Page 56 of Chess

“Damn, Queenie.” He pulled her hand away gently when he felt his release start to build. As much as he would’ve loved to come, he had every intention of bringing her pleasure first. Quickly, he slid her panties to the side. Their eyes met and a sense ofrightnessflooded through him, making his pulse race.

“Chess,” she pleaded.

“Go on then,” he dared.

Ever drew in a sharp breath and lined his hard length up with her folds. Sinking down slowly, she shared her heat with him. When she’d taken him fully, Chess gripped her hips tightly to hold himself back. His body wanted to move, to please, but he gave her every ounce of control instead. Ever ground against him, shifting her hips in small circles. The most exquisite moan slipped from her mouth, and he growled in response.

“Chess,” she breathed, this time against his lips just before she kissed him. Their mouths collided, their tongues dancing together. Ever wrapped her hands around the back of his neck and rocked her hips. Chess felt every inch of her as she moved languidly on him, making him practically vibrate with pleasure.

As the carriage continued to bump and jostle, Ever’s pace grew faster, harder. Chess shifted his hips up to meet her, his heart accelerating with the friction. His breath turned ragged and he broke the kiss, trailing to her neck once more.

Fuck.He would never get over how perfect she was. How perfect she felt. Tasted. His fangs dropped at the memory of her sweet blood. She shivered against him as he dragged them along her neck, then moaned when he sunk them into her tender flesh. Her blood flooded his mouth and stars flashed behind his eyes while she slammed down on him again and again. When he pulled away with a deep breath, Ever smiled at him, her fangs on display.

Chess tilted his head to the side in invitation and held his breath in anticipation. The moment her fangs broke into his neck, he knew he wouldn’t last. She drank deeply. Fucked beautifully. His heart nearly exploded with the combination of love, happiness, and utter bliss.

“Ever,” Chess roared as his climax rushed through him. Ever cried out when she met her own pleasure, fluttering around his cock.

“Fuck,” he breathed. “I love you, Queenie.”

Ever settled her head into the crook of his neck, still drawing deep breaths. “I love you, King of Scarlet.”

Hearing those words from her mouth was what he’d been waiting for his whole damn life, and he hadn’t known it. “I told you that I knowmanyways to make this trip more exciting,” he said, smirking against her ear.

She laughed. “Hmm, you may have to show me in order for me to believe you,Your Majesty.”

“Naturally.” He chuckled, and spun her around so her back was flush with his chest. Guiding her legs together, he widened his own. “Hold onto something.”

The carriage slowed to a stop and Chess flicked aside the deep red curtains. The Ivory Palace loomed outside with its spires and parapets. Chess released a silent sigh. He wasn’t ready to bid the White Queen goodbye yet—not ever. They would reunite, of course, but that didn’t make leaving any easier.

“You’re home,” he sang, letting the curtain fall again.

“Already?” Ever shifted on the bench and patted at her mussed hair.

Chess chuckled. “You’re a mess, my queen.”

“I suppose I should thank you for that.” She gave him a wink.

“No thank you necessary.” He leaned over and nibbled playfully at her creamy neck. “I’m willing to repeat the process any time you wish.”

She turned in her seat to face him fully and took his cheeks in her hands. “Soon.”

Chess studied her face and found something he couldn’t recognize there. He saw her affection for him, her love, but there was something else. Something he didn’t like—not one bit. “What is it?”

“Nothing,” she whispered.

“Liar.” He nipped at her lips. “Tell me.”

“It’s nothing. Things just feel like they’ll be different now.” She rubbed her thumbs along his cheekbones. “So I suppose I’m soaking up the moment.”

“I’m not leaving you,” he insisted. “Things will be different, but that was the point of all of this, wasn’t it?”

Ever nodded. “You’re right.”

Chess understood then that she was mourning her brother. Now that the danger had passed, now that she was back home, the reality was descending. Anna had murdered her brother and, while they both had needed the bastard dead, she had loved him once. There was no shame in it. He wasn’t exactly looking forward to going back to Scarlet and picking up the pieces his mother and Rav had left. And to do it alone… At least Ever had friends by her side.

“Come on,” he said gently. “Let’s get you settled inside.”

After a lingering kiss, he opened the door and held his hand out to help her down. She placed her hand into his palm and stepped onto the grass, sparing a nod to the carriage coachman Chess had commandeered from the garden at the Ruby Heart Palace. The main doors banged open and Maddie raced across the drawbridge with a wide smile, leaping at her friend in a flurry of purple fabric. Ever slid one foot back to take the impact. The two females wrapped their arms around each other and laughed. Chess turned away to give them their moment and found Noah, Ferris, and Mouse hurrying toward them.

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