The Kingdom's Crown (Inheritance of Hunger #3) - Kathryn Moon Page 0,66

her.

"No. I meant…for today."

Oh. My fingers paused in their work, spinning one soft curl around my thumb as I resisted the urge to preen under her thanks. "I did very little."

Bryony chuckled and pushed herself up, half her hair loose over her shoulder, eyes crinkled with her smile and a little red from crying. "It's not like you to resist praise," she said.

That was true, and I was about as clueless as Bryony as to the cause, so I went back to searching for pins as I thought. "I promised you my loyalty as an ally when you first took me and Wendell on as Chosen," I said, ignoring the pinch of discomfort in my chest as Bryony frowned in response. "And I promised you my deference and obedience—"

"Thao," Bryony said, a little ache in her voice.

I pressed my thumb over her lips to quiet her and then pulled the last pin free, accidentally snagging a strand and soothing the spot. I sat up, Bryony still perched on my legs which had gone somewhat numb, not that I cared. We were nose to nose, our eyes shifting back and forth to meet one another.

"I promised you that when you reminded me of my place in your court. But I will stand by you whenever you need me to, not out of loyalty or obedience, but out of love."

Bryony's smile bloomed, even as she glared at me. "You drew that out on purpose."

"I did," I said, grinning back before leaning in to nip at her lip, combing my fingers through her hair until it draped over her back. Her dress was loose, one shoulder slipping off to expose smooth skin, and I tugged on the sleeve to reveal a little more.

"Anytime I felt lost today, I just looked to you and tried to model myself after you," Bryony said.

"You're joking."

"I'm not! You said I have grace and dignity, but so do you, and I think it comes more innately to you. So thank you," she repeated slowly, leaning in and kissing a path down from my brow to the end of my nose, "for standing at my side today."

"You're very welcome."

She pulled her arm free from the fallen sleeve and wrapped it around the back of my neck, twisting on her seat to face me, gaze warm and catching a little of the warm glitter of the fire. "I have another confession to make," she said, arching her neck for me as I hunted for the spot on her throat that made her shiver as I dragged my bite across the spot.

"Mmm, what is that?" I asked.

"Camellia is not the only one who struggled to contain the Hunger today." Bryony circled her hips over mine in emphasis, and we both groaned. "I know it sounds strange, it was Grandmother's funeral but—"

"It's part of you," I said, the old refrain we always seemed to be reminding her of.

I pushed down the other sleeve until she dragged her arm free, the bodice of the dress falling away to reveal Bryony's pert breasts. I pressed my hands to her shoulder blades, her back arching in offering. My lips landed delicately over the pillowy flesh, Bryony's sigh musical and her body growing heavier in my grip.

"I can take you in to the others," I offered weakly before sucking one nipple between my lips, swirling my tongue over the puckered flesh.

"Not yet," Bryony gasped, rocking on my lap, my cock rising to her call, the throb sweet and painful all at once, begging for the same relief my princess wanted. Bryony's hands braced against the back of the chair, and she sat up straighter, lifting off me slightly. She smiled as I gazed up at her, a great tangle of skirts and fabric dividing us.

She slid off my lap and held my gaze as she pushed the heavy black fabric of her dress off her hips first, and then ruffling black underskirts, and finally the slip until she stood only in black silk stockings.

"Those too," I said, unbuttoning my own shirt as Bryony arched an eyebrow at me.

She shimmied out of the stockings, her eyes on my shoulders. She liked my tattoos and made a game of tracing the lines with her tongue when we were in the mood for slow seductions. I suspected tonight was not one of those moments.

"That's enough," she gasped as I pushed my trousers down to my thighs.

I opened my mouth to argue, but Bryony was already kicking away her skirts