Page 63 of Queen of the Crimson Throne (Queen of Blood and Stardust #2)

63

LUKA

I had no idea how much time had passed since we left the palace. It was still dark so it couldn’t have been too long, even if the exhaustion pulling at my limbs tried to tell me otherwise.

I slung my arm around Lennox as we exited the stables and headed towards the palace, after the death we had experienced tonight I needed to feel her, feel her breaths, to know she was still here, that she was still alive when so many others were not. After our run-in with the Dhampirs in the forest, we headed into the city, splitting off into pairs and scouring the city for any other signs of the abominations, coming up empty. Hopefully, the ones we killed in the woods had been the last of them.

For now.

Caterina had sent word the palace had been ridden of Dhampirs and the interrogations were complete, but they had found some guests trying to sneak out before their turn; they were now being held, waiting for us to question them.

“We should get a couple hours of sleep before we question the intruders.”

“We can’t sleep,” Lennox argued.

“Lennox, you can’t help if you’re exhausted.”

“I know but?— ”

“There’s no but.” I pulled her tighter to my side. “We can go check in with everyone, but then we go get a couple of hours of sleep. The people in the dungeons will still be there in the morning.”

“Fine.” She yawned. “But only a couple of hours. If only someone hadn’t kept me up all last night.” She poked my side.

“Hey—that’s on both of us.” I smiled. “And if I remember correctly you were the one who invited me back to your room.”

“Our room,” she corrected.

Warmth spread through my chest. “Right, our room.”

“If I knew you two were going to be so sickening when you were happy together I never would have helped you get together,” Nico said from behind.

Lennox ignored him, resting her head on my shoulder instead. I kissed her forehead, finding a spot that wasn’t splattered with blood as we continued towards the palace.

“A bath might be nice too,” Lennox added.

“Are you saying I smell or something?”

“Of course not. But I do prefer you without being covered in rotting blood.”

“Are you sure? Because I think I quite like this version of you. The bloody bride suits you.”

She shook her head. “Sure.”

I didn’t say anything more, but I truly did think she was beautiful. Her dress was torn. The white fabric at the bottom was now stained with red and black blood and covered in dirt. The same blood was splattered over her face and chest.

Half her hair remained in the intricate updo, the other half had fallen loose around her face and down her back. Somehow through it all her crown remained on her head. Somewhere she had acquired a sheath for her sword and it was belted over her gown.

My beautiful, fierce wife.

“This was some wedding, huh?”

“Sure was memorable, that’s for sure.” She poked me gently in the side. “Good thing we took matters into our own hands last night.”

“Good thing.”

“Where is everyone?” Nico asked as we entered the palace, Zienna and Declan following closely behind. The grand hall was empty and the entire place was quiet.

“Hello?” Lennox called. “Hello? Where is everyone?”

“Most everyone went to bed.” Arlo appeared from the dining room. “I said I would stay up until you arrived.”

“Everyone is okay?” The concern in Lennox’s voice was evident.

“A few injuries from the couple of Dhampirs that snuck in after you left, but no more casualties. We were prepared.”

Lennox stiffened beside me. I knew what she was thinking. We were not so lucky in our pursuit.

“There were a few that tried to sneak out before interrogation, they were captured swiftly and detained.”

“Caterina sent word about them. They’re in the dungeon I assume?” Declan asked.

“Yes. They are under high guard until you are ready to see them.”

“Did Caterina find anyone else guilty in her questioning?”

Arlo shook his head. “Not that I know of, but I’m sure she will have a full report for you in the morning.”

“Perfect, thank you,” Lennox responded.

“If you don’t need anything else from me, I’ll be off to bed now.”

“Please, go get some rest. We will see you in the morning,” she told my grandfather.

“You get some rest too, your Majesty.” He gave Lennox a firm nod.

“I will.”

My grandfather looked at me. “I trust you will make sure she sticks to her word?”

I gave him a slight smile. “Yes, I already told her as much. ”

“Look at you, making a fine husband already.” His face softened. “I’m sorry your wedding ended up being such a disaster.” It was hard to reconcile this male in front of me, the caring grandfather, and the male that might have had a hand in murdering Lennox’s family. We needed to figure out his role in this sooner rather than later.

I pulled Lennox to my side and gave her a small smile. “We can’t change the past.”

“No, you can’t.” My grandfather sighed deeply. “Goodnight.” With that, he dipped his head and left.

“Bed. Now.” I steered her in the direction of her room.

