Page 30 of Solstice

We were bound by hundreds of years of tradition and public scrutiny, we political beasts. A princess of England could never marry some random actor from the US, not unless she wanted to renounce her birthright. “We miss you. Both of us. All of us.”

“I know, darling.” She kissed me, but my lips traveled farther south, in between her collarbones and down her sternum to her breasts. I yanked her sweater down, kissing and teasing the rosy nubs of her nipples. She tasted even better than she smelled. She arched into the touch, and soon her underwear came off, my cock was outside my pants, and I was burying it deep inside her fiery warmth.

“How much longer can we go on like this?” I said, softly showing my princess I loved her. I craved her every day. “How much longer until it drives us wild?”

She kissed my face, my forehead, my nose, my chin. She calmed me. She loved me.

“We’ll be okay, my prince of darkness.” Another kiss. Another coax of her fingers across my cheeks. “We’ll be okay.”

I held her close and fucked her slowly, praying her eternal optimism could save us both.

Act II

And thorough this distemperature we see

The seasons alter: hoary-headed frosts

Fall in the fresh lap of the crimson rose…

-Titania, Act II, Scene I

9

Ivy

NEW YEAR’S

Iagreed with Lex and Miri, though it didn’t make me feel better.

“Just because the thistles are gone doesn’t mean he’s out,” Carter said, ever the hopeful ray of sunshine.

“If the queen is out, it’s a good bet the king is not long behind her.” Lex shook his head. “Let’s just stick together, okay? If anyone sees anything strange, call it in.”

Miri chewed on her bottom lip and nodded, and I gave my word that I’d report as soon as I’d heard from Kit.

Saying goodbye always broke my heart. I didn’t like watching Carter leave. I didn’t like wiping away Miri’s tears. I didn’t like sending Poppy into space and time, off to her hidey-hole with Lex’s extended family. By the time Theo drove us down the mountain, the trepidation I felt on the way there had dissipated. Lex and I weren’t the same two people who had gone into the cabin, and now that we’d figured out some of the mess between us, I looked forward to the upcoming term with him by my side.

We were in the limo on our way to my parents’ annual New Year’s Eve gala at the National Museum of Contemporary Art. Lex had been edging me all day.All day.

In the shower with his tongue. In the dressing room with my vibrator. And now stuck in traffic on 495.

“Don’t you dare come,” he said, tilting his head to the side, staring at me with those haunted eyes through narrowed slits.

I straddled him, his cock in my cunt while I rocked my pelvis slowly and annoyingly steady.

This was a game we played, one I’d grown addicted to even as I hated every part of it. Just when I was about to climax, he’d yank me off him and keep me spread and bared until I nearly bit his face off. Then he started the process all over again.

Later tonight, when I finally lost my patience, he’d let me take it out on him, and the sex we’d have would blow our minds.

“Lex, please.” My whimpering sounded pathetic even to my ears.

I hated it. I hated him. I hated all of it. But I wouldn’t stop it, not for anything in the world.

“Aww, look at that pout,” Lex mocked, sticking his bottom lip out to tease me. “If your face wasn’t off-limits right now, I’d fuck that mouth until your tongue swelled.” His filthy mind was one of my favorite things about him.

“If your face wasn’t off-limits right now, I’d ride it until I clawed your eyes out.”

“Woo.” Lex smacked my ass hard enough to make me wince and tumble forward, his dick surging deeper inside me. “You better be prepared to make good on that threat.”

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