Chapter 15

Chapter Fifteen

Alfred

I am poked, prodded, and measured for a suit. I swear every member of the royal court comes with the tenacity of a herd of wild beasts. Despite the onset of winter, guests have started pouring in, filling the castle and the king's numerous surrounding townhouses. Some are genuinely curious and polite, while others are nothing but nosy bastards all up in my business, making slights about my heritage and inferring that this is a rush wedding because the princess is with child.

"Your battle prowess is of limited value," Philip sneers, a pretentious noble with overly glossy blond hair whose words offer a thinly veiled threat. He is a former suitor of Penelope, as he was quick to inform me when he first cornered me during these after-dinner drinks under the pretext of ‘getting to know me'. "This is a strong kingdom with no need for alliances."

With our wedding plans announced, we are forced to endure these stately gatherings where the nobles of Pershore might have the opportunity to gawk at the barbarian bastard… which would be me.

Philip is not the only former suitor I have to contend with. Jeremy, with his chiseled jaw and sharp nose that I just want to reshape under my fist, has also been sniffing around.

"I would marry Penelope even should she be carrying your child," Philip continues.

The man has balls, I will give him that, or perhaps he is under the misconception that I will play civilized because I am in a civilized setting.

I rest my hand on his shoulder in a seemingly friendly manner and squeeze.

He emits a small, unmanly squeak.

"Speak of my mate and our future children again in anything but the most respectful tones, and I will liberate you of your small prick and feed it to the palace pigs while you watch."

He turns white as snow and blusters some nonsense about having me thrashed.

I release his shoulder and pat his cheek.

No sooner do I escape Philip and his bollocks than I am accosted by Penelope's great-aunt, who makes similar allusions to Penelope only marrying because she is with child.

"I am a barbarian and alpha," I say bluntly to the witchy crone, who I have been told is the king's maiden aunt. "We cannot get a woman pregnant unless we knot her. That can take a bit of training, and while the princess is enthusiastic about her mately duties, I have applied caution lest I ruin her perfect cu?—"

"Alfred! If I might have a word." Penelope smiles sweetly at her great-aunt before sinking her nails into my arm and guiding me away.

Her great-aunt's pinched expression is a joy. As is that of the bastard, Jeremy with his chiseled jaw, who was lingering close enough to listen in. I am only sorry I did not get a chance to finish my sentence. I know she has had lovers, although they did not fuck her. The thought of her being with anybody else makes me want to ram my dick to the root to ensure my claim is thoroughly staked.

I allow my mate to guide me to a shadowy corner hidden behind some potted ferns—I have yet to get my head around the strange desire they have to bring plants inside their home.

"What are you doing!"

"Me?" I frown and glance around like there might be someone else here she asks this question of.

I get a sharp poke in the chest. Purring, I capture her finger and bring her hand to my lips.

She softens for all of a second before she snatches it away and pokes me in the chest again. "You will set off my aunt's gout talking about knotting me." She places her palms against her adorably pink cheeks.

"She is a nosy witch and implied you were only lowering yourself to wed me on account of being with child. She said as Jeremy would have taken you either way. Then there is Philip who accosted me to pitch the same. As if I would let some other bastards care for my future whelps! The fucker has not taken his eyes off you all night. He is lucky I have not taken him aside and acquainted him with my fist!"

Huffing out a breath, she lowers her hands and glares at me. "I admit, Jeremy has been awkward… and Philip delusional… and forward, but you are absolutely not to thump them. And my great-aunt will come around. I am her only great niece, and it is all very sudden…"

She trails off as I get distracted by her cleavage, drawing my fingertips over her quivering breasts. Some of the marks have faded. I shall refresh them as soon as we are next alone.

"Are you even listening to me?" She bats my hand away.

My nostrils flare. "Do you wish a spanking, mate?"

"I-Goddess!" she mutters weakly as I snake my arm around her waist and pin her to me.

