Chapter 53
Darkness
Leo and Evelyn got into a carriage at the end of the night. She was surprised when they turned north, following the road along the river.
“We aren’t going back to the palace?” Evelyn asked.
“No,” Leo explained with a mischievous smile. “There’s a house in the Vision Court that belongs to my family. I thought we could spend a few days there, away from everyone else.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Surprise!”
Evelyn laughed. “I’m in my wedding dress! Is this all I can wear for three days?”
“Odette packed you a bag and it’s already been sent to the house. Everything is taken care of. But honestly, I’m hoping you won’t wear anything for three days.”
Heat burned low in her body. “You better keep your hands to yourself until we get there. I’m not going to be caught naked in a carriage if we have to stop on this road.”
Leo winked. “You can keep the crown.”
It took about an hour before the carriage pulled up to a two-story house by the river.
This place looks so ordinary. I can’t picture a royal family staying here, especially not King Gerard.
“This is it?” Evelyn asked as they approached the residence.
“Yes. It’s not fancy, but it’s quiet.”
She spied a smaller house not far away, with a short dock in front. Rory and Simon headed toward it, laughing and yawning. “What is that place?”
“That’s where the guards stay.”
Another guard waited at the front door of their temporary home.
“Welcome, King Alexander, Queen Evelyn. The house is ready for you. Two guards have been assigned to stay inside overnight, in case you need anything, but they will remain downstairs and out of your way. Everyone else on the overnight shift will be stationed outside.”
“Thank you, Claude,” Leo said. “I wish you all an uneventful night.”
Claude dipped his head before leaving.
The house had a comfortable living room on the left, a dining room and kitchen on the right, and a staircase in the middle. The two guards paused their card game at the dining table to greet their king and queen.
Leo waved them off. “Don’t mind us.” He took Evelyn’s hand and led her upstairs.
The second floor hallway had soft carpeting and several closed doors. Leo opened one door seemingly at random, but there were oil lamps burning inside and two travel bags at the foot of the large bed. A bouquet of lavender decorated the nightstand. Evelyn walked to the window overlooking the river.
This is perfect. I can’t believe it’s my wedding night already.
Apparently tired of waiting, Leo went to Evelyn and kissed her deeply. His tongue was insistent. She tensed when magic began undoing the laces of her dress.
My tattoos! Haydn put a tattoo on my waist and another on my thigh. Leo can’t see them, not yet. I don’t want to fight right now, especially when I can’t even explain what the deals are for.
Leo noticed something was wrong. “What is it?”
Shit. What am I supposed to tell him?
Evelyn used magic to extinguish the oil lamps and draw the curtains, plunging the room into darkness.
“I don’t get to see you?” Leo asked uncertainly.
She reached for his chest. “Two centuries of Vision magic have you obsessed with sight.”
“I am obsessed with you.”
“Then touch me,” Evelyn whispered in his ear.
Leo didn’t need any more convincing. His mouth claimed hers once more. Lesser magic loosened Evelyn’s gown until it slipped off her.
She laughed and stepped out of the dress puddled on the floor. “I feel like you’ve been practicing that trick.”
“Damien taught me,” Leo muttered absentmindedly as he kissed her neck.
The same magic worked on Evelyn’s corset, and the momentary image of Damien undressing her sent a shameful rush of heat between her legs. Leo seemed to sense her arousal but not her embarrassment.
Thank the gods.
Evelyn removed everything left on her body, including the crown, then tugged at Leo’s belt. He kicked off his boots and got rid of his own clothing.
“I wish I could see you right now,” Leo complained lightheartedly.
She climbed onto the bed and rested comfortably on a plush pillow. “Come find me!”
The bed shifted when Leo sat at the end of it. He reached out blindly and found her foot.
“What are you doing down there?” Evelyn asked.
Leo’s lips landed on her ankle first. He kept going, leaving a trail of sweet kisses over her knee, up her thigh, and onto her hip.
Then he switched to her other side and kissed his way down her opposite leg, hip to ankle.
He took her hand and kissed from palm to shoulder, across her collarbones, and down the other arm.
Leo was worshipping every inch of her soft skin.
Evelyn was losing patience.
“If you like kissing me so much,” she purred, “I can think of more interesting places for your mouth to be.”
Leo huffed out a laugh. “You made me wait, and now you’re being greedy?”
He moved over her, straddling her hips. She gasped as his tongue licked her left nipple. He kissed a line across her chest and did the same on her other breast.
Evelyn squeezed her thighs together, desperate to relieve the ache there. “Leo!”
He leaned down to kiss her neck again. Evelyn ran her fingers through his hair, pulling gently.
Leo chuckled. “I’m not a horse. You can’t pull the reins to make me change direction.”
“What about to go faster?”
She could feel him smile against her skin. He sucked on the sensitive spot below her ear. Evelyn arched her back, trying to get more of him.
Leo kissed down her neck, between her breasts, and over her stomach. He paused right above the bundle of nerves between her legs. “Is this where you want my mouth?”
“Yes!” Evelyn said breathlessly.
He licked all the way down her slit. Evelyn moaned and spread her legs wider apart. His tongue dipped inside her before teasing her clit. He sucked at that perfect spot while she squirmed.
The tension coiled inside her. “Right there! Keep going!”
Just as Evelyn was about to tip over the edge, Leo sat up.
She let out an embarrassing, completely involuntary noise of protest. “Leo? What—”
His mouth found hers and Evelyn could taste herself on his lips. The hardness of him nudged at her entrance and she almost forgave Leo for denying her what she needed.
Evelyn lifted her hips to urge him forward. “Please!”
Very slowly, Leo pushed into her. The walls of Evelyn’s core stretched around him. She didn’t share her next thoughts out loud.
Finally. Stop messing around and fuck me already.
Leo eased himself out. “You feel amazing. You’re so wet.” Not going any faster this time, he sank into her again and pulled back out.
“Are you trying to make this last until sunrise?” Evelyn joked to hide her frustration.
“I never want to leave this bed.”
Evelyn’s mind wandered as Leo made love to her at an agonizingly slow pace.
This is the complete opposite of what I did with Haydn. It was like he instinctively knew what to do with me. But Leo and I are not on the same page here.
Would Damien know how to touch me? Could he make me—
No! I’m not thinking about Damien or Haydn on my wedding night.
Enough of this.
Evelyn grabbed Leo’s hair and pulled him close. She hardly recognized the low, commanding voice that came out of her. “Leo. I love that you are sweet and gentle with me. But right now, I need you to make me scream. I want to forget my own name and feel sore tomorrow. Okay?”
He hesitated for a heartbeat. “That’s what you like?”
She nodded before remembering he couldn’t see her in the dark. “Yes.”
Leo thrust into her. Evelyn cried out and he took that as approval.
The change in pace had an immediate effect on her body.
Her mind shut off as Leo moved the way she wanted.
Evelyn rocked her hips in sync with his thrusts, increasing the friction she craved.
While he wasn’t as fast or rough as Haydn had been, there was an additional element of pleasure in knowing that her husband was inside her.
Evelyn’s release came with little warning.
A strangled cry escaped her throat as the orgasm set her nerves on fire.
Leo found his own relief soon after, then collapsed on the bed.
Evelyn savored the feel of his seed between her legs.
She rolled toward him and put a hand on his chest. His skin was slick with sweat and his heart thundered.
“I love you,” Leo said, catching his breath.
“I love you, too.”