The Queen's Line (Inheritance of Hunger #1) - Kathryn Moon Page 0,56

grinned at the sight of Owen stretched and naked in the center of the room, but came directly to my side.

"Will I be in your way if I watch you work?"

I shook my head. "Between Owen's form and your voice in my ear, I will be perfectly inspired," I said.

Bryony beamed at me and slid the books onto a safe spot on my table before reaching out and tugging me closer by a buttonhole on my open vest. I stumbled against her and Bryony rose to her toes, pressing her lips to my chin, my mouth, and my nose in quick succession. When she made to return for a second kiss, I didn't hesitate.

My hands snatched at her waist and I tilted my head, licking at the seam of her mouth, sucking on her bottom lip when she parted them for me. She hummed, leaning into me, and victory was like lightning running through me. This kiss was hers to grant and twice as sweet for it. Bryony's arms slid over my shoulders as I held her against me, my hands moving down to cup her ass and pin her hips against mine. She was perfect, an exact fit against me, her head tilted back and body surrendering in my arms.

When her hands clutched at my shoulder blades, magic struck, dizzying me. Bryony froze and I held still, my teeth gripping her lip.

"There," I whispered, pulling away slightly so I could see her eyes. They were wide with shock and worry. "It's all right. I'm still here. The Hunger?"

"Yes," Bryony said, barely forcing the word out as if she was too afraid to move.

"Can you let it go?"

Her brow furrowed, and she breathed slowly out, sinking down from her toes to stand fully. She nodded and I ducked, nipping at her jaw and then over her throat. Bryony moaned, and her hands cupped my shoulders, debating on whether to pull me in or push me away.

"Back?" I asked. Owen was moving closer out of the corner of my eye, watching us. Bryony nodded as I licked over her pulse, tasting violets on her skin. "Push it away again."

She sighed and sagged in my arms.

"See? You control it." I kissed her jaw again and then stood straight, smiling down at her. "Owen is right. We just need to practice."

Bryony's smile was tenuous, but Owen and I looked at one another, equally smug. Our princess hungered for us. That was an enviable position to be in.

15

Bryony

“Your Highness, I have made a discovery," Cresswell Stark announced, pausing in the doorway of Cosmo's studio, his eyes growing wide at the sight in front of him.

Owen was holding a complicated pose, his hips thrust forward as he lunged, chest back and hand pressed gallantly over his heart. Cosmo said he was meant to look as though he was swooning for me, or professing his love. Except I'd been in the middle of reading an intense and sensual scene in a book so Owen's cock was slightly hard, bobbing in the air in front of him.

My court was starting to look a little like the capital, I realized. I hoped someone reported it to my grandmother.

"A discovery," I repeated.

"Uhh err, yes. A… We've found boats for the ponds behind the palace. Only one is water safe, but one of my men used to be a shipwright so he says he can have the others ready. I just thought you might be…" He trailed off, staring at Owen for a moment before frowning and shaking his head. "Bored, or—"

"I could do with a break from this position," Owen said, his eyes turning to us. "And I wouldn't mind getting back to the stables to check on the horses."

It was our third day in the studio. Cosmo had made a beautiful, small model of Owen in a relaxed stance the day before, but he was less impressed with his own work than I was. I thought it might be a good time to get him away from the project before he got frustrated with himself.

Cosmo set down his pencil and nodded before spinning to me. "What do you say to a picnic on the water with me?"

I grinned and slid down from my perch, nodding. "That sounds lovely. I've been wanting to see the grounds behind the palace."

Cosmo rolled up his sleeves, now dusted with dark marks from his drawings, and Owen groaned as he stood straight.

"Thank you, Guard Stark. That was thoughtful of you to bring us