For a moment, Evie was confused by the question. Natalya knew she wouldn’t mind that at all. There were few things Evie liked more than being kissed by Natalya.
But there was more to the request. With everything they’d done and been through, it was easy to forget that almost all of it had been in private, away from the eyes of strangers. Natalya had never kissed her in public. They had never kissed in front of the Court.
Evie looked out at the crowd. They would know. They would see. The thought made her smile so wide it hurt.
“Yes,” Evie said. “Please.”
Tugging the ribbon free, Natalya leaned in and placed a soft kiss on Evie’s lips. It was warm and gentle, filled with adorationand calm. Evie sighed into it, the sound lost as a loud gasp went through the room. It was followed by intense silence as Natalya’s lips lingered on Evie’s for several seconds, sending a flow of tingling energy through her body.
When Natalya pulled back, holding the silver ribbon in her hand, the silence remained. Shocked and stunned. Only when Natalya reached down to intertwine her fingers with Evie’s was the silence broken by cheers.
“I think they were waiting for you to drop dead,” Natalya said teasingly.
Evie looked out at the crowd. Watched them awe and hoot. It almost made her laugh.
“What happens now?” Evie said as Natalya led her from the stage.
“The contract must be honored during its first night.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means I must satiate myself on you.” Natalya pulled Evie closer, whispering in her ear. “It means I must fuck you, darling. Would you like that?”
Evie grinned. She wanted nothing more.
With the Claiming over, music started blaring through the Court of Chains. The people who’d participated in the ceremony withdrew to private corners to celebrate, with a few aiming for the Second Circle. Natalya and Evie joined them, moving down the stairs and through the public hall of Natalya’s domain.
As they walked down the hall for the private rooms, Evie had a feeling where they were going. It was confirmed when they came to the same black door Natalya had opened when they’d last been together in the Second Circle. Behind it was a red-walled room with a circular bed in the center, covered in black silk sheets.
“Remember what happened in here?” Natalya asked when she’d closed the door. She moved to stand behind Evie, runningher hands slowly over her body. “Do you remember what I did to you in this room?”
“You punished me, Mistress,” Evie said, catching the change in tone and dynamic.
“How did I do that?”
Evie smiled as Natalya pressed her hand over her skirt, touching her mound through the fabric.
“You tied me up, as I recall.”
“Yourecallcorrectly.” Natalya’s mouth was by Evie’s ear. She nipped her earlobe. “Did you like being tied up, darling? Did you like being at my mercy?”
Staying cocky was difficult when Natalya was asking questions that seemed like they were specifically designed to turn her on. Thinking about it, they probably were.
“I did like it, Mistress.”
“I know you did. And you’ve been such a good girl tonight.” Natalya laughed softly, the sound blowing warm air onto Evie’s skin. “A reward is in order, I would say.”
Natalya eased her hand between Evie’s legs, running up the inside of her thigh. Then she stopped. It made Evie’s smile grow into a grin.
“You’re not wearing underwear.” Natalya sounded a little surprised.
“Well, you tend to ruin it,” Evie teased. “Figured it would be a shame to have that happen to another perfectly good pair of—”
Her voice was cut off by a loud moan as Natalya pressed a hard kiss against her neck. At the same time, a surge of pleasure roared through her body from Natalya still holding her hand between Evie’s legs. Natalya’s mouth and hand connected in a flow of sensation, creating a current of bright, pure pleasure that robbed Evie of her speech in an instant.
She staggered at the overwhelming feeling, and Natalya’s arm went around her to keep her in place.
“Strip,” Natalya whispered into Evie’s ear when she was steadier on her feet.
