Page 13 of Fey Empire (Fey Lords #5)

Chapter twelve

N ight has fallen. I have been catching up with my brother all day. It was so kind of Dyfri to lend us one of his sitting rooms and then leave us alone.

There has been so much to talk about. We haven’t seen each other since the fey invasion. The entire world has changed beyond recognition since we were last in the same room. And even before that occasion, Mother was keeping us apart.

My life has been boring. My days have been spent in obedience and silence. And being given to a fey prince.

Whereas my brother has been falling in love, forging a found family and having all sorts of adventures.

I’m so happy for him. I truly am.

I glance at the dark sky through the window. If I am staying, I need to return to Prince Selwyn. My husband.

“I need to go,” I say quietly.

Monty’s shoulders stiffen. He opens his mouth. He closes it again. His blue eyes fill with sadness, and he nods.

“I’ll walk with you,” he says as he gets to his feet.

We leave the cosy reception room and enter the antechamber. Dyfri appears from somewhere deeper in his rooms.

“Thank you for your hospitality,” I say .

He frowns. “Do not thank a fey, Laurie.”

Monty inhales sharply.

“Sorry! I forgot!” I blurt. Oh holy stars, it is probably worse to give thanks to an unseelie.

Dyfri shakes his head. “I rescind the thanks. Don’t forget in the future.”

“I won’t,” I promise him sincerely.

He walks us to the main doors and opens them. I startle and freeze. Standing in the hallway, hands clasped behind his back, is Selwyn.

“Have you been lurking outside my doors all day, Brother? Hiding under a concealment spell?” says Dyfri. “How sweet.”

Selwyn’s eyes narrow. “Don’t forget that I know things about you, Brother.”

Dyfri laughs. A rich, melodious laugh that fills the air. He shoos me out into the hallway.

“You wouldn’t dare,” he says almost merrily. “I’ll take the human home.”

The door shuts.

Selwyn bristles. Then he pauses, draws in a deep breath, and seems to compose himself. He turns to me and offers his arm. He isn’t smiling, but he isn’t frowning either.

I glance at the shut door. I didn’t get to say goodbye to Monty. But maybe that is for the best. I probably would have started crying again, and all of my resolve might have withered.

Besides, there is every chance that Selwyn will allow me to see him again soon. If I don’t decide to run away next full moon.

I swallow, turn back to Selwyn and take his arm .

We walk back to his rooms with the silence a presence all of its own. Dark and heavy. Weighting the air between us.

As soon as we set foot inside his rooms, he releases my arm and steps away. “Are you hungry? Would you like dinner?”

I open my mouth to make some excuse, just as my stomach lets out a loud gurgle.

“That sounds lovely, my lord husband,” I say because my stomach is right, I am hungry. And I’ve already upset my husband enough for one day.

Prince Selwyn nods. “I will have it served in the dining room.” Then he walks away.

I watch him leave, and then I pull myself together. Time to wash and get changed for dinner. I can do this.

I successfully find my bedchamber, and then the delightful bathroom. The servant with the wispy hair joins me, and I’m so relieved. I’m really not sure I could figure out how to undo the right laces.

“What’s your name?” I ask, as she helps me to undress.

“Peaony, your highness,” she answers with a smile.

She is a hell of a lot nicer than Rupert. With the additional bonus that I doubt she reports to Mother. To Selwyn, maybe. But that’s fine. I think I can live with that.

I wash quickly, even though it is criminal not to linger in that glorious bath. Peaony helps me to dry off and dress. Then she leads me through Prince Selwyn’s sprawling rooms. We pass through the main sitting room. It is covered with potted plants. Greenery is everywhere. On every surface.

It’s surprising. As well as reassuring. It is hard to believe that someone who takes the time to nurture plants can be cruel .

It is also a startling, vivid, visual representation of how little I know about my husband. I know next to nothing. He is a fey prince. Fifth of six royal brothers. And far more dangerous than anyone seems to realise.

Other than that, the man is a complete mystery.

You know how it feels to take his large cock. I blush fiercely and banish that thought far, far away.

Peaony opens a door into an elegant dining room. Selwyn politely gets to his feet. I drop a quick curtsy. So far, so good. All polite formality. The way I was raised.

I take my seat, and dinner is served.

We eat in silence. I’m sure the food is delicious, but I can’t taste it at all. The sound of my fork against my plate is deafening, and I’m acutely, horribly aware that I am alone with Selwyn.

Eventually, the last course is taken away. I dab my lips with the thick linen napkin. Selwyn stands, so I hurry to my feet too.

“We have to share a bed for the duration of our honeymoon,” Selwyn says tonelessly.

I lick my lips. “I know.”

Silence. Oppressive and thick. So very many things unspoken.

He moves suddenly. Jerky and uncoordinated. Nothing like his usual predatory grace. I follow him to my bedchamber. I suppose it is our bedchamber for the duration of our honeymoon. Afterwards, it will be mine. On the nights he wants me, he will let himself in through a discreet adjoining door.

I shudder. That’s if I choose to stay.

Damn errant thoughts! Of course I’m going to stay! My happiness is not worth other people’s safety .

Peaony quietly enters the room and starts helping me undress. Layer by layer, my fey court robes are peeling off. On the other side of the room, Selwyn is undressing himself.

