Chapter Nineteen

E vienne’s anger had settled into a simmer by the time she returned to the palace to prepare for the evening’s events. Dominique’s meddling was a problem for tomorrow, so she tried to put it from her mind. Her thoughts drifted instead to that night in the library—when she had felt Orion’s fingers pressing into her thighs. He had found his release at the taste of her on his fingers. She felt her core begin to throb at the memory of it; she had never felt more desired than in that moment, and she wanted more.

Evienne tried to get a handle on her thoughts as she stepped through the front doors of the Royal Concert Hall that was situated just outside the palace complex. Tonight’s event was a performance of a symphonic work that had been composed in honor of the millennium celebration.

Evienne’s black silk gown trailed slightly behind her. The skirt and bodice hugged all of her curves, leaving almost nothing to the imagination. The neckline was daringly low, and an emerald necklace dangled just above her cleavage. Her hair was pinned at the sides but fell in soft waves down her back. She knew she looked devastating; she had dressed for seduction.She intended to have a repeat of their night in the library.

As she strode through the lobby, a familiar lanky figure entered her field of vision.

“Sylvain!” She called out to the prince, who was currently talking animatedly with a tall brunette woman. He turned and saw her, waving her over with a grin.

“Evienne, hello! May I introduce Lady Cora Galanis, one of our esteemed visitors from Aphana.” Sylvain gestured to the striking woman and Evienne bowed her head in greeting.

“Lady Galanis, lovely to meet you,” Evienne greeted her with a smile.

“You as well, High Sangviere. I am looking forward to the mage tournament; will you be participating? Your skills are a bit of a legend in Aphana,” Lady Galanis said. Her voice was open and rich, and her striking pale blue eyes were like nothing Evienne had ever seen.

“Oh, no I won’t be participating personally, but you can expect a great show from many of my students at the Academie!” Evienne answered with a smile toward the Aphanian.

“I can’t wait, I’m sure that alone will be well worth the long trip here,” she said. “If you’ll excuse me, I should rejoin my father so we can find our seats.” The woman bowed, giving Sylvain a sidelong glance and a faint smile before she glided away.

Evienne raised her brows at the prince, who laughed nervously and blushed. She couldn’t believe he was so flustered. They may yet see him find a partner to settle down with—or to travel the world with. Who could say?

“She’s lovely,” Evienne said, elbowing Sylvain a bit. He rolled his eyes, blush deepening, and changed the subject.

“Have you spoken privately with Léhiona lately?”

“I haven’t, she’s been so busy planning everything; why do you ask?” Evienne felt a pang of worry at the prince’s question.

“She said she’s been feeling more tired than usual, and yesterday she fainted before the garden party.”

“She fainted?!” Evienne whisper-yelled.

“Yes. She’s alright, but I wondered if she had spoken to you about it. I’m worried about her, Evi,” Sylvain said. “If you talk with her, please try to convince her to go see the healers. Maybe she will listen if more of her loved ones are telling her.”

“Of course, yes, I’ll try to talk with her. Thank you for telling me,” Evienne met his gaze just as the lights in the lobby flashed twice—their sign to take their seats.

“See you soon, and enjoy the concert,” Sylvain said with a small wave as Evienne turned to climb the massive spiral staircase on one side of the lobby.

She made her way to one of the boxes that hung above the main seating area; it had been reserved for Solon and Orion as honored guests, but Orion had invited her to join them before they had parted this afternoon.

She entered the ornate, private box and smiled warmly at Solon as he stood to welcome her. He took her hand and pressed a light kiss to her knuckles.

“Good evening, Solon. Thank you for including me, in more ways than one.” She let Solon guide her to a seat.

“Of course, we are more than glad of your company whenever you decide to join us,” Solon answered, giving her a knowing smile.

Evienne found herself viewing Solon with new eyes now that she knew what he was risking for his people. She smiled back at him, her head tilted to hold his gaze. She hadn’t decided to help them, though her heart begged her to. She empathized with their situation regardless. Just as Solon settled in his seat at the very front of the box, Orion parted the curtained entrance to the space and froze as he caught sight of Evienne.

She locked eyes with him and couldn’t help but let her lips twist into the slightest smirk. He had kept her off balance since that first night he whispered in her ear; it was high time she returned the favor. Orion seemed to remember himself and moved to take the seat next to her just as the lights dimmed. The musicians made their way onto the stage.

Tuning notes rang out across the hall as Orion leaned toward her, whispering, “You are breathtaking.”

She felt his words racing through her blood, her pulse kicking up at his closeness. She angled her head slightly, brushing her cheek across his lips. At the same time, she slid her hand onto his thigh and dug her fingers slightly into his lean muscle. The way the light from the stage cast shadows across their bodies revealed the effect she was having on him.

“I’m suddenly feeling quite unwell, Professor,” Evienne whispered against his ear. “I think I should be getting back. Do give my apologies to Solon at intermission.” She leaned back just enough to watch Orion’s face as she slid her hand further up his leg. She heard him draw in a sharp breath.

“I happen to be feeling rather under the weather as well; perhaps I will follow your sage example and rest this evening,” he whispered, holding her gaze with his own heated stare.

Evienne smiled at him then, rising to leave. She knew he would follow her and seek her out back at the palace, but she turned at the curtain anyway and gave him a wink just to be sure.

