Page 169 of Sworn to the Shadow Throne

He wrapped one arm around me, looking into my eyes as though I was the only thing that existed. Considering the immense pile of paperwork he’d been poring over to keep the kingdom running smoothly, feeling so important was intoxicating.

He was also rubbing circles on my back, which helped.

When my fingers found the laces, he stilled. Leaning his forehead onto mine, his voice was a husky rasp that sent shivers down my spine. “Is this the part where I beg, moonlight?”

I was the one on the verge of begging.

His hand behind my back gripped my chemise tightly. “I don’t… I can’t…” Owain never stumbled over his words. “This is everything I’ve wanted, Luna. I need to know how far you want this to go.”

I pulled back from him and shrugged the furs off. I’d spent years making myself small enough to be safe, and here I was, wanting to be seen entirely.

Owain sat up straighter, dark eyes tracking my every movement as I reached down to grab the hem of my chemise and lift. The cool air hit me just as his eyes did.

“No begging, Owain. This is the part where you make good on your promise,” I said, smiling, feeling bold. “This is where you bury yourself inside me until the world outside ceases to exist.”

The unyielding pull, born from whatever was between us, had guided us inevitably toward this moment. He prowled up the bed like the direwolf of his mother’s house. I loved it.

“Tell me to stop,” he said, shaking with restraint, “and I will.”

I urged him closer.

Given permission, he leaned over, and his hands were on me. I’d seen him conjure weapons and deal a grievous blow. He was a man of force and power. But when his hands skated across my body, they were careful and tender in a way that felt almost reverent, but also desperate. Like I was something he was afraid of breaking and equally afraid of losing his grip on.

I bent to undo his trousers again, yet he halted my efforts so he could scoot back and slide them down his legs with remarkable haste.

Half out of the furs, I could see even more of him. I’d never realized how incredibly appealing a man’s thighs and backside could be. I definitely had a type. And that type was him.

The mere sight was enough to make my body react, and he hadn’t even touched me yet.

When he came back to me, I increased the tempo of my exploration of his body, my heart pounding with excitement. I reached down again and was immediately terrified to even think the blasphemous thoughts about my discovery, for fear of divine jealousy.

It’ll be a tight fit, but this is the challenge I’m willing to take on.

I skated my fingers over it before grabbing it at the base and pumping once, twice. His hips bucked into my hand, the tip already beading with his arousal.

“Luna,” he groaned again. “Stop that, or you won’t get what you want.”

We both let out little laughs, his following mine. “I just thought it was fair since you’ve already touched so much of me.”

“I can never touch enough of you, moonlight. Ever.” As his hand slid down my stomach, a trail of fire followed. I expected him to start touching me, but instead he grasped both hips and pulled, carefully sliding me down the bed. I relaxed back onto the mattress.

“Exactly where I want you,” he whispered, coaxing my legs open with one hand. His deft fingers found soft flesh and caressed circles before dipping into my heat. My eyes almost rolled back from the sheer pleasure of it.

“Can I beg for at least one thing?” he asked, nuzzling into my neck.

I felt myself smiling broadly. And for once, I didn’t care how vulnerable that might make me appear. “Yes.”

“Let me taste you again, please.”

“Since you asked so nicely,” I said, my voice a little breathless, which rather ruined the prim effect I’d been going for.

He was under the furs before my next breath.

I wanted to giggle at his obvious enthusiasm, but what came out of me was a moan as his lips found my clit and sucked. His fingers joined in next, stroking in and out, driving me closer and closer with each movement.

I threw the furs off to get a better look. My knees began to shake, but two ropes of shadow appeared to hold me there. His eyes were pools of shadows staring back at me.

“I’m going to make you fuck my tongue until you fall apart.” He lazed one lingering lick. “Then I’m going to bury myself inside you and do it again. And again. Until you say you’ve had enough.”