Chapter 33

ChapterThirty-Three

“You aren’t concerned in the slightest that she’s no longer in your bed?” Greed asked, a goblet dangling from his fingers as he stared at Lust.

They’d spent the better part of the day drinking. Lust had dumped all his issues in Greed’s lap, and his brother had done the same to him. Apparently, his kingdom wasn’t doing as well as he’d hoped, surprise, and Lust was having issues with relationships.

How had the world turned on its axis?

“Of course I am,” he replied. “She’s supposed to be in my bed with me. What woman in her right mind leaves the bed of a god?”

“We aren’t gods.”

“We might as well be to them!” Lust gestured to the windows, as though just by doing so he was pointing at all the people in his kingdom. “We’re thousands of years old. We’re stronger than they could ever hope to be. We have power that they’ll never be able to emulate.”

“Some of the sorceresses can.” Greed tried to drink out of his cup, only to find it empty. Frowning down into the depths, he added, “Although I’ll admit even they seem to struggle with the powers we naturally control.”

“Exactly.” Lust didn’t know what his point was. He’d lost it. “She should be in my bed without me having to ask, is what I’m saying. She should want to be in my bed and see it for the honor that it is.”

“Other people do.”

He nodded. “They do. They do. There are countless women in this castle that would crawl to my bed on their knees if I asked them to. Some of them have.”

The gold in Greed’s eyes flashed brightly before his brother said, “Then why don’t you ask one of them and leave the little sorceress in the past?”

A flare of anger, dark and powerful, burned in his chest. The mere thought of another woman in his sheets, tarnishing the scent of her, made him want to wring necks. He squeezed the metal goblet so hard that it bent in his hands. He tried to get control of that emotion. But he’d drank enough alcohol to make his anger take center stage, no matter how hard he tried to push it away.

“No woman would dare,” he snarled. “No other deserves to be in her place, her rightfully earned place. She is the only person who will have that honor.”

Though Greed had instigated dark emotions, his brother looked very smug. “Then there’s your answer. You seem to think that you can let her go as easily as she seems to have let you go. But you can’t. She has you wrapped right around those pretty fingers, and if you aren’t careful, you’ll go mad without her.”

“Indeed.”

“And yet, here you are. Sitting with me.” Greed waved the goblet again. “When you could spend some time groveling?”

He could.

Why was he drinking with his brother when he could beg her to return to his room? Where he could get down onto his knees and whisper sweet nothings against her skin. Maybe he’d press his lips to her belly, listening for that soft sigh she gave so he knew to continue. He’d lick his way up her inner thigh—

“Ugh,” Greed groaned and threw the goblet at his head. “Just get out!”

Right. He was still in public.

Lust stood and staggered from the room. The alcohol in his blood wasn’t helping, but he had to find her. To convince her that she was more than just a woman, more than just a bedmate to entertain him. There was something different about her, like she’d claimed, but maybe not for any reason that she’d thought of before.

He... wanted her. No, needed her. That was the right word. He needed her in his life and he wouldn’t suffer another minute without her in his arms.

That was a perfect plan.

Except when he got to their room, there was no one in it. How he continually lost her in this castle was beyond him.

“She’s not here,” Lara said from behind him.

He startled, flinching at the sound of her voice before blowing out a long breath. “Don’t do that.”

“Are you drunk?”

“Only a little.” Enough to make foolish decisions, because apparently he was running after a mortal woman like the castle was on fire. “Where is she?”

Lara blinked at him before crossing her arms over her chest. “I thought you knew.”

“Obviously not.”

“She got a letter from the Tower requesting her presence urgently. Considering the way she was ordering everyone around, I assumed you had given her permission to go.”

“Go?” Why would she leave? Was she that upset about all that had happened between them?

No, he wouldn’t stand for it. She would not return to that tower on her own where they had made her feel like less than a person. He remembered how she’d spoken of them, and it didn’t take much to read between the lines. They were not her real family. They’d made her feel like nothing when they should have been helping her. Guiding her. Pushing her toward what she wanted in life, rather than puppeteering her around like they had.

She’d gotten so close to something like friends here. With him and Affection. She had more here than what the Tower could offer her.

Grinding his teeth, he shook his head. “Where is she now? They couldn’t have gotten far yet.”

“I’m not sure they’ve left, but all her things have been packed. You can’t go with her, Lust. You’d have no clothes, no food, nothing to prepare you for waiting outside the Tower—”

He interrupted her. “Send a second carriage with all those items for me. I’m going with her.”

