Page 32 of Wolf Duke

Evaine stared at him, her eyes glittering with fierce need. With lust. Then she curtsied. “As you command, my king.”

On such a long day of traditional pomp and ceremony, it had seemed like they would never reach this moment. But here they were, together and alone.

Princess Evaine de Wynter was now Evaine Beaumont, Queen of the Western Lands. And in this lavish bedchamber she would discover all the secrets of the mating bed: the knotting, the biting, and the bonded mind link that would result. As Siân had said, how pleasure and pain could intertwine like a rope.

Evaine bit her lip as anticipation, excitement and nerves coiled together in her belly. Then, straightening her shoulders, she climbed up onto the enormous oak four-poster bed. With heavy black velvet curtains that could be drawn, it was like a small room and exquisitely beautiful: the wood intricately carved and sporting the Beaumont crest, the tester mattress firm and comfortable, and linen sheets so fine they felt like cool water beneath her hands and knees. Helpfully, the servants had turned back the thick quilt so she didn’t have to wrestle with it. All she had to do was lie back on a small mountain of soft pillows…and wait for her king.

“Is the bed to your liking?” asked Alaric, as he opened a small locked chest and rummaged within it.

“Not quite,” Evaine replied. “You are so far away.”

A small smile curved his lips. “My queen requires a distraction. Touch yourself while I gather what’s needed.”

Her brow furrowed. “What’s needed? Surely only your cock and my sheath?”

Alaric laughed. “Eventually, sweetheart. Now do as your king commanded.”

Oh, this was to be the way of it? He would order and she would obey? Perhaps this king had forgotten he was mated to a de Wynter. Ha. Alaric Beaumont had lessons to learn.

Closing her eyes, Evaine lounged against the pillows, then slid her hands up to cup her breasts, teasing her jutting nipples with her thumbs. Oh yes, that felt good. Next, she pinched the tender peaks, unable to suppress a low whimper at the jolt that arrowed straight to her heated core. Lifting her eyelids the barest slit, she peeked at her mate, who was definitely watching her little show.

This time she pinched her nipples as Alaric would, with a firm tweak. A gasp of delight tore from her throat, and she was rewarded with one of his low growls, the sort that immediately coaxed a trickle of honey from her needy channel. She had nearly distracted him from whatever he was fetching, but not quite.

Smiling inwardly, Evaine allowed one hand to trail down over her ribs and belly until it hovered just over her mound. Then she began lazily stroking her bush, before daringly parting the crisp hair to circle her throbbing pleasure bud.

“Mmmmm,” she moaned as she delved down further to wet her fingertips in her own honey before returning to rub a little harder. “Oh, yesssss…”

Without warning, her hand was yanked away, and Evaine’s eyes flew open to see her mate standing beside the bed, looming over her.

“Once more I see,” Alaric rasped, as he licked the honey from her fingers, “my queen is both lusty and wicked.”

Evaine fluttered her lashes innocently. “Whatever do you mean? I merely obeyed your instructions, my king.”

He growled again, and her core throbbed mercilessly. How in Leto’s name did he do that?

When Alaric settled on the bed beside her, she brazenly spread her thighs and tilted her hips, fully expecting him to feast as promised. Instead, he held up a leather drawstring bag, then tipped the contents between her legs. “Preparation.”

Evaine’s eyes widened. There were three cock-shaped objects: two made of polished stone, one about the size of her mate’s huge shaft and the other smaller. The third cock appeared to be solid gold, about the size of Alaric’s thumb. Each had a smooth metal ring at the top, and there was also a small vial of oil. “What do you mean to do with those?”

Briefly, his gaze turned serious. “I’m not sure how much you’ve been told…did Mother offer detailed answers?”

“I know some things,” said Evaine. “Such as what goes where. And that the sensation is…a lot. Pleasure and pain intertwined like a rope, Siân said.”

Alaric nodded. “It is a lot. And remember, in this part I don’t have a great deal more experience than you. Theda…did not want this with me. And we were never mind-linked because her mating mark was false.”

“Well, I want this more than anything,” blurted Evaine, restless on the bed. “And if you don’t move faster, I’ll…I’ll…”

“You’ll what?” he asked lazily, before bending his head to lash her nipple with his tongue.

She cried out and arched her back, desperate for the rough suckling she preferred. But her mate continued to torment her aching nipples with gentle laps and soft kisses until she wanted to scream not in ecstasy, but in pure frustration. It felt good, but it wasn’t nearly enough. “Alaric.”

“What do you need, sweetheart?”

Evaine glared at him. “Your cock. At once. Your queen demands it.”

Alaric sucked in a breath. “Do you know how hard that makes me, hearing those words? Having a mate who craves me?”

Her heart twinged at the reminder, how that evil imposter had devastated her mate with such treachery. Such betrayal. It was one thing to tell Alaric how much she wanted him, but far better to show him.