·

E vienne sat in one of the plush chairs by the fireplace in her chambers, a glass of wine clasped in her fingers. She knew he would be here any moment; her fingers tingled in anticipation.

A soft knock sounded at the door, and Evienne rose, setting her glass on an end table. She pulled the door open a few inches and found Orion’s perfectly cut jawline and piercing eyes on the other side. His lust hit her in a wave as she opened her door to him, and he entered the room. She closed the door behind him, and he grabbed her waist, pulling her to him.

The next moment his mouth was on hers, a moan escaping him. She ran her hands along his chest, pushing his black jacket off his shoulders. He broke their kiss to press his lips to her neck, moving up to her ear and gently biting.

She made a needy, whimpering sound before she began undoing his black silk cravat. She let it float to the floor as she quickly began to unbutton his crisp white shirt. His cologne washed over her, the scents of cardamom and sandalwood dancing across her senses, and she felt every nerve ending in her body zing to life.

They were desperate, undressing each other from their finery, letting each item of clothing fall until she stood before him in nothing but her black lace undergarments and her emerald necklace.

“You’re perfect,” Orion whispered as he reverently ran his fingers down her neck, brushing over her breast, and continuing on to caress the gently curving planes of her abdomen. He hooked his finger into the band of her black lace panties and pulled them down over her full hips, letting them drop to the floor on top of her discarded gown.

Orion trailed his hand over her hip before sliding it to her throbbing center. He held her gaze as he slid his fingers through her wetness, and leaned down to catch her moan with his mouth as he kissed her again. He deftly released the clasp of her bra as he stroked her.

He wore only his tailored pants still, and Evienne found enough clarity in the haze of her pleasure to reach for the buttons around his waist. He let her unfasten them, and as they fell to the ground, she caught sight of him fully hard for her.

She groaned, pushing against Orion’s chest gently with her palm. She guided him back toward her bed before giving him one last nudge to lay back. She stood between his legs as they draped over the end of the bed and just looked at him. He was magnificent; all sharp lines and clean angles. He was slender but corded with muscle, graceful and strong.

She let her hand drift to his erection. She could barely wrap her fingers all the way around him as she began to slowly stroke him. She watched the muscles of his abdomen tensing in response to her movements. He seemed just as affected by her touch as she was by his.

Standing there, with this beautiful man at her mercy, Evienne suddenly felt the overwhelming need to have him inside her.

She climbed onto the bed, kneeling astride him. “Is this what you want?” She asked him.

“I am desperate to be connected with you, love, please, let me feel you,” Orion answered in a rush.

Evienne took him in her hand and positioned him at her entrance, not taking time to process his words other than “please”. She was so wet, but she still had to rock her hips several times to work the head of his cock into her because of his size.

Orion stared at her as she worked to take him, his brow creased, soft moans escaping him with each movement she made.

Slowly, she sank further and further down his length, until he was finally fully seated inside her. The feeling was like nothing she had ever experienced; she could feel her orgasm at the edge of her mind just from taking all of him.

She waited a moment, adjusting, and then began to slowly circle her hips, keeping him deep inside her. She continued this torment and held her breath, letting the sound of Orion’s soft moans settle into her mind. She kept going until she could barely stand it, when Orion put two of his fingers against her clitoris. The movement of her hips against his fingers was too much, and she came undone, her orgasm tearing through her. Her toes tingled as her cunt squeezed impossibly tighter around Orion’s thick cock.

“Fuck,” Orion whispered, panting, as he grabbed her hips and rolled them, staying deep inside her. “Should I pull out?” He asked, breathless.

“No, I use protection,” she answered quickly.

He began moving then, rutting into her with short, deep thrusts that stroked her in exactly the right spot. He was going to make her finish again.

“Evienne, you feel so good; you’re taking me so well.”

“Orion, I’m going to come again,” Evienne moaned.

Orion’s thrusts became less even, and Evienne’s pleasure crested. She pulsed around him, and the fit of his cock inside her somehow became even more intense. Just as Evienne noticed the tightness of his fit inside her increasing, Orion buried himself fully inside her and groaned as he came.

The sensation of his release was overwhelming; he was impossibly tight inside her, and she could feel the heat of his seed filling her. They were both breathless, staring at each other in the afterglow of their orgasms, when Orion moved to pull out—and a look of panic crossed his face.

“What is it, is something wrong?” Evienne asked, a pulse of worry rushing through her addled brain as she attempted to lean up on her elbows to peer at the place their bodies were still joined.

“No, no, I uh…” Orion eased himself down over her, kissing her neck and smoothing a hand over her hair.His touch was gentle, but Evienne was confused.

“I’ve knotted you.”

“You’ve what ?!” Evienne couldn’t keep the surprise from her voice. She wiggled her body, attempting to pull away from him, only to be met with resistance and another wave of pleasure that took her breath away.

“It’s alright, just stay still. I’m so sorry, Evienne, I would have warned you if I thought this was a possibility,” Orion said, gently rolling them onto their sides, every inch of movement sending shockwaves of sensation through Evienne’s body. Orion moaned, and she felt more of his seed spilling into her.

“Please explain,” she panted, now looking into his face fully.She knew she must look as horrified as she was feeling.

“Evienne, I—” Orion began, clearly lost for words. She watched him for a moment before she reached up to brush his hair away from his sweat-damp face.Her own worry was reflected in his features.

“This can only happen between Còmhanam.”