Page 101 of The Dragon Queen

Ohh…

A brush of something hard, thick and then his hand was clamping down on my shoulder as he thrust up into me.

“Yes, just like that.”

Did I say that or did he? It didn’t seem to matter. We were one person right now. Every movement prompted more and more pleasure until it felt like I burned with it. Rather than try to douse myself, I just wanted more. My hips slammed into his, the whole world feeling like it shook with every stroke.

“This is what I dream of, Pippin. You and me together, out in the light. Able to take our pleasures where we find them, able to love freely. I’m not some rider who’d take advantage of a girl who snuck into his room. That’s never how it would be. I’m a man, my queen,who’s hopelessly, utterly devoted to you and can’t think straight any time you’re around.”

I wanted to tell him how much it hurt me too. This was an impossible situation and it felt like the war was just a distraction from the inevitable. We would slip up. Two people, six, they couldn’t feel what we did and keep it under wraps. Love had a way of coming out, always, and right now, I couldn’t have wanted anything more. I clung to his hand, holding it over my heart, hoping he felt in every beat that I loved him just as desperately. That someday, somehow, we’d find a way to get free of the shadows and walk in the light.

“Well, well…”I looked up sleepily to find Draven standing over us, an amused look in his eyes. “Faithlessness never looked so good on a woman.”

“I’m faithful.” I yawned and tried to stretch, but a sleeping Soren gripped me tightly, refusing to let me go. “You know I’d never look at another man other than the lot of you.”

“You wouldn’t want to.” Flynn tried to smile, but there was something brittle there. His flushed cheeks, the way his eyes glittered, it made clear that he’d had a bit to drink. “My father taught me how to fight a duel. Fair warning, I will call out any potential rivals.”

“No need,” I replied, pushing back gently so that Soren rolled over, before curling up against his back. “I have my hands more than full with the lot of you.”

“Well, if you really do want to fill your hands…” Ged crawled onto the bed, snuggling into me.

“Another night,” Draven insisted. “I excused Pippin with tales of a headache, Soren playing the role of the protective guard, but an amorous cacophony coming from this bedroom would make that lie plain.”

“Too late…” I mumbled.

“Gods.” Draven’s hiss was one part affection, one part frustration. “Well, perhaps it's lucky we fly out at first light.”

“Why first light?” Ged’s voice was muffled by the pillow. “It’s always first light. Why not second, third, or fourth light?”

“We travel for Holdfast Bay first thing in the morning, which will hopefully avoid any awkward questions.”

It did.We were gone before Rhiannon or the baron were awake, slinking from the castle like curs and riding for the coast. Hours later, we arrived just outside the city, staring across the field at the town.

“Are you seeing what I am?” Draven asked as he peered through his spyglass.

“What, that there’s not a boat bigger than a skiff anywhere in the harbour?” Ged asked. “Yeah, I see it, but if this place is as big a port as you’re saying, where are all the ships?”

Chapter 49

“We’ll leave the dragons here,” Draven said. “The Earl of Holdfast always enjoyed a good relationship with my uncle. I ate at his table many a time, but I’m unsure of where his loyalties lie.”

“So maybe instead of swanning in through the gates like a wing of dragon riders, instead we should go incognito.” Ged had his tunic off in record time, then untucked his shirt, something that had Soren frowning. “See what we can find out from the common man.”

I watched our sergeant suck in a breath to reply, but Draven got there first.

“Not a bad idea.” He looked out to the horizon, where the sea was flat and notably empty of ships. “Holdfast has always been a bustling port. The vast majority of goods brought into Harlston or exported out come through here. As all trade has stopped, I would expect there to be more ships moored out in the bay, not less.”

“So go down to the docks, ask some questions?” Flynn shrugged off his tunic. “We should adopt personas to hide what we are.” He sidled over to me. “I could be a lad just in from the country, taking my girl for a spin around the port.”

“With that fancy accent?” Ged looked him over critically. “And that hair.” Flynn frowned and touched his head. “No one wouldbelieve that you are anything other than some lordling. Same goes with the king.”

“Obviously,” Draven replied drily. “So what do you suggest?”

“Soren looks like a hard bastard.” That earned Ged a grudging nod. “I reckon we can pass ourselves off as guards with a couple of spoiled noblemen in tow.”

“And what about me?” I asked.

“No chance you’d stay here with the dragons?” Soren asked hopefully. He moved towards me, pressing me back against Wraith’s side. “They’ll keep you safe while you ensure our queen stays safe.”

---