Chapter 21

When Liria arrived moments later, her cheeks were flushed, and her eyes were bright with undisguised desire. She shut the door and hovered on the threshold, her gaze darting from me to Sigurn, who'd risen and now leaned against the end of the bed with his arms folded over his chest.

I stood near the same window where I'd sat reading the night she appeared in my room with the fire illuminating her nude body under her nightgown.

"Eavesdropping is a bad habit," I told her now.

She shot Sigurn another look. "I'm sorry."

He gave a soft snort. "No, you're not."

The blush spread down her neck. She looked at me, hesitation in her eyes. "Have you always known about the tunnels?"

"Do you honestly think I would have allowed you to stay in a bedchamber with access to them if I had?"

"No."

"Exactly." As a spark of anger flared in her green eyes, I moved away from the window. "I suspected some kind of hidden egress two nights ago. You disappeared as effortlessly as one of the elves of the Autumn Court." Shapeshifters and shadow runners, our brethren to the South could travel short distances by stepping in and out of dark corners. Liria had done her share of vanishing acts over the years. Now I knew how she'd managed it. I could only imagine the things she'd witnessed on nights when the castle was full of guests and casks of wine.

I stopped in front of her now and tucked my finger under her chin. "I searched the chamber where I met with Lord Estalar. Those tunnels run through most of the bedchambers in this castle. Did you ever spy on me in this room, love?"

She wet her lips, leaving the bottom one damp and pink. "No. I was always worried you'd know."

A wise prediction. Because I probably would have felt her eyes on me. But the idea of it—of her standing on the other side of my wall with her heart racing and heat pooling between her thighs—tightened my already aching cock.

I swiped my thumb over her bottom lip. "You weren't worried about getting caught this time, though, were you?" I eased the tip of my thumb past her lips, not stopping until I touched her tongue. "Or maybe you simply couldn't control yourself."

She made a breathy little sound—half protest, half whimper. Her lashes swept down as her eyes went heavy-lidded. Her nipples poked against the front of her gown, and her breath fluttered over my hand.

"You've always been so curious, brat. Such a bad girl."

Now, her eyes widened. Understanding gleamed there.

Yes, we both knew what game we were playing. Perhaps I'd played it from the beginning, when I led Sigurn into my bedchamber. Liria had fucked him. I had to live with it, just as I'd lived with the guilt of hiding him from her. But maybe I didn't have to feel guilty.

Eyes locked with mine, Liria closed her lips around my thumb. The edge of her teeth pressed into my skin as she sucked. One day, I was going to stop being surprised by her.

In the corner of my vision, Sigurn slowly rose from the bed. He drifted forward, not stopping until he stood within arm's reach of Liria. I didn't have to ask if he agreed to whatever game we were playing.

But just in case, I turned my head and met his gaze. I let magic build under my skin before I pushed it into my voice. "You're free to leave the castle."

His shoulders loosened as my previous order fell away from him. He put a hand on his nape and rolled his neck, the gesture somehow sexier than anything he'd done on his knees moments before. When he lowered his hand, he looked straight at Liria.

"I'm fine to stay for now."

I pulled my thumb from Liria's mouth as I turned back to her. "Is that what you want?"

A charge entered the air as she looked between us. She was so stunning, it was hard to believe she was real. Her dark gown hugged her slender body, the cut of the fabric emphasizing her high, firm breasts and narrow waist. She'd obviously bathed earlier in the day, because her hair was parted down the center and left loose to fall in thick waves to her waist. The heady scents of lavender and evergreen were a seductive cloud around her. I wanted to carry her to the bed and devour her. But I couldn't do that. Not yet. She had to make the first move.

Sigurn stayed put as the charge in the air grew stronger.

Liria's chest lifted as she drew a deep breath. "Have you two ever…?" The color in her cheeks returned.

"What?" I asked softly.

"Have you shared a woman?"

"No," Sigurn said, stepping closer. He took one of Liria's hands in his much larger one. "To be honest, it never crossed my mind. But it's in my mind now, and I can't begin to tell you how much I want it."

She licked her lips again—and she was really going to have to stop doing that if I had any hope of keeping my hands off her before she was ready. "I don't know what to do," she whispered.

I took her other hand and lifted it to my mouth. "There's no right or wrong way to do this." I brushed my lips over her knuckles as ideas took shape in my mind. "Did you like what you saw when you watched us from the tunnel?"

Her eyes darkened to emerald. "Yes."

"Then why don't we go to the bed, and Sigurn can finish what he started."

She looked at him, and heat arced between them. I waited for jealousy to strike, but it didn't come. Just a powerful blast of need, along with a parade of images of how the two of them might look together. I'd fought so hard to resist them. Was it coincidence that the only two people who'd ever brought me to my knees had found each other?

Unbidden, Haluven's voice snaked through my memory. I should have pitied you.

In my mind's eye, blue fire flickered over hoarfrost. My best friend's mockery filled my head.

You were Sylvar's greatest accomplishment, Ronan. And the embodiment of his weakness.

Haluven was right. I was weak. Worse, I was helpless before his daughter and a man I wasn't supposed to have and could never hope to keep. But knowing these things didn't temper my need. Quite the opposite.

"Come," Sigurn said, tugging Liria toward the bed. She kept the fingers of her other hand entwined with mine, and the three of us crossed the room together. When we reached the bed, Sigurn caught my eye as he moved behind her. After ten years, I knew him well enough to know what he intended. I gave him a tiny nod, then positioned myself in front of Liria. As Sigurn began working on her laces, I slid my hands into her hair and lowered my mouth to hers.

