Page 19 of Queen of Legends and Lies (Dragons of Tirene #4)

Can’t say I’m surprised.

I sidle up to Eldor, who’s also come to wish Sterling well. “What’s their problem? They love Knox. They don’t even like me.”

“They don’t.” Eldor sighs. “You don’t play by their rules, Lark. They can’t control you.”

I snort, unable to help the burst of laughter that bubbles up from my chest. “They can’t control Knox either. Trust me. I’ve tried.”

Eldor’s elevated eyebrow conveys his doubt. “No, but Knox knows this world. These systems. Their systems. He knows politics and diplomacy and how to play the game.”

“Then why aren’t they throwing confetti?” I watch as the councilors exchange glances like they’re trying to solve a riddle written in a dead language.

“Because now there are two rulers in the same palace. At the same time.” Eldor lets that idea linger in the air. “They’ve never faced this kind of situation before, and they have no clue what to do. That makes them uncomfortable.”

For once, we have something in common.

Sterling breaks away from the throng of people in the crowded room, and his eyes find mine. The room fades away until it’s just him and me. Thick, expectant silence wraps around us. He crooks his finger, beckoning me.

My heart’s a wild thing in my chest as my feet carry me forward.

The moment I’m in his arms, the world rights itself. I kiss him madly, infusing every fear, every shred of relief into the embrace. The council, the guards, the damn rules, the weight of responsibility…they all disappear under the weight of his lips on mine.

I brush a lock of hair out of his face. “Welcome home, my love.”

For the rest of the day, all of that night, and the next morning, Sterling and I play catch up in my chambers.

Every now and then, there’s a knock at the door. But unless they come bearing a meal tray, we ignore the outside world.

I’m certain we’ve made every guard in the palace blush by chasing every visitor away with our breathless insistence that we’re busy. Neither of us care. We only care about each other.

For those wonderful hours, nothing’s more important. It’s not until the next afternoon, as we soak in the outdoor bath, that I manage to fill him in on everything that’s happened during his absence.

My fingers brush against Sterling’s as he hands me a glass of water.

The corners of his mouth twitch upward in the kind of smile that’s all for me, and I can’t help but grin back.

At first, I’d thought it was a little ridiculous to have a bathing tub so large.

Or outside. Now, with his arm over my shoulders as we lean against the smooth side, I can see the appeal.

Sunlight. A gentle breeze. Privacy. We’re far enough away from the doors that random knocks can’t bother us.

“I’m amazed by how much has happened while I was…not myself.” His low voice rumbles with regret. “You did so much, and I only helped further the destruction of all human and animal life on the planet. Fuck, Lark, I murdered Nick.”

My heart squeezes at the sheer agony on his face.

“Hey.” I cup his cheek as I twist around to peer up at him. “None of that was you, Sterling. You were under Xenon’s control. Under the drachen’s.”

“Still…” He glances away, toward the privacy hedge from where the scent of blooming flowers drifts. “Even though I had no agency over my own mind and body, I have to live with what I did. The guilt.”

“Listen to me.” I press closer, tangling our legs in the water. “The fact that you feel guilty for things you had no control over is part of what makes you such a good man. If you didn’t feel anything, I’d be a little worried.”

A beat passes before he places a soft kiss on my temple. “You are the most incredible woman in the entire world. Have I told you today how much I love you?”

“Hmm,” I reach up, trailing a thumb along the scar on his jawline, “a time or two. But I think it would be better if you showed me. You know, just so I’ll understand.”

The corner of his lips curl up as some of the sorrow eases from his face. “Anything for my queen.” His fingers trail down my arm, then up my ribs. “Even if it’s the third time today.”

I sigh with contentment at his touch, at simply being here with him. “It’s only the third because I’ve been trying to go easy on you.” I struggle for words as his wandering fingers cup my breast. “The stresses of the throne, you know. I need to find some way to relax.”

Sterling’s eyes darken with desire, a wicked grin spreading across his handsome face. “A way to relax? I think I might be able to help with that.” His lips brush the sensitive skin below my ear.

He trails featherlight kisses down the column of my throat as his hands roam over my body, stroking me in all the right places.

