Tadhg’s finger slipped beneath the flimsy strap on my gown, exposing my shoulder. “Now, as for that other surprise…” Soft lips grazed my collarbone. Waves of desire coursed through my bloodstream.
My head fell back, leaving my throat exposed to his wicked mouth. His tongue lapped and teeth nipped. My hips began to move steadily against his until I remembered where we were. We couldn’t do this in the middle of the great hall…could we?
“Should we go upstairs? Someone may see us.” Even as the words left my tongue, my back arched so he could slide the silk down my overheated skin to gather at my waist.
His teeth scraped his bottom lip as he stared down at my heaving chest. Darkness flooded his eyes, full of silent promise as his calloused hand closed around my breast. “Let the world watch me claim my wife.” His head lowered, and his knowing tongue flicked over the peak of my breast. I cried out, unable to keep my own wantonness contained. An appreciative growl vibrated against my breast when I rocked my hips harder. The crown may have been beautiful, but this…this was the bliss we all searched for but rarely found.
Tadhg caught my waist and urged me to my feet. My dress floated to the floor, leaving me in nothing but knickers, a heavy emerald necklace, a crown, and a smile. Tadhg still had on all his clothes. That wouldn’t do. I stepped between his spread knees, his desire for me quite apparent beneath his breeches. I eased forward and took my time unbuttoning his shirt, exposing his toned shoulders and the solid wall of his sun-kissed chest all the way down to his taut abdomen and the thin trail of dark hair disappearing beneath the waistband.
So perfect, as if carved from stone. And all mine.
His hips bucked when I cupped his bulging manhood, working him with slow strokes until all the green melted from his eyes.
Shadows tickled the backs of my legs, dragging up my calf to my knee like lazy fingers and eventually finding my core. My hand slipped off him, and I had to brace myself against his firm thighs to keep from collapsing.
All thoughts of patience fled my mind. He must’ve felt the same because we both lunged for each other, me tugging at his belt and Tadhg tearing my knickers clean off.
His mouth crashed against mine, and our tongues lashed and tangled, fighting for dominance. He dragged me onto his lap, my knees fell to either side of his hips, and with one thrust, he filled me so completely the breath left my body.
A dark curl fell across his brow when his head eased forward so he could swirl his tongue around my breasts. “Mmmm…even better than cake.”
Tadhg and his cake. “High praise, indeed, coming from you.”
The world drifted away, replaced by rocking bodies and thrusting hips. The carvings at the back of the throne bit into my hands as I gripped tightly, lifting and lowering until my legs began to tremble. Tadhg found that most perfect spot with his fingers, pressing and flicking and teasing in time with his tongue at my chest.
Glorious tension built in my core, gripping and tightening until I reached the precipice and tipped over. My body cradled his until he followed me into bliss.
His soft chuckle struck my very soul. He sounded so carefree. So happy.
“What’s so funny?” I asked.
His fingertips dragged along my cheekbones to my jaw, as if memorizing my features. “I was thinking that this is the first time I’ve ever enjoyed sitting on this throne.”
I laughed as well. How could I not? Every time I came into this room, I would be reminded of this very moment of bliss and shadows.
There was no telling what tomorrow would bring. All that mattered was that we faced it together.
39
RÍAN
The soundof my footsteps across the stones refused to drown out the worry pulsing through my mind. I should’ve been in bed, clinging to my human before she left me for another at dawn. Instead, I was in the family room, just me and my chaotic thoughts.
Aveen hadn’t told me about her bargain with Caden because part of her had preferred escaping this island to dealing with losing me to Leesha. If it weren’t for Keelynn’s wedding, she could’ve been gone already. That was how close I’d come to losing her. No wonder she’d turned down my proposal. Those wounds were still too fresh in her mind. I’d been wrong to ask in the first place, and I absolutely shouldn’t have been upset. After what I’d done to us over the last year, I didn’t have a feckin’ leg to stand on.
“Trouble sleeping?” Ruairi asked from the doorway, loitering in the shadows.
“No. I enjoy staying up all night pacing in front of a waning fire.” What a stupid feckin’ question.
He snorted and for some reason took my snarky tone as an invitation to come in, sink onto the settee, and pour himself a glass of puítin.
“I cannot believe she didn’t tell me.” And I wasn’t sure why I’d said that aloud. It wasn’t as if I wanted the mutt’s opinion. Imagine how pathetic it’d be for me to ask a dog for advice.
“She’s protecting her captain.”
Wrong feckin’ thing to say, beast. “I don’t know why. Not only did that bastard leave her, he lied to her as well. And secretly bound her in a bargain.”
He smiled into his glass before taking a sip. “That sounds awfully familiar.”