“I’m not stupid, you know,” he complains, but before I get to reassure him, there’s a single knock on the door before someone strides in, heeled shoes clicking on the marble floor.
“Good mornin—” Behind the bars that keep us both safe from intruders, Reiner stops talking as I glare his way. But then Luke pulls me close with more force than I expect from him and twists us so my back is turned on my house master.
I want to chuckle at his modesty, but when he splays his palm over the golden sun on my chest I realize he’s… shielding me. Despite my refusal to tell him the truth, he’s chosen to protect me.
My heartbeat speeds up, and I kiss the top of his head, charmed by his kindness.
I scowl and look up at my servant. “You shouldn’t stride in before you’re invited.”
Reiner purses his mouth, standing straight as he watches us through the bars. “Forgive me, Your Highness, I had no reason to expect you here.”
Damn it. Of course.
It’s in bad tone for me and my Dark Companion to spend a night together before the wedding, so I use my shadow to let Reiner in and meet his gaze once he comes a bit closer. “You did not see me here.”
“No, Sire,” he says and makes a little bow.
Reiner continues as he hauls a large wheeled chest to the bed. “The wedding day is upon us, and I wanted to personally make sure your promised is ready. I brought him a set of day clothes, and I will take it upon myself to make sure he is comfortable in his wedding ensemble.”
I glance at Luke. “Make sure to tell him if you don’t like something. There’s still time to make adjustments,” I say before Reiner manages to hide his sour expression. “Step outside. I will call you when we’re ready.”
“As you wish, Your Highness,” he says and does as told, even though I know he’s not happy about it. I can’t get enough of my new position where it’s me who gives the orders. I am finally where I belong.
I watched Reiner as I grew up in the shadows, and while he’s been loyal to the Nightweeds for over two hundred years, he is a stickler for rules and routines. He plans meticulously and hates surprises.
But I can’t fault him. He has been an amazing attendant to my slothful brother, and will make sure Luke is immaculate for the wedding as well as advise him on our customs at court.
Luke falls back with a deep sigh, offering me a good view of his pretty pink nipples. “Are we fucked? Was this, like… illegal?”
I chuckle, curling my hand around the one he used to shield me. “No. It’s just... embarrassing, but don’t worry, I’ll keep our reputation pristine. Thank you for helping me, my promised,” I say, kissing his knuckles while our eyes lock.
His pupils widen, his moonlight skin flushes pink, but he doesn’t look away. He must feel our connection too. “I… I need to pee,” he mumbles, sliding his hand out of mine.
When he gets up, I take my time assessing the little bruises and love bites I left all over him with such pleasure yesterday. He’s like a cake I’ve taken a bite out of so everyone knows it's mine. But no onewill know, because this is our secret.
I slide my legs off the bed and grab his hips, leaning in so I can kiss the wonderful curve of his spine, just above the round buttocks I’m now obsessed with. “This was the best of nights,” I whisper, because I want him to feel appreciated.
He looks back at me with shyness in his eyes, even though he was very vocal about all his carnal needs last night. “I… I had fun,” he says and slips out of my grasp to go to the bathroom.
I follow him and wash away the evidence of our coupling. Reiner is waiting outside, but I take my time to steal more of Luke’s kisses. He is like putty in my hands, and he might not know it yet, but hewillbe a very happy Dark Companion. He just needs to give himself over to me instead of putting up walls.
And he will, because I adore him already.
By the time my manservant enters the room, I’m partially dressed and settle in an armchair in the corner while Luke stands in the middle of the room with a sheet wrapped around his hips for modesty. Little bruises and love bites are scattered over his pale skin, as if he was my very own canvas, but Reiner knows better than to acknowledge their presence as he opens the chest and pulls out a silky coat in midnight blue.
I love that Luke glances to me for guidance, silently asking if he should take the sheet off. Only once I nod at him does he let it fall to the floor. Reiner will probably be one of the very few elves who ever gets to see my Luke naked. Maybe the only one, if I get my way.
“So I’m getting new clothes?” Luke asks, eyeing the black shirt Reiner offers him.
“Yes. I have talked to Sir Tristan about your former attire, and we were forced to dispose of it.”
Luke’s eyes fill with disappointment. “Oh, but… I had this pin on my pants. With a lobster.”
“You will have a hundred new pins.”
I expect pushback about the trinket, but Luke shrugs. “Okay, I guess. I hated the uniform anyway.”
Ah, so his life isn’t all full moons and clear skies after all!
