Page 21 of Queen of the Crimson Throne (Queen of Blood and Stardust #2)
21
LUKA
It was a shame I liked this particular duke because right now I’d like nothing more than to tell him to fuck off, so I could go back to making Lennox make those little sounds I loved so much as she arched into my touch for the first time in months.
My hand remained on her back as Caspian led us through the ballroom into his private suite. It would be a lot harder to fake our relationship in his private room. There would be fewer eyes on us, but Caspian would be watching closely—it was the opportunity I needed. I just hoped Lennox was ready for what would come next.
We followed Caspian out of the ballroom and down a narrow hallway lit by torches, stopping when we came to a door.
Lennox’s eyes were wide as she took in the room. The entire suite was bathed in red light and was smaller than you would anticipate. A bar took up the left side of the room, manned by a single masked barkeep. It was typical for any staff at such parties to remain masked to keep the illusion of anonymity for everyone. There were several tables and booths in the center of the room, occupied by other invited guests.
I ushered Lennox along, following Caspian and his companions to an empty table in the center of the room. The duke and his companions slid into the bench seat, Caspian in the middle with each of his companions on either side of him, leaving Lennox and I to sit in the chairs across from them. Lennox aimed for the chair next to mine, but I pulled her into my lap instead, causing a small squeak to leave her mouth.
“Play along,” I whispered into her hair. She dipped her chin, understanding flashing in her eyes as she quickly relaxed into me, her legs falling between mine as she faced the duke.
I banded my arm around Lennox’s waist as the barkeep approached with a tray full of drinks.
“Your usual, My Lord.”
“Thank you.” Caspian dipped his chin to the barkeep as he placed glasses in front of each of us. “This liquor is the finest in Cel Nox, my family made its fortune from this liquor. If you’d like something else, Your Majesty, Gael can fetch it for you, but I ask you do try this first.”
Lennox took the glass of amber liquid in her hands. “He’s not exaggerating, this is what I keep in my rooms at the palace,” I confirmed.
She brought the glass to her lips, my gaze fixed on her neck as she swallowed, wanting nothing more than to pierce the skin with my fangs.
“So? What do you think?” Caspian’s voice brought me back to the present.
Lennox smiled softly. “I think if I drink too much of this, I’d find myself drunk quickly.”
Laughter rang out around the table. “You’d be right about that,” Caspian remarked. The female at Caspians side ran her hand up and down his arm, catching Caspian’s attention.
“Where are my manners?” He looked back at Lennox and me. “I forgot to introduce you to my?—”
“Lovers?” The female finished for him.
“Hmmm,” Caspian said, “is that what you’re calling yourself tonight, love?”
The female smiled coyly as her hand traveled down the duke’s body. Whether this female was his companion for tonight or more, I didn’t know, but they appeared to be fond of one another.
Caspian shifted and cleared his throat. “This is Jasellia,” gestured to the female, “and this is Thiago.”
I nodded toward the two, keeping my focus on Caspian as their hands roamed over the dukes body. Caspain’s eyes fell closed. Lennox stiffened as he let out a low groan as Jasellia’s hand roamed beneath the table.
“So, Caspian, the city has been quiet lately, how have you been spending your time with nothing to do?”
He let out a deep chuckle. “Who told you that?”
“Lorenzo, of course.”
Thaigo disappeared beneath the table. “No offense to you, but your uncle knows shit about what goes on in this city outside the palace walls. The city has been running amok with degenerates, this is the first night I’ve taken to myself in weeks.” So my grandfather had been lying to me, was it the Vanir who were running amongst the city?
“Which is why I’d prefer not to discuss this now.”
“If you’d like, we can leave you alone to enjoy your night off.” I already knew Caspian’s answer, but for Lennox’s sake, I asked anyway as Jasellia shifted closer, trailing his mouth down the other side of Caspian’s neck. I wanted more information, but he wasn’t as loose-lipped yet as I needed him to be.
“No need,” Caspian slipped his hand up Jasellia’s dress as he looked at Lennox and me out of the corner of his eye. “You know I like to watch.” Lennox stiffened in my lap as Caspian winked before turning back to his companions or lovers , or whatever they were.
