The Queen's Flight (Emerging Queens) (14 page)

“That’s something.” Viola realized she was clinging to Sergei and forced herself to step away. He made her feel so safe it was easy to use him as a security blanket. She went over to the table and poured them two full glasses of wine. She handed him one. “Was Reed happy?”

“As happy as Reed gets. The embassy is sending a team out here. They’re a few hours behind me. They’re going to negotiate with Cassandra to let the native Queens reside in her lands until Conclave.”

“Will she do that?” Viola looked into the wine as if it was a magic eight ball.

“Hell, no. Esmeralda was the only one who agreed. And that’s because she didn’t want her sins to be public knowledge.” Sergei sneered in disgust.

Viola swirled the wine as if it really was a magic eight ball.

My sources say no.

It hadn’t really said that, but it would be a neat use of Queen magic if she could figure out how to divine the future. Not tail whipping, stabbing your enemy type of cool, but more her style, at least.

“You blackmailed a Queen?” she asked.

“Not me. That was her son, Reed.”

“Which one of the Queens is your mother?” Viola sat on the bed, pulling up her legs to give him room if he wanted to join her. He didn’t. It took a valiant effort, but she managed not to pout.

“She’s dead. She went into the weave shortly after I was born. Her name was Tatiana.” Sergei swirled his wine and took a large gulp.

“Did you miss her, growing up?” Viola wished he would look up at her or come closer.

Sergei shook his head. “Very few studs stay with their mothers. We’re given to our fathers to train.”

“Who’s your father?”

“Dead.”

Viola blinked at the lack of emotion in his voice.

“Did a Queen kill him?”

“Are you trying to psychoanalyze me?” He put his wine down and went over to the fireplace to stare into it.

“No…well, maybe a little.”

“Indirectly. He was defending his Queen’s honor—Cassandra—before you ask. And the other stud was too powerful for him—Justice.”

Viola noticed the tight set of his shoulders and wished she had the guts to go soothe him. The fear of rejection was too strong, so she stayed where she was and picked up a wool sweater she’d been given and started to unravel it. Rolling the yarn into a ball gave her hands something to do. She hoped it was machine made or that at least the person who knitted it never found out what she was doing to their work. “And you were left here to be raised?”

Sergei nodded. “Very soon after my father’s death, I was commanded not to kill Justice, and I was told my duties to the Queen would commence that night.”

“How old were you?”

“About a hundred.” He poked at the fire, sending embers sparking up the chimney.

“Is that young for a dragon?”

“Any age is too young to take on Cassandra when she’s in a temper. Although you did a fine job.” He took a long swallow of wine. “Don’t ever do it again. Next time she’ll do something nasty. She’ll never forgive you for talking back to her in front of witnesses.”

“And I probably made an enemy out of Justice, too.” Viola wound the yarn, but then set the ruined sweater and ball aside. It wasn’t comforting her tonight.

“Most definitely. So we will go to dinner, then leave. It’s not good for either of us in Cassandra’s keep.” He rose from the bed, walked over to her window, and scanned the view.

She stared at him, so thankful he was safe. All it took was him being in the same room, and her troubles seemed manageable.

Or it could be the wine.

She finished it in one grateful swallow. Wow. The one good thing about being a Queen was they never served you the shitty vintage.

“Where to next?” she asked. “No offense to Reed, but I’m going to pass on the dragon embassy safe house.”

“I’ll think of something. I bought us some breathing room with the Cult of Humanity. Was there any place you wanted to go to?”

“I could use a manicure,” Viola said, looking at her nails in askance. Her hangnails had hangnails.

He snickered. “I was thinking more globally. Besides, you’re perfect the way you are.”

A pleasant warmth coated her insides at his words, but they didn’t completely wipe away her tension. “Confused and homeless? Although, I suppose I could stay here with my father.” Viola was curious to learn more about him. Would he be just like her mother, over-critical and self-absorbed, or was it true, opposites attract?

“Not a chance. Cassandra is dangerous. What’s your father’s story?”

“I think there’s something else going on that he’s not telling me. He’s a member of the Order of the Dragon Slayers.”

“Interesting.” Sergei tapped his fingers on the sill. “I wonder what his angle is.”

