What was she doing now?
Oldun had never been a lover, but she was one of the few I denied. When I looked again, she was gone.
Arms wrapped around my waist from behind, tearing my focus away from the crowd. “You look a little murderous over here. Not a good look at a celebration of your father, Nightmare.”
I returned a grin to my face and pressed a kiss to the top of Skadi’s head. “I was just thinking as much as I love my father, I’d like to be alone with my wife.”
A pretty little flush pinked the tips of her ears. She traced the lines of my palm, drawing a step closer. “I don’t think the king and queen would miss us. In fact, I think your father is searching for the exit now that your mother gave him his gift at last. I do think I’m missing some meaning about it though.”
I glanced over her head to where my father was currently, unashamedly, devouring my mother. I no longer flinched at the sight—it was a constant in this palace—but on the table was a stuffed horse.
Inge was explaining to Mira how my mother had slipped out to her shop twice a week for the last months, learning how to make the most intricate of stitches. It added a wash of heat to my chest.
Good hells, if I could be half the lover to my wife that my parents were to each other, it would be a life well-loved.
I tugged Skadi against my side. “The horse is a memory from their childhood, one that was destroyed by those who tried to destroy them. I assure you, it symbolizes more to my father than any coin or any title.”
As anticipated, my father tried to end the revel by briskly stating it was simply over. Those who wanted to drink and laugh and feast ignored the king and waved him away.
I dipped my lips to Skadi’s ear. “Ready to go?”
She drew in a shudder of a breath when my palm drew scandalously high on her ribs. “I was ready long ago.”
In our corridor, I pressed her against the door to my side of the bedchamber. “We should take out the wall, Fire. Do we need separate rooms?” I dragged the tip of my tongue along the edge of her ear.
Skadi blew out a rough breath, shaking her head. “Tomorrow. I’ll steal it away.”
“Will it bring down the whole palace?”
“I’ll try not to.”
I laughed and kissed the corner of her mouth, unlatching the door and shoving us inside.
Skadi’s breaths grew heavier with each kiss. “You vowed to make up for our stolen moments alone in the wood. I hope you plan to make good on that, Husband.”
I didn’t need to hear another word. My palms clasped her face and crushed her mouth to mine.
I yanked at the laces on the back of her dress, sliding it off her shoulders. Skadi ripped my belt free with enough force the leather whipped my wrist on its way to the ground. She wriggled free of her gown, only a diaphanous shift underneath. In a frenzy, she shoved my trousers down and had her warm, cruel hands stroking my cock in the next breath.
Her back slammed into the wall. Beside her face, my palms flattened. I kissed her, bit her bottom lip, her neck, rocking against her hand until I was damn-near panting into her mouth.
Next to us was my desk. I cast a glance at the made bed, then back to the wood surface. Gods, no time.
I spun Skadi around, her hips striking the edge of the desk. My palms skirted around her front, cupping her breasts. She whimpered when I tugged the shift down and pinched and rolled her nipples between my fingers.
She bucked into me.
“Bend for me, Fire.” I pressed her onto the table, breasts flattening over the wood.
Skadi gasped, her fingers digging into the surface when I rolled up the skirt of her shift and used my knee to spread her thighs. I gripped my cock, aligning the tip with her soaked entrance, stroking back and forth, nudging in, then pulling back out.
Skadi turned her head, her cheek along the tabletop, lips parted as harsh, pitchy breaths heated her cheeks. “Please.”
“Please what?” I pressed a kiss to her spine. “What do you want, Fire?”
Again, I nudged the tip of my length inside her, only to pull it away.
Skadi hissed in frustration. “Jonas . . .”
