Page 119 of Kingdom of Crowns and Daggers

I glance from his cock to his eyes, growing annoyed. “Well, are you going to fuck me, or do I need to show you—” I scream as he grabs my thighs, yanks me down the bed, and impales me on his length.

He throws my legs over his shoulders as he kneels, my pussy clenching around his invading length. His smirk makes me all that much hotter as he watches me. He pulls from my clinging body then slams back inside me, making me arch up as I cry out. Our eyes clash as he fucks me, setting a hard pace.

Cupping my breasts, I tweak my nipples harshly as he hammers into me.

“That’s it. Let me see you get yourself off on me. Let me watch you heighten your own pleasure.” His jaw grinds and his eyes tighten with his desire. I watch his abs roll with each thrust, his muscular arms holding me.

“Joha.” I slide my hand down my body as he watches and part my fingers around his cock as he slams into me, letting him slip through my hand with each thrust.

Groaning, he falls down over me as our lips meet, our hips rolling in a familiar rhythm. “Say my name again,” he begs against my lips. “You’re the only one who says it like that.”

“Joha,” I cry out, and he snarls, his lips meeting mine in a hard, fast kiss as my nails dig into his back as we both reach for that high.

I want this to last forever, but nothing ever does, and as our tongues tangle, he fills me with his cock, sending me over the edge with a cry. Moaning into my mouth, he follows me over that cliff, filling me with his pleasure. Our lips meet clumsily, slowing until we break apart. He presses his sweaty forehead to mine, our eyes locked as we pant. “I love you, Alyx.”

I grip him tighter, hoping we can stay like this for as long as possible.

In the privacy of the palace, I let myself admit why it hurts so much. “I love you too.”

Chapter

Sixty-Four

JOHA

Iwake before Alyx and I watch her, knowing I could have lost her last night had I not arrived at that exact time, but she’s wrong if she thought I would let her go. I chased her through the Lowers once before, and I would do it again.

King or not, she belongs at my side, and I’m never letting her go.

I’ll make her realise that, but for now, I have a reason to keep her here. It wasn’t all lies, I always planned to keep my promise and help her find the truth, so when she wakes, I help her dress, and then we have breakfast together before heading out. Orion falls into step next to us.

“Where’s Crux?” she asks Orion, her arm threaded through mine. Uncaring who is watching, she threads hers through his as well. He stares down at her, love shining in his eyes. He does not protest or pull away, and that makes me grin. I like seeing him happy. He deserves it, and he deserves to take something for himself when all he has ever done is live for me. The fact that we love the same woman doesn’t even annoy me because I know nobody could ever love or protect her as well as he will. Even if she did flee yesterday, he would have dragged her back. He’s not letting her go either, no matter what she thinks.

She belongs here with us.

“I expected him to be stalking us,” I admit.

“Apparently, news of what happened reached the Lowers and it’s chaos. He went to help. He will be back,” Orion grouses. “His exact words were, ‘Tell my Alyx not to kill too many people without me. I’ll be back before nightfall, where I belong.’”

She chuckles, wearing a bright smile that steals my breath for a moment. I want her to be like this always, happy and between us. It will take work, but I’ve never been the type to shy away from that.

She doesn’t seem to understand that I would be willing to give up everything for her. She will one day, and if they try to make me choose, I will always choose her.

I sober then and look at Orion. “I need to keep my promise to Alyx. We need to find out what happened to her family.”

We share a look. I know he looked into her past and already guessed, but she sighs and confirms it now. “My real name is Alexandria Stormhallow.”

Orion jerks, blinking down at her. “The Stormhallows . . . They died in a fire, did they not?”

We stop, and Alyx swallows, pain flashing in her green eyes. “It was not an accidental fire. They came that night and slaughtered everyone. I managed to escape, but nobody else did. I changed my name to keep myself safe, but I have to know who was behind it and why. Someone ordered their deaths.”

“Then we will find out who. We should start at the source—the old head of the guards. Wilhem is retired now, but nothing went on with the soldiers in this city without him knowing. It’s a good place to start, and I know exactly where he is.”

She frowns. “I tried to find him before. He’s gone.”

“No, not gone, hidden,” Orion promises. “Trust me, I’ll find him.”

The small shop door jingles as we step into the bookshore located in the market just past Stormhallow Province. We disguised ourselves and slipped from the palace to speak to him. As the older man lifts his head behind the counter, recognition flashes through his eyes.

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