It was closer to two hours before they could reasonably make their excuses. Finn smiled until his face hurt, shook hands with people whose names he’d never remember, and fielded questions about his plans as king consort that he had no idea how to answer.
I’ll figure it out tomorrow. Tonight, I just need to be with Darragh.
Finally - blessedly - Darragh stood and pulled Finn up with him, addressing the room with the easy authority Finn envied.
“Thank you all for celebrating with us. My consort and I are retiring for the night. Enjoy your evening.”
Cheers and catcalls followed them out, and Finn’s face burned scarlet.He just inferred to our guests that we were going to our private quarters to do intimate things together.
But he matched Darragh step for step as they hurried from the hall, the crown bouncing slightly on his head with each stride.Behind them, the celebration continued - music and laughter and the clink of glasses.
Ahead of them, their future waited.I have no idea what I’m doing,Finn thought as they reached the corridor, finally alone.But I’ll figure it out. With him, I can figure anything out.
The crown slipped again, and this time Finn laughed as he took it off.
Chapter Thirteen
Darragh barely got the door closed behind them before Finn was on him. Three weeks apart had been three weeks too long, and Darragh hadn’t realized how much he missed his new husband until Finn arrived that morning. It seemed Finn was feeling the same way. The moment they were alone, Finn’s hands were in Darragh’s hair, pulling him into a kiss that was full of heat and promise.
“Gods, I missed you,” Finn gasped against his mouth, his fingers already wrestling with the fastenings of Darragh’s ceremonial jacket. “I’m sure that’s not appropriate to say or feel among noble peoples, but I’ve spent three weeks imagining this. And now I can’t even…”
“Let me help,” Darragh growled, catching Finn’s wrists and pinning them against the door as he took control of the kiss. He nipped at Finn’s lower lip, then soothed the sting with his tongue, earning a moan that went straight to his cock. “You’re not the only one who’s been thinking about all the things I want to do with you.”
Finn’s breath hitched as Darragh released his wrists to work on the buttons of his own jacket. “You’re going to make me wait while you undo all these stupid buttons?”
“Patience, husband,” Darragh murmured, finally getting the last button free and shrugging out of the jacket. He tossed it aside without looking, his focus entirely on Finn - on the flush creeping up his neck, the way his chest rose and fell too fast, the dark heat in his eyes.
Finn didn’t wait for permission. His hands were on Darragh’s shirt, yanking it free from his pants, fingers skimming over the warm skin of Darragh’s stomach. “Why do royals wear so manyclothes,” he grumbled. “I’ve been dreaming about getting my hands on you for weeks, and now your clothes are in the way.”
Darragh caught Finn’s hands again, this time pressing them against the door above his head as he stepped closer, letting Finn feel exactly how much he’d been missed. “You’re not the only one who’s been dreaming,” he murmured, his lips brushing Finn’s ear. “Every night, I imagined you here, in my bed, under me, over me…”
Finn made a sound that was half-groan, half-laugh. “You’re killing me.”
“Good.” Darragh released Finn’s hands to work on his own shirt buttons, his fingers trembling slightly. “Because I plan to.”
Finn’s shirt hit the floor first, followed quickly by Darragh’s. They stood there for a moment, chests heaving, just looking at each other. Darragh had never seen Finn shirtless before, but now he could look all he liked. He admired the lean strength in Finn’s arms, and his lightly muscled torso. This man was his husband, and what was even better was Finn was looking at him just as intently, his gaze tracing over Darragh’s chest, his shoulders, lingering on the trail of hair that disappeared into his pants.
“Gods, you’re beautiful,” Finn breathed, reaching out to run his fingers over Darragh’s collarbone, down his chest, circling one nipple before pinching lightly. “I want to touch you everywhere.”
Darragh groaned, his head falling back as Finn’s hands explored him, mapping his skin like he was memorizing every inch. “Finn,” he warned, his voice rough. “If you keep that up, this is going to be over before it starts.”
Finn’s laugh was low and wicked. “Promises, promises.”
Darragh pulled him toward the bed, tumbling them both onto the mattress in a tangle of limbs and laughter. He rolled Finn beneath him, pinning him down with his body, his hips settling between Finn’s thighs. The position was perfect - Finn’s cock was hard against his, and the friction as they moved together was enough to make Darragh’s vision blur.
“Tell me what you want,” Darragh demanded, his lips trailing down Finn’s neck, nipping at the sensitive skin where his shoulder met his throat. “Tell me how you imagined this.”
Finn’s hands tangled in Darragh’s hair, pulling him closer. “I imagined you touching me,” he admitted, his voice breathless. “Your hands on my skin, your mouth - gods, Darragh,please.”
Darragh didn’t need to be told twice. His lips crashed back onto Finn’s as his hands explored, mapping the dips and planes of Finn’s body. He traced the lines of Finn’s ribs, the curve of his hip, the hard length of his cock through his pants. Finn arched into his touch, a broken sound escaping him as Darragh’s fingers teased the waistband of his pants.
“Off,” Darragh growled, sitting back just enough to work on the fastenings. “I need you naked. Now.”
Finn lifted his hips, helping Darragh strip his pants away, and then he was finally, gloriously bare beneath him. Darragh took a moment to justlookat the flush on Finn’s chest, the way his cock jutted up, already leaking, the way his thighs trembled as Darragh ran his hands up them.
“You’re perfect,” Darragh murmured, his fingers wrapping around Finn’s cock. “Absolutely perfect.”
Finn’s breath hitched as Darragh stroked him, his thumb swiping over the slick head. “Darragh,please…”