“Why?” Lara asked as he swept past her. “What is it about this one that matters so much?”

He didn’t have the answer to that, and it scared him. But being scared wasn’t that bad. Not as bad as it could be, at least.

Lust didn’t respond. Instead, he raced through the halls, blasting past servants who shouted while asking if something was wrong. Nothing was wrong. Not yet, at least. He had to find her in the courtyard before she left. He was certain he would, and then everything would be fine.

Lust was breathing hard by the time he slammed the doors to the castle against the walls and rushed down the main steps. Of course the carriage was moving already, but the driver quickly reined the horses the moment he saw Lust.

It gave him all the opportunity he needed. Clattering down the steps, certain that Lara would do what he asked even though she might not wish to, he opened the door to the carriage and slid inside.

Selene had pressed herself back against the seat, a hand against her heart and eyes held wide as she stared at him. She was breathing hard, too. Had she been rushing to get out of here before he could find her?

Unlikely. She wasn’t that sneaky.

He gave her what he hoped was a disarming grin and said, “Miss me?”

She blinked at him a few times, almost as though she didn’t know how to reply. That was surprising in itself. The woman always had some kind of response for him, no matter what ridiculous thing came out of his mouth.

When she didn’t reply, he took the time to get control over his breathing. Lust slammed his fist onto the top of the carriage, and off they went. They rolled quietly down the cobblestone streets of the castle toward the city beyond.

“What are you doing?” she finally asked.

“Coming with you. The Tower is no place to go alone. I think we both know that.” And making sure she wasn’t running, of course. He didn’t want her to run without at least giving this a chance.

Because... What if they were both avoiding something amazing?

She didn’t look like she wanted something amazing to happen. She glared at him, plotting his murder, perhaps. But then she said, “You weren’t invited.”

“No, I don’t suppose I would be. No one at the Tower is very fond of me, in case you hadn’t noticed.” He leaned back, spreading his legs wide to get comfortable. She was forced to place her legs between his, and the way her eyes narrowed upon him only made him preen. “But I didn’t want you traveling alone. That’s rather dangerous, don’t you think?”

“Isn’t this kingdom the safest in all the seven kingdoms?”

“Indeed.” His chest puffed a bit with pride. “Even safer than Wrath’s, and that’s saying something.”

Selene leaned forward and sniffed. “Are you drunk?”

“Why does everyone keep asking me that?” He held up his fingers, pinching them just slightly. “Only a little. Anyway, why are you going to the Tower?”

“Because I was summoned.”

“And why were you summoned?”

“Minerva did not deign to give me a reason why.” She shifted uncomfortably in her seat. “I assume it has something to do with you.”

“Ah, of course.” Why hadn’t he thought of that? Probably because he was already way too drunk for this conversation. Lust crossed his arms over his chest and nodded. “Right. Well, I’m going to sleep this off so I don’t have to talk to Minerva while I’m already far too drunk to give two shits about her. Wake me when we get there, will you?”

He didn’t need to open his eyes to see the outrage on her face. He already knew it was there.

Lust drifted off into sleep rather quickly, but it was not restful. His dreams were filled with what his impaired mind hadn’t thought about.

Minerva trapping Selene in the Tower. Him waiting outside those white, terrifying walls only to realize that he would never get her back. Listening to her screams as they tortured her for information about him. The sounds of Selene’s begging as she cried out that they were supposed to be her family. Why were they doing this to her?

It was more than he could suffer. So when he woke, sober and far too scared, he found himself rocking gently in the carriage. She stared out the window, her chin on her fist as she watched the landscape turn from bright green to a pale gray, and then nothing but white as far as the eyes could see.

His heart squeezed in his chest. She was worth so much more than what they saw in her. So much more than anything they gave her.

Because she was his. His and his alone and he would be damned if they somehow convinced her that she was less than wonderful.

Lust didn’t even realize he was moving until he felt the hard floor of the carriage pressing against his knees. Selene turned her attention away from the view and frowned down at him. “What are you doing now? I thought you were asleep.”

“I was,” he murmured. Lust framed her face with his hands, drawing her lips to his. “Now, I am awake.”

It felt like those words meant a lot more than just that his eyes were open.

