39. THIRTY-NINE
THIRTY-NINE
Darius
Staefan once tried to explain that being with Tayla is different. Special. I ignored him like the lovesick fool he is. Now I owe him an apology, because I finally understand what he meant.
Mina calling out my name as she comes will forever be imprinted on my mind. Her breathy laugh, her smile. Fuck, the cautious trust of one simple nod. My whole world shifted, and I’ve never been more excited or terrified.
I thought nothing could top last night, but as usual, Mina proves me wrong.
At first, I think her lips are a sweet dream, but the lightning building at the base of my spine tells me her hot tongue is very much real. I groan loud enough to wake the dead.
Mina’s laugh vibrates against me, pulling me closer to the edge. Too close. “Mina,” I warn.
She breaks away long enough to flash me a sweet smile before returning to my cock with determination. She swallows me to the back of her throat, and I come so hard I forget how to breathe.
The little vixen strokes me lazily, taking every drop with a contented hum.
Mina’s shyness lasted all of one orgasm last night; then we spent hours talking in between a marathon of release. I was worried about hurting her, but the desire between us can’t be satiated.
She ignored every offer to sleep. At one point she threatened to never touch me again if I didn’t stop treating her like a flower. Thank the heavens for that, because more than once I fucked her with abandon.
Mina’s perfect. Sweet and blushing, wild and demanding. Both sides are incredibly beautiful and wreak havoc on my heart.
I told myself at our wedding that this would only be physical. A political arrangement with a little fun. But last night I crossed my own boundaries, opening up to her completely. We spent the night sharing intimate stories, our fears and dreams, fantasies and desires.
I let Mina in.
I wait for the regret to sink in, for my instincts to guide me as far from Mina and her disarming charm as possible. But the inner warrior that’s carried me so far is silent, enjoying the heavenly outcome of her company.
Mina rests her head on my shoulder, and a possessive pride fills my chest. I breathe in her floral scent, gently kissing her swollen lips.
I wrap a loose strand of her silky hair around my finger and give it a gentle tug. “What was that?” I ask, voice still gruff from sleep.
“An entertaining way to wake you up. I didn’t get to try last night.”
I laugh and pull her on top of me. Long black hair drapes over her breasts, and I tuck the strands behind her shoulders, enjoying the view immensely. “I fear you’ve ruined me for my normal wake-up call.”
“I’m not sure Staefan’s wife will let him accommodate this new style,” she says.
I tweak her nipple, earning a slap to the chest. Playful is not a word I use to describe myself, but Mina brings it out of me. She brings out so many emotions that my heart is having trouble sorting through them all.
I’m prepared to stay in bed all day, duties be damned, but Mina crawls from my lap and heads toward the bathroom. I miss her warmth immediately.
I eat up the distance between us in three long steps and pull her back against my chest. I tilt her chin up and kiss her again. When she sighs, I slip my tongue inside.
“Mina, I’m afraid you aren’t allowed to leave until I’ve said good morning back properly.”
I slide my hand between her thighs where dark curls give way to my favorite valley. I tease her with gentle circles until she’s grinding against my palm.
“We are already—” She drops her head against my shoulder as I sink two fingers inside. “—late.”
“Do you want me to stop?”
I can’t help but smile as she glares. “Heavens no. I’m telling you to hurry.”
“As you wish.”
Challenge accepted. I set her on the edge of the bed and drop to my knees, worshiping her body with my tongue. Let’s see how fast we can be.
Staefan glares at me from across the hall, furious that we slipped our guards last night…
and that we were a bit late. We had to don our disguises just to make it back to our actual accommodations and get ready for the day.
Mina’s ladies swept her away to the dressing room immediately, grinning like a bunch of fools.
Half an hour later we’re seated in the same polished chairs as yesterday, greeting a growing line of citizens.
After the comments we overheard, we decide to break for food in private today.
Both for our sakes and the citizens’ prickly dispositions.
The whole scenario was awkward for everyone involved.
Our chairs face the line with no obstruction now. Two gold high-backed thrones with blue velvet. They are regal and hideous, but belonged to the previous king of the territory, so the people need to see us on them.
Hartfield may have the fewest critics of my reign, but they need to understand Mina belongs on this throne as much as I do.
For an added layer of security, Mina’s division is undercover as maids. The four selected were the only ones not caught last night.
They lost sight of us after we purchased the swords, but that was my intent. I wanted to get Mina alone and help her process what happened. I never expected the night to end how it did.
Staefan’s eyebrows shoot up.
“Stop that,” Mina whispers.
“Stop what?”
She thanks the couple in front of us for their well wishes before turning to me. “You smiled. Only for a few seconds, but a small group got out of line for fear of what it meant. They’re used to your scowl.”
“That does usually procede my blade. I’ll endeavor to focus on the present.”
My small smile is intentional this time. Mina tries to act unaffected but can’t hide her blush. I’m not the only one enjoying the memory of last night and this morning. And hopefully tonight as well.
Staefan’s confusion melts away. I do my best to ignore his pointed stare, but I know the moment we’re alone he’ll grill me for details. I need to rein in my emotions. If he picked up on the subtle change between Mina and me, maybe others did as well.
