and inhaled sharply as he lifted her, pinning her in place while he pulled her nightdress up and curled his fingers into her. He shuddered and pulled her gown off her shoulder, exposing her breast, and she tensed as he held her in place with his hips while he woke her body in a distracting array of caresses and kisses. When he pushed into her, she let a soft squeak out into his mouth.
He slid in to the hilt and then retreated until she drew her nails carefully down his shoulders as her body shook and gripped him. He bit down on her exposed shoulder and shuddered as he held himself tight against her. The feeling of him pulsing inside her in the silence and the dark caused another wave of aftershocks to ripple through her. Tydella hung on until her body stopped twitching.
He whispered in her ear, “Two more nights.”
She eased her legs down, and he helped her stand. She knew what he meant; she just had no idea that he knew about that ancient edict. It hadn’t been applied in two centuries. She wanted to ask him if he was insane, but he kissed her softly and disappeared the same way he had arrived.
She opened the window and let the heavy scent out of the room. She moved quietly to the bathroom and cleaned up as best she was able to without running a bath.
What the hell was he thinking? She was going to have to deny that he had been with her that night in order to bring his little project to fruition. She pulled off her nightgown and took it with her into the shower. The guards came in, but she had already gotten rid of the physical traces of Ador.
Abra asked, “Was there someone here, Your Highness?”
“Of course not. That would be highly inappropriate, right?”
Abra smiled and nodded. “It certainly would be. You appear to be a slow healer.”
“Ah. Stress.” Tydella wrapped a towel around herself and headed back to her bed. She flopped down and just yanked her bedding over her.
Abra snickered. “Rest while you can. Your mother wants to spar with you at dawn.”
Tydella sighed. “Fabulous. Make sure to wake me so I can put some clothing on.”
Abra laughed and exited her suite.
Tydella was exhausted. It seemed no one wanted her to sleep.
She had no sooner closed her eyes than Sashen was waking her and urging her into the lav while her workout outfit was prepared. Tydella wrestled her hair into a braid and then took the outfit and pulled on the leggings and tight vest that kept everything snug against her. She walked out and pulled on her boots, lacing them up to the top of her knee.
Tydella looked tiredly at Sashen. “Do I get to eat first?”
A sharp whistle and a tea tray was brought in.
Sashen smiled. “You have ten minutes, make it count.”
Tydella looked at the tray and went for the small sandwiches first, then the tea, then the fruit slices.
Her tongue was slightly scalded, but she felt more alert when she left her suite with her guards on either side.
They walked her down to the gardens, and her parents were standing there as if they hadn’t been having sex all over their room all night. Tydella didn’t know how they did it, but they wrecked the bed in every place they had ever been like it was a sport.
Her father grinned. “Morning, bright star. You look exhausted.”
She bowed before coming in for a hug. “Morning, Dad. It has been an eventful few days. Not sleeping that well here.”
“Why? Just because the queen wants you on the first shuttle off-world?” He chucked her under the chin. “You have withstood folks declaring war at the very sight of you.”
“I know. I think this is just different.”
“Ah, because of the boy.”
She snorted. “Keep calling him that. It will make things so much better.”
He kissed the top of her head. She felt him inhale.
“Did you run into him this morning?”
She shook her head. “Nope, just out of bed and into the new clothing.”
“Hm, did you have your food checked?”
She nodded. “Uren did it before I got my tray.”
“Good. This is a dangerous place for you right now. I saw the guest list, and there are three princesses that do not particularly care for you.”
“Oh. Great. Well, that is good to know.”
Amerald chuckled. “And that is why we are practicing. Oh, good morning, Prince Ador.”
It took all of her self-control not to spin around