37. A Good Try
He couldn’t even find the words to tell her goodnight as he left her staring at him beside her bedroom door. All he could think about was her body under that dress and the question she had brazenly asked him.
Did she truly not know what it meant, or was she attempting to annoy him once more?
Velvet wrapped steel. He snorted. Such an inappropriate phrase from such a beautiful mouth.
It had been a shock to hear, and pulled him out of the brooding his father had elicited. But now that he was out of her presence, the anger resurfaced. He needed to get these frustrations out of his system, and there was only one place to go.
Wilder didn’t even bother changing his attire before strutting out of the castle and to the Venus. A bottle of elixir and a release or two would put his obsession with her to rest and numb him from his father’s cruelty.
The cobblestone streets were abuzz with activity as everyone was preparing for Ostara. They were still some weeks away, but it was a beloved holiday and one of his favorites as well.
As he passed from the quiet, manicured streets of the Upper District and across the wooden bridge that led to the Lower District, he couldn’t help but feel a twinge of dissatisfaction.
It’s not that it was a stark difference, but it was unfortunate that there was a separation between the noble-born and the non-noble-born.
A child with tattered clothes sat beside the bridge munching a piece of bread, and Wilder placed a gold coin beside him.
The child reminded him of Ridge when they were young.
Gangly from repetitive growth spurts, his mother found it difficult to keep up with his needs.
Even now, Ridge wore shirts and pants that were a size too small because that was what was familiar to him.
The child looked up with bright eyes, and Wilder pressed a finger to his lips.
“I wasn’t here,” he whispered. And the child nodded in return.
Wilder turned the corner, and the Venus appeared ahead. He felt a buzz through his veins as his heart pumped quicker in his chest. His chest swelled, and his breath came easier as he sighed with relief. Finally—he could be rid of the constant thoughts of her.
He uncorked the tonic that prohibited unwanted births, and choked on the honey-textured liquid as he swallowed it down.
“Is there anything I can help you find?” the nymph at the door asked him as she ran a hand up his forearm. She was curvaceous, with long, evergreen hair and a pert nose. On any other night, he would have accepted her offer.
As the crowned prince, any of his desires would be accommodated here—but being a frequent visitor didn’t hurt either.
“Are there any redheads tonight?”
She froze with her hand on his forearm. Her golden eyes narrowed before she shook her head.
“I’m so sorry, Your Highness. I don’t think I know anyone with red hair.”
Wilder scrunched his brow in confusion. Surely, red hair wasn’t that uncommon.
“That’s unfortunate,” he drawled, feeling a tightening in his chest.
“Is there anyone else you desire?” she purred. With no other options, she would have to do, he supposed. But he didn’t think her alone would be enough.
He scanned the crowded main hall and locked eyes with an elf that resembled the sun. Golden hair, golden eyes, and darkened skin. Her body was a close match to Lyra’s. He raised his chin in greeting, and she sauntered over to him.
The two of them would have to do to get her out of his system. They walked arm-in-arm to his usual room at the end of the second-floor hall. It was darker here. He didn’t care who saw him, but he didn’t like the eyes on his back. He didn’t like people to see the scars.
They wasted no time with formalities, and as soon as they entered the room, the nymph and the elf began undressing. Wilder took a seat in the armchair and watched as they showed tantalizing skin. He didn’t even know their names. Not that it mattered, but they knew his.
The golden elf caressed the body of the forest nymph, and Wilder watched as she sucked a nipple into her mouth. He couldn’t help but imagine what Lyra’s breasts would taste like.
They turned to him as he stood and slid off the jacket before placing it on the armchair. With a jerk of his chin, they got on the bed.
It was disappointing—Lyra would have argued.
They lay naked together, kissing and caressing, while they waited for him. He wasn’t ready, not yet. He pictured alabaster skin and auburn hair where he saw evergreen and gold.
Wilder closed his eyes and imagined the smell of a storm off the ocean instead of cinnamon and cloves. It was futile. But they were ready and waiting for him. He slipped off his boots and pants, and they descended on him.
Gliding delicate fingertips down his chest before the golden one wrapped a hand around his length. The forest nymph licked up his neck before kissing his mouth. The golden one sucked his entire cock into her mouth while she massaged his balls.
It was of no use.
They weren’t Lyra.
They took turns sucking him off before he could scent that they were completely aroused.
He bent the golden one over the side of the bed while the forest nymph lay down in front of her.
It was appealing to watch as she sucked her clit into her mouth and swirled her tongue.
The forest nymph moaned and writhed as he pounded into the golden one.
Her ass was close to the same shape as Lyra’s, so he focused on that to bring about his completion.
After he had brought them their satisfaction and they lay nestled asleep together, he slipped out of the room and down to the bar.
Maybe a stiff drink would work.