I won’t have her used as leverage against me. Her safety is still my priority.
I school my features, donning the mask of the brutish emperor people are accustomed to. I scan each visitor for possible threats and let Mina do the talking. Some offer greetings, while others voice minor complaints. The mayor pulls those people aside to take down the issues on our behalf.
The next man in line catches my attention. He stumbles forward, and though I can’t smell the booze, the glassiness of his eyes gives his stupor away. He leers at Mina, drinking her in as if she’s wearing nothing at all.
A familiar bloodlust burns in my chest, but there’s something new this time. A constricting force that makes me want to pluck the man’s eyes out. My sword grows heavier on my hip, begging for a chance to feast.
Mina sits up a little straighter and places her hand on mine. The small contact is a command and a warning.
“Long live the emperor and the queen,” the man mumbles, his tone anything but kind.
Move along.
His laugh echoes off the stone walls. “You deserve the same fate as my king who once sat in those chairs.”
A sword is at his throat before his next step even touches the ground. Captain Gullard holds the blade a finger’s length from the man’s flushed neck. “Finish that step and it will be the last you take,” he explains calmly.
The man stumbles backward, gripping his throat as if it’s been cut. His cheeks puff out as he yells, “See! See how he treats those who voice a simple opinion!”
He turns in a circle, feeding off the attention of the crowded line behind him.
“He’s a monster who expects us to sit around and kiss his feet. We were fine long before he came along.”
My hand tenses, ready to give the command to have him taken away and dealt with—
“Perhaps you could explain how you were better off beforehand?” Mina rises and glides down the steps until she’s a few feet away from the drunk. The room tenses as Gullard steps forward to place himself between them.
Every fiber of my being wants to move, but Mina’s smile keeps me seated. The trust she gave me last night has to go both ways. My grip tightens around the armrest as I watch with practiced impatience.
“What? I—” The man flounders for a response as Mina commands Gullard to stand down. He keeps his sword out but steps back.
“I am admittedly new to Veloria. I did not have the luxury of knowing Hartfield before. What made the previous rule better? I’d love to hear your reasoning so that we may rectify what we can.” Mina’s tone is kind, alluring, but I see the dagger behind it.
The drunk fool falls prey to her charm. “I worked for the old king. After he was forced to give up his throne, he passed away. I was left with no job, no money, and my fiancée called off our engagement.”
She taps a manicured nail against her full lips, deep in thought. He zeros in on the movement with a lusty gaze. “Forgive my confusion, but I thought each citizen was financially compensated evenly after the war?”
A man with sun-weathered skin speaks up from a few places back in line. “We were, Your Majesty.”
“Thank you, sir.” Mina rewards him with a sweet smile before turning her attention to the drunk fool. “Were you not included in that settlement?”
He stammers for a few moments before puffing out his chest. “I was—”
She cuts his excuses off. “So you had the same opportunity to prosper or fail as the people behind you.” Mina turns to address the full crowd.
“I cannot speak to the state of this city before my husband united the lands, only the thriving parts I have witnessed so far. Hartfield appears to have retained its traditions and beauty. Many of the festival booths outside are sold out, and I understand that many of our soldiers are to blame for the snack shortage.”
Laughter snakes its way through the hall.
“The products being shared outside are rich with tradition. Hand-stitched linens, wooden carvings from your beautiful forests, and leather-bound books that can only be produced here. The people I’ve met so far are proud and kind.
“The quality of such a city did not magically appear after Darius united the lands. A new ruler does not mean traditions die; it is merely an opportunity to learn from one another and grow.”
Mina turns her attention back to the drunk man, who’s hanging on her every word along with the rest. No one seems to notice her slip of the tongue—calling me Darius.
“If you truly have struggled given the same opportunities as your neighbors, then we are open to hearing what issues you bring forward.” His triumphant look fades at her next words.
“But if your struggles are the result of your own hand and love of the bottle, then the only person who can help you is yourself. The ones who invested in this city have thrived.” Mina motions to the crowd behind him.
“The ones who invested in their own selfish desires, on the other hand…”
His silent rage sobers him a bit. He stomps toward the exit, cursing under his breath. I glance at Staefan, and he nods, signaling our spies to follow the man.
I make it my business to keep an eye on his type. Fools often flock together before acting as such. He’s lucky to be walking out of here at all.
Mina smiles at the crowd again. “It would appear he had no concerns after all. I apologize for the disruption. Shall we continue?” With her back to the crowd, she winks at me and returns to her seat.
Pride and fear wrestle in my chest. Mina’s confidence is beautiful, but I’m worried that she revealed too much. If people learn how much she means to me or how close we are, she’ll be in even more danger.
“You still with me?” Mina slides her hand over mine, her half smile cutting through the dark spiral of my thoughts.
I bite back a sigh. I don’t think I could go back to being distant even if I wanted to. Not with Mina finally back to her spirited self.
We definitely need to discuss this later, but if she wants to be open about our relationship, then so be it. I’ll protect her from anyone who tries to challenge what we have.
My reputation should deter most threats, and if not, they’ll learn firsthand what I do to people who threaten what I care about.
I bring Mina’s hand to my lips and kiss it, audience be damned.
“Always.”