Page 10 of Reckless in Ruins

In the end, I join his infectious mirth, both of us still in shock and giddy at what’s just happened, as if we’re two rebellious schoolchildren who’ve cut class to do vandalism.

When the laughter dies down, I expect him to let me go and send me on my way.

But instead, he holds on to me, hugging me close.

It’s not lost on me that he is still buried inside me. I am so full of him that I can hardly keep my knees from buckling.

The cold wind batters my face, blowing my hair back, into his eyes. Chuckling, Uther smoothes my hair down, petting me like a precious pet.

I don’t know how long we stay like this, but after some time, the winds begin to ease, and the gray clouds break up.

Uther groans, loud and long. His body stiffens behind me, a massive wall of tense power as he explodes inside me.

His final thrusts are slow and deliberate, his teeth catching the fabric of my sweater at my shoulder, as if to muffle his animalistic sounds. His release comes in long, hot spurts, his body twitching, and yet his gentle hands never let me go. He is always vigilant. Always attentive, and it makes my heart ache.

Uther’s spasms finally calm, and I reach back to stroke his freshly shaven cheek.

He gives a full-body sigh, like a prized stallion having a cool-down.

I know we don’t have much time, and I know he knows that, too, yet he stays seated inside me, not letting me go.

When I catch my breath, I speak. “I wasn’t chosen to be the palace stylist because of any family connections. My father was a fisherman and my mother worked as a seamstress. They were killed in the crossfire during the gang wars, and I was taken in by my aunt. She was cruel and I ran away. I raised myself on the streets in the capital.”

“Why are you telling me this?” Uther breathes into my sweater, warming my skin.

“Because I’m not what you think I am. And I want you to know me.”

In the distance, I hear car wheels on gravel. Someone is coming up the hill.

Once again, Uther’s body tenses, and in the next second, he lets me go. I turn around, and he’s there, helping me put myself back together, smoothing down my skirt, fixing my sweater, sweeping the dirt off my discarded cape. A wicked half-smirk tugs at his lip as he tends to me.

I must look a wreck. Uther, on the other hand, looks as fresh as he was the moment I spotted him entering the tower. A simple graze of his fingers through his hair, and he looks perfect. It’s totally unfair.

“I should let you tend to your queen now,” I say, picking up his belt and holster.

His eyes shoot me a warning as he takes his things. “I could have you charged with crimes for touching my weapons.”

I roll my eyes, then remember the reason I came here. Well, one of the reasons. “Just one more thing.” I reach into my bag to grab my tailor’s tape, but Uther stills my hand.

The look in his eye is fierce. “Be in my bed at noon and I’ll give you those measurements you want.”

“But you said…” He cuts me off with a feral, claiming kiss.

“I said, be in my bed at noon. And don’t you fucking shower first.”

Dazed, I blink up at him and nod, sighing. “Yes, Captain,” I breathe.

I stumble away, half expecting him to slap my ass.

But he doesn’t do that. The silent minder would never.

7

Uther

I did it.

I got the version of the maddening woman out of my system.

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