“But—”

“No buts. Everything is in order. Sleep and then you can go into High Queen mode.”

“Fine.”

Before she could protest further I picked her up and used my last bit of strength and sped us to our room, leaving the rest of our group behind.

She let out a sigh when I closed the door behind me.

“Bath and then bed,” she murmured.

The bath was already filled with water as we entered the bathing chamber. I set Lennox on the edge of the tub. Sitting on my knees, I removed the sheath at her waist first. The sword clanged to the floor as I released it. I drifted my fingers over the bare skin of her back before they skated over the top of her bodice.

“May I?”

Wordlessly she shifted, twisting so I could access the back of her gown. I undid the buttons one by one, letting my fingers drift over her skin as the buttons moved lower and lower. Once the last button was unclasped I motioned for her to stand. She obliged, allowing me to slip the dress the rest of the way down her body until it rested in a pool at her feet. Even speckled in blood and exhaustion weighing at her limbs, she was stunning.

I couldn’t believe she was mine .

She placed her hands on my shoulders as she stepped out of her dress. I placed a kiss on her stomach, causing a shiver to wrack her body.

“My turn,” she said.

I stood, her hands moved to the hem of my shirt, and slowly she lifted it over my body. Her hands moved to the top of my pants, once they were loose she slipped them down my legs.

I held Lennox’s hand as she stepped into the steaming tub and followed in behind her. I groaned at the feeling of the scalding water on my aching limbs.

I leaned back in the tub, Lennox falling between my legs.

She passed me a washcloth and we washed ourselves, scrubbing at our blood-speckled skin until it was raw and the water was an unsettling color. When we were both clean she leaned back against my chest.

I wrapped my arms around her, placing a kiss on her now clean shoulder.

“We should get out before we fall asleep.”

She sighed, leaning her head back against my shoulder and closing her eyes.

“Can’t we sleep here?” she murmured.

“Sleeping in water isn’t recommended.”

“Fine.” She huffed. I placed several kisses on her neck, unable to resist the perfect skin exposed to me.

She leaned forward and I exited the tub, wrapping a towel around my waist before offering one to Lennox. I helped her out of the tub and dried her off; she shivered as I ran the towel up and down her body.

“Don’t get too excited,” I chided. “You need sleep.”

“Are you sure we don’t have time for something else first?”

“Sleep first.” The blood rushing to my cock thought otherwise.

“Sometimes I hate it when you’re so protective.”

“Someone needs to look out for you.” I picked her up and carried her to the bed, placing her gently on top. I returned to the bathing chamber—grabbing us each a robe.

“Thank you for looking out for me.” She wrapped her arms around my torso as she kneeled on the bed.

I wrapped my arms around her in return. “I’ve always got my eyes on you, Sweetheart.”

Her lips drifted over my jaw before finally meeting my own. I gripped her hips, drawing her closer as her hand drifted to my hair.

“Sleep, Lennox. Don’t think you can distract me from the fact that you need to sleep.”

Her hand drifted lower. “Are you sure I can’t distract you?”

“Lennox. You need sleep.” She was going to be the death of me.

“Fine.” She sighed.

She kissed me one more time before falling back onto the bed. She put a little extra sway in her hips as she crawled towards her side.

I scrubbed my hands over my face and adjusted my aching cock. It was technically our wedding night— no. Sleep was more important tonight.

I shuffled in next to her. Pulling her against my chest and the covers over us. I placed a kiss on her temple. “I love you.”

Her arms around my waist tightened.

“Until the stars turn to dust.”

“Until the stars turn to dust.”

The sun was shining in my eyes sooner than I hoped. My limbs still ached with exhaustion as my eyes squinted against the sun. Based on where the sun sat in the sky I guessed we had gotten a few hours of sleep. Enough to get us through the day, but not enough to quell the bone-deep exhaustion after the events of the previous days.

“Not yet,” Lennox grumbled from beside me.

“You can go back to sleep if you want. You don’t have to get up yet if you don’t want to.”

She didn’t open her eyes as she spoke. “I have to go and be High Queen. There was an attack of Dhampirs at our wedding reception. Someone tried to poison us. There are intruders in our dungeon.”

“Fuck.” I scrubbed my hand over my face, attempting to rub the sleep from my eyes. “We have to get up, don’t we?”

“Probably would be best.”

She rolled so her arms laid haphazardly over my body, her head on my chest. “Making me sleep was a good call. I’m still exhausted, but I needed it.”

