Chapter 41
Rafe
I’d been sitting on the throne for almost too long. Shadows swirled around my feet, bored now that we’d left the excitement of the party.
Skye had gone back to the table to speak with Isaiah, and the look of alarm he’d given her at however she’d worded her request had been hilarious.
It was apparent to me now that neither he nor Skye felt romantically for the other, and…fine. My Key needed friends. I’d just…sort of preferred if those friends were all women, but whatever.
The door to the throne room creaked open, and Skye slipped inside. Isaiah’s back was visible through the crack in the door, and a shadow pushed the heavy wood closed to give us more privacy.
“Hello, my love,” I said.
Skye moved to the center of the room, her heels echoing along the marble as she stared up into the ceiling in wonder.
I glanced up, too, nodding appreciatively at the mural above.
“What is all that supposed to be, shadow?”
“Affinities, I think,” I murmured, squinting.
I never lit the sconces in this room since they still used fire, so I could barely make out any shapes.
Skye’s silver eyes seemed to glow in the darkness. She giggled. “You don’t know?”
“I never look up,” I said.
Skye giggled again, making me smile. She moved toward the dais, and a shadow moved, catching her by the ankle.
She looked up at me, and I sat back, raising my chin.
“Have you asked for permission to approach me?” I said, making my voice as haughty as possible.
Skye grinned, then pursed her lips. She cleared her throat.
“No, my Prince. I haven’t asked permission. May I…approach the throne?”
“I suppose,” I said, pretending to examine my nails.
Skye skipped up the steps, coming to a stop in front of me.
“May I…sit with you?” she asked, batting her eyelashes.
“Of course,” I said, waving to the second throne beside mine. I briefly wondered why my mother had even brought it out, and then Skye slid onto my lap.
I jumped, quickly moving to grab her as the material of her dress caused her to slip around my legs.
I laughed, finally getting a hold on her thighs before she hiked up the skirt of the dress, nearly exposing her ass as she straddled me.
“Sorry, my Prince,” she breathed. “This dress is a bit restrictive.”
“King,” I murmured.
Skye tilted her head.
“I’m the King right now.”
“King,” she practically purred at me, and I stifled a groan. “The Shadow King.” I leaned into her touch, closing my eyes as her fingers threaded my hair. Her lips brushed against mine, but she didn’t move to deepen the kiss. This was a tender moment, one that didn’t need heat.
“Will you be the Shadow Queen?” I asked.
Skye grimaced.
I snorted, opening my eyes in time to see her expression.
She giggled. “I’m sorry. This is a lot. I never thought a mother-in-law would dislike me.”
“I did,” I sighed. “Unfortunately, you are the type of woman a mother-in-law would dislike.”
“What the hell does that mean?” she almost snapped.
“Well, for starters, you’re absolutely stunning. Then, you could have any of us on our knees at the snap of your fingers. Also, you’re a Royal’s worst nightmare. A powerful being that won’t use their power,” I explained.
Skye was silent for a moment, then she kissed my temple.
“My mom would have liked you,” she whispered.
“Oh, darling,” I whispered with a smile. “I’m sure I would’ve loved her.”
Skye looked away quickly, and I busied myself admiring something else besides her face to give her privacy. I ran my fingers across her chest, pausing over the diamond necklace she wore.
“These really are perfect for you. You like them?” I asked.
Skye shifted a bit uneasily. “Your mother told me she’d made these for a daughter she never had.”
“Pity,” I said, not having known that fact. “They look like they were made for you.”
“She told me if I didn’t like being an Heir, then I needed to make a new one.”
I snorted, then dropped my face to Skye’s shoulder, barking a loud laugh that echoed through the room.
“It’s not funny!” Skye hissed, shoving at my shoulder.
I leaned back, still chuckling while she scowled at me.
“I’m sorry for laughing, darling. How ridiculous,” I said, chuckling again when her eyes flared. “You are under no obligation to produce an Heir for anyone.”
Skye narrowed her eyes and I grinned.
“I think we’ve seen enough examples of children being born for any reason other than love,” I said softly, running my fingers down her cheek. “I won’t be the one dooming this Chain to the same fate.”
Skye let out a harsh breath, shaking her head slightly before leaning in to kiss me again.
The kiss started sweet, but quickly, we grew desperate.
Skye moaned into my mouth as I thrust my tongue against hers, and my cock ached.
She hadn’t tried to put the cage back on me, but… I sort of wanted her to.
I pulled back, kissing her forehead then holding my lips against her warm skin while we breathed in silence for several seconds. “I think,” I said softly. “I want to fuck you on this throne.”
“Your mother’s throne?”
“No, no. My throne. I’m still the King right now.”
“But…right now it’s your mom’s throne.”
