Page 14 of Chess

When had he ever spent so much time with a female andnothad them want him? He’d never talked this much either. Ever knew everything about her brother now. His feeding habits, his relationship with Imogen, their political policies. Everything Chess knew, she now knew. Except, of course, that Rav had ordered for Chess to be thrown in the dungeons.

“I need to meet with someone,” Ever said, pacing the room. She’d been plaiting and unplaiting her dark wig. “You’ll have to come with me.”

Hehadto? Interesting. She’d been fine with the idea of leaving him alone before, when his legs were chained. “I promise to be your perfect guard.” He winked, though he wasn’t sure if that was the truth. They had a tentative truce, but the flight response still lingered inside him. He could trust her just as much as she could trust him.

“No.” She cast a glance at the chains in the corner. “I could chain you again, but you’ve held your end of the bargain. If we’re to take down my brother together, we need to try having a little faith in each other.”

Chess scanned her over, his brow furrowing. “Who are you and what have you done with Ever?”

She snorted, unamused, and took another key from her pocket. “Turn around.”

Chess turned slowly, half expecting her to bash him over the head, but she quickly unlocked his chains and peeled them away. He groaned as blood rushed back into his fingers. Rolling his shoulders, stretching the muscles, his bonescracking, felt painfully good. “Bloody hell.” He moaned deeply to himself and looked over his shoulder at Ever.

At the sight of her dilated pupils, he swallowed a sarcastic comment he wanted to make about not letting her tie him up again in the future. In fact, he would probably beg her to do just that if it got them to share a bed. Or a table. Or literally any surface. Her riding him. Him fucking her with maddening, lustful thrusts.

“Do you like it when I moan?” he said with a smirk.

Her gaze snapped to his, losing the lustful stare. “Excuse me?”

“If you want to hear it again, I know just how you can accomplish that.” He rolled his shoulders once more and turned to face her fully. “A variety of ways, in fact.”

“You’re absolutely incorrigible,” she huffed. “Maybe Ishouldleave you here.”

Chess laughed at her annoyance, but he had no real desire to stay behind in her safe house. Leaving with her would be safe enough. While he didn’t trust the White Queen, she’d avoided being seen for nearly four years, so he knew their destination would be clandestine. That only made him want to go more.

“I’ll be on my best behavior,” he vowed, placing a hand over his chest. “Prince’s honor.”

After hesitating for a long moment, she headed up the ladder. His gaze fixed on her arse and he cursed at how stretchy the fabric seemed, hiding any glimpse of what was beneath. He suspected she knew as much or she wouldn’t have climbed the ladder first. They both knew he was too much of a scoundrel not to look.

Just before pushing up on the hatch that would lead them outside, Ever arched a brow at him. “Princeling, you should understand this: you need tohavehonor in order to swear on it.”

Chapter Eight

Ever

The prince’s cock had hardened at Ever’s touch, the bare brush of her fingers had ignited something within him while unlocking the chains near his ankles. But that shouldn’t be difficult to believe since he was known to fuck anything that walked. She wouldn’t be surprised if he’d been with a werewolf in his past—while the creature was in beastly form. Perhaps he wouldn’t gothatfar, but still.

Though what made Ever pause for a second, averybrief one, was that an extremely small,foolish, part of her wanted to see what hid beneath those tight trousers of his, see what had everyone so eager about it in her world. Wondered how it would compare to the others she’d stroked, had in between her lips.

Ever!she scolded herself.This is what you get for remaining a damn virgin for centuries. Queen Elizabeth was known as The Virgin Queen back in her day, but everyone knew she was no such thing and took lovers into her bed. Ever should’ve coupled with March at some point in the past, but again, she knew that wouldn’t have been fair to him. And she wouldn’t be selfish just to lose her maidenhead.

She and Chess walked from the park to the pavement, the wind barely blowing, the moon only a sliver of yellow resting in the night sky.

“So,” Chess drawled, rolling up the sleeve of his dress shirt. “Who are we meeting this fine evening? Your lover from the club?”

“Yes.” Ever pushed the braid of her dark wig over her shoulder as several cars passed them on the street. Tonight, she’d chosen to wear another short black dress but with a pair of knee-high leather boots instead of the heels. In truth, as mundane as it was, she would’ve rather worn her checkered Vans, jeans, and another T-shirt since she couldn’t very well parade around in her white attire.

“How long have you two been fucking?” Chess smirked. “Since before or after you left Ivory? I don’t remember anyone by your side at the masquerade ball.”

“It’s none of your business.” Ever lifted her chin, still thinking about when he sank his teeth into her arm. It had been a snaky move but something she would’ve done. She looked him over, and he’d readjusted his short ponytail. The front locks hung deliciously at his chin.Pathetically, she’d meant. “What I do remember from that day at the ball was you trying to murder me.”

“Are we going to rehash this every time we speak?” Chess asked, his long fingers toying with his hair. “I’m sorry.”

Ever knew that was a downright lie. “For?”

“Trying to take your heart.” He placed a hand over his chest and sighed. “Your turn.”

“What?”

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