Page 42 of Crownless King

“You did? How?”

“By distracting him. I kept other women close to him, organized that hunting trip, hired entertainers… Anything to keep you out of his bedroom.”

“It was you, then?” While I’d fretted about gaining and keeping the king’s fickle attention, Voron had been sabotaging my efforts.

“It worked. But not for long. The moment I left Elaros to save Magnus, Tiane got you. And I didn’t even learn about it until later the day after my return.”

“I didn’t give you a chance to learn anything. I barged into your room first thing in the morning, remember?”

He smiled, stroking the side of my face. “You were so eager to see me.”

I didn’t deny it. “I was. I missed you. The palace didn’t feel the same without you.”

With a hand behind my head, he moved me to him for a kiss.

“I can’t share you, Sparrow,” he whispered against my lips. “It’d kill me to see you with anyone else. Please, stay with me and me alone.”

I rocked my hips, rubbing against the bulge in his pants. He eagerly shoved his hand between us, yanking at the laces of his pants to free his erection.

“There is no one else, Voron. Just you.” I rose onto my knees as he aligned himself with my opening. Then I slowly slid down, taking him in.

He tossed his head back with a groan. “Gods… Sparrow, you feel so good.”

I rode him slowly at first. Then as the desire burned brighter, demanding a release, I angled my hips, rubbing against him harder. He gripped my thighs, thrusting upwards to meet me.

Voron was the only one I wanted. But he never said those three little words I hoped to hear from him.

He didn’t say them when I came, my inner muscles gripping him inside me. Not when he groaned my name about to pump his release into me. I jerked up that very moment, making him slide out of me. Reaching under my skirts, I finished him off with my hand.

“Why, Sparrow?” he asked. “Why did you do it?”

After decades of not being able to climax inside a woman, Voron loved being able to do that with me. But too many doubts and worries swarmed my mind to enjoy him like that with abandon.

I let go of him, searching for the best way to explain.

“Humans are more fertile than fae, they say. With everything that’s going on… Have you thought about it, Voron? What would happen if I got pregnant?”

He’d given a promise depriving himself a chance to procreate. He’d made it clear he didn’t want to continue his bloodline. But that was before he knew exactly what bloodline he belonged to and in what capacity.

Focus sharpened his features, banishing his relaxed, post-orgasmic expression.

“Every king needs an heir, I suppose.” He sounded more concerned than enthusiastic about the prospect.

“You’re not the king yet,” I pointed out. “You’ll have to fight to get the crown, then probably fight even more to keep it. A war is not a good time to have a baby.”

He stroked my naked thigh under my skirts, but it felt more like an absentminded gesture than a caress.

I cleared my throat, making a decision. “Voron, how hard would it be for you to get ayarapearl?”

He shot me a glance. “How do you know about that?”

“I asked Brebie, and she told me. Is it possible to find one for me?”

Wincing, he shifted under me, but when I made a move to get off his lap, he gripped my waist tightly, keeping me where I was.

“It’s not easy,” he said. “But if that’s what you want, I’ll get it for you.”

“Thank you.”

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