"He likes to watch?” Lennox hissed through her teeth, her body going tense under my touch.
“He likes to watch,” I confirmed.
She swallowed. “I see.”
“Relax. I’m only going to make it look like I’m touching you. Tell me if you want me to stop or if I’m making you uncomfortable. If we stay a little long I might be able to get more out of him.”
Her chest heaved as she watched the duke and his friends.
“Does watching them arouse you, Sweetheart?”
She took another deep breath, causing her breasts to strain against the thin fabric of her gown. “Maybe.”
“Mmm.” I moved her hair to one side, giving me free rein of her exquisite neck I wanted to sink my fangs into. I ran my nose up and down the collar of her neck instead.
“Should we give them something to look at?”
She remained silent, her gaze fixed on the trio as my hand around her waist tightened, my thumb brushing light strokes on her stomach while my other hand ran down her gown until it found the exposed skin of her thigh through the slit in the fabric.
“I want to make it so you aren’t thinking about them. I want to make it so you can’t think of anything but my touch.”
Her breath hitched as my hand closed around her exposed thigh, my fingertips dancing on the metal sheathed there.
“Prove it,” she breathed.
I shifted her on my lap, hitching one of her legs over mine. My hand on her thigh skated higher, my fingers brushing light strokes on the inside of her thigh under the cover of her dress.
I placed a kiss on her neck as my hand continued to brush light strokes on her skin, my mouth moving up her neck towards her ear. Her back arched slightly as I took her ear between my teeth and tugged.
“You like it when my fangs are on you, don’t you.”
She said nothing, only eliciting a slight sigh as my fingers on her thigh drifted even higher.
“I can stop if you want me to.”
“Don’t stop.” Her hand gripped my thigh with brutal force.
I nipped at her ear again, my fingers moving even higher, her legs widening farther. I groaned as she leaned back into me, her head falling back as the tip of my finger brushed the fabric of her undergarment.
She inched forward pressing her center against my hand as I continued to grow hard beneath her. My cock pressing into her ass.
“Fuck, Lennox.” I cursed as I brushed my knuckles over the soaked lace covering her.
I dragged a single finger down the lace. She jerked forward, a moan slipping from her lips.
Too far, we were taking this too far. I moved my hand back, gripping her thigh again as I tried to gain some semblance of control. If she kept making those sounds, nothing would be able to stop me from ripping her undergarment to the side and shoving inside her. My fingers or my cock, I didn’t care. I’d fuck her in this room, on the fucking stage in front of everyone if she let me.
And Astrias tits did I want that.
My cock strained painfully against the fabric of my pants.
“Lennox.”
She opened her eyes, her chest heaving as she looked at the duke and his companions. One of Jasellia’s breasts was exposed and Caspian took it in his mouth. Thiago was still on his knees under the table.
“Now, ask him now,” she breathed.
Her words were like ice water. Dousing all arousal.
“Right.” The words felt rotten in my mouth. I had gotten too carried away. I was the one who told her this was all an act anyway, a ploy to get information. I shouldn’t be surprised by her words. I knew she never would have let this go any further.
“What of the Vanir?” My hand remained between Lennox’s thighs as I spoke, my finger stroking ever so slightly as her head fell back on my shoulder. “Have they made a reappearance?”
Caspain didn’t open his eyes. “I swear the bastards never sleep. They’re everywhere, all the time.” Caspain groaned as his hand fisted in Thiago’s hair. “Those slippery suckers—they’re too smart, too fast. Always one step ahead of us, anticipating our next moves. We’re perpetually too late—never able to catch them.”
“Have there been any reports of attacks by a beast?” Caspian pulled Jasellia’s lips to his, kissing her deeply with his hand slipping between her thighs.
“Caspian?” He ignored me, too distracted by pleasure now. Fuck .
“At least we got some information.” Lennox’s eyes were locked on the scene playing out in front of us.
“We’re going to find somewhere private to finish what we started.” I told the duke as I lifted Lennox from my lap.
“Let’s get the fuck out of here,” I ground out.
Something like hurt flashed across her features, halting me for a second, but she nodded, following me out of the duke’s manor—neither of us saying another word.