She turned to face him fully. “And you? What do you expect?”
His hand found hers, laced through her fingers. “The same woman I’ve always loved. The girl in the stables, the woman who managed to survive again and again, the vixen who broke therules last night. The one who isn’t afraid to want. That’s who I married in my heart long before the crown sanctioned it. I love you, and I’ve always loved you.”
“I love you too,” Shay replied.
She smiled, small, real. Not for the court. Not for the chronicles.
For him.
And for the first time, that was enough.
Epilogue B: Indulgence
Thechamberwaswarm,thick with the scent of pine and musk. Torches cast flickering shadows on the rough-hewn stone walls. Shay lay on a sprawling bearskin rug, a goblet of spiced wine resting near her hand, mostly untouched. Six bodies surrounded her, a tangle of limbs and whispered promises.
Dax, ever the strategist, methodically stroked the planes of her stomach, his movements precise and controlled. “Relax, Shay. Let us take care of you.”
“Care of me? Or tear me apart?” she teased, her voice a breathless rasp.
Harry chuckled, breaking the tension. “A bit of both, love. Can’t have you thinking this is a charitable act.” He nipped at her ear, sending a shiver down her spine. “Gage, you’re being too gentle. This one likes a little rough.”
A low growl rumbled from Gage, and his grip tightened on her thigh. He wasn’t wrong. She craved the possessive aggression he offered, the way he made her feel…untamed. Hetraced the inside of her wrist with a calloused thumb, pressing firmly.
Silas, as usual, was content to simplybenear her, his body heavy and languid against her side. Drew, still hesitant, hovered near her feet, his gaze darting nervously around the room. And Bennett, bless him, focused solely on her pleasure, his touch reverent and attentive.
“How are you feeling, my love?” Bennett murmured, his lips brushing against her temple.
“Warm,” she breathed. “So warm.”
They’d done this before, of course. Many times. The miners had been her solace, her escape, a raw, earthy connection to a world outside the demands of the palace. Each man offered something different, a facet of her desire that Jacob, in his princely restraint, hadn’t known existed.
She arched her back, inviting Gage to take the lead. He needed no encouragement. He pressed himself against her, his body radiating heat. He slid a finger inside her, slowly, deliberately, testing her boundaries. She gasped, her fingers tightening in his hair. She loved the feeling of being thoroughly, gleefully defiled.
“Like that, temptress?” Gage murmured, his voice a gravelly rasp.
She didn’t answer, simply intensified her movements, urging him deeper. Dax joined in, his hands exploring the curves of her breasts, kneading and teasing. Harry began to trace patterns on her stomach with his tongue, his playful chatter a constant undercurrent of stimulation.
“Oh, Shay, you're a scandal, you really are,” Harry said. “Imagine the court gossips if they could see you now.”
Drew tentatively reached out, his hand trembling as he brushed against her skin. She gently guided his hand, encouraging him to explore, to lose his inhibitions. He stillso inexperienced but eager to explore. Silas shifted closer, his weight pressing against her, a silent reminder of his presence. Bennett continued to focus on her clit, his touch feather-light, building the pressure with exquisite skill.
She was a nexus of sensation, a swirling vortex of pleasure. She groaned, her body arching, her head falling back against the bearskin. No longer princess, not yet queen. Just Shay. Pure, unadulterated desire. All six of them there, solely to pleasure her. Each touch, each kiss, focused on her body, her arousal, her feeling.
“More,” she whispered, her voice hoarse. “I want more.”
The men responded instantly, their movements becoming more frantic, more desperate. Gage drove deeper, his thrusts forceful and relentless. Dax’s hands became more demanding, his fingers digging into her flesh. Harry’s tongue danced across her skin, igniting sparks of pleasure. Silas’s weight pressed down on her, grounding her to the earth. Drew found his confidence, bringing his cock around to her mouth. And Bennett continued to worship her body, his focus unwavering.
She came in waves, each orgasm more intense than the last, her body convulsing with pleasure. She cried out, her voice echoing off the stone walls. She wasn’t sure how many times she’d reached the precipice, lost count long ago. Each release was a surrender, a letting go, a dissolving of boundaries.
Then, a shadow fell across the doorway.
Jacob stood there, his expression unreadable. It wasn't shock, though there was a subtle surprise in his eyes. He knew, she was certain. They’d discussed it. He didn’t understand it, but he’d observing her clandestine absences, noticing the subtle changes in her demeanor. He was amenable to their agreement but had never accidentally walked in on it.
She met his gaze, a defiant spark in her eyes. She didn’t stop, didn’t flinch, didn’t offer an explanation. She simply held hisgaze, and invited him in. “Please Jacob, my love. See me for all that I am.”
A slow smile spread across his face. Not a smile of disapproval, not a smile of judgment, but a smile of…fascination. He stepped into the room, his eyes sweeping over the scene before him. Intrigue winning out over jealousy.
“Looks like fun,” he confessed, his voice low and controlled.
