
She isn’t yours.
In his head, he pictured her sitting on the throne. Some handsome prince at her side. A man who’d be a leader, a king for the Oronis. That wasn’t him.
He tasted bile in his throat.
“No,” he bit out.
“Oh.” There was hurt in her voice. “But you were…hard.”
“Doesn’t take much to make a man hard.”
She made a small sound. “I see.”
“It’s not my place to kiss you, my queen,” he said stiffly.
She was silent now. “You only kissed me because I ordered you to?”
He closed his eyes and lied. “Yes.”
Another pause. “I’m sorry.”
This time her voice was near soundless, and held no expression.
He couldn’t stand it. He shot to his feet. “Go back to sleep, Carys. I’ll keep watch. Once I know it’s daylight, we’ll find a way out of this mine.”
“Yes, all right. Thank you.” Her tone was stiff.
He wanted to turn and yank her into his arms, show her just how much he wanted her.
How hard his cock was for her.
Show her just how he wanted to worship her.
She’s not yours. She’s too good for you.
He made himself walk away.