Page 116 of A Dance of Shadows

My cock is straining against my trousers. As I lap my tongue over her folds, I yank at the ties.

Just as Aurelia’s fingernails scrape against my scalp with an urgency that inflames me, I straighten up and position myself against her.

Nothing feels as good as those folds closing around my cock, welcoming me into the deeper heat at her core. No, that’s not true. What feels even better is her little shudder of bliss as she takes me in, the desperate tug of her hand and the needy collision of our mouths.

She’s mine, and I’m hers, and I’d never have it any other way.

My awareness of Marc sleeping just inches away from us adds an even more potent giddiness to my desire. I buck intoher, gripping her hip to hold her with me, but I can tell I won’t last long.

Thankfully, Aurelia must have needed this claiming just as much as I did. She holds me close with her arm tight around my neck, her breath broken into the most tantalizing of pants.

With one more frantic thrust, she quakes against me. The ripple of ecstasy that shakes her entire body. As her channel squeezes around my cock, a matching thrill surges through my veins.

I can’t hold back a second longer.

As I spill myself inside her, I keep driving into her through every drop. When my pace ebbs, Aurelia brings her hand to my cheek and kisses me with all the determination I know this woman is capable of.

“I love you,” she murmurs against my lips.

My heart swells like it did the first time she told me that, like I expect it will every time for the rest of our lives.

My voice goes rough. “I love you too. Always. And that pompous asshole will never be able to change that.”

I hug her against me, memorizing every curve of her body until I feel tension starting to creep through her limbs. As I ease back, I help her slide off the footboard. I grab the tie that fell from my hair at her eager tugging, and she tucks our gifts away in one of her trunks.

No evidence remains that we were ever with her tonight. Except in the one place it matters—in that gorgeous head of hers.

I move to the trap door before she has to order me to. Aurelia offers me a sad smile and one more kiss.

“Not much longer,” I swear, and descend back into the darkness hoping I can keep that promise.

Chapter Forty

Aurelia

During luncheon, I spot Gallum among the soldiers who’ve come on duty. My pulse picks up a notch.

We finally have all the pieces in place to see through our ruse.

As we get up, Father suggests that both courts could head out to the gardens to enjoy the unusually clement late-autumn weather we’re enjoying today. I’d imagine it’ll still feel chilly by Darium standards, but the sunlight beaming through the windows brings the nobles to their feet eagerly enough.

Glancing around, I catch Lorenzo’s eyes first. My hand twitches at my side.Put it now.

His gaze slides on as if he wasn’t paying me any mind, but he dips his head slightly. He’ll convey my message to Raul.

I have one more element I’d like to fit into this plan if I can, especially since it’s Linus acting as emperor today. His typical temperament could mean he reacts to the offense we’reorchestrating with sudden brutality—or that he turns his anger on my family for daring to question his soldiers.

If I can get a little help in moderating his mood, I’ll take it.

As we head out of the room, I slip my hand around my husband’s elbow and offer him my best winning smile. “Before we join the court, husband, I have a present for you.”

Linus is nothing if not fond of being showered with devotion. He grins back at me, though not without a brief flick of his eyes down my body that brings a trace of disgust into his expression. “Well then, I’m very curious to see what you’ve arranged.”

The one benefit of his increasing distaste with my pregnant shape is that his interest in pawing me has decreased simultaneously. He follows me to my chambers without a grope.

As we cross the courtyard between the palaces, he twists a stray strand of my upswept hair around his finger and tugs hard enough to hurt. I’m not completely safe from his varied attentions.

In my chambers, I retrieve the jewelry box my parents gave me. “I know this might not match your usual attire all that well, but you could always wear it beneath your shirt. The pendant is Elox-blessed—to keep one’s strength steady and will firm.”

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