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‘Then I’ll spend my life with the woman I love. I only want a child if they are your child. You’re all that matters. Whatever you decide, I’ll accept it,’ he answered, and I cupped his face, looking for the hint of a doubt. There was none.

‘Bed! Now,’ I ordered, as the hot, pulsing need burst in my core, throbbing to my heartbeat. ‘I’m going to wring every ounce of strength from you.’

Rey’s dark, challenging laugh shook my body as he carried me to the bed. I squeaked. The embarrassing sound escaped as I flew, bounced off the pillows, and fell back, my chemise riding up to show the apex of my thighs, the skin above my white stockings flushed.

Rey’s smile became feral. He grasped the collar of his shirt, ripped it off in one decisive movement, his trousers following. He stood before me with nothing but his eyepatch and the narrow gold diadem he’d worn to welcome the arriving dignitaries.

I leaned on my elbows, drinking in his masculine physique, his cock proudly saluting me.

‘Keep the circlet on. I want the royal treatment tonight,’ I teased, arching my back and opening my knees.

Reynard’s eye flashed gold. He grasped my foot and yanked me close, pulling the stockings away to kiss his way up my thigh. I couldn’t catch my breath as his lips came closer, only to curse as he switched legs, repeating the process with single-minded focus.

‘You’re courting death with those lips, Kingling. Put them where they belong.’ I hissed when he lifted his head to look at me. When my legs were bare, and the only obstacle to my sex was a thin strip of fabric, Rey slipped his fingers beneath the silk, grasped it, and twisted it in his fist.

‘Since you can’t decide whether you want a king or a berserker, you’ll have both tonight.’ The sound of fabric tearing followed his words, and before I knew it, his mouth was on me, nipping, teasing, sucking on my lips until I was breathless, bucking against his assault.

‘Suck it,’ I groaned, riding his face with sweet abandon.

His laughter vibrating on my clit sent me into a spiral of lust.

‘Commanding much, sweet Viper. Maybe you should beg instead.’ His tongue slipped in, curling upward.

I screamed Rey’s name, listed all the gods, then begged him to finish me, unable to hold on any longer. He prolonged my climax; the words disappearing as my voice gave out.

‘Perfection, my sweet, delicious Viper. Give in to me. Surrender to your berserker king,’ he purred, positioning himself between my thighs, the head of his cock sliding between my sensitive folds.

I nodded, unable to speak, eyelids fluttering. Rey chuckled, leaning close to whisper in my ear. ‘I can’t hear you, Viper. Should I pleasure myself? Should I paint this soft, lush skin with my seed?’

‘No! Inside. I want you inside.’ I didn’t recognise my voice, the husky need surprised me with its depth.

It didn’t matter. It was Reynard, and with him I could let go and always be safe. His desire spurred me to action, and I pushed forward. His chuckle became a growl as he fought for control, slowly sliding inside while my body stretched to accommodate his girth.

‘Fuck, Viper, stop clenching…’ he panted, and I chuckled and did exactly that. He closed his eyes with a pained expression, pressing his palm to my abdomen, his body shaking. ‘See what you’re doing to me. I survived two wars, and you are my unmaking.’

Then he moved so deliberately that it felt as if he were proving to the entire world he owned every inch of my body. In the end, I lost all grip on control. My vision tunnelled, nails raking over his skin, leaving deep scratch marks. Each moan, each cry was swallowed by his kisses.

My mind shattered in an all-consuming bliss. When it reformed, Rey was panting hard, his movements losing their natural rhythm and becoming chaotic and violent. He was on the cusp of ecstasy.

I wrapped my legs around his hips as he thrust forward, stopping him from pulling back. I stretched out to claim his lips, just as euphoria overcame his senses.

Then I whispered.

‘After the war, you can have it all.’

His eye snapped open, filled with pure swirling gold, as he spilt himself inside me with a look of pure, undiluted awe.