Page 12 of Queens Will Play

“She will wait. She has her orders,” he said.

We stayed to chat for a few more minutes before heading out to the car. As we drove back to the Barrow, Menolly chuckled.

“I can’t believe I almost considered partnering with Carter,” she said. “I think I would have ended up killing him…or vice versa.”

I laughed, too, then sobered. “I think he might have reminded you of Dredge. Carter’s not anything like him, but the domination...”

Menolly was silent for a moment. “Roman and I go hard. Nerissa’s my soft space, where I can be vulnerable. But I can’t ever let anyone force me to submit again. Dredge ruined me for that life. Even though he’s gone, I can’t ever forget that night, and his complete control over every fiber of my being…never again, even for pleasure,” she said.

“Right,” I said, deciding to change the subject. I knew a little about that myself, given my time as Hyto’s captive. “I wonder what Carter’s researching. He seemed to recognize something about what I said.”

“I don’t know, but if you’re frightened, I’m frightened,” Menolly said.

As we reached the Barrow and made sure that the men were all still alive and getting along together, I kept thinking back to Carter. What were we facing? Who were we facing? Whoever they were, we were on the cusp of something new and dreadful. And I had the feeling I was going to regret finding out what it was.

CHAPTER FOUR

The next morning, I woke at seven-thirty, groggy as hell. Menolly and I had stayed up till the wee hours of the morning, talking over what we thought Carter would find. After she departed into her safe-lair, I wearily dragged myself into bed, climbing over Trillian to snuggle between him and Smoky. As usual, Morio had slept in his fox form at the bottom of the bed. Technically, he had three forms—his human form, his red fox form, and his demon-kitsune form.

By the time I woke, Morio was up and gone. Smoky was off in the shower—I could hear the water running—and Trillian had showered and dressed already, in jeans and a turtleneck as black as his skin. His silver hair was brushed back into a long ponytail, as usual, and he was filing his nails. He was very GQ and always well-groomed.

“How was the meeting with Carter?” he asked.

“Scary. I’m curious as to what he’s going to find out for us,” I said. “He seems to think he knows who we’re talking about.”

“How’s he doing? It’s been a while since we talked to him.” Trillian handed me my robe. “Your shower’s clean and waiting, if you want one.”

“I do, yes. As far as Carter, same as always. He’s got a new sub, but she’s not going to last much longer,” I added. “Not unless she learns to play by his rules.”

Trillian caught me as I passed by and pulled me to him. “Rules are good,” he said, gazing at my boobs. “Speaking of rules…who’s your alpha?”

“You are,” I murmured, catching my breath. “You’ve always been.”

He nuzzled my neck, kissing my skin gently as he backed me toward the bed. “Who’s allowed to fuck you?”

“You are, and Smoky and Morio,” I whispered, growing wet between my thighs.

“And how can we fuck you?” he asked again, his voice low but firm.

“Anyway you want.” I was suddenly so horny I could barely stand it. “Take me, now,” I said, trying not to squirm. We were bound by more than marriage vows, and all it had ever taken was a single look from him. Gasoline to fire.

He pushed me back on the bed and slowly unzipped his jeans, shoving them down enough to free his cock. My robe fell open. He reached out, cupping my breast, then squeezed my nipple until I gasped. I bent my knees, bracing my feet on the bottom of the bed as Trillian knelt between my thighs, guiding his cock toward my center. As he slid inside of me, I groaned, and he began to thrust, penetrating the deepest folds of my slit.

I let out a guttural cry. “Ride me hard,” I moaned.

And he did—he rode me so hard that I felt like I was half out of my body. Every touch of his lips against my face, my cheek, my lips sent me further into that dark space passion held for me—a realm of sensation filled with shadows and webs and rising mist.

As he fucked me, I looked up at him and watched as the silver coils spread across his skin. I glanced at my own arm, and the swirls of silver appeared, matching the tattoos on him. How many years had we worn these silver bonds etched into our skin? How many times had we stirred the ritual that had bound us together?

“You’re mine,” he growled. “I share you, but you’ll always be mine. I’m your alpha, and you’re my woman…my priestess…and I worship at the temple of your body.” He rolled me, flipping me on top so that he was still inside me. I began to move, slowly at first, then faster as he thrust up to meet my pace.

Gasping, I dropped my head back to see Smoky standing there, naked and fresh out of the shower. He watched us, and his eyes registered a hunger too deep for words. I glanced at Trillian, who nodded with veiled eyes, and I held out my hand.

Smoky joined us, his hair alive and writhing. He caught my wrists with tendrils of his hair as Trillian slid out from beneath me. Holding me by my wrists, Smoky used his hands to bend me forward. Trillian knelt in front of me and I slid my mouth over his cock, sucking as hard as I could. Smoky entered me from behind, still holding my wrists tight. Another strand of hair wrapped around my waist to give me more stability as he began to fuck me so hard that I could barely breathe.

Trillian gasped, stiffening in my mouth. As he came, I swallowed, the salty taste trickling down my throat. Smoky let out a loud grunt and laughed as I let myself go and came, sharp and strong and loud. With another laugh, my dragon grasped my hips and gave one final thrust.

As we fell into a tangled pile, I accepted the tissue from Trillian and wiped my mouth, smiling. These unexpected morning trysts energized my days.