Page 27 of Courting the Dragon Prince (A Royal Arrangement #1)

Chapter Twenty-Seven

O nyx felt off-kilter as they left the feast, the applause, and the raucous jeers behind.

Then again, Onyx always felt off-kilter around Luther.

Onyx glanced at Luther, whose hand still rested in the crook of his arm. Luther held his chin up as he strode down the corridor.

Onyx didn’t understand the man beside him. He couldn’t manage to have a conversation with him without it dissolving into bickering. Or fucking.

He wished for a middle ground. He suppressed a sigh. Because perhaps there wasn’t one to be found in their marriage. They just couldn’t get along. They were complete opposites.

It didn’t help that Luther brought out the worst in him. And Luther always seemed so volatile. Onyx honestly didn’t know what to expect between one second and the next. Maybe he brought out the worst in Luther too.

“Where are we going?” Onyx glanced around.

“To my room,” Luther said. “Unless you think that’s beneath you?”

“No. That’s fine.” Onyx’s brows furrowed. “Why would you think?—”

“It’s not far.” Luther once again didn’t allow Onyx to finish his sentence.

Onyx let it slide.

“You don’t need to be worried. We’ll consummate the marriage, for duty’s sake.” Luther patted his arm. “I know that’s what you care about most.”

Onyx’s mouth snapped shut. It was true. But Luther said it in a way that made it sound like it was an insult.

Why shouldn’t Onyx care about his obligations? Why was being dutiful wrong?

It rankled, but Onyx didn’t say anything. He didn’t want to make their wedding day any more difficult than it needed to be.

A sense of apprehension pulsed through his veins. He didn’t know what to expect tonight. Of course, he desired Luther. But it felt like they were always walking on unstable ground that could collapse beneath their feet at any moment.

Guards stood outside the section provided for the Draconian royal family. The Draconian guards saluted and opened the doors in perfect synchrony.

Luther and Onyx strode into a hallway. They passed a large sitting room. Onyx glanced around, noticing the dragon banner hanging over the hearth. He tried to examine the room more, but Luther led him down the hallway before coming to a stop.

“This is my room,” Luther said as he opened the door and stepped in.

A servant waited in the room. He stepped forward. “Your Highnesses.” The servant bowed. He gestured to a tray. “Wine has been prepared as well as some food, should you wish it.” The servant had also been busy lighting candles around the opulent space.

A seating area with several chairs and a table took up a large portion of Luther’s room. A dresser and several cupboards lined one wall. A large four-poster canopy bed stood towards the back of the room.

“Will you need any further assistance tonight?” the servant asked.

“No. Thank you,” Luther said. “I am sure if I need help undressing, my husband will be more than capable of assisting me.”

Onyx’s cheeks flushed. The servant bowed and left. The door clicked shut.

Luther removed his circlet, strode towards his dresser, and placed it down. Unsure what else to do, Onyx followed a step behind him.

Onyx felt like he should say something. But he knew not what. So he remained silent. He did not know what to do in this situation. He did not know what to say that would not upset his husband.

Fuck. My husband. Onyx let out a breath. Luther is my husband.

Luther reached for the clasp of his dragon-scale robe. The green scales gleamed in the candlelight. Onyx had a desire to stroke them. Instead, he watched as Luther tossed the robe carelessly across a settee. Luther reached for the leather straps that held up his breastplate and froze, turning towards Onyx.

“A little help.” Luther raised a brow.

“Of course.” Onyx rushed forward and began to assist Luther undoing the buckles and straps.

Luther didn’t seem to be trying to get a rise out of him. Somehow that made Onyx even more off balance. At least he knew how to behave when they snarled and snapped at each other.

Onyx removed the breastplate, and Luther rolled his shoulders.

“Where do you want this?”

“Just place it over there.” Luther gestured to a spot against the wall.

Onyx leaned the breastplate against it.

Luther massaged his shoulder. “It’s heavy. But one must dress up for such important events.”

Onyx glanced down at himself. He considered his current clothes quite fancy, the embossed leather coat with accents of silk. It was very different from the simple grey robes he’d worn at the mountain temple or during the war. But even what he wore today, his very best outfit—it was nothing compared to Luther’s.

