“You want this?” he purrs, and a whine escapes my lips as he thrust his cock between my slick folds.
“Words, Ivy, I need you to say it, or I will stop,” he says, nipping at my chin. I gulp and nod, and his nose skims across my cheek before he bites my lips.
“Yes?” he purrs, and I clench my eyes shut, embarrassed he is going to make me say it. My thoughts and urges alone are vulgar enough without me speaking them aloud.
“Ivy, I don’t speak, nods, or moans, so words or,” he pulls away, and I grip his arms. He settles between my legs again, kissing me, when suddenly a knock is heard on the door.
“My King, the car is ready. We have to leave,” I hear Gannon’s voice through the door. The King glances at the clock on the bedside table. “Ah, I can stay. I am worried about leaving you on your own anyway,” he tells me.
“You’re leaving?” I ask.
“Yes, I have to visit your old pack, or do you want to come?” As Kyson speaks, his voice is low and gravelly, sending a shiver down my spine. I can hear his concern in his tone and how he worries about me despite his own exhaustion and schedule. When he mentions visiting my old pack, the memories of that place come flooding back, a tidal wave of emotions that I struggle to keep at bay. I shake my head. I never wanted to go back there again. “Then I will tell them another day,” he sighs.
“No, it’s fine. I will just help Abbie,” I answer, and he stares at me.
“What do you mean you will help Abbie, Ivy? You are not a servant,” he demands.
“I enjoy helping her; I get to spend time with her, and I really don’t mind… It gives me something to do,” I tell him, and he sighs.
He grips my face, tilting my head and kissing my jaw. “You are to be my Queen, not the housekeeper.” He growls against my skin.
“Please,” I beg. The King growls and pulls back, looking down at me.
“I don’t like this, Ivy,” he says in exasperation.
“It’s the only way I can spend time with her. Besides, working with Abbie isn’t working for me; it’s fun,” I tell him.
“Fine, but only until I return, and you are not to work in a uniform. I will not have people treating you like the help.”
I nod excitedly, and he pecks my lips, sitting up. “Beta Damian will stay, and I will be back tomorrow. Are you sure you don’t want me to stay with you?” he says, pecking my lips once again. I shake my head. I did not want to be the reason he is kept from his work.
I watch Kyson dress quickly and gracefully despite his large size. His dark hair is tousled. He pulls on his shirt, the fabric clinging to his chiseled chest and highlighting the curve of his biceps. I can’t help but admire the man he is, both in strength and for the kindness he has shown me and Abbie. For the first time in my life, I feel like I really am safe here.
As he slips on his shoes, he glances back at me. The intensity of his gaze is almost palpable, and I feel a renewed surge of desire coursing through me. Thankfully, he turns away, or I may beg him to stay.
Instead, I focus on the sounds of the room, the creaking floorboards, and the distant hum of voices echoing through the halls. I shuffle through my new clothes, trying to find the plainest outfit I can; something that feels more like me and less like the regal attire befitting a future Queen. I don’t want it to draw too much attention to me. I hate the idea of Abbie feeling less than me because I am not in uniform.
ChapterFifty-Four
KYSON
A nauseating feeling washes over me as I contemplate leaving Ivy. However, seeing her excitement at the prospect of meeting up with Abbie eases my tension ever so slightly.
Together, Ivy and I make our way to the kitchen, where Clarice instructs several servants with a firm yet kind voice. She looks up as we enter, her eyes narrowing in disapproval as they land on Ivy.
“Ivy, dear, this is no place for our future Queen,” she says with a hint of concern.
I can see Ivy’s shoulders tense at the title, and it doesn’t escape my notice. “The King said…”
I interrupt her with a low growl, irritated by the formal title she
uses for me.
“Want to rephrase that, Ivy?” I ask. My voice is firm but gentle. Her eyes widen in surprise, and she stammers for a moment before I approach her. The heat of my chest brushes against her back, and I feel the tension in her body dissipate.
“Kyson said I could help Abbie until he returns,” she says with newfound confidence. I reward her with a soft kiss on the cheek and a nod, confirming her statement. Clarice lets out a resigned sigh.
“Very well. Abbie is in Beta Damian’s quarters,” she says, her tone relenting. Ivy turns to leave but then hesitates, caught in indecision between continuing to Abbie or returning to me.