Page 41 of Queen Takes Checkmate
:Better?:I asked her.
:I’m sorry, my queen. It’s not that I don’t trust you or him. It’s just—:
:I understand. You have no reason to trust men at all.:
Her blood sparked inside me, stirring up my own gift of fire, though this time, it wasn’t painful. Her fingers trailed up between my breasts and she paused, her hand over my heart, feeling it beat beneath her skin.
“There’s something incredibly exquisite about giving a lover blood and pleasure at the same time,” she whispered against my temple.
:The only thing better is tasting the pleasure in the blood, so feed more if you like.:
I felt her surprise in the bond, though she didn’t say anything as her fingers glided over my breasts. Rik had told me before that most queens didn’t feed their Blood very often. Once the initial bond was made, a Blood may never taste his queen’s blood again.
She squeezed lightly, reveling in the soft curve of my skin. Through her bond, I felt the throb of her desire, and my inner muscles clenched in response. She wasn’t in any hurry. Her touch on my skin was hard to describe. Unique. Her hands were smaller than any of my men’s, so her touch was delicate and feminine, though I felt the promise of strength too. She wasn’t hesitant or shy, but she touched me with reverence and a full sense of exactly how each stroke of her fingertip felt on my body, because her body was so similar. She knew how it felt without relying on our bond.
I spread my thighs wider, inviting her to explore as she wished. She didn’t dive right in to my pussy, which I appreciated, though I wouldn’t have minded, either. She ran her hand down my thigh to my knee, and then lifted my leg up over her hips, turning me more fully toward her. My breasts rubbed against hers and I felt the soft sigh of her breath in my hair. She was so warm that sweat glistened on my skin. Her touch firmed as her fingers roamed back up my thigh.
Sucking harder on her throat, I pressed closer, deliberately rubbing the hardened tips of my nipples against hers, which were just as hard. Her desire matched mine. It was such a small thing, but a delicious pleasure that none of my other Blood could give me. Tingles spread through my breasts, making them feel heavier, spreading the ache of need through my body.
Her fingers delved between my thighs and she sucked in a hard breath, her body going rigid. I started to pull back from her throat to see her face, but she cupped my nape with her other hand, keeping my mouth to her skin.
“Such a miracle,” she whispered, her voice lowering to a husky growl. “I never expected to find a queen who’d actually bond me as Blood. Let alone a breeding queen. I can’t even comprehend the fact that I’m here, touching you, feeling your blood on my fingers, and your alpha isn’t ripping my head off for taking liberties when he should be helping you conceive.”
:I’m not ready to have a child yet. I won’t even consider it. Not until I’ve dealt with Ra.:
Her wiry body vibrated with intensity.:Do you… Do they…:
I listened to her bond, trying to understand why she shook so hard. What she fought against. Then I smiled against her throat.:Yes. They have. I do.:
She let out a rough groan and lifted her bloody fingers to her mouth. I should have warned her. But she did it so quickly…
Her back arched and she let out a guttural cry. I tightened my thigh across her hips, gripping her as she came. Her fiery blood turned to warm, thick honey in my mouth. Sweet and luscious with pleasure. I sank my fangs into her again, pushing her climax even harder. Just because I could.
Gasping, she reached between my thighs again, sinking two fingers into me. She didn’t thrust inside me, but stroked, swirling the pads of her fingers against tender nerve endings that screamed with sensation. In seconds, I climaxed too, quivering against her. Though I never let go of her throat.
She curled around me, tucking me close. And this time, when Rik slid in behind me in bed, mindful as always to not touch another woman as I’d asked, she didn’t tense or even spare him a look.
Not when she had my blood to lick from her fingers.
16
Daire
My queen filled my head and I immediately froze, gripping a knife loaded with mayonnaise in midair.:Is the sandwich king perhaps making a sandwich?:
I rumbled out a low purr in her bond.:Would my queen like one too?:
:I’m starving.:
:Give me five minutes, and I’ll make you the biggest sandwich you’ve ever seen.:
I pulled out another long loaf of freshly-baked bread, and Magnum arched a brow at me as if shocked. Okay, maybe I had already eaten three sandwiches, with a fourth in progress. But after the way Guillaume and Llewellyn had emptied the fridge, she could hardly be surprised. The only Blood who hadn’t fallen on the kitchen like a pack of starving wolves was Mehen. Shara had managed to heal him enough to let him shift, but he’d muttered under his breath that he wouldn’t eat for at least a week.
Nevarre and I had a private bet. I had Mehen eating tomorrow. Nevarre thought it’d take him at least three days to eat again. But I knew the dragon’s appetite better than anyone but our queen. He’d be rummaging around in the kitchen in no time, complaining that none of us heathens would know fine dining if it hit us between the eyes.
But the dragon had a point. If our queen had New York City at her disposal, why would she want a simple sandwich? I turned to Magnum. “Our queen said she’s starving.”
Magnum’s eyes widened, and she leaped to the fridge, shoving me out of the way like I was an annoying house cat rather than a formidable warcat. “Goddess! Does she like seafood? Her mother did. I wasn’t sure, but I’ve stocked all her mother’s favorites. Lobster bisque, clam chowder, smoked salmon, grilled trout… Though that might take too long.”
