"Fucking hot," Bala countered.
Lex grinned at the ground, then back to Bala, the haze of her green eyes piercing her behind those unruly wisps of hair. Lex reached over, her finger trailing Bala's calf, and Bala wondered how such a person could already have her thighs squeezing.
Bala's gaze fluttered at the danger that was Hilexi before her, her mind going back to their time in the Forest when Bala had shaken her head at all her advances. And then to Magnice, remembering how Lex had swooned her for the entire week of the Gathering since she had her alone, finally pulling her into her bed that last night, Hagen joining them later with his own guest.
"How are you?" Bala asked, happy to have a moment to themselves.
Lex avoided her gaze a moment, sitting up in the chair only to move it so that she was in front of Bala, and she laid her head sideways on Bala's thigh, hands massaging Bala's calf muscle.
"Failing," Lex admitted.
"Didn't look like you were failing today," Bala said. "I'm sure Nadir appreciates you."
"He's been in an almost spiral since she's been gone," Lex said, her lips pressing to the inside of Bala's thigh, making her breaths tighten. "But only at night. He's as skilled as Aydra was at keeping up appearances." She sat her chin on Bala's thigh and looked up at her, tips of her fingers trailing their way up her leg. "How is the Venari King holding up?" she asked as she kissed her thigh again.
Bala almost trembled at the deliberation of Lex's moves, how the toy of her movements had her heart ricocheting in her chest. "Holding," Bala admitted. "Just holding."
Lex lifted her head and pulled at Bala's calves, bringing her to the edge of the table. "Anything from my Prince?" Lex asked, both her hands squeezing Bala's legs.
Bala tried to keep her heart from fluttering. "Nothing yet, she managed.
Lex sighed, and Bala reached out. She pushed her hand through Lex's hair, down to her cheek, and Lex moved to kiss her palm.
"Do you know what I've missed?" Lex asked as she met her eyes.
"Danger?" Bala suggested in an attempt to make Lex smile.
Lex huffed under her breath, her hands moving to the sides of Bala's thighs. "Apart from that," she smiled. "It sounds odd, but I've missed having a duty. It's what I was made for."
"Does Nadir have nothing he can put you in charge of?"
"He's tasked me with helping the younger recruits," Lex said. "It's not the same. I miss walking into a room and commanding it. People's heads turning, nearly dropping to their knees with a raise of my brow."
Bala laughed. "The entire army in herself," she mocked, remembering what Lex had told her.
"Never needed one behind me," Lex challenged. "I've only ever needed a Queen to serve."
"Or a King," Bala suggested.
A crooked smile rose on Lex's lips. "A King would do grandly." Dilation grew in her eyes, and Bala felt her chin lifting as Lex's hands moved further up her legs. "Does the Venari King have need of a new warrior in her ranks?"
Breath shortened in Bala's lungs as Lex squeezed her backside and pulled her to the very edge of the table. "Possibly," she toyed. "Unfortunately, the Venari King does not simply give out positions. The warrior will have to audition first."
Lex leaned forward, lips brushing over Bala's breast, and Bala felt her eyes flutter. "I do like a challenge," Lex breathed, and her mouth clamped over her shirted nipple. Bala sucked in a breath, hand threading through Lex's hair.
But Lex stood slowly, and Bala found herself squeezing her thighs around Lex's slim hips as she towered over her. Her hair fell over her eyes, mouths a breath apart, and Lex reached for Bala's chin, taking it between two fingers.
"Show me to the audition ring, my King."
Lex pulled her chin up, and she captured Bala's mouth with hers.
Bala's chest caved with the taste of her again. Hunger swept between them. Lex straightened, her hands threading beneath Bala's jaw as Bala grasped at her waist and pulled her flush. Every whisper of their tongues against one another sent her heart fleeing. No others compared to the wanted feeling Bala felt with Lex. Bala grasped Lex's backside, rocking her spread legs against Lex's hips. Her hand found its way into the gap at the back of Lex's pants, and she squeezed her ass, causing a groan to emit from Lex's throat.
As Lex moved her mouth to Bala's throat, Bala circled back to the tie on the front of Lex's pants, and she began to undo them. Her finger found her way into her pants, and the moment the pad brushed Lex's clit, Lex cursed in her throat.
Lex grasped Bala's hands and pinned them into the tabletop.
"I thought this was my audition," she uttered, nose nudging Bala's.
