Chapter 22
CHAPTER 22
Tisera
I was distracted by the — very appealing — idea of somehow being with all three of Daz, Kel, and Leo. So, when I caught movement from the corner of my eye, it took me a bit too long to look up. By the time I did, whoever it was had just disappeared around a corner.
I resolved to keep a more wary eye out after that.
But my thoughts were still all jumbled and tumbling, caught up with these three men.
Did Kel still love me?
Did he want more than a physical relationship?
Did I?
Sex with him was amazing, but a life with him, what would that be like? He was a man of action, a man called to duty. Even if I got my act together and started this school Leo was suggesting, Kel would still be going off to war and that would be terrible for me, left behind to worry.
Then… there was Daz, sweet and sensitive Daz. A man of power I couldn’t even fathom, yet who loved to cook and clean and make my home a happy, cheery place. We were already so close, how much did I want to be… closer?
The more I thought about it, the more I could see the possibility of it. I could see him as a man — a very handsome one — instead of a brother. And I had some — very naughty — fantasies of what he could do with all that mystical power of his.
Leo was… an enigma, but one I very much wanted to take time to solve. He was kind and respectful and charming. As much as I may want him in my bath or bed, naked and gentle and sensuous… I could also imagine us just kissing… or talking. A part of me didn’t want to bed him right away. I wanted to get to know him better, so that we could share something truly special… even if it probably wouldn’t be for long, with him being a noble and all.
Gods, everything with Leo seemed so confusing.
His focus on having my “school” work was so strange. I’d never had anyone want something like that for me before. And he said he was going to make it happen, or at least try. What sort of man did that for a complete stranger? A good man. And even if I didn’t know all of him, I loved that much of him in a warm and heartfelt way.
So… who did I want?
Could I really court all of them at the same time?
Would they agree?
“Tisi?”
The voice startled me. I’d been distracted again. I looked up to see…
“Kel? What are you doing here?”
He smiled. “I have a royal contract. I meet with generals, even the queen on occasion. It’s not out of place for me to be in the royal palace.”
“Right, yes, sorry. But… what are you doing… here ?” I looked around. He was alone.
He checked for others too, then lowered his voice when he spoke. “I’m here for a royal advisory council meeting. They’re held in the queen’s private meeting chambers, not far from here. I was on my way there when I saw you.” He looked at the door I guarded. “Is she here?”
I laughed. “Yes, she is.” Then I realized just how easily we were talking. I’d even laughed at something he’d said.
“I… wanted to talk to you,” he said softly.
A thrill ran through me. “I want to talk to you too.” Both our voices were hushed now.
He drew close. If anyone else of his size had been this close to me, I might have been intimidated, but with Kel it just felt warm and comfortable. Without even touching me, I could feel his heat, smell his unique scent: leather and sweat, with a hint of lavender. As big and manly as he was, he enjoyed the scent of lavender and often had a touch of it in his bathwater.
I shivered at his nearness. My body responded as it had so long ago, when we’d coupled in the dark. Heat rose, filling me, even as it pooled into a molten puddle in my core. My breath quickened. My heart raced. Suddenly every shift of my blouse over my chest was like fire, every breath and beat of my heart rich with energy and life.
“I love you, Tisi. I never said it before, and I should have. I love you and even with all that’s happened between us, I want to be with you. I want you back in my life.” There it was. He’d said it plainly.
Oh, blessed Halea…
“I…” I did love him, and I wanted to say it, but my mouth didn’t agree. My throat closed up. “I…”
Screw it.
I captured his head and brought it down as I rose up on my toes. My lips met his and suddenly everything was familiar and wonderful. All the passion I’d suppressed these past years overwhelmed me. A rather stunning desire gripped me, filled me with urgent need, spurred by the very likely possibility of being caught in this compromising position.
He lifted me easily, pressing my back to the wall. I wrapped my legs around his waist as our mouths opened and we tried to devour each other. My arms went around his neck, tight, pressing us close. My breasts crushed against his hard chest. The rough friction of fabric between us was almost painful against my aroused nipples.
I rocked my hips against him, feeling his arousal come alive even through our layers of clothes. One of his thick-fingered hands pushed between us and clamped over a breast, hard and kneading. I moaned into his mouth. Our times together had always been quick, and I was responding now as I had then, charging toward a hasty release.
I wanted him. I wanted this. I wanted our clothes to be off and have his thick cock inside me as he took me. It wouldn’t take much, I was already primed and ready. Just a few hard thrusts while he pushed me up against this wall…
The wall…
In the palace.
Fuck!
I drew back quickly. “Not here!” I hissed as I unclamped my legs from around him and found the floor again, looking around.
No one had seen us. Yet that only meant I wanted to continue what we’d been doing.
But…
“Don’t you have a meeting to get to?”
He looked around as well and captured me with a hard kiss before he stepped away. He didn’t go far. “I do, but I have a bit of time and… I want you, Tisi,” he whispered, his breath hot against my cheek as he pinned me to the wall again.
“I want you too,” I said. Apparently, that was easier to say.
I needed to say more. Something about him not being the only one. But my mind was so clouded with heated desire for him that I couldn’t quite recall those words either. Instead, I pulled him down for one last kiss, softly biting his lip.
With a quick check of the hall, no one around, he slid his hand down to bunch up my skirt and reach between my legs.
“Kel!” I hissed.
He grinned. “I’ll keep an eye out. Just like old times.”
And in some ways, it was just like old times: dangerous, a risk of being caught. But the danger of being found out was more of a thrill, not the life-threatening terror of the siege. Yet my body reacted the same: time was short, take pleasure where you can, and take it quick. And… Kel knew just how to touch me for maximum effect.
He pressed and flicked and rubbed. I quickly went from mostly-aroused to full-on soaking-wet and quivering. Then two of his thick fingers curled inside me as his thumb viciously massaged my clit. And when his other hand came up to mash against a breast, I came, biting my lip so as not to cry out, but feeling the full-body shudder of bliss flow through me.
Fuck me, but he was amazing! He’d always been able to get me off so fast with his fingers. He’d had to, to make sure his thick cock could slip inside me. But that didn’t happen this time.
Kel withdrew his hand quickly and we adjusted ourselves, moving away from each other like nothing had happened.
But something had happened, and though it had been fast, it had been wonderful.
“What about you?” I whispered, still filled with the rush of that quick orgasm. “You deserve something.”
“Later,” he whispered. “When we can enjoy it, fully.”
“I don’t think we know what that’s like,” I joked.
He gave a soft laugh. “We’ll find out.”
And gods, how I wanted to find out. “I’ll come to you,” I said, hushed.
His grin was feral and his eyes full of heat. “Then we’ll come together.”
Oh, Hells yes, we would.
“I don’t know if I can get away tonight, but tomorrow…?”
“I’ll be waiting,” he breathed. With a smile and a wink, Kel left.
It was only once he was gone and my mind slowly cleared of that heady lust-haze, that I recalled what I’d been supposed to say about rules and other guys.
“Fuck,” I whispered.
Oh well. I’d see him again soon, and before we were together again, I’d tell him everything.