Page 16 of His Dark Delights
“Alright.” I smiled widely, moved by his consideration. Nearly floating, I joined Ren in taking everything we needed out into the flowers. He laid out the quilt near the creek and I unpacked the soup and bread.
The bubbling creek and chirping crickets made a chorus, a testament to the charm of night. Under silver winking stars in a dark blue sky, settled among the wavering wildflowers, I felt at ease with my knight and his company.
“I’m only vaguely familiar with this region,” Ren began after a few bites. “I’m assuming there’s a village nearby where you restock on supplies?”
“There is, yes.”
“Would they have any spare horses?” That one simple question unraveled my insides into a squirming puddle.
“It’s a small, simple village, but I imagine they would.” I set my bowl to the side and picked at the crust of my bread.
“You don’t sound sure. Do you go into the village often?”
“Not really. My father was always the one who went into town to trade and get supplies. I’ve gone a few times since his passing, but—” I cut myself off, eyeing a swaying blue flower.
“You prefer life on the farm? Out here alone?” he probed.
“Yes. It suits me well.” Half-lie and half-truth. I preferred the farm, not the loneliness. But it kept mesafe.
Ren reached out and placed a hand tentatively on my knee. “You could have more than this if you wanted it. I see more in you. A natural elegance that begs to be admired.”
If I’d had soup in my mouth, I would have spit it out. Instead, I giggled nervously. Under his serious gaze, I snickered harder. I didn’t know why, but the laughter bubbled unrelenting past my lips.
“You see grandeur in a farm girl? You must have a head injury I missed.”
Ren shrugged, lips pulling up as if my laughter affected him. “Or just wishful thinking.”
I flopped back on the blanket, flowers circling my vision. Idly reaching out, I cradled a delicate pink bud, tracing the petals with the tip of my finger. “Yes, call me Queen Lilliana of the Farm.”
Without warning, a hard, feverish body rolled on top of mine, knocking a gasp from my chest. Ren considered the flower in my hand and shook his head. He peered down at me with a heart-rending smirk. “Hm, how about the Queen of Flowers?”
That was a bit too close to my heritage, and it sounded blasphemous to hear those words on his lips. Yet I wanted to taste the sin of that statement and poison my tongue all the same.
“And you can be my Knight of Flowers. But how will you show reverence to your queen?” My tone dipped, becoming low and sultry. Tingling heat flushed through my core where his groin pressed into me.
Ren dipped his face until we breathed the same air, and electric tension danced over our lips. He rocked his hips forward, grinding his growing hardness againstmy softest spot. I parted my legs, and he smoothed a hand along the outside of my leg, shoving up my dress.
His hot breath fanned my mouth, and I tipped my chin up, seeking his lips. A devious smile kicked up his mouth as he paid attention to that action. “Oh, I can think of many ways to show you fealty, My Queen. Would it please you to be the center of my adoration?”
“Yes, yes, please,” I begged and squirmed, hating the fabric of his trousers keeping us apart.
His wandering hand finished shoving my skirts around my waist, then slipped between our bodies. His palm cupped my slick pussy, absent of underwear after he’d taken them earlier in the day. That made it easy for his central finger to glide along my slit, teasing me and making me want to writhe out of my skin.
“Then say that you will be mine.” His voice was ragged, hopeful, and desperate.
“I… I can’t,” I whined, tears pricking at my eyes.
Ren dropped his forehead against mine, and his breath shuddered through him. “Lilly, please,” he pleaded. “I must have you.”
I turned my head, holding myself still and fighting the urge to rock myself against his hand. The first tear slipped free. “You fight in a war I am opposed to. I cannot be yours.”
That unbidden response froze Ren. He stilled, becoming as cold and unmoving as ice in the bleak midwinter. A low growl rumbled through him. “I fight a war with grand purpose.”
“There is no purpose in war. It’s only an excuse for men to engage in acts of cruelty. The fae don’t deserve what the Butcher will do to them.”
“You don’t know what reasons the king has forthis war. You wouldn’t understand.” Ren scoffed before rolling off me and thumping onto the blanket at my side.
I bit back a sob and subtly pushed my dress back over my thighs. Ren didn’t seem to notice with his eyes on the sky and the pale moon. He plucked a flower and twirled the stem between his fingers.
