Page 22 of Lord of Dance and Desire

I choked. That was another discussion we needed to have about the endometriosis.

“Since when are we talking about me as if I’m not present?” Since always, actually. “Guys? I’m here. Hey.” I snapped my fingers.

“That could take decades, Drei.” Constin scowled. “Two Heirs? That’s greedy, even for you.”

“So. . .you’re just going to plan my reproductive future without getting my input?” A reproductive future I might not even have.

“Maybe,” Andrei said. “But she’s my bonded consort, so I’m due a certain amount of privilege.”

Unbelievable.

We entered Andrei’s bedroom, my mood devolving again, and when he dumped me on the bed, the reality of what was about to happen hit me.

I stilled, staring up at my High Lord. “Is this an orgy?”

Mathen choked. “I don’t know if I can do this. She’s innocent, the one taboo we honor—she should be introduced to sensuality gently, as is appropriate for her natural delicacy. Not thrown into a pit with three High Fae warriors.”

I almost rolled my eyes, but the distress on his face stopped me. Still. . .natural delicacy? If he thought that, I supposed I was doing my job right. Ballerinas were tough as nails.Delicatewas the mask we put on for ticket sales.

Constin slapped him upside the head for me. “Realms, have you been reading Avallonnian poetry again?”

“I have not,” was the stiff reply. “But we’ve overwhelmed her with our attentions. She isn’t thinking clearly. We made Theland wait.”

“There were other considerations with Theland. He didn’t know his own boundaries. Hasannah knows her line, and how to tell us no.”

“Mathen, I don’t understand,” I said softly. “If you don’t want to be here, that’s fine. But you spent an hour touching me. What’s the difference?”

He faced me now, his expression darkening. “The difference, Lady, is once my cock comes out I will no longer be able to. . .”

Constin sighed, shaking his hair behind his shoulders. It fell to his ass and I wanted to run my fingers over both—which was likely why he kept doing it. “Mathen comes from a rigid upbringing where one is supposed to gently woo your Lord’s consort if chosen for the honor.” The good-natured derision in his voice matched his half sneer. “Not pull their hair and rut them into calling you Lord when you’re a mere knight.”

“But wasn’t that whole scene about my submission?”

“Submission to Andrei, not to him. If he touches you, he’s afraid he’ll assert his dominance and to him that insults you and our Lord. He thinks it’s wrong to do that to you when you don’t understand what you’re getting into.”

Andrei snorted and kissed my clit.

“Mathen’s old,” Constin added. “Us younglings have a different perspective on bed sport.”

I looked at Mathen, startled. Mathen was older? He folded his arms, clearly being stubborn.

“Do you trust me?” Andrei asked.

Mathen turned to him immediately. “Of course, Lord.”

“She’s thinking clearly.” Andrei met my eyes. “She wants you both. She doesn’t fully understand yet, but she’s willing. You should see the fantasies running through her mind. She’s. . .inventive. And flexible.” A smile played at the corner of his mouth.

Constin came to my side. “Rules, darling?”

I blinked at him. “Rules? I don’t have any special rules. There’s not much you can do within Andrei’s parameters.”

The luudthen lifted slow, slow brows, eyes glittering silver. “Oh, you sweet, silly faeling.” He laughed, a sound of blackwood forests and teeth and growls hidden by shadows.

Mathen hissed through his teeth. “This is what I mean. She grantsthree High Fae warriors, two of them Lords, free rein. She has no idea what she did.”

“I supposed I didn’t have to tell you not to kill me or break bones. . .”

The men looked at me, a trio of dark, amused, slightly worried expressions. A look you’d give a reckless teen who insisted they really, really wanted to jump off the cliff into the roiling sea below even though you warned them about rocks, sharks, and a riptide.

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