The Queen's Line (Inheritance of Hunger #1) - Kathryn Moon Page 0,55

the other way around for once, but maybe that was a mistake."

"You're not inspired?"

I turned to look at her, the swell of her breasts at the collar of her dress, the tiny pinch of her waist from her corset. I could imagine the curve of her full hips under the sway of her skirt, painfully familiar with their shape as they nestled against me at night.

"My muse is shy of being admired," I said as Bryony began to turn pink beneath my stare.

She feigned pushing her hair away from her face, pressed the back of her hand against her warm cheek, and fought her smile. "Not of being admired, but maybe of being put on display," she said softly.

My heart thumped, and I nodded. I could relate to that, I preferred being the observer rather than the other way around. Bryony was a strong princess, determined to rule, and it was obviously not for the glory of recognition. The thump of my heart turned into a pang, and when I reached for her, she came willingly, pressing into my chest and wrapping her arms around my waist as I stretched mine around her shoulders.

"Private sketches sometime," I whispered, trying to stamp down my desire to push when she gasped against my throat and her breath cascaded damply down my neck.

"All right," she breathed. "For now…how is Owen for inspiration?"

I blinked and stared over to where Owen was stretched out over the bench Bryony had vacated, ready to nap. I'd noticed how beautiful he was, a fact almost disguised by his easy going and simple nature. Almost, but not quite. If Owen had been a model in my studio, I definitely would've attempted a seduction. He seemed wholly Bryony's now, but if she was willing to share…

"Owen, how would you feel about posing for me?" I called. "Just sketches to start."

"Happy to," he said.

"Naked," Bryony called, and I laughed at her wicked grin.

Owen opened one eye and tilted his head to stare at us, cheeks swelling with a smile. "Fine," he said with a shrug.

"Go and find something to read to us while we work," I whispered to Bryony, holding her tight to add, "Nothing too inspiring. There's a fine line between art and pornography."

Bryony laughed and ran away, skirt flying behind her as she left the room, both of us watching her back as she went.

Owen stood from the bench and crossed to me, pulling the hem of his shirt out from the waistband of his pants. I moved to find my sheets of parchment, pinning it to a board on my easel.

"How big are you?" Owen asked.

I hissed as I struck my own thumb with a pin, distracted by Owen's question. "Wha—Big? What do you mean?"

Owen waggled his eyebrows and looked down at his own crotch. "You know."

"Oh! Um…" My brow furrowed, and my face heated. What did he want me to do? Show him?

"I'm afraid of hurting Bryony. I don't think I should be her first," Owen said. "Otherwise, I'd be trying a little harder to help her get over this Hunger thing."

"Shouldn't it be Bryony who decides that though?" I asked, trying to focus on my work instead of the wild questions running through my head.

"Well, yes. But she already likes you. Don't worry about giving us so much privacy."

I hummed. I'd slept on the couch in the studio last night for their sake. If Owen was comfortable with it, I'd be more than happy to return to Bryony's bed.

“What about children? Does she want to get pregnant?” I asked, frowning. I wasn’t sure I was ready to be a father now that I thought of it.

Owen shrugged. “She says her family’s fertility is supposed to do with the kingdom, not children. Lots of sex, very few pregnancies.”

“I don’t think that should be relied on,” I murmured, although it made sense. It was rare for there to be two princesses of the queen’s line. I’d just assumed that had to do with some kind of contraception. “I’ll talk to her about it. Bertha Umber makes a tea for some women that helps prevent, just in case.”

Owen finished undressing, kicking his clothes to the side and stretching with a total lack of self-consciousness that made me smile. "What should I do?"

"Hmm, just move around a bit for now. I'll sketch a few poses before I make up my mind."

Bryony came rushing back a moment later, three books cradled in her arms and color high in her cheeks. She