“That makes two of us. Do you think Cassandra will stop us from leaving?”

“Definitely, but I’m hoping that when Reed and his embassy goons get here, we can slip out in the confusion. I’d like to avoid another confrontation with Cassandra if we can avoid it.”

“Why?”

“She’s not going to like that I have a tendresse for you.”

“Does tendresse mean hard-on?” This was getting ridiculous. Someone had to make the first move. Viola walked over to stand next to him. She couldn’t be the only one remembering their last conversation—before the rocket destroyed the house.

“Something like that.” He turned to face her. Tracing his fingers down her cheek to tilt her chin up, Sergei pressed a firm quick kiss on her mouth. “I was worried about you.”

Viola clutched the front of his jacket and lifted up onto her tiptoes. “We have some unfinished business.”

He leaned in to kiss her and as their bodies grazed, she felt something odd in his inner coat pocket. Sergei wound up kissing the top of her head, when she opened his jacket flap.

Two metal needles and a cheap skein of yarn. Her throat choked with emotion. It was the sweetest thing anyone had ever done for her.

“You rock!” She launched herself at him.

Sergei staggered back against the window from the force of her kiss. It was a good thing he was huge because they probably would have both gone sailing out the window. She didn’t care if she was being pushy. He thought to bring her something she loved. So she wouldn’t feel lost and alone.

She broke the kiss. “Are you sure you don’t want to be my consort?”

“You’re crazy,” he muttered before claiming her mouth again. She clung to him and gave back as good as she could.

“I want you,” she gasped, when his mouth went to her neck. “But promise me you aren’t doing this because you aren’t allowed to say no.”

“Command me. I am yours,” he growled out, biting her throat with tempting nips that curled her nails into his back.

“I command you not to do anything you don’t want to,” Viola said in a shaky voice.

“As my Queen desires.” He shrugged out of his jacket.

“Take off your shirt, too.”

Sergei pulled his T-shirt over his head and dropped it on the floor.

“Now you,” he ordered.

Viola slowly slipped her jacket off her shoulders.

He untied the strips of fabric behind her neck and her dress sank down to her knees, leaving her in her bra and panties.

Feeling shy, she covered herself.

“Don’t hide yourself behind your hands. I want to see all of you.” He moved her over to the bed. Her back hit the soft mattress as he slipped the silky fabric of her dress down her legs. “So beautiful,” he said straddling her.

His abs could cut diamonds
, she thought, tracing them as far as she could reach. He loomed over her, big, tattooed, muscled with a wicked grin that made her wet with anticipation. She slapped the rough fabric covering his thighs. “Take your jeans off.”

In a heartbeat, he vanished them using his magic and she saw him in all his naked glory. He was taut, cock pressed tight against his stomach. She risked a touch, the lightest of caresses.

“Your turn.” He brushed fingertips over her stomach. Gooseflesh rippled over her. “Make your underwear disappear.”

“I can’t concentrate enough to magic them away.” His hardness filled her palm and she stroked him. He arched his back as she rubbed him faster.

“Yeah.” He moaned. “That feels so good.”

“Like this?” She loved feeling the pulsing heat in her hand. His thighs cradled her sides. Viola wiggled, trapped and enjoying it. But there was more she wanted. More she needed. “I want you to come.”

“Wait.” He stopped her, by taking hand off him. He kissed the inside of her wrist. Then, piercing her with a possessive glance, nipped her soft flesh. “We’ll do this the old-fashioned way. You need to be naked.” Letting go, he slid his hands under her back and unhooked her strapless bra, flinging it to the floor. Sergei sighed as her breasts bounced free. “I’ve wanted to get my hands on these ever since I saw your nipples through Jack’s T-shirt.” He rubbed his palms over her chest.

“Oh.” She exhaled and her hips lifted.

“We’re going to go slow.” His breathing was controlled, his eyes never leaving hers. “I want to enjoy every inch of you right now.” He pinched her nipples with a sweet roll of his fingers. “I’m concentrating on these.” Lying next to her on the bed, he clamped his mouth down on one, while his other hand continued to stroke the other.

Viola’s body pulsed with desire. She cradled his head closer. Each suck sent a tug of bliss down to her core. Smoothing her hand over the curve of his skull, the soft skin glided over her fingers.

