“Colton,” I whisper when we break for air, my voice thick with desire.
“Do you want to skip out? Forget the party and make love under the stars?” he murmurs, his breath hot against my ear.
Tempting as it is, I know leaving now would only strain things further with his family. “Shouldn’t you introduce me to your friends first?” I tease, nibbling on his earlobe even as his hand slides up my dress, his fingers daring in their exploration.
“Only so they know you’re mine,” he growls, his finger slipping inside me, pressing into my heat. His touch sends a shiver through me, and I almost relent, almost say yes to leaving the party behind.
“Let’s give it a bit longer,” I manage to say, even as he drives another finger inside, sending waves of pleasure coursing through me.
“Your body seems to disagree, my shadow,” he teases, finding my clit with his thumb.
The thrill of potentially being discovered adds an edge to his touch that’s impossible to resist. “I love how you clench around my fingers. Later, I want to feel you tighten around my cock,” he whispers, driving me closer to the edge.
I nod and begin to rock my hips against his fingers. His breath is hot against my ear as he murmurs, “Good girl. Fuck my fingers,” he says, encouraging me deeper into the throes of my arousal.
I reach down, groping for his hardness through his pants. The contact stirs him further, and when I cry out, his mouthcovers mine, swallowing my moans as I shudder and find my climax.
He eases his fingers out, allowing my dress to fall back into place. “I love you,” I exhale, leaning into his embrace, feeling the unresolved tension in his body.
“I love you more—my queen, my mate, my everything,” he responds, his voice rough with need.
I kneel down, unfastening his pants until his impressive length springs free. He’s magnificent, and I can’t help but wonder how I became so lucky. “I like when you look at me like that,” he teases. Realizing I’ve been caught staring, my cheeks warm. With a playful smile, I extend my hand, running it along his length a few times, reveling in the feel of him. Then, locking eyes with him to see his reaction, I take him into my mouth, eager to taste him.
He grips my hair gently at the back of my head, urging me deeper, and I oblige. Swirling my tongue around the tip and then sinking down, drawing him in as deeply as I can manage. I’m relatively inexperienced, but the sounds he makes—a low, appreciative moan—encourage me to continue.
With each motion, I push my limits, drawing him in until he brushes against the back of my throat, and I gag slightly, but it only spurs me on. “Fuck,” he breathes out, and I quicken my pace, using both my hand and mouth, keeping my eyes locked on his. His expression is one of sheer bliss, and it thrills me to know I’m the cause.
He reaches his climax, and I swallow, savoring the warmth then lick him clean. He pulls me to my feet, kissing me deeply, his taste mingling with mine. “Are you sure you don’t want to leave?” he murmurs against my lips, his hand caressing my cheek tenderly.
I hesitate, torn by desire. “I do...but we shouldstay a bit longer,” I admit, pressing my lips together. “Let’s rejoin the others before I change my mind.”
He laughs softly, “Alright, let’s grab a drink then.” I quickly adjust my hair and smooth out my dress, ensuring I look as composed as when we arrived. Slipping his arm around my waist, Colton leads me back through the gardens to the bustling terrace bar.
“Can I get you a Stardust?” Colton asks when we reach the bar. I let out a laugh, louder than I intended, drawing a few glances from nearby partygoers. I quickly cover my mouth, trying to contain my amusement, but the name Stardust brings back a flood of memories—it’s the arousal drink I had at my first party here, the very night I met Colton, though I was with Nyx at the time. So much has changed since then.
“Maybe later.” I wink, and he chuckles, picking up two amber glasses garnished with cherry and orange.
“Try this. It’s alcoholic but nothing...altering,” he assures me. I take a sip. It’s like whiskey but sweeter with a pleasant hint of citrus.
“It’s perfect,” I tell him, finishing the drink quickly. I have a feeling it’ll make the night more bearable.
He laughs softly, handing me another drink, and we start navigating the ballroom. He introduces me to a slew of people, but by my third drink, my head is spinning—not from the alcohol but from the sheer number of people he knows. I can’t remember a single name after the first dozen.
“Lyra, darling,” a familiar voice calls out, and I turn to see Flora approaching. Relief washes over me. She pulls me into a hug then looks at Colton. “We need to catch up. We’ll find you later,” she tells him. He nods, kisses my cheek, and lets me go.
Flora leads me back to the terrace and hands me a light-pink drink topped with smoky bubbles. She’s in a tight, sparkly red dress that matches her hair and wings almost perfectly.
“So how are you holding up?” she asks, eyeing me closely. “You look amazing, by the way.”
“So do you,” I reply. “I’m doing okay, all things considered. I can’t shake the feeling that Colton’s parents really don’t like me, and I’ve noticed a lot of odd looks.”
“Looks?” Flora echoes.
“Yeah, or an energy I feel. I don’t know. People are talking about me, and not in a good way,” I explain.
“Of course they’re talking about you. You’re beautiful, engaged to an elder’s son, and you’re the dark sorceress, the shadowmancer of our time. They have too much to speculate about. Not to mention you also use to date the Fae king,” she states matter-of-factly, making it sound like no big deal.
“When you put it like that, it makes me feel a whole lot better,” I say dryly, finishing my drink.
