The Kingdom's Crown (Inheritance of Hunger #3) - Kathryn Moon Page 0,134
Kimmery would be rich and ready to be seeded in the coming weeks.
Clapping and bright cries rose up as my Chosen and I stepped out of the carriage. There was a carpet laid down that led to the gauzy, waving curtains of the tent, and my feathered cape whispered softly as I accepted Wendell's arm to escort me to the entrance. Eager eyes watched from every corner and around every border, and I couldn't quite shake the feeling that this was a performance to these people. It was one thing to be spinning in a crowd of dancers as Aric and Daniel toyed with me, but it was quite another to put on an orgy for an audience.
I reached a hand up to the curtains as we reached the tent, letting my fingers graze the fabric, magic racing out of my hand.
The crowd gasped and oohed as the gauze darkened in strange patterns and tableaus, figures tangled in erotic embraces, flowers vining like pillars, shooting stars and racing animals. It was still transparent in places, but it would at least do a better job of distorting what went on inside and gave me an illusion of moderate privacy.
"Very clever, my love," Wendell said, and then he scooped me up from the carpet and hauled me inside.
There was a low platformed mattress in the center of the tent, large enough for all of us, but a little cozier than the bed in our castle suite. A table in a corner was dressed with plates of fresh fruit and bread and meats, as well as several bottles of wine and mead. I considered going there first, but Wendell carried me directly to the mattress, climbing on top to great cheers from our audience and settling me over his lap.
"Oh stars, are they going to do that the whole time?" I hissed as a voice hollered in approval.
Wendell just wrapped his arms around my waist and rested his forehead to mine, Cosmo joining us on the bed and unclasping my cape, scooping it up from around me and passing it to Owen to set aside.
"To be honest, they probably are," Wendell said, kissing the bridge of my nose. His hands settled on my thighs, stroking but nothing more. Behind me, Cosmo kissed a steady path back and forth over my shoulders, his fingers playing at the buttons of my dress.
And my Hunger stirred.
Apparently, it didn't mind the audience.
I sighed and relaxed on Wendell's lap, closing my eyes as he peppered kisses over my face and Cosmo's hands stroked my bare arms.
"I suppose I'll get used to it," I murmured, arching my neck in invitation. Wendell chuckled but refrained from further comment.
The bed dipped as Wendell's kisses feathered over my shoulder and Cosmo's fingers worked a button loose. I had a brief warning, a nose against mine, and then my lips parted for a kiss. Wine, tart and rich, touched my tongue, quickly followed by a tongue stroking against mine. I moaned, familiar with Thao's thorough, starving way of kissing, and pulled away to swallow, blinking up at his grin. He put the goblet to my lips, and I took another sip before he had one of his own.
"Dress," Wendell murmured, and Cosmo pushed one shoulder off, Wendell quickly ducking to my breast, taking it with his mouth before it could even be exposed.
I gasped and rocked over his lap, eyes widening, and then Thao ducked down to consume me with another kiss.
A moment later, a hot firm hand was sliding beneath my skirt to grip and massage my thigh, fingers calloused. Owen. My Chosen weren't going to give me a moment to be self-conscious.
"So this is your plan for me?" I asked, sucking in air as Thao lifted away again. I blinked and realized Cress and Daniel and Aric were already on the bed too. It would be impossible for anyone to see me surrounded by my Chosen this way. "To keep me so caught up between all of you I can't even think?"
I caught Aric's grin before Cosmo had pushed the other side of my dress down and Wendell switched breasts, just moving aside enough for Daniel to take the other. The contrast of their mouths, the scratch of Daniel's beard and his love of licking versus Wendell's smooth mouth and hungry sucking, made me gasp and stiffen. I rocked desperately, eyes shut again, grinding on Wendell's lap and searching for Owen's hand to slide closer to where I wanted it.