Page 43 of The Queen's Line

"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 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 courtwasstarting to look a little like the capital, I realized. I hoped someone reported it to my grandmother.

"A discovery," I repeated.