“More,” she demanded as he took the other tip in his mouth, lavishing attention on it with an eager tongue. He sucked harder, until she was writhing to get closer to him. Still cupping and squeezing her breasts, Sergei kissed down her stomach, rubbing his cheek over every inch of her until she was quivering when his hands parted her thighs.

Kneeling between her legs, he pushed them wider and ripped her panties off with a quick pull.

“Sergei,” she shrieked as he rubbed two knuckles between her legs. When he touched her sensitive bud with a flick of his finger, she was reduced to whimpers of need.

“I like how wet you are,” Sergei said. “I’m going to wrap your thighs around my ears and taste you until you come.”

“Please,” she begged and he spread her legs wider. She felt exposed and erotic as he explored her. Sergei dipped inside of her, teasing her with one finger. Then two. Hips arching up to him, she swore deliriously as his fingers mercilessly fucked her. Clamping her thighs on his arm, she rode them. Viola lost the power of speech when he went back to her clit and rubbed her fast. Pleasure jolted through her. Whipping her head back and forth, the orgasm crested and left her hungry for more.

Before she could recover, his tongue replaced his fingers. Viola nearly came off the bed as the sweet rush sparked through her. Her legs shook as he buried his face deeper, taking his time with long strokes of his tongue.

“Sergei.” She sighed, her hands gripping the bed sheets. Each dart of tongue sent shuddering thrills up her spine. Her hips met his face and she ground herself against him.

“So wet.” His grumble of pleasure vibrated against her sensitive core. He held her in place, but she writhed as he continued to explore her intimately. Guttural sounds of need shook out of her as he circled her clit and stretched his tongue to probe inside her.

Her whole body tensed and trembled as he brought her over the edge, playing over her soft folds and back to wring excited shouts from her. Sergei reached up and pinched her nipples as he nibbled on her hard bud.

“Oh,” she said, floating on the ceiling in an endorphin rush that left her stunned and lightheaded.
Yes
. Please. This. Now and forever.

“Exquisite.” Sergei kissed her stomach.

“My turn,” she said, stretching like a cat. He tracked her movement as she crawled over to him and rolled him over on his back. He capitulated, laughing at her antics.

“What are you…” Sergei’s sentence was lost when her mouth engulfed his cock to the hilt.

Viola sucked hard up to the top where her tongue circled the tip of him. His hand tangled in her hair, and he guided her head up and down. The noises he made weren’t human. He was shaking underneath her. Viola experienced a rush of triumph as Sergei seemed lost in the moment. She let him push her head deeper. His eyes unfocused as she grazed her teeth across his length, then tugged her head free.

Sergei let her go and growled at her. She growled back, feeling a connection shudder through them both.

Gripping him, she put the tip back in her mouth and stroked him. Her tongue darted over him, tasting his salty heat. Each of his muscles locked and she moved her hand and took him deep down her throat as he exploded.

His roar echoed in the loud room as she swallowed, purring in satisfaction. She kissed her way up his fine chiseled abs, rubbing her breasts up his chest. He stared up at the ceiling, gulping air.

“Are you okay?” she asked, only half teasing.

“I’m going to buy you a yarn store.”

Viola laughed and kissed him. “You already owe me an alpaca farm and a new cell phone. Don’t think I forgot about that.”

He held her against him, stroking her hair. She felt his thickness harden against her stomach. His hand moved down to the curve of her ass.

“Straddle me,” he said, pulling the back of her thighs.

Viola lazily sat up.

“Oh yeah,” he said. “I like this view. Bounce on me. I want to see these.” He molded his hands around her breasts.

“Are you sure?” she asked, gliding her slit against his length. She rocked, feeling the hard flesh burn against her swollen folds. Coating him with her wetness, she gripped him and placed him at her entrance, raising herself up until just the tip was inside her, smiling seductively at him. “Are you ready for this?”

He bucked and slammed deep inside her.

Her head went back as pleasure
zinged
through her as she rose up and then sank down on him again. Viola’s mouth opened in a silent scream.

“That’s it,” he said, holding her thighs tight.

“Take me. Make me yours,” she said.

His hands were on her hips now, forcing her up and down faster.