"If you can be good and let me kiss you, I will abstain from spanking you in front of all these pompous guests." I nuzzle the side of her throat the way I have learned she likes before nipping at my favorite spot. The mark here is particularly vivid, and although I have not broken the skin, I consider it my claiming one. "Good girl. We are out of sight here. We are newly mated, soon to be wedded. No one would mind if I were to get you off." She makes a strangled groan. "I can be quick about it. Now, lift your pretty skirts for me so I can pet your needy clit."

She groans against my lips as I move to kiss her, fumbling to do as she is told.

"Such a good girl," I whisper against her lips. "I have neglected you today with all these nosy bastards demanding your time. Likely your pussy is starved of attention." I slip a hand under her lifted skirts, finding her pussy naked and slick.

"Um! Please hurry," she hisses.

"Such a naughty lass, leaving your pussy naked so I can get to it easily."

"You told me to," she mumbles, twitching as my middle fingertip brushes her swollen clit.

I pet it gently before sliding my finger down into her dripping little hole.

She moans—I kiss up her sounds as I work a second finger into her juicy cunt. I check her face, noting her blissed-out expression. No way she can be quiet while I do this. I clamp my thumb under her jaw and thrust three fingers into her mouth.

She blinks up at me and groans around my fingers.

"My poor sweet beta mate, you have already begun changing to please your alpha." I kiss her soft cheek, sliding my thumb over her fat, slippery clit as I finger her pussy. "I'm going to begin training you to take my knot tonight lest I weaken to your begging for it. Should I fill you without thorough preparation, it would make you very sore inside. And after I would have no choice but to knot you often lest your pussy tighten up." Her eyes lower to slits, and she pants around my fingers. "Naughty, lass: try and be quiet lest all these fancy guests realize I am getting you off in the corner of the room and where anyone might see."

I realize I have just contradicted myself, but she is too far gone to care that I, in fact, lied to her when I said no one could see. Her eyes roll back, and she comes, gushing and crushing my fingers before she sags against me.

I grin, tucking her cheek against my chest while she heaves gusty breaths. There, I am certain a couple of the lordly bastards who have been sniffing around her were standing close enough to hear.

Someone noisily clears their throat.

Penelope

I cannot believe what I just did behind a potted plant in the drawing room of my home. That barbarian alpha has got me under a spell. The more he touches me, the more I crave. And now he has just made me come apart where anyone might see.

There is a wicked glint in his eye. I want to scold him for his behavior, but how can I when it is likely such attentiveness might be entirely normal to him?

My pussy clenches savagely at the mere thought of him doing so, taking me in front of other people.

He strokes his fingertips down my cheek, and I fight the urge to lean into his touch.

It is only a week until the wedding, a week until he is finally mine. I know that alphas are possessive, but I am likewise every bit as possessive of him.

Someone noisily clears their throat, and I blush to the roots of my hair.

I send Alfred a withering look.

He smirks, well-pleased with himself.

"I believe your great-aunt is retiring for the night and seeks your attendance, princess."

I recognize the voice of one of the servants, while her use of my title makes a mockery of our supposed anonymity.

"Thank you. I will be just a moment."

Footsteps move off, indicating the servant has gone.

I have spent a great deal of my life getting into trouble. I am no stranger to curious looks. Perhaps I should care more?

"I need to go," I say.

He nods, his eyes smoldering as his glance sweeps down me. "You better be in my room later, little girl. I was not joking when I said our training should begin."

He has just satisfied me thoroughly and faster than I thought it was possible for a man to do. Yet now I am burning for him again.

Lest he put his hands on me, and I lose all sense of decorum, I pivot and emerge from behind the potted plant. The chatter of conversation continues around me, but I get the distinct impression that everybody is doing their best not to look at me.

I suppress my smile as I weave through the gathered nobles. They do not know what they are missing out on. I believe they would be a lot happier if they had a barbarian in their lives, and I count the moments until I can sneak into his room again.

As he promised, my training–as he calls it–begins when I get to his room. I soon discover it involves him taunting me to the point of madness with his fingers and wicked tongue until I am hoarse from begging and insensible with need.