Chapter 15
It took a couple of hours for Nik to manage to get away from his happy court. They wanted to celebrate his return and the fact that he was officially kicking Frey off his stolen throne. Nik wanted to celebrate with them, too, but he also wanted to show his suite off to Toni.
Showing off Toni to his people won out as she captivated everyone she met.
The offerings were lavish, if hastily prepared. The food was exquisite, the music even more so. Toni was drinking it all in, wide-eyed with delight. Her eyes lit up, the silver already dominating the brown, her skin lightening until she rivaled even his own paleness. Her hair darkened, not as deep as his own, richer in color like dark coffee. More than anything, she radiated happiness as she accepted the love of their people. It was obvious she was enchanted with his home.
He would make that clear to her. These were her people as much as his own. They’d come to love her almost as much as he did. She’d be fiercely protective of them once she’d let them into her heart.
“This is wonderful.” She smiled at him, unaware of her own ethereal beauty. He prayed she never discovered how willing he was to do anything to keep that smile on her face. He’d end the world if it made her happy.
“I’m glad you’re enjoying yourself.” Nik bowed his head to another courtier who came to him with a simple yet elegant gift to welcome him home. His people were creative and inventive, and this gift was no exception. It would be placed in one of the areas of the palace where he showcased his people’s gifts and inventions.
“What is this?” She poked at the crystal box, her brows furrowed in a curious frown.
“That is a music box, but it’s unlike the ones in Midgard.” Nik picked the box up and opened the lid.
Inside the box was a complete tiny orchestra made of light and shadow playing a piece by one of their favorite composers.
“Mozart.” She clapped her hands, practically bouncing in her seat.
Nik nodded. “We love and admire the inventiveness of humans just as much as we do our own, so why not honor them as we would our people?”
She turned her gaze to him, her lips curling up in an affectionate smile. “That’s wonderful.”
Unable to speak, Nik kissed those perfect lips.
He couldn’t wait to make love to her. The memory of their first time together haunted him, making him crave more of her touch, more of her everything. He dreamed of taking her on his sheets, in his home, with the light of the crystal trees on her skin.
But for now, he had to finish the impromptu dinner. Though casual for the castle, it was necessary for his people to be aware that he was there for them. This was one of those times when he couldn’t follow his own whims without consequences.
Luckily, the food was delicious, the wine tart, and the company excellent, so the time flew by as one after another his courtiers welcomed him home. So far, Nik’s favorite gift was the Mozart music box, but Toni seemed especially taken with a crystal tree sapling the same color as Nik’s eyes. She barely set it aside long enough to eat once they’d been gifted with it.
Nik would have her choose where it was planted and he’d have his gardeners treat it with care. It would symbolize their union, not just with each other, but with the kingdom as well.
At last the dinner was over. “Good night, everyone.” Nik waved to the crowd that had gathered in the throne room. “We’ve had a long journey and my fiancée and I need our rest.”
“Fiancée?” Toni muttered under her breath.
Nik ignored her. The sooner he finished his speech the sooner he could get her alone. “Please enjoy yourselves.” He winked. “I will be.”
The court laughed. Toni didn’t.
She stood beside him, smiling tightly. “Since when?”
Nik just smirked and turned away. Since you gave yourself to me.
“Nik?” Toni hurried to catch up as he strode for the exit. “What the hell?”
Nik took hold of her hand and dragged her behind him. “You’re mine and I’m yours, so that means we get married.”
“What if I don’t want to be queen of the night?” Toni practically dragged him to a halt. “I look terrible in Goth fashion.”
Nik stopped and turned, one foot on the stairs. “Then you won’t be, but you’ll still be mine.” He resumed his dash up the stairs, laughing when she squawked in surprise.
He had an entire floor to himself, one he’d magically sealed to keep Frey out. The man had not touched a single thing that belonged to Nik personally. If he had, Nik would have ended him. Too bad he’d decided not to go after him. Frey would die soon, but not by his hand. That honor went to someone else, damn it.
Now was for finding Sydney and tying Toni to him as tightly as he could. That included marrying her. She might be reluctant now, but Nik was confident he could win her over eventually. After all, they had nothing but time.
At last they stood before the door to his rooms. “Watch me closely.”
Toni nodded. “Why?”
“Because only my magic, and now yours, will open this door.” Nik gestured, allowing the magic to flow through him to the lock. The silent click tugged at him as his magic disengaged the lock, allowing them entry.
“Huh.” Toni shook her head, staring intently at the door. “I don’t know what just happened, but I think I understood it.” She tilted her head. “That made absolutely no sense whatsoever.”
Nik laughed. “The nature of magic. It’s more sensory than anything, though understanding of how to use it and how your own skills work determine what you can or can’t do.”
“Something to discuss later?” Toni’s tone was wry as he yanked open the door and pulled her through.
“Yup.” He turned to her and began yanking off her clothes. He needed her naked now.
“Got something on your mind there, Mr. DeWitt?” Her voice was muffled as he hauled the T-shirt over her head.
“Yup.” Next was the bra, releasing her sweet breasts. He paused a moment to pay homage by sucking one of her nipples into his mouth.