“So you’re saying you’re not mad I made you sleep for a few hours instead of fucking you for hours?”

She scoffed. “Well, I wouldn’t put it that way.” She danced her fingers up and down my chest.

“Lennox Adair, you insatiable creature.”

Her hand moved lower until it gripped my cock. I groaned as she stroked up my length.

“What can I say?” She removed her hand from my cock and swung her leg over my waist so she was straddling me. The robe she had slept in was loose, the tie coming apart from her movements while she slept. Slowly, she moved her hips, rubbing herself against me. She tilted her head back as she continued to move. I slipped my hands under her robe gathered at her thighs, resting my hands on her hips to guide her movements.

As she moved her robe parted further, revealing one of her perfectly rounded breasts. I sat up and took her nipple in my mouth, flicking my tongue over the tight bud.

“Fuck, Luka. I need you. Now.”

My mouth moved up her chest, kissing and sucking my way up to her neck. “Take what you need from me, Lennox.”

The little moan that slipped out of her mouth sent blood directly to my cock. She lifted her hips, taking my cock in both of her hands and directed it to her soaked center. I hissed as she slid the tip of my cock inside her.

She bit her bottom lip between her teeth as she pushed down another inch. Without warning she slid the rest of the way on my cock, throwing her head back in pleasure as I continued to suck on her neck.

“Astria’s tits, you feel so good squeezing the life out of my cock.”

She panted, tipping her head to meet my gaze. “The only tits you should be talking about while you’re inside me are mine.”

“Noted, Sweetheart.” With that, I moved my mouth to her breast, kneading her other one with my hand as she started to move again.

“More, I need more.” She panted. I lifted her hips, she whined as I slipped out of her.

“Patience,” I scolded. With one movement I flipped us so she was lying on the bed. She reached for me, but I was faster. I took her hands and held them above her head. “This is about you. Let me please my wife .” Her eyes burned with desire as she squirmed underneath me. “Do you trust me?” I asked.

She nodded. “I need you to say the words, Lennox.”

“I trust you,” she said without hesitation, causing a burning sensation to spread in my chest. I wasted no time removing the sash from her robe, her breathing hitched when she realized what I was going to do.

“Give me your hands.”

She held out her hands and I tied them together with the sash, tight enough so she couldn’t get out, but loose enough it wouldn’t be painful. Once they were tied I fastened the end to the bed frame, rendering her at my mercy.

Her eyes were heavy with desire, her chest and breasts heaving as I admired my work. “I don’t think you’ve ever looked so beautiful. Tied up and naked at my mercy. My beautiful vicious creature.”

I cupped her cheek before kissing her. Slowly at first before deepening the kiss as she writhed beneath me.

“Please, Luka. I need you inside me.”

“Not yet. I’m starved.”

She whimpered as I kissed my way down her stomach before finally closing in on her dripping center. She bucked beneath me as I gave one long lick up her center before closing my mouth over her clit and sucking.

“Fuck!” she screamed. I continued my feast, taking my time licking long teasing strokes up and down her dripping core. Delighting in her sweet taste.

She whimpered as she pulled against the binds, her hips bucking up to meet my mouth. If there was one thing Lennox Adair lacked it was patience. As much as I’d like to tease her until she was begging, we did have important things to attend to.

Another day I‘d take my time. We had the rest of our lives in front of us.

I flicked my tongue over her clit as I plunged three fingers inside her. Her back arched off the mattress as I thrust my fingers in and out of her, her hands pulling at the restraints. Her legs locked around my head, her heels digging into my back, forcing my face farther into her heat.

Her body trembled under my ministrations.

“Are you going to come on my tongue, Sweetheart?” She whimpered. “Tell me, Lennox.” I removed my fingers from her. “Use your words.” Lust clouded her green eyes, but there it was—that Lennox determination I loved so much creeping through.

I shook my head, smirking slightly.

In every other aspect of our lives, I’d give in to her. Give her what she wanted. Let her be the bullheaded female I loved.

But not here. Not now. When it came to sex with Lennox there was a balance. I wanted the power now.

I placed a sharp slap on the inside of her thigh. She yelped, her hips bucking off the bed as her cheeks darkened.

“Use your words, Lennox. ”

She set me with that determined gaze again.

“I could leave you tied up here all day. Tied up, empty, and wanting.”

Her chest heaved.

Fuck I loved her.

She bit her bottom lip. “Fuck me Luka.”

“Good girl.”