I melt into his touch, closing my eyes as I surrender to the sensations.

Sterling takes his time, worshipping every inch of my skin with his lips and hands as if memorizing me all over again. Each touch is imbued with reverence, with the aching tenderness of a man who nearly lost everything.

And, oh, how I understand that feeling.

That desperate need to reassure ourselves of our reality, that we’re truly together again after everything we’ve endured.

As he maps the curves and planes of my body, the smoldering heat builds between us, threatening to consume me. My head falls back against his shoulder, a breathy moan escaping my parted lips.

I groan as his hands roam, kneading my tense muscles. The warmth of the water is almost as intoxicating as his lips on my flesh.

Sterling’s hands drift lower. Then lower still.

He strokes my inner thighs, tracing circles on the sensitive skin. “I’ll never get enough of you. I need you, love, like I need air to breathe.”

My heart clenches at his words, emotion swelling in my chest. “You have me. Forever. I’m never letting you go again.” I infuse every ounce of love, every shred of the boundless gratitude I feel for his return, into the kiss I press against his lips.

He responds with equal fervor, crushing me to him as if he could absorb me into his very being. Then his arms change position, and he slowly lifts me from the warm water. The afternoon sunlight teases my heated skin, and an electric current zips down my spine.

With a hand on my arm, he guides me around. For a moment, I think he might be silently suggesting we take this back to the bed. But then his hand presses on my back, between my shoulders.

And he bends me over the edge of the tub.

I have just enough time to rest my palms on the stone patio floor before he slides his erection over me, teasing his way up and down my slit.

He enters me from behind, his movements measured and deliberate. “Oh, you were right about being stressed.”

All I can do is gasp as a bolt of pleasure shoots through me.

“These muscles do feel tight.” His voice is filled with smoke and shadows as he slowly pumps in and out. “I should spend a lot of time working on them.”

“Gods, Sterling,” I pant, my eyes fluttering shut. “I missed you.”

He groans in response, then nips at my neck. His hands grip my hips, guiding my pace as he begins moving in and out of me with a maddening slowness. My nails dig into the smooth stone of the tub’s edge, my body arching back against him.

“I missed you too. So fucking much.” His words, paired with the possessiveness in his voice, send shivers down my spine.

Despite the chaos swirling around us, we are meant to be together. Despite everyone trying to pull us apart for their own twisted reasons.

Our pace quickens as our passion overtakes us, our labored breaths and the gentle lapping of the water the only noises in the world. Tension coils deep within me, tighter and tighter as I near my climax.

“Sterling, fuck ,” I gasp, gripping the edge of the tub tighter. “I’m…I’m…”

“I’ve got you.” His breath warms my ear, and his hands slide up my stomach to cup my breasts. “Just let go, love. I will always have you.”

That’s all the encouragement I need.

With a cry, my orgasm crashes over me, my entire body tensing before the world goes white. I shake and shiver with it, hands clenching and back bowing as the intense pleasure courses through me, riding my body.

Through it all, Sterling continues to move inside me. It’s only as I’m gasping, trying to lift myself back up after collapsing forward, that his thrusts become erratic as he, too, nears the edge.

“My queen.” He squeezes my breasts, a little rougher this time. As if he’s trying to hold on for dear life. “Gods…I love you.”

Those three little words are all it takes. My muscles clench around him all over again.

This time, I’m not going alone.

As I gasp and squeeze, he loses all control. No longer slow and steady, he sets a pace so hard and fast my thighs slap against the side of the tub, adding to the erotic sound effects that resonate throughout our hidden oasis.

We moan in unison, our world narrowing down to just us and the connection we share. To the ratcheting tension between us that lifts us higher before shattering.

Finally, he stills inside me, breathing ragged and body slick with sweat and spring water. Slowly, he pulls out and turns me to face him, our wet bodies colliding.

“I love you too.” I kiss the center of his chest. “I never want to spend another night without you.”

“You won’t have to.” His arms tighten around me. “I’m not going anywhere. Not without you.”

I know we’ll have to leave. This room. This palace. The world and all its problems still need us.

But for a little bit longer, the world can wait.