He pulled her in, wrapping his arms around her waist. As if on instinct, her arms went around his neck.
“It’s not my fault I can’t get enough of you,” he said into her neck, licking and sucking a pulse point he learned would have her writhing.
Her hand came between them as he continued his ministrations, wrapping around his hardening cock. He hissed as she slid her hand up and down the shaft, tightening aroundhis head, just how he liked it. In response, his hand massaged her breast, squeezing the nipple.
“You’re cruel,” she said breathily.
“You’re majestic.” The late sun glowed behind her, and the orangey haze made her look like she was on fire.
“We should take this outside,” she repeated, and he knew then he would never be able to deny her anything. He would spend the rest of their lives together serving her.Ifthey had that time together, he supposed.
“Anything for you.” He knew just the place.
He tugged on her hand, but she yanked backward. She was smiling, and it was so breathtaking, it hurt. “What of our clothes?”
“Mych won’t mind.”
“Your parents?”
He shrugged, unable to care if they got caught.
“The other guards?” This time, the words came with her crossing her arms under her breast to cover that burned mark.
He wanted to pry further. There was something she was hiding from him, but he figured he had the rest of their marriage to ask her about everything—that was, if he survived the Undertaking. He wanted to know her inside and out, but he promised himself he would fight the hardest to ensure they would have that time. Maybe, even if he lost the Undertaking, she would be willing to follow him, even without a title.
Climbing up to the dais, he grabbed her discarded dress. He bent down, and she stepped into it. As he rolled it up, he pressed kisses to her body, and she shivered under his lips.
He got distracted from dressing her—her mouth was right in front of him, and he was weak, couldn’t hold back. Their tongues danced with each other, against the rhythm of their beating hearts.
“Let’s go.” Her eyes were soft, and he wanted that image stamped in his memory forever.
He got into his pants and led her to the door. He squared his shoulders, and, right as the door opened, Mych stood leisurely in the hall, smirking at them both.
“I hope you both had fun. I had to keep Bron away, and that man is difficult to convince to do anything.” Mych shrugged, clearly pleased with himself. “Good thing I like a challenge.”
Jasyn rolled his eyes, but his face was on fire, which caused Mych to smile wider.
“We’re going to the Butterfly Garden.”
“That’s quite romantic.” Mych winked.
Jasyn bumped his guard’s shoulder as he passed him. “No need to keep guard. I don’t think you’d want to either.”
Esi lightly slapped Jasyn’s back. “Heathen.”
“I’ve already heard it all,” Mych yelled after them, but Jasyn didn’t care. He already had his arm around Esi’s shoulders.
Esi gasped at the glass dome in front of her. Like most of the castle, the structure was covered in vines and greenery, with speckles of color coming from flowers.
Jasyn chuckled as he pushed aside the vines and opened the door to allow them both inside.
Esi stilled as she entered. Her mouth was slightly agape, and watching her take in all the sights of the castle had been one of his favorite experiences. This had been his every day since birth, but for her, it was new. The wonder and awe she exuded was contagious. It reminded him of how special the castle was and what an honor it was to live here.
She outstretched her hand, and a butterfly fluttered on her finger. He could have sworn a tear dripped down her cheek.
“I usually hate such small, constricting spaces, but I feel so safe with you,” she said. He took in that piece of information and held on to it tightly.
To bring her out of her head, he said. “It used to be just another gazebo where we would all sit and watch the town, but then we begged my parents to turn it into a butterfly sanctuary.”
