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Only that, and he capitulated.

“Far be it for me to neglect you,” he murmured, gathering her into his arms.

Her skin tingled and burned as Mehl caressed his way down her back, pausing to cup her bottom before he bent slightly to grip her thighs. Then suddenly, he boosted her up, and she was more than happy to wrap her legs around his waist. At the feel of his hard length settling against her folds, she whimpered.

He chuckled against the side of her neck. “Are you sure you have the energy to do this? You’ll have to ride me in this position, love. I’ll not brace you against the stone wall for fear I’d hurt you.”

Although his words sounded doubtful, one of his hands slid from her bottom and up the crease of her thigh. Mehl shifted his cock slightly, and his finger brushed alongside her clit. Sudden pleasure seared her blood, forcing a yelp from her lips. With a wicked little chuckle, Mehl stroked her in earnest, his finger sliding over her nub as though he’d been born for the task.

Her arms went taut around his shoulders, and her vision hazed over. As the first wave crashed over her, she couldn’t hold back a scream. But it wasn’t enough. Nearly frantic, she pushed her hips back against his hold, but she couldn’t manage the leverage to get him inside her. “I need…”

He lifted her until his cock was lined up at her entrance. “Are you sure you—”

She impaled herself on his length, cutting off his words.So good.Her head fell back as she worked herself down, her body yielding bit by bit to his. It was shocking, the way he felt so perfect. He and Toren…each king had their own place in her body and heart. Unique but the same. Now that she could have them both, she truly knew.

Mehl kissed his way down her neck and then ran his tongue around her sensitive nipple. “I love the taste of you.”

Ria dug her fingers into his hair and claimed his lips with hers. Then she moved, savoring the feel of him. His length inside her. His hands gentle and supportive where he held her. His body hot and hard against her. And she took him as she pleased. Fast. Slow. Fast again. Until finally, they cried out together, Mehl’s hands trembling around her thighs as he spilled within her. Her body went lax against his.

“I love you,” she whispered against his chest.

Mehl twitched beneath her, and her heart slammed with the fear that she’d said something wrong. But he kissed the sensitive spot beneath her ear. “I love you, too, Ria.”

“And me?”

At the sound of Toren’s voice, Ria glanced over her shoulder, and her breath caught at the sight of him. Strong, gorgeous—and just that little bit vulnerable. “Of course I love you,” she said, the warmth in her heart spilling out until she melted with it. “I love you both equally. Always.”

“Good,” Toren said, his tension visibly easing. He stepped close, and his chest at her back sparked her desire again despite how sated she’d just felt. “Since I’d hoped to share my own love with you.”

“Sex isn’t love,” she gasped as Mehl stirred within her again.

“That wasn’t what I meant,” Toren replied. “But it can be a satisfying way to show the emotion.”

When Mehl pulled out, she whimpered at the emptiness, but she didn’t have to bear it for long. As Mehl claimed her breast with his hot mouth, Toren slipped into her from behind. Ria shivered from the intense, almost overwhelming, pleasure of being cherished between them, but this time, she was happy to give up control.

And her kings absolutely made it worth her while.

* * *

Somewhere below them,the courtiers were gathered in the dining room, pretending to enjoy the nightly meal, but Toren was perfectly happy to be in bed rather than among them. Their absence at the High Table would have the rumors flying, of course. But with Mehl curled against his back and Ria nestled against his front, what did he care? He’d been through too much to leave such perfection as this.

Thankfully, it hadn’t taken long to write out the line of succession, including the order of the cousins who might take his place if his child—or children—didn’t outlive him. Though he hadn’t had any hope of disqualifying Ber, he’d long contemplated that very thing, so the list had been easy. The slowest part had been the rules regarding the passing of power, particularly in verifying the honesty of the next-in-line, but he’d left room to amend that part of the document later.

Better to have something adequate now than to have nothing at all.

As his reward for completing the task quickly, he’d been lucky enough to reach the bathing chamber just as Ria and Mehl reached their climaxes. Gods, what a beautiful sight. How had he managed to find two nearly perfect mates? In his entire life, he couldn’t have done anything spectacular enough to warrant it.

“Does your mind never cease?” Mehl muttered against his shoulder.

Toren smiled against Ria’s hair. “When I’m sleeping. Usually.”

“If you’re not yet exhausted, we could—”

A knock interrupted the words. Toren merely glared at the door, but Mehl tensed behind him.“What is it?”Toren sent his husband.

“Shouldn’t Feref be supervising dinner?”

An excellent point—even in their absence, the chamberlain ensured court dinners ran smoothly. Could Mery have returned, then? Toren did a quick mental probe and found that it was indeed Feref standing outside the bedroom door. Sighing, he disentangled himself from his spouses and sat up. Feref couldn’t see him, but if there was a problem, Toren would rather confront it upright.