Page 25

“I’m naked,” I hissed. “You’re not.”

He grinned. “Ah, so that’s what it’s about.” He shrugged. “I can be naked next time.”

I groaned. I wasn’t sure there would be a next time.

I could hear the tour guide’s voice crystal clear now.

“And now, if you follow me into the next part of the castle, there is some excellent masonwork dating back two centuries. It’s particularly well preserved along the columns of the Great Hall, also known as the throne room...”

I recognized the nobleman’s voice. Baron Bertram Cadogan. An eager, excitable little lord who had recently been invited to join the Privy Council and help advise our new monarch—or regent, in the meantime—on important decisions.

He had also enthusiastically taken it upon himself to welcome visiting nobles from rural provinces.

Apparently his welcome extended to tour-giving. They must have finished up dinner early.

“This isn’t a joke,” I moaned. “We have to go. Of course I want this. But I didn’t truly expect to be seen... Can you imagine what they’ll make of me if they see... us...? This?” I could barely form words.

“Tsk, tsk,” Draven said, running his hands over my bare arms. “You’re shaking, love. Just look at your breasts. I didn’t think your nipples could get any larger.” He shook his head in admiration. “Have I ever told you that you have the most beautiful breasts of any woman I’ve ever known?”

I knew exactly what he was trying to do. Stir my ire by making me think of other women he’d been with.

“Don’t you dare even try to change the subject,” I hissed.

Just as the footsteps entered the Great Hall.

“Ah, yes, if you step this way, you can see the roses engraved right into the stonework along each arched window,” Sir Bertram was saying enthusiastically.

They were in the room now. Right there with us.

Fortunately, they were still near the entranceway, moving slowly along the pillared edge of the Great Hall, apparently inspecting the windows. But if they turned the corner to their left just slightly, they’d have a full view of the dais, the throne, and... all of me. Sitting fully on my mate’s lap. Where Draven was sunk to the hilt, as it were. A poorly chosen phrase I had read in a romance novel I’d found in the castle library once.

Draven was grinning cheekily up at me. “I’d better just do what I do best then.” And he lifted his hips to fill me.

I gasped, moaned, groaned all at once.

Instantly, Sir Bertram’s voice stopped.

Draven’s hand was over my mouth. I felt my eyes bulging.

“I say,” Sir Bertram started. “Did anyone else hear that? A strange sound...”

“It sounded... familiar,” one lady in his audience said. She giggled. “Almost as if...”

“No, that’s quite impossible,” Sir Bertram said, sounding completely shocked. I could almost picture the little nobleman straightening his back. “No one would dare to use the throne room for such a thing. It would be a violation. An utter desecration.”

Draven’s cock buried inside me as he thrust again. Despite the distraction, I felt myself squeeze hard around him. I bit down on his hand as he moved again and again, opening my body for his invasion little by little.

“Keep your eyes on me. Only on me. Do you hear me?” Draven growled. “Don’t think of anyone else. Don’t look at anyone else. Eyes on me, only me, always.”

A scream was building in me. Try as I might to keep it down, it was bubbling up, welling up inside with every thrust of Draven’s great, glorious fucking cock.

My mate’s hands pinned my hips, holding me in place. “You were fucking made for me, my silver. So why not let them see you take me like you were meant to? After all, we were made for this. Let them stare, let them watch, let them envy.”

It was tempting. Part of me wanted to do just that. And in another moment, I wouldn’t exactly have a choice. I couldn’t hold it in much longer. I could feel the scream rising in my throat as Draven stroked in and out of me, increasing his speed.

I saw him start to lower his hand to stroke my clit, and my eyes widened in panic, my lips starting to part.

“By the Three, if anyone is around that corner...” I heard Sir Bertram declare stoically. “You’d best stop this nonsense this instant, or I swear, I’ll send for the empress herself and...”