Page 38 of Courting the Dragon Prince (A Royal Arrangement #1)

Chapter Thirty-Eight

L uther floated as Onyx washed him once again.

He felt light-headed and a little dizzy as Onyx dried him with a fresh cloth that he’d gotten from somewhere.

Onyx chuckled. “You have a goofy grin on your face.”

“Do I?” Luther hadn’t realised. He lifted his hand and touched his lips. He was indeed smiling. “Huh.” He supposed that was what happened when you had the most incredible sex of your life. His skin and brain buzzed with satisfaction. That sex had been beyond sublime.

Onyx smiled. “You seem a little out of it. Come here.” Onyx took his hand and led Luther to his bed.

Luther dropped onto the mattress, watching as Onyx walked to the table and filled a glass of water. He brought it back to Luther. “There you go. Drink that.”

Luther lifted the glass to his lips and drank. As the cool water slid down his throat, he realised just how thirsty he was. When he finished the water, Onyx got him some more.

When he’d drunk that, Onyx asked, “Do you want any more?”

“No. That’s enough for now.” Luther felt a little more centred now.

Onyx took the glass. “How about food? You hungry?”

Luther thought about it for a second. “No.”

Onyx remained by his side, watching him.

Why was Onyx watching him? Was Luther doing something weird?

His stomach dropped.

Does he want me to leave? Should I have left by now?

Luther glanced at the bed he was sitting on. He so wanted to curl up in the soft blankets and sleep next to Onyx. Even if he couldn’t sleep, he’d be happy to just lie next to Onyx and hear him breathe. Something about the earth elemental’s presence felt so strong and protective. Luther wanted to remain by him just a little longer.

But he had spent a lot of time in Onyx’s room today. No doubt Onyx must be sick of Luther by now.

Onyx had left immediately after sex the day before. Maybe he expected the same from Luther.

Luther stared at his hands in his lap. He imagined walking back to his room alone, entering his empty room, lying on his cold sheets, staring up at the canopy hanging above his head, waiting for the terrors to come.

“Did you want anything else?” Onyx asked.

Luther shook his head. It sounded like Onyx was preparing to end their time together. No doubt in a second, Onyx would say goodnight and expect Luther to walk out the door and return to his room alone.

Maybe if Luther lay down on the bed and tugged the blankets over him, Onyx wouldn’t stop him and would let him stay.

Fuck. I am like some pathetic dog.

Luther swallowed.

“Are you all right, Luther?”

Luther forced a smile. “I’m fine.” He paused, trying to think of some plan so Onyx would allow him to stay the night. Finally, he just blurted, “Can I stay here tonight?”

Not a clever plan. But his brain wasn’t working at its best right now.

Onyx frowned. “Of course,” Onyx said as if he’d expected nothing else.

“Oh.” Well, that had been far easier than Luther had thought it would be. “Thanks.”

Onyx’s lip quirked up. “Honestly, like I said, you seem a little out of it, like you’re about to pass out.”

“Sounds pretty accurate,” Luther said.

“Then lie down. I’ll tidy up a bit,” Onyx said.

Luther lay down, tugging the blankets over him. He watched as Onyx picked up the dirty clothes that had been strewn about. He shoved them in a pile by the door. Then he tidied up the plates and glasses and put them on a tray.

Luther frowned. What was Onyx doing? This was servants’ work.

Onyx walked to the door and opened it. He rang a bell that stood on a stand by the door. A moment later, a servant appeared in the doorway. Onyx handed them the tray and spoke to them in low tones. They disappeared. A few seconds later, another servant arrived. The servant handed Onyx a large bucket and then took the pile of dirty clothes and left.

Why was Onyx working alongside the servants?

Onyx took the bucket and walked to the basin. He poured the dirty water from the basin into the empty bucket and then carried the bucket and left it by the door. Another servant appeared with another bucket, and Onyx used that to fill the basin. The servant took the bucket with dirty water away.

By all the dragon gods, what the fuck is Onyx doing?

Luther, or any member of his family, would never do any of these tasks. Ever!

Yet Onyx just went about these tasks like it was expected of him. Luther stared at the strange man. It was one thing to tidy up after oneself during the war in your own tent. But servants should take care of rooms. And even during the war, Luther had had a lower-ranking soldier to serve him most of the time.

The servants seemed unperturbed that Onyx helped them. In Draconia, if Luther tried to do that, the servants would no doubt be perplexed. Luther pondered that. The servants at the White Monastery must be trained for the different servant cultures of their guests. The monks really did think of everything to make their guests’ stays comfortable.

Finally, Onyx spoke in soft tones to one of the servants, too low for Luther to hear. Then he closed the door. Onyx disrobed, putting the clothing away. He went to the basin and washed quickly and perfunctorily.

Despite Luther having spent twice, the sight of all that glorious wet skin made heat rush to his gut. His cock gave a half-arsed attempt at rising. But Luther knew he couldn’t go again so soon. Maybe in a few hours.

Now dried, Onyx grabbed the lantern from the table and came over to the bed. He placed the lantern on his bedside table and crawled beneath the sheets.

“I can’t believe you did all that,” Luther said.

“Did what?” Onyx asked.

“You tidied up the clothes and plates. You changed the water,” Luther said, not hiding the amazement in his voice.

“Well, the servants were the ones who took everything away and then will wash them,” Onyx said. “What do you normally do?”

“I let the servants do their jobs!” Luther snuggled into the blankets. “They come into the room and clean up. I don’t do any of that.”

At Onyx’s frown, Luther said, “No noble in Draconia would!”

“Well, you definitely are a spoiled little prince, aren’t you?” But Onyx smiled, taking the bite from the barb.

Luther smirked. “As I’ve said before, I’m definitely not little. I’ve more than proved that.”

“Sorry. You’re right.” Onyx chuckled. “You’re just a spoiled prince.”

“That’s much better.” Luther smiled.