She sighed into my mouth as I kissed her, then moaned as I slid my hand down her neck to her breasts. I cupped one generous swell, testing its weight as I stroked my tongue along hers. I took my time with her, exploring her mouth and drinking in her sweet taste. Gratitude swelled, and I said a silent prayer of thanks to the gods for the privilege of touching her again. She could have refused to believe my story about Haluven. She could have dismissed my vow. But she'd given me another chance. I didn't deserve her, but I'd die before I let her go.

Silk rustled, and I lifted my head as Sigurn eased her loosened dress down her body. Liria started to look over her shoulder, but I caught her chin.

"No, Princess. Eyes on me."

Her murmur of acquiescence turned into another moan when Sigurn smoothed her chemise straps down her shoulders and lowered his mouth to her neck. As he sucked at her skin, I removed the rest of her underclothes, letting each dainty garment puddle at her feet. Her stockings were the last to go, leaving her gloriously nude—and powerfully aroused. Her sigils glowed blue with her magic, the prancing fawns leaping among the graceful glyphs that decorated her shoulders and flowed down her arms. Moisture glistened in the delicate seam of her pussy. Her intoxicating scent perfumed the air.

Sigurn growled into her neck, then reached both hands around and cupped her bare breasts. He thumbed her nipples, which had gone stiff and dark pink.

"Oh…" she gasped, sagging against him. Then her breath hitched as I sank to my knees in front of her. For a moment, I considered stripping off my shirt and jacket. But there was something undeniably appealing about keeping her nude while Sigurn and I were fully covered. She was an alabaster goddess between us, her lush body dewy with desire. My cock twitched as I lifted her legs one by one and whisked her discarded clothes out of the way.

"Put your arms around Sigurn's neck," I told her.

"Wh-Why?" she asked even as Sigurn grasped her wrists and guided her into position. She sucked in a breath as he resumed playing with her breasts.

I took a moment to admire her arms stretched above her head and her beautiful tits resting in Sigurn's battle-scarred hands. Then I hooked an arm under one of her knees and tugged until her foot rested on my shoulder.

"Because I'm going to make a meal of your pussy, Princess, and I don't want you to fall." As a whimper slipped from her, I buried my face between her legs and sucked her clit into my mouth.

"Ronan!" Her cry echoed around the chamber. She trembled against me, then rocked her hips hard against my mouth. I obeyed her unspoken command by thrusting my tongue into her entrance, and I moaned as her salty-sweet essence hit my tongue.

"No, sweetheart," Sigurn murmured above me, "keep your arms right where they are." His gentle scolding ended with soft smacking sounds, followed by Liria's ragged moan.

My mind supplied me with images of him kissing her neck as he toyed with her breasts. Blood pumped to my dick, tightening it to the point of pain. But I couldn't be bothered with it when I had Liria's delectable pussy against my face. I licked a long stripe up her center to her clit and then fluttered my tongue over the tight, swollen bud.

"Oh gods, Ronan," she gasped. "Yes, yes, yes!" Her smooth thigh brushed my cheek. Her honey flooded my mouth.

"More," I growled, spearing my tongue inside her. I fucked her that way for a moment, her escalating cries and the slick sounds of her pussy ringing in my ears. Sigurn's low, rough voice joined the fray.

"That's it, Princess. Spread your legs a little more. Good girl. Fuck, you're beautiful like this. Come for him, but you better have enough cream left for me."

Fingers brushed my face, and I pulled back enough to see him palm her mound and pull her pussy taut. Her clit thrust from its sheath like a ripe berry. She gazed down at me, her pupils huge and her arms locked around Sigurn's neck. Her tits trembled, her nipples tight and begging for attention. Sigurn obliged, pinching one pouty peak and rolling it between his thumb and forefinger.

Liria cried out. "Please," she gasped, thrusting her hips at me. Arousal glossed her puffy clit and smooth lips. More glistening juices smeared her inner thighs.

Fucking irresistible.

I dipped my head again, licking over Sigurn's fingers before drawing her clit into my mouth and sucking ruthlessly.

She sobbed and squirmed, wantonly grinding her sopping pussy against my face. "I-I'm coming! Oh gods, I'm coming!" She squirmed harder, her movements so frantic I seized her hip to keep her still. A second later, moisture flooded my mouth.

Satisfaction put a growl in my throat as I took her through her orgasm with my tongue flat against her clit. I worked up and down the pulsing bud until she gave a final, shuddering cry. Then I pulled her foot from my shoulder and sat back on my heels.

She sagged against Sigurn, her hands clutching the arm he'd slung around her waist. Her eyes were closed, and her head lolled on his chest. Faint red marks marred her neck where he'd kissed her. A few lighter marks bloomed on her breasts.

Sigurn kissed the top of her head, then met my gaze over her shoulder. Her juices glistened on his fingers still splayed over her mound. Slowly, he lifted his hand to his mouth and licked her arousal from his skin.

I clenched my jaw as my cock pressed hard against the front of my pants.

Liria shivered, her eyes slitting open. Her gaze traveled from my straining erection to my heaving chest. Finally, she met my stare. "You said Sigurn would finish what he started."

Her words were like a fist wrapping around my cock. Anticipation coiled within me like a length of tightly wound rope.

Sigurn kissed the pointed tip of Liria's ear. "You're right, Princess." His mismatched eyes glittered with desire as he looked at me. "Let's give her what she wants."