Page 75 of Golden Queen
"Not long," I admitted. The prelate might already be spreading the tale around the dining room about my foul mouth. I didn't care. I just wanted him. I had wanted him since I left his bed.
He growled low in his throat and then dropped to his knees in front of me, hooking one of my legs over his shoulder. He pushed my skirts up, and I felt his mouth hot against my flesh. He was always so unnaturally hot. It only added to the sensation, to the quick, hot licks of his tongue that had me squirming, panting.
"Please," I said.
"Yes, Sera?" he breathed against my skin, eyes sliding up to meet mine. His fingers dug into my hips, pulling me forward so that he could run that very talented tongue up and down again. "Tell me what you want, my sweet..." another flick of his tongue, "beautiful..." another that nearly sent me over the edge. When he slid his finger inside me, finishing with, "...queen," and another slow, forceful graze of his tongue, I climaxed, shattered.
I had to bite down on my lip to stop the scream that wanted to tear free from my chest.
I heard his low, dark chuckle as he slid his finger free and stood, sliding my skirts back into place and tipping my head back to look down at me.
I stared up at him, my chest heaving and heart racing. He laid his lips to mine. "Let's go, Sera."
At my frown, he smiled. "What? Is that not what you wanted?"
"It...it wasn'tallI wanted."
"Oh?" he said, brows rising. I realized he was taking a perverse pleasure in making me say it.
"You," I said. "I want...you."
"Here I am," he said with a sardonic grin.
I wanted to stomp petulantly, but my lips would not stop forming themselves into a smile. "Inside me," I said, feeling my cheeks warm.
"Ah," he said, thoughtfully. "But you are late for breakfast."
"Well, then you should hurry," I said, hooking my hand into his waistband and pulling him against me. I could feel him hard under his breeches, the rigid length of his sizable erection against me.
He laughed darkly again. "Being inside of you, Sera darling, is not something I will hurry." He kissed me tenderly and then stepped back, taking my hand and leading me across the room.
Seeing Tatana sent a wave of shame crashing over me, not for what I had done, but for the sudden fear that even across the wide room and down the length of the hall, she might have heard something.
Io dispelled any of that shame, though, by greeting her heartily. "It is a pleasure to meet you, My Lady," he said, taking her hand, pointedly with the fingers that had not just been inside me.
Tatana was wary, but polite as she returned his greeting. "Likewise, Your Highness."
As he led us from the long gallery, Tatana turned to look at me. I was surprised to find a smile on her face, faint but unmistakable. She was just as charmed by him as the rest of us.
Breakfast was an exercise in patience. The Minototians were not seated at the central table, but they were near enough that I felt their eyes on me. I was certain they could see it on my face—what Io and I had done in the gallery—and they would somehow let it be known.
It was a ridiculous thought. We were alone for no more than five minutes after the prelate left. There was very little anyone could say.
The thought of how long we had been there, and the speed with which Io had been able to send me over the edge with his particularly gifted tongue, sent a jolt of heat through me.
I met his eyes down the long table where he was seated next to Master Juriae.
As though he knew precisely what I was thinking, he lifted his hand to his face, laidthatfinger against his lips, and inhaled.
My cheeks must have turned bright crimson as I darted my gaze away.
I made the mistake of looking directly at Aben Verforge, though. He looked from me to Io and then back to me, a grin of recognition spreading across his handsome face.
Petta was at one of the tables near the window, seated with her father, Lord Shadrian. He was a lesser noble whose estates were in the north near Raven’s Watch Harbor. He and Petta were being talked to animatedly by a round, dark-haired woman seated at their table.
I hadn’t seen Petta since the Darkwatch mages arrived in the city officially, and I knew she was dying to hear about them from me. She rolled her eyes exasperatedly as I rose from my chair.
Merry and Franca caught up to us as Tatana and I left the breakfast room.
