Maeve lifted her head and pressed a kiss to the corner of his mouth. “What’s your question, my lord?”
He searched her face, unable to find the words. Then he settled for, “May I kiss you?”
She cupped his cheek with one hand, her skin featherlight and soft against the rough scruff of his jaw. Though it was the barest of touches, his blood pumped and he hardened with desire once more.
“You know you don’t have to ask. You never ask for anything.” She offered him a slow, lazy smile in jest. “What’s your real question?”
He shifted, adjusting the length of him, so he settled between her thighs once more. They were still slick and he lightly dug his fingers into her hips so she would know the true effect she had on him. She arched toward him, and he stifled a groan.
“No distractions, my lord.”
“Right.” Jaw clenched, he settled his raging hormones. Instead of acting like a High King who could control himself in a bedchamber, he was acting like a lust-filled fae boy who’d only just discovered the wonders of sex.
“There’s a celebration coming up.” A huge party, actually. The last day of summer—the birthday he shared with Ceridwen. “Every year we host a week-long party. The only time we didn’t was after the death of my parents, and during Carman’s reign.”
“And?” Maeve prompted.
“And I want you by my side.”
Maeve’s nose wrinkled, and then she laughed. Shelaughed. For him. It stole his breath, ripped through his heart, and owned his soul. It was the most rapturous sound he’d ever heard.
“That’s not a question,” she teased. “That’s a command.”
Damn her. His mouth was on hers a second later, devouring her. He sucked on her lips and swept his tongue over hers, determined to lure her into a state of mind-numbing longing. Her nails scoured his shoulder and back. He deepened the kiss and her hips glided back and forth over his cock, soaking him with the proof of her arousal. When he finally broke away, she was breathless, her cheeks were flushed, and those pretty eyes were glazed.
All of it for him.
He pressed another kiss to her temple. “Your Highness, will you please attend Sunatalis with me? As my…”
His mind blanked. He didn’t know what to call her, what title to give.
Her glistening lips curved into a seductive smile. “Are you asking me to be your girlfriend?”
“It’s more than that.” He couldn’t say the wordsirra. It was far too soon. She would panic, possibly try to flee, and then all would be lost.
“I wouldn’t expect anything less.”
He drank her in, silently dared her to deny him. “Is that a yes?”
She nodded. “Yes.”
Content, he pulled her into him.
“My turn,” she purred, and his groin pulsed and throbbed.
He blew out a shaky breath. “I was hoping to kiss you until you forgot.”
“Another time.” She rubbed herself along the length of him.
Wicked little creature.
“Ask away, High Princess.”
Her simpering smile fell away and a coil of dread sank low in his gut. “I need to protect the merrows from Garvan. Will you help me?”
That was not at all what he’d been expecting of her. “What’s he done?”
“He’s hunting them. Enslaving them.” Her throat worked, and he bore witness to the distress lining the beautiful features of her face. She was upset. Angry. “He’s skinning them alive and selling their scales for money to make up for Autumn’s nearly depleted resources.”