Luther removed his shirt, tossing it on top of his dragon-scale robe.

Onyx’s mouth dried. He stared at Luther’s muscular frame with a smattering of hair covering his chest and flat brown nipples. Onyx’s hands twitched with the desire to run his hands over that delicious skin.

“Onyx?”

“Yes?” Onyx croaked.

A playful smile danced on Luther’s lips.

Onyx frowned. Not long ago, this man had ignored him for almost two weeks, and when he hadn’t been doing that, Luther had been snarling and deliberately trying to annoy Onyx.

Now he smiled?

“Are you going to undress too?” Luther asked. “Or are you just going to watch me undress?”

“Oh. Of course.” Onyx reached for the buttons of his coat, tugging them open. He shrugged himself free of it and removed his tunic, letting them all fall onto the floor. He leaned over to undo and tug his boots off.

Luther stepped towards him, still wearing his trousers. His gaze roamed over Onyx’s bare skin. “I don’t mind you watching me. I just thought you might like to give me something to look at too.” He smiled playfully.

Onyx rose to his feet. “Luther …” Perhaps he should keep his mouth shut and just go along with … whatever this was. But he couldn’t. “Are you all right?”

Luther laughed lightly. “Whatever do you mean?”

“You … you’ve been ignoring me. Or angry with me. And now …” Onyx gestured between them.

Luther smiled, a too-tight smile that didn’t touch his eyes.

“Well, we are married and must consummate the marriage.” Luther paused. “You despise me. Hate me. Can’t stand to be around me.” Luther shrugged and laughed, but it sounded … wrong.

Onyx’s brows lowered. “I?—”

“But you’re attracted to me,” Luther mused, placing his hand on Onyx’s chest. Luther stared at his fingers as they slid slowly along Onyx’s pale skin.

Onyx sucked in a breath.

“And I’m attracted to you.” Luther’s green gaze rose to Onyx’s. “So I figured if we’re going to be stuck in this miserable marriage for the rest of our lives, at the very least, I should enjoy getting my arse properly pounded once by my husband. Don’t you think?”

Before Onyx had time to fully process Luther’s words or respond, Luther’s lips were against his, their bodies pressed together.

Onyx groaned as he gripped Luther’s waist, returning the kiss. Their mouths moved together. Onyx pressed his tongue forward, delving into Luther’s mouth.

Luther was right.

This was not a marriage where love existed. Liking each other wasn’t even a part of their union. They didn’t get along. They probably never would. They’d never have a practical, simple, platonic relationship.

Onyx had been a fool to think they could.

But they desired each other. And since they had to consummate the marriage, shouldn’t they at least enjoy it?

Their lips moved against one another. Onyx plundered Luther’s mouth with his tongue.

If this was the one good thing they could get from the marriage, then what was wrong with that?

Fuck. Maybe we could build our marriage around this.

They could stop talking. Stop being around each other. They could just fuck and then avoid each other completely outside the bedroom.

Onyx doubted the two of them could manage a better marriage than that.

So he should just get over the guilt and his hopes of having an amicable marriage and just accept they’d always abhor each other and give in to his lust and desire.

Which was easy to do with Luther in his arms, his fingers clutching Onyx’s neck as their tongues twined together.

Onyx slipped his hand over the back of Luther’s arse. He squeezed the firm muscle. Luther’s thigh slotted between Onyx’s legs, pressing against the growing bulge. Onyx groaned.

“I’m going to enjoy sinking my cock into your arse.” Onyx nipped at Luther’s bottom lip.

Luther shuddered, grinding against Onyx.

But first Onyx wanted to see him. All of him.

He pulled back and reached for Luther’s trousers. Luther seemed to have the same idea.

Without falling over, they managed to undress completely. Suddenly, glorious skin pressed against skin. They clutched, gripped, and kissed as they stumbled towards the bed.

Luther fell onto his back, pulling Onyx down on top of him. Onyx ground down, dick rubbing against Luther’s thigh. They frotted, lost in desperate kisses and the sweet glide of skin.

Head foggy with lust, Onyx jerked back. “Oil?” he gasped. “Where is your oil?”