“Stop talking about my mother,” I growled, and she squealed as I squeezed her ass in my hands. “I want to fuck you on this throne. Lift your skirt.”
Skye let out a shaky breath, but did as she was told. I stopped her suddenly, pressing my forehead into her shoulder and breathing deeply to compose myself so I didn’t completely lose my shit. This was now the second time this had happened to me, and I desperately hoped it was for me this time.
“Why,” I whispered harshly, “are you not wearing underwear?”
Skye giggled again. “I gave them to Wyatt. That’s why he was glaring me down across the ballroom.”
I let out a huff of laughter, then kissed her shoulder. “Did he enjoy that?”
Hopefully he did. I now owed him thirteen sucker punches.
“Well now that I’m sneaking off with you instead of him, he’ll probably be pissed.”
“Perfect,” I purred right in her ear. She shivered. “Take me out, darling, I’m going to send you back to him nice and full.”
Skye groaned, her cheeks flaming with equal parts arousal and mortification, but did as she was told once again. She had my slacks open in seconds, using her trembling hands instead of her affinity, and I liked that.
Being touched by Skye’s affinity was a spiritual experience, but her hands were transcendental. I loved when she chose to touch me with her hands. I couldn’t get enough of it.
I hissed through my teeth as her hand closed around my cock, already hard and throbbing, practically jumping in her hold.
“Fuck, I wish I could get you completely naked,” I whispered.
I’d give anything to be able to suck on her breasts while she rode me, but logistically, that couldn’t happen.
I was sure Isaiah was guarding the door since he’d brought Skye in here, but someone could still come inside. One someone in particular.
Skye bit her lip, then brushed her lips back over mine, kissing me deeply.
Some part of her was excited by this. I wasn’t sure if she’d realized it or not, but she had a kink for doing things in public places.
I was more than happy to fuck her anywhere someone could hear, but we did need to be careful.
Shadows swarmed the doors, making sure no one would come wandering in.
Skye pulled back, holding her cupped hand in front of my mouth.
I blinked, then spit into her hand. I blinked again as she patted my cheek with her free hand, then my eyes nearly rolled back in my head as she used my own spit to work my cock.
Then she kissed a spot under my jaw that she knew drove me insane.
My cock jumped in her hand. I panted as she lowered herself onto me, and she moaned a little too loudly as she settled herself completely on my lap.
“You’re a vision,” I told her. “A goddess.”
Skye scrunched up her nose, then began to shake her head before I fisted her hair. She widened her eyes initially, then narrowed them, slipping one of her hands into my hair.
Absolutely everyone was going to know we’d left the party to fuck.
“A goddess,” I repeated. “Use me, my love.”
Skye squeezed her eyes shut for a moment, then shifted, placing one of her heels against the seat of the chair. She rolled her hips experimentally, shifting again until she found the position she liked best.
She shuddered as she rolled against me again, and I leaned back, settling into the throne while my Key rode me like I was her fucktoy.
I would remember this forever.
Every sound she made, every expression on her face. We’d do this again someday, when it really was my throne, but I’d never been a patient man. I couldn’t wait.
Skye began to clench around me, getting close to her release, but she wobbled, her thighs tired from the position she held. I leaned back even further to settle myself, then gripped her hips.
Skye let out a shuddering moan when I took over, planting my feet on the ground so I could fuck up into her as I pulled her down onto me. Her hand moved from my hair to my jaw, and then both her hands were there, around my neck, barely squeezing me.
“Fuck,” I breathed. “More.”
Skye’s hands weren’t nearly big enough to really choke me, but she already knew to press from the sides and not the front, so it actually felt perfect.
I could still breathe, but she cut my oxygen just enough to make me feel hazy. She rode me harder, using her hold on my neck as leverage. Her little gasps and moans would probably keep me up late tonight as I replayed this perfect moment between us.
Nothing else mattered in a moment like this. I wasn’t thinking of what was going on in the other room. I wasn’t thinking about any of the bullshit with my mother, our reputations, the Gulf. This moment was only for us. I’d treasure it forever.
Skye clenched around me, and I moved to cover her mouth just before she screamed. Her head lolled while I held her, pumping my hips to fuck her through the orgasm. My own release came just a few moments later, and I groaned into her shoulder while she panted in my ear.
“I don’t have to make an Heir, do I?” she whispered.
I should’ve received an award for how well I held in my laugh.
I perked up slightly, moving the hair out of her face, admiring how her chest heaved.
“I don’t think I want kids,” she went on. “At least…maybe not for a long time. Is that…is that a problem?”
“Not at all, darling,” I replied, kissing her forehead. “I will never make you do something you don’t want to do.”
“But…haven’t you–”
“I want what you want, Skye,” I said firmly. “If you don’t want it, then we won’t do it.”