I moan, my aching need overcoming my rebellion, and I know I’ll pay for it later when the guilt from my choices keeps me awake late into the night. I could argue that I did this to protect my sister—and I did. But I would be lying to myself if I said I didn’t enjoy it.
Having Lucian buried to the hilt inside me, no protection as he claims my body for his alone, excites me in a way I don’t want to admit. The instinctual desire to bring life into this world thrills me, and I’m shocked by it because I never realized how much I might want to be a mom.
My hips roll against him, taking his cock deep into my depths, and the blatant lust in his gaze as he watches me turns my blood molten. I gasp, the breaths rushing from my lungs now as I tip my head back, taking in the beautiful stars above us as I give in to the moment.
And as my excitement builds, the knot of anticipation tightening in my core, I know I’m going to come again. Soon. Lucian’s cock swells impossibly inside me, thickening and hardening until it’s an iron rod of pleasure. His fingers brush across my skin, tracing the curves of my breasts, my waist.
His grip tightens as he reaches my hips, and I can feel the urgency in his touch.
He’s on the brink—about to come inside me.
That realization is all it takes to launch me over the edge.
I cry out, my hips jerking forward as I sit, taking him as deeply into my depths as my body can take, and when my walls start to spasm, I feel the burst of hot seed that he releases inside me. Lucian grunts, and he reaches up to cradle the back of my head as he pulls me in for a searing kiss. His lips devour mine,his tongue stroking between my teeth as he throbs inside my depths, filling me with his cum.
As the ripples of satisfaction slowly fade, my muscles relax. I release a heavy breath, allowing the rest of my frustration to escape my body as I take a moment to appreciate the relief, the moment of utter contentment.
And as Lucian holds me close, his fingers brushing lightly across my skin, I know I’m dangerously close to realizing something about him that I really don’t want to know.
When I let him, Lucian knows how to make me feel free to be myself in a way I’ve never felt before.
11
LUCIAN
Iwatch my bride enter the breakfast room dressed in a red shift dress that matches her fiery personality and full ruby lips. Her auburn hair has been curled into loose waves that fall around her face, and when her eyes find mine, her lips tilt petulantly. It’s been a week, and still, we’re going through the same dance. The same resistance to my attempts to bring us together that only dissipates when we have sex. Even then, it’s a constant tug-of-war. And while I don’t mind the spice it adds to the bedroom, I was hoping she might start to lower her walls for me by now.
But she only concedes after considerable opposition. I wanted to give Tatiana time to settle into her new life, but it’s starting to seem like this will be our dynamic for the foreseeable future. And we need to start moving forward on a larger scale because the tension between my men and hers isn’t getting any better. We’ve both spoken to the men about learning to coexist, but I don’t see how they’re going to accept the command unless we start presenting a united front. We have to represent the alliance if we want to stop the street brawls that continue to break out every time our men cross paths.
Tatiana settles into her chair without a word, focusing on the yogurt parfait Daniella sets before her. She grants the older cook a warm smile before we’re left alone in the breakfast room. Silence fills the space between us as Tatiana picks up her spoon and starts to eat without glancing in my direction.
“I think it’s safe to assume you’ve acclimated to your new role as my wife by now,” I state, keeping my tone light but businesslike, and Tatiana’s blue eyes flash in my direction.
“Assume away,” she says and takes another pointed bite.
“Then I think it’s time we discuss how to handle our new alliance.” I set down my silverware across my empty omelet plate and lace my fingers as I lean my elbows on the table.
“I agreed to a ceasefire, and I’ll give you an heir, like you want. But that’s as good as it’s going to get. Our families won’t be united because I won’t give up my authority to you. That wasn’t part of the agreement, and I refuse to let my father’s legacy fall into your hands.” Tatiana’s lips wrap around her spoon as she drags another seductive bite of creamy fruit and granola onto her tongue, and she levels a steady, daring gaze in my direction.
“I’m not asking for control, but clearly the concept of an alliance isn’t going to work if we can’t even stand before your men and mine at the same time and call it what it is. The fighting needs to stop, and it won’t unless they believe you and I are both behind making this arrangement work.”
“Who says I’m behind it?” Tatiana demands, dropping her spoon into her parfait bowl and pushing it away from herself. “Thatwasn’t part of our agreement. I don’t have tolikethis arrangement. And for the record, I don’t like it. You forced my hand?—”
“But you did sign the contract, and that does make us allies, whether you like it or not,” I state coolly. “It will go a long way for the men if we can do more than squabble and keep our lives separate.”
“Oh, and exactly what would you suggest we do differently? Because you arenotgoing to start preaching to my men.”
“You can manage yours, and I’ll manage mine, but it’s not working to keep them entirely separated. We need to bring them together to clear the air once and for all.”
Tatiana scoffs. “And once they have the opportunity to air their concerns for the class, the problem will just go away? No, the issue is you have a lot to answer for, and my men aren’t happy about that.”
“You agreed to this marriage in part to avoid the bloodshed, didn’t you?” I point out.
Tatiana’s chin lifts but she refuses to answer—a confirmation of sorts.
“So, regardless of what I may have to answer for, you want the fighting to stop. And you’re the only one with the authority to stop it, so why won’t you?”
“Are you calling into question my ability to control my own men?” she demands, standing abruptly from the table as she glowers down at me.
