Page 51 of The Queen's Line

"Here's a candle," Thao said, lighting one and placing it in a holder before passing it across the table.

I didn't argue with them, although I wasn't sure having Owen at my side would make me feelcalmerat the moment. Mostly, I was left thinking about the rich pressure andfullfeeling Cosmo had given me and now what that might feel like with Owen.

The candlelight cast my shadow up the dark and warped shelves as we moved down the aisles. Owen's palm was warm at the base of my back, seeping through my dress and directly to my skin. I'd taken Cosmo's advice and left my uncomfortable corset behind in my bedroom with my shift, and the kiss of silk directly against my skin was liberating and tantalizing.

"Are you excited at all?" Owen asked.

"I…I am a little,” I said, and then I blushed and looked back at Owen, grinning. "I think I am more excited about sex than I am about the magic. Perhaps that's the flaw in the queen's line anyway. I just don't know how I'm supposed to help the entire kingdom. Am I meant to go have a fuck in every field?"

Owen nearly dropped the candle laughing, and I grinned up at him. "If it comes down to it, I'll do my best to help," he said. "Cosmo and I both would."

"Well it's an option at least," I said with a sigh.

"You're trying to heal an entire kingdom overnight," Owen said softly, voice lowering and gentling. "It can't be done, Bryony, evenwithmagic. I'm just glad Kimmery has you at all. But don't wear yourself out trying to take an axe to make a road through a mountain."

I paused, and Owen passed me, turning to face me as I stared up at him. "Thank you, Owen," I said, reaching and catching the front of his shirt, pulling him in as I rose to my toes to kiss him softly.

"I'm your Chosen," Owen said, beaming at me. "I'm here for you for any reason."

I kissed him again for that, trying to ignore the growing, gnawing need that gaped inside of me in exchange for simple affection with my sweetest Chosen. Except it was his gentleness and sweetness that seemed to stir up my desire. Cosmo was right, the more affection I held for them, the more I craved them.

Owen chuckled and nudged my nose with his as my kisses grew more urgent, my hands fisting tighter in his shirt. "It's back?" he rasped.

"I don't think it ever really left," I breathed, trying to hold myself away from him.

"And you enjoyed it?" Owen raised an eyebrow and spoke softly. "Being fucked in the grass?"

"Mm, not the grass specifically," I said, laughing. "The sex? Yes, I enjoyed it."

"And your first cock?" Owen asked, words growing gritty and his eyes hooding.

I swallowed and nodded, and watched as Owen stretched his arm up, easily placing the candle on the top of a bookshelf, the glow softening over our heads. His hands cupped my hips then, guiding me with slow steps backwards until we were hidden away between two shelves. My back bumped against a shelf, and my breath hitched as I nodded.

"I—very much. Is that… Does it make you jealous?" I asked.

"Does it make me jealous that you…?" His brow furrowed.

"That you weren't first when we'd already had—"

"Bryony,no." Owen ducked and took my mouth in a firm, sucking kiss. "No. I told you."

I blushed as I recalled the reason for his reluctance to be my first. "You did. I just wasn't sure if it would feel different."

"All I want is your pleasure," Owen murmured. "However you arrive at it, and with anyone you like.”

"What about yours?" I wrinkled my nose. "Aren't I allowed to want the same for you?"

Owen smiled and stepped forward, lifting me off my toes and making me gasp and clutch at the glossy wood behind me. My feet slipped on air for a moment before finding a grip on a low shelf, and Owen pressed in closer, taking my left leg and raising it up by another step, stretching me open so he could rest his hips against mine.

"Are you sore?" he asked.

"Not at all. I only feel the Hunger," I said, my eyes dropping to where Owen started to push my skirt up to my waist. "Owen—"

"We said we would practice," Owen murmured, leaning in and dropping feather light kisses against my mouth over and over again. "What do you think your Hunger will do in the library? More flowers?"

My eyes widened and I glanced up. My hands were on the shelves, Owen had me pinned in place and positioned perfectly for his control. We hadn't really tested much of the direction or control of the magic, but I knew that when I'd been touching Owen was when I'd forced him to respond to me. If I could concentrate like I had at the pond, and resist the urge to grab onto Owen and bully him into satisfying me, then it would beinterestingto see what the magic did in the room.

Which is exactly why you're panting like a dog in the sun at the prospect.It's all in the name of experimentation. Specifically, experimenting with how Owen's cock will feel.