Peaony stops when I am down to one thin white robe. She curtseys and leaves with the rest of my clothes bundled in her arms. She shuts the door softly, but it still sounds like a thunderclap.

Selwyn looks at me. He has stopped at his last layer too. That is strangely comforting.

I bite my bottom lip and force my feet to move to the bed. I slide under the cool crisp sheets and scrunch my eyes up tight.

The bed dips. Selwyn slides in beside me. He clicks his fingers, and my eyes snap open, into darkness.

Oh, he was just turning the lights off.

I close my eyes and concentrate on coordinating my lungs.

“Laurie,” Selwyn says quietly. Almost a whisper. “I will not fuck you until you are ripe.”

My heart flutters, and my stomach swoops. “Thank you!” I exclaim fervently.

Selwyn stiffens. He recoils as if slapped.

Oh heavens. That was very insulting of me. My mind flounders, but I cannot think of a single way to take it back or make it less cutting.

“I rescind your thanks.”

Oh my goddess, I’m such an idiot. I insulted him and thanked him. Two fuck-ups in one. Will I never learn?

“Goodnight, Laurie.”

“Goodnight, my lord husband,” I squeak .

We lie in the dark. On our backs, at the furthest ends of the large bed. Motionless and silent. Our breaths are the only sound. He is not sleeping. I’m definitely not sleeping.

Time ticks by slowly in the dark. It is going to be a long, long night.

Suddenly, my mind swirls with disorientation. Sunlight. It is morning. I must have fallen asleep after all. How befuddling.

I open my eyes. I’m still on my back on the edge of the bed. Selwyn is still on his side of the bed. The curtains are open, but there are no servants. We are still alone.

“Were you told that fey cannot masturbate?" Selwyn says into the silence.

I jump at the sound of his voice. “Yes.”

Selwyn breathes in. “I can call a servant to assist me. One that I trust. However, word could still spread.” He pauses. “It would be your reputation that would be tarnished.”

Oh my. He is giving me a choice. Fey cannot pleasure themselves, yet they have very high… needs. I was instructed to assist every morning.

But Selwyn is offering me a choice. I can help him, or he can go elsewhere. And everyone can gossip about how I am incapable of pleasing my husband.

“I’ll do it!” I blurt.

Shame aside, I need this marriage to work. This is the perfect opportunity. I know how uncomfortable it is to wake up hard and not be able to do anything about it. Helping him is a kindness that will hopefully endear me to him.

I sit up. Selwyn gives me a long, searching look. I swallow .

Slowly, he moves his hand. Slowly, he pulls back the sheets covering him. Slowly, he pulls at the tie of his robe. Slowly, he peels back the silk.

I stare down at his large, very erect cock.

Relief washes over me. It looks very human. Not that I’ve seen any human cocks apart from my own, but still. Selwyn’s cock is normal. The only monstrous thing about it is its size. I can’t believe I managed to take it. No wonder it was overwhelming.

Selwyn holds out a bottle of oil to me. I blink. Oh yes. I’m supposed to be working here.

I take the bottle and smear oil all over my palm. Hand job. I know how to do this. I practiced many times on a dildo while my trainer watched and barked out instructions.

I wrap my fingers around him and gasp. He is so hot. And so silken. He doesn’t feel like a dildo at all. Or like touching myself, like I did on our wedding night.

Muscle memory kicks in and my hand moves. My gaze flicks to his, and then I’m caught.

His pupils are wide and dark. The gold flecks among the brown are vivid in this light. He is staring at me so intently. Almost reverently. And I can see pleasure blooming. Pleasure that I am giving him. It is mesmerising. Enthralling.

I cannot look away. My hand glides up and down his length. He swells even more. I twist my wrist over his tip. I quicken my pace. Tighten my grip.

And stare deep into his eyes as he cums. It feels like falling. It feels like seeing his soul. It feels like a privilege and a gift .

I release him and move back a little. I’m on my knees, but this doesn’t feel like kneeling. It feels as if all the power is mine.

I look down at his belly. Oh. I should have held a cloth over him at the end to catch the mess.

He doesn’t seem to mind.

His heated eyes drop to my groin. “Pleasure yourself… please.”

Oh. I am very hard.

I lick my lips. I lift up my nightgown because sod trying to figure out laces.

My hand is still oily, so there is no need to delay.

I touch my own cock and shiver. The thrill of the forbidden is deeply alluring.

I stroke. Selwyn’s eyes light up. His attention feels like a caress.

My hand flies, up and down, up and down. Until I cum with a pained-sounding whimper, in a shockingly short amount of time. Although I have little reference as to what is normal.

Selwyn stares at me with a look of awe. As if that was the best thing he has ever seen.

I stare back at him and pant while my head spins. Did that really just happen? Did I truly just do that? When the hell did I become so depraved?

And why does it feel so damn good?

I blink as he suddenly moves. He rolls off the bed and strides out of the room, his undone robe flapping around him. I stare at the door.

I don’t blame him for leaving. That was strangely intense. Overwhelming for both of us .

I heave in another breath. I’m feeling strangely good. Maybe it is simply the post-orgasm endorphins coursing through me, but right now I feel hopeful for the future.

If I can not freak out about the sex stuff, and even actually enjoy it, then that is a strong foundation.

So I think maybe, just maybe, we can fix things and make this marriage work.