“I want to see the world with you,” he says softly, stroking my long black hair. “But even if we stay right here at River Bend, I’ll be content. You’re my world now, Raina. Forever.”
I squirm. As queen, I can’t make the same bold declaration. I’ll always have demands on my time. So will he, as my prince consort. But the two of us together will make our own world together. A good and kind one, for our children, and for all the children who lost their families this year.
“I have one thing from the outside world to show you.”
Sitting up, I strip off my shirt to reveal the lacy bra I bought in Paris. Purchased with Lorcan in mind, while knowing he was never going to see it. Past me was an idiot, but right now, I’m thanking her for setting me up for this moment.
“I figure I’d better wear as many of my clothes acquired in the outside world while I can still fit into them. Retail therapy was my thing, and I needed a fuckton of therapy what with the whole Zosia and Lorcan fiasco.”
“Sunshine?”
“Yes?”
“Let’s not talk about your friends for a while.”
I laugh. He’s right. I’ve let them dominate my consciousness in ways that have been unhealthy. I’ll still have to deal with Lorcan at some point, and grieve the loss of Zosia, but they don’t need to be with us now.
Tovian hasn’t taken his eyes off my chest. His gaze is worshipful and impish. “What’s this, Sunshine?”
“Lingerie.”
He’s already trying to get my pants unfastened, curious about what’s underneath the plain red silk. Pale pink embroidered lace appears.
“This is nice,” he says admiringly.
“You should see what I have tucked away in my closets.” We kiss. I tuck my hair behind my ear. “Before it doesn’t fit.”
“We’ll just have to get you new…what was it called? Lingerie?”
“Yeah. French.”
Tovian fumbles with the tiny clasps, but quickly figures it out. The bra comes away with a gentle tug, stripping the straps down my arms. He cups my breasts, squeezing, flicking his thumb over my nipples.
“Lingerie is nice,” he says, “but this is better.”
I wriggle backward, off his thighs, and attempt to remove my pants in a strip tease. I’m already too awkward to bend properly, so it ends with an inelegant hop-skip. Tovian isn’t bothered by my lack of grace. The heat in his gaze flares higher. His cock twitches visibly. I fall to my knees, between his, and work the silvery-gray fabric open.
He springs to attention. I take him in hand, squeezing lightly. Tovian’s leaning back on his hands. His head falls back, eyes closed, when I stripe my tongue up the underside.
“Fuck, Sunshine.”
“Not yet. We’ll get there.”
We shouldn’t be doing this here, but fuck it, it’s my castle and I’ll suck my boyfriend’s cock wherever I damn well please.
He groans and tents his fingers on my scalp. I take him all the way down my throat, as far as I can manage. Sucking sounds echo in my ears. It feels wild and bold to be doing this with him where anyone could pass by to see. I’m so wet that my fancy embroidered tanga might never be the same. I shift, trying and failing to ease the ache. Tovian’s abdomen clenches.
“Off, Sunshine.”
Instead, I grip his hips and go lower. He makes a sound that’s half submission, half surprise, followed by a low moan. He swells, impossibly larger, so big my jaw hurts. I firm my lips around his shaft. Salt explodes on my tongue. He pulses, his vein pulsing against my lower lip. Slowly, his tense grip on my hair relaxes. He’s still hard when I slip off, gagging a little as the pressure eases. I wipe my mouth as discreetly as I can, but there’s no hiding what we just did together.
Tovian hauls me up, plastering me to his chest. I listen to his heart racing. Then I strain upward to press a tender kiss to his jaw. He’s not a giant, but he’s a heck of a lot taller and stronger than me, which makes me feel small and protected.
Knowing he could’ve—and would have—snapped Lorcan’s neck if I’d asked him to is weirdly gratifying. I’m not supposed to be thinking about my friends, if you can still call Lorcan that, yet they’re woven into the fabric of my life. Being close with two living legends made me feel small. Less than.
But that was all in my head.
I wouldn’t trade my life for either of theirs. No way.