He kissed her, trying to press into her the thoughts that flooded his mind. He found her beautiful, stunning, heartbreakingly perfect for him. She terrified him every waking moment, but he wouldn’t change a thing. He kissed her like a drowning man who only wanted a single drop of water that was her attention.

And though he thought she would fight, Selene wilted against him. Her hands laid against his chest, then shifted up to his shoulders so her arms could hold on to him. Her breath caught in her throat and suddenly she kissed him back.

But her kiss wasn’t sweet or soft or sensitive. She nipped and bit at him, tugging on his bottom lip with a sharpness that made him hiss. Lust didn’t want this to be rough. He wanted it to be tender. He wanted to show her his fears in a way that wouldn’t let her entirely into his head.

He could do this, though. If she wanted to prove they were both alive and together in a rough manner, then so be it.

He fisted her hair, ripping her away from his mouth so he could attack her throat. He wasn’t gentle in the way he left red blotches on her neck, marks for her mother and all others to see. Dragging his teeth down the sensitive column, Lust groaned as he heard her whimper.

This wasn’t any time for luxury or lingering kisses. He pushed her skirts up, tunneling his hand through all that damned fabric until he palmed between her legs. His two middle fingers slid along her slit, finding her already wet and soaking for him.

“Were you thinking about me?” he asked, breathing in the scent of her lust and already tasting her on his tongue. “You didn’t get this wet just from a kiss.”

“Only the kiss,” she hissed, arching against his hand.

“Little liar.” He tugged at the neckline of her dress with his free hand, forcing the buttons to open without ripping them apart. He wanted to. Oh, he wanted to rip this dress to shreds so everyone would see what they had been doing on the journey.

The fabric sagged on either side of her body. He wasted no time, leaning down to suck a pink nipple into his mouth, biting down with his teeth before licking away the sting. Selene hissed again, shifting her legs to give him easier access.

And, oh, he planned on taking whatever she gave him.

Lust sucked harder as he plunged his fingers inside her. Working her to a fever pitch, each draw of his mouth mimicked by a deep plunge of his fingers. Deeper, harder, and faster until she was writhing beneath him.

Freeing her nipple with a pop, he slid down her body and lifted her skirts over his head.

“What are you doing?” she asked, breathless with desire.

“What I’ve been wanting to do ever since the first time I tasted you,” he growled.

Lust never stopped the onslaught of his fingers as he added his tongue into the fray. He worked her little clit with long, languid strokes. His fingers were too slow for her to do anything but suffer in his arms. As she arched, trying to get closer and create the friction she desired, he banded his free arm around her waist and held her still. A feat in itself while he was underneath her skirts.

But this was not something he’d rush. Not when he was surrounded by her in the darkness, the scent of her overwhelming as he tongued her into oblivion.

Finally, he took pity on the woman who was putty in his arms. He stiffened his tongue, drawing tight, tiny circles around her clit as he worked his fingers harder. Twisting them inside her so he scraped that perfect point that soon made her stiffen... arch...

Her throaty cry was nearly his own undoing. He wanted her. Now. Needed her like he had realized only such a short amount of time ago.

Hissing out a breath, he tossed her skirts away from himself and loomed up. Lust ground his cock against her center, and she let out another guttural cry as a second orgasm burst through her at just that mere touch. Grinning, he grabbed her chin and pressed a hard kiss to her lips.

“I’m going to fuck you now,” he breathed into her. “It’s not the place I wanted, but if I’m not inside you in the next few seconds, I will stop breathing.”

“Yes,” she groaned, her hand reaching between them to stroke him. “Please, Lust, I—“

The carriage rolled to a harsh stop. Lust had to catch himself against the back wall, braced over her as he was. And though he felt a bit like he’d been caught with his cock in hand, not quite but close enough, he realized he couldn’t fuck her in the courtyard of the Tower while her entire family listened.

“Fuck,” he hissed before slamming himself into his own side of the carriage.

She stared at him with wide eyes, pink cheeks, and an “I just came” expression that almost made him launch back onto her side. Minerva be damned, he needed her now.

Common sense reminded him that she’d never forgive him for it, even if she enjoyed the sex while it was happening.

Running a hand over his face, he grumbled, “We’re home, darling.”

“This isn’t home,” she replied. It sounded as though she’d even surprised herself.

Lust gave her a wry grin. “You’re right. It isn’t. And yet, we’re still here. Go greet your family, little moon. Let me get a hold of myself before I join you.”