Oh, he likes that part. Of course.
“I’ll take you around my lands, introduce you to people, we might go dance at the annual Ardournalia celebrations, get our portrait painted, and engage in many courtly games meant to show how compatible we are,” I say and push my nose into his hair, to smell him. Ah, the salty scent of the sea still clings to his flesh. “It’s tradition. When the first Lord of the Nocturne Court took his Dark Companion, she was resistant to being in this new place, away from everything she knew, so he went out of his way to convince her that a life with him would be much sweeter than the one she had to leave behind. They spent many happy years together.”
“I’ve never really dated anyone, but I imagine it will be easy to pretend I fell head over heels for a prince.” He smiles, unaware that he’s driving a knife through my heart already.
I don’t want him topretend.
But I will take what I can get for now, and maybe courting will fulfill its purpose and by the end of it, he will see that his place is at my side.
“Really? Never?” I ask, curious about the extent of his experience.
“I’m… not good with feelings, relationships and all that stuff.” He stalls as if he’s remembered something. “What about you though? Did you say you only got totouchpeople after your brother died? When was that?”
I freeze, and even in his arms I feel a little bit cold. “A week ago,” I mutter, embarrassed of all the things Luke is no doubt reading from that statement.
His eyebrows rise. “Oh.Oh. And did you… have abusyweek?” He bites his lip as his eyes drill into me inquisitively. The way he circles his fingertip around my nipple is not helping my focus.
I clear my throat, looking everywhere but at his eyes. “Well, I did need to acquaint myself with many things so that nobody notices I replaced Kyranis.”
“Did that include any of his lovers?” he asks, but his smirk tells me he knows the answer.
My voice dies before it can leave my mouth, and I shake my head, embarrassed to confess my inexperience. When Luke hums, my nerves fly through the rooftops.
“And even if our courting will be for show, can it still include—”
“Yes,” I hate how needy I sound, but he kisses my jaw, and it makes me groan in relief.
“So you’re telling me a man like you, with a dick likethat, never got a blowjob?”
I stall, staring at him. “A what?”
He laughs, but it’s not like my brother’s cruel mockery. He’s being playful, and I love it. Luke slides his hand down my stomach and I’m already hard. “Given you pleasure with their mouth.”
Just thinking about Luke’s face hovering above my cock has me stiffening so rapidly it’s giving me vertigo. I shake my head, breathless as he grins at me, beautifully confident. “I’ve seen it done.”
His eyes meet mine and he’s no longer a trembling flower. “How about you experience it for real?” He gives my lips a teasing lick, and I sink into the sheets, ready to takeeverythinghe has to offer.
Chapter 18
Kyran
Just a month ago, if anyone had told me I’d be in bed with the prettiest human boy in the Realm, I’d have laughed in their face. A hypothetical situation, of course, since my brother was the only one to know of my existence, and he’d have never suggested I could be independent or happy for my own sake. But now I’m here, in the soft bed, with Luke grinning at me like a sly fox as he rises to all fours.
“I’m so glad we found an agreement. That makes me so relaxed.” Luke says and leans in to kiss me. “Like I can enjoy this with a light heart.”
His lips are so soft against mine, and I can’t wait to nip on them.
My heart beats fast, and the fatigue I’ve been feeling doesn’t seem so burdensome anymore as I cup his face and stroke the prominent cheekbones. Such a lovely feature. It makes me happy that humans can also have them, and I tease the smooth skin in the middle of his cheek with the tip of my tongue. It’s sad that he can’t relax knowing I want to keep him at my side, but I’ll take what I can get and see if I can convince him to offer me more. Learning how to duel includes a component of understanding the opponent’s psyche, so while Luke isn’t my enemy, the same principle applies. I have to learn more about him. And that will be my pleasure.
His hands drift over my chest, and the fabric between us is so delicate I feel every touch. He knows who I am, and he’s still so eager to kiss me. I can already imagine his hot mouth on my cock, but I’m sure my imagination can’t live up to the reality of his wonderful tongue.
When we kiss, lightning sparks between our lips and shoots down my torso, scorching every bit of flesh in its way. My cock twitches, and even the weight of my shirt feels like an intense touch.
I’ve never desired anything more. Not being seen. Not my brother’s position. Not the crown itself. They all pale in comparison to the possibility of owning Luke, and as I roll us over, pushing my knee between his thighs, my head resonates with hymns of triumph.
I’m addicted to the way he gasps as his pupils widen. He’s so slender and easy to handle, but instead of finding it weak, I enjoy the ease with which he becomes putty in my hands. Will I learn to master him with the same proficiency I mold shadow?
He puts his hands on my shoulders and squeezes. “Are you sure you’re well enough?” he asks, but bites back a smile. The little green fox is teasing me, but if I truly am to only have a month with him, there’s no way I’m wasting a single opportunity to take him in my arms.
