The Queen's Line (Inheritance of Hunger #1) - Kathryn Moon Page 0,51

happening," I said, tracing said smile with my own touch, giggling as Owen nipped at my fingers. "I want to control the Hunger, not have it control you."

"Fair enough, I'd want the same for you," Owen murmured.

And as much as I feared a repeat of what had happened in the stables, I couldn't resist the impulse to stretch, my chest pressing to Owen's as I arched up for a kiss. I moaned and shivered in the warm water as he kissed my mouth the same way he had my sex, with licks and nibbles and the vibration of his own groan. When I tried to pull away, Owen held me in place with one hand splayed on my bare back, his nose nuzzling mine.

"What if—"

"You can't learn to control the Hunger if you don't test it a little bit, right?" Owen whispered, nipping at my lips. "Like I said, there's lots we can do with our hands and mouths that will feel just as good. When you want to touch, try and think of it as practice."

I had been able to push the Hunger away when I'd realized what had happened. As quick as the power came on, I'd managed to clear my head and stop it from completely taking over.

I turned and pressed myself to the side of the tub, lips quirking as I scooped up handfuls of water and then poured them over Owen's chest. "And if I want to practice touching now?" He reached for me and I grinned, pushing his hands back. "I said touching. Not being touched."

Owen's eyebrows jumped. "I'm not sure a Chosen's priority is being touched."

"I think it's up to his mistress to decide that," I said, lifting my chin.

Owen grinned and sighed, his arms rising to the edges of the tub, water beading and rolling off the muscular limbs. He leaned back and closed his eyes. "Then I am at your disposal, Mistress."

I grinned and squirmed, drinking him in, gazing down at the distorted length of him under the water. Perhaps if I focused on Owen's pleasure, I wouldn't lose control to my own. Either way, it would be fun to explore the terrain of a man. I pushed his legs to either side of the tub and knelt in the water between them, reaching for the soap and oil and cloth I'd used to wash myself, my hands and eyes already greedy at the beautiful display of Owen in front of me.

I would take my time, even if the water grew cool before I was done.

The bed dipped and I opened my eyes to see Cosmo, fully dressed and leaning toward me on the mattress.

"Hello, beautiful," he said, smiling, but his eyes remained tight. "I don't mean to barge in—"

"Don't worry about that," I said, wiggling out from under Owen's heavy arm and sitting up.

I'd had my fun in the tub, then a little more once Owen was dried on the bed, and I learned how to handle his cock until it had suddenly spurt and made me jump and laugh at the suddenness. I'd never seen a man come outside of a woman before, but aside from the mess, it'd been beautiful to watch him fall apart. Owen and I had both dressed before finally resting, and I hadn't let him take his own turn with me, still a little nervous about the Hunger coming back and taking over.

Cosmo sat up and his eyes moved leisurely over me, expression relaxing. "You didn't mind me missing last night?"

"Mmm, no, although…I might need your advice later," I said, picking at the embroidery on my nightgown and wondering what Cosmo would think of the predicament of my powers.

He laughed and shrugged. "That's sure to be an interesting conversation, but I'm happy to help. For now, I came because Guard Stark is detaining Aric at the gate."

"What?!"

Owen grunted as I nearly kicked him in my scramble to get out of bed. Cosmo scooped me up, lifting me off the mattress and setting me on my feet before I raced away, grabbing my robe and tying it around myself.

"You don't want to dress?" Cosmo asked as I hurried for the door.

"No, this will do. Why is he detaining Aric?" I asked.

"Because Aric is a thief," Cosmo answered, following me and taking my hand to help me balance as I tried to jump into my boots. "Stark's probably familiar with his reputation. Aric's not alone. There's a woman with him I didn't recognize from this far.