Chapter Twenty #2
“I’ll let you know,” he said, moving out into the hall, closing the door behind him. I could hear the sound of his and Nira’s voices growing more distant as they moved down the hall.
“Was it the same dream?”
“No. This time, I was in Grimwood’s cellar… dehydrating with no hope of a sip of water.”
“That’s not gonna happen,” I promised her as my hand slid up and down her spine.
“What time is it?”
“Almost dawn.”
“Are you coming back to bed?”
“I’m awake now. I can bring you back to bed, though, sit with you while you fall asleep.”
“I should probably stay awake too. Nira said it is going to be a ‘whole event’ to get me ready for today. Whatever that means.”
“Are you nervous about today?”
“A little. I think I’m more excited, though. Aren’t you?”
“I’ve been to these every year as long as I can remember. It’s lost its luster. But I’m glad you’re excited. Which event are you most excited for?”
“The sword fighting will be interesting because I know a thing or two about it now. But jousting sounds interesting. And the ax throwing and archery sounds interesting. I’m not interested in the melee.”
“That can be brutal. You don’t have to watch. You could take that time to excuse yourself to the restroom or something.”
“Okay. I feel better about that then. I don’t know why anyone would want to watch a bunch of people just… brawling.”
“Violence will always entertain some people.”
“Would you continue it when you’re ruling?”
“Would you want me to end it?”
“It’s not up to me.”
“If I said it was.”
“I would maybe phase it out or transform it into some other feats of strength. Or grappling. I think that was the word Nira used.”
“Yeah. Instead of a free-for-all, a one-on-one fight with rules.”
“Exactly.”
“That could be done.”
“You don’t have to change anything because of my sensibilities.”
“It’s a pointless event. Limbs have been severed, rendering good soldiers and guards useless in their professions. It creates fights among the common folk because of betting on certain men. It’s a mess as it is. Pleasing you is a bonus.”
“Just a bonus?” she asked, looking up at me with a heated gaze.
“Well, in some ways, pleasing you is all that matters.”
“Really?” she asked, sliding off my lap and moving to sit on my desk instead. “Like what?”
I had to think her legs were spread intentionally.
An invitation.
I slid forward, running my hands up the outside of her thighs.
“I could tell you, or I can show you.”
“I learn better through experience.”
Yeah, she did.
She’d picked up so much about life outside of her lake already. She was smart and motivated, had just been lacking more traditional sources of education and the experiences to round out her understanding of the world.
I imagined within the year, she would be reading everything she could get her hands on, would know more about my Court’s history than I ever had. Would be spouting off ancient fae philosophy about war and leadership.
I wanted to be there.
Which was why I was working on a scheme with Vishen and Nira that I was keeping from her. One that I hoped would make her want to stay with me.
Though she showed no signs of wanting to leave.
In fact, it was the opposite. There was a bushel of flowers in the room.
She had a notebook that she sat with, diligently trying to write her letters.
She kept talking about things she thought might look nice in the room or changes she thought would benefit the palace as a whole.
She seemed ready to stay.
And I was ready to show her some of the ways I would make it worth her while.
I grabbed her hips, scooted her closer to the edge, then lowered down to press my kiss to the inside of her knee.
I worked my way up, loving the way her breath caught and her thighs shook.
She spread wider for me, inviting me in as her hands sank into my hair, pulling me closer.
A long, low moan escaped her when my tongue traced up her pussy to her clit.
Then I was giving her the soft, relentless circles she liked best, never slowing, never changing pace or pressure, until she was rocking against me, until her thighs were crushing the side of my head as she got closer and closer.
When she came, it was my name on her lips.
“Lie back for me,” I demanded as I kissed back down her thigh.
She was quick to obey, looking up at me with hazy eyes when I rose over her. I pushed her buttons free, then spread the material wide, exposing her completely.
The cool air washed over her breasts, making her nipples twist into tight buds.
I leaned down, teasing her with lips, tongue, and teeth until she was whimpering and trembling.
“Jet, please.”
“Please, what?” I asked, standing between her spread legs, teasing her with my thumb as my cock pressed hard against the material of my pants.
“Please fuck me,” she said, making a low groan escape me.
“How do you want it? Slow? Sweet? Hard?”
Serin folded up, her gaze on me as she reached to free my cock from my pants. She stroked me once, twice, then angled her head.
“Take me how you want me.”
A groan escaped me as I grabbed her, pulling her off the desk, turning her, then pushing her over it.
“Like this?” she asked, breathless, surprised.
“Just like this,” I confirmed, pushing up her shirt to expose her round ass.
I grabbed my cock, teasing it between her lips until she was wriggling against me. Only when she whimpered in need did I press deep inside her, cursing as her hot walls tightened around my cock.
I never gave a fuck about things like monogamy or virginity or anyone’s history before.
But some part of me loved that Serin was mine and only mine, that I got to be the one to show her all the ways she could experience pleasure, all the different positions she could be put in and how different they felt.
The low, long moan that escaped Serin as I settled deep. There was no chance of keeping control over myself then. I grabbed her hips as I started to fuck her.
Her moans, my groans, and the sounds of our bodies slamming together rose up and filled the room.
The louder she moaned, the harder I fucked her, until we were both crying out as we came.
I pulled her with me back into my chair afterward.
“That might be my favorite,” she decided, sounding sleepy and sated.
“Yeah? Wait until you try riding me, but facing away from me.”
“Mmm,” she murmured, nuzzling into my neck. “Something to look forward to tonight.”
“Yeah,” I agreed. And I realized that for the first time in months, maybe years, there was something to look forward to. Without strings. Without worries. Without anxiety.
“But first… the tournament,” she said, sounding excited.
“But first, the tournament,” I agreed, decidedly less enthused.