“Uh, I could get on board with that.” Breathless. Just the way he liked her.
He wasn’t sure where her clothes wound up, but he didn’t really care. Their backpacks had long since been delivered outside his door and there they would stay until he was ready to bring them inside. “Beautiful.”
“Let me kick off my sneak—whoa!” Toni squealed as Nik lifted her in his arms and carried her over to the bed. He dropped her on the edge of the mattress, enjoying the way her breasts bounced as she hit the covers.
She glared up at him. “What the fuck, Nik?”
Both shoes were tossed over his shoulders. “Shh, sweetheart. I’m busy.”
She laughed, kicking her jeans and panties off. She spread her legs, giving him an enticing view. “Not busy enough.”
Nik grunted. Damn. How could he resist such temptation? He dropped to his knees and began licking at her pussy like a starving man at an all-you-can-eat buffet.
“Ugh.” Toni’s head dropped back, her skin flushing a pale pink. He grabbed hold of her knees to keep her steady, placing them on his shoulders as he feasted on her.
She was delicious, more so than the exotic fruits from their earlier dinner. Nik sucked her clit into his mouth, loved it with his tongue, and bathed her pussy.
Toni writhed under his mouth, her soft pants and breathy moans the music he danced to. Nothing pleased him more than when she grabbed hold of his head, her fingers tangling in his hair as she came undone for him.
She was still quivering when he stood and ripped open his jeans, freeing his aching cock. He slid into her, groaning at the way she still spasmed around him.
Toni whimpered and grabbed hold of her breasts. “Fuck me, Nik.”
Invitation accepted. Nik began fucking her, pounding into her. The sound of their flesh slapping together drove him wild, as did the way she toyed with her nipples. Toni bounced on the bed, his bed, their bed, her hair spread out under her and her hands roaming her supple skin until she reached the apex of her thighs. He watched, enraptured, as she began stroking her clit. Her movements became more and more erratic as she chased her pleasure.
She was the most sensual creature he’d ever had under him.
Nik wanted more of her, more of her squeezing his cock, more of her moans and sighs. He bent over her and began sucking on one of her nipples, then the other, alternating between them. He couldn’t fuck her quite as deeply in this position, but the added sensation tipped her over the edge.
She groaned as she came, her eyes tightly shut, her hands gripping his ass as he ground into her. Her pussy squeezed him so tightly he feared he’d come before he was ready, but he barely managed to stave off his own climax by thinking of kittens and puppies viciously attacking Frey.
That thought made him smile almost as widely as she did when she was done. Toni was panting, languorous, as he began slowly fucking her once more.
“You ready for round three?” His voice was rough, the tension of holding himself back there for her to hear.
“Fuck yeah.” She sighed, arching her back and stretching like a cat. She licked her lips. “Think you’ve got it in you to make me come again?”
Nik stroked her clit with his thumb, making her gasp. “Challenge accepted.”
“Oh, shit.” Toni wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him, opening up sweetly under his mouth. She had to be tasting herself on his tongue but she didn’t hesitate, her own sweeping inside him as he started fucking her once more.
Deep, slow kisses and breathless sighs were the symphony he moved to now. He fucked her lazily, his desperate need tapered by her desires. Tamed, his cock danced to her tune now, the pace she set gradually building until he could no longer hold back.
She was strong, though, strong enough to wrap her legs around his waist and hold him, capture him until he gave in to her wishes once more. If this languid fucking was what she wanted, then Nik would provide.
Still kissing, Toni broke first. He swallowed her cries as she came apart under him. Her pussy gripped him so tightly it was inevitable that his own ecstasy would wash over him. Nik shivered as he was gripped in the fist of something so divine he thought he’d never return from it. He wasn’t sure he even wanted to. The fiery wash of pleasure swept him away until he couldn’t tell up from down. It pulsed through him from the top of his spine all the way to his balls as he poured himself into her.
When he could breathe again he lifted his head from where it had fallen beside hers. “Wow.”
“Yeah. Wow.” She chuckled. “You left your boots on, cowboy.”
He grinned, aware that his jeans were probably stained from their lovemaking and not giving one single fuck about it. “Yippee ki-yay, motherfuckers.” He snuggled closer, breathing in the sweat and sweetness that was her hair. “I can say I died with my boots on.”
“Le petit mort, the little death.” Toni turned her head, her expression satiated. “You’re a good ride, cowboy.”
“Why thank you, ma’am.” He tipped his imaginary hat, inordinately pleased with himself. He’d put that look on her face, pure satisfaction mixed with affection. He’d been the one to make her sigh in lazy contentment.
Toni sighed and closed her eyes. “I don’t wanna move.”
Neither did he. He was happy to spend the rest of his days right where they were, but they were getting sticky and he was getting soft. “Time for bed. We have a lot to do in the coming days.”
“Mm-hm. You first.”
It took the strength of a god to crawl off her body. “I hate that part,” Nik grumbled as he headed for his bathroom.
“Which part?”
The sheets rustled as he yanked his clothes off. He dampened a washcloth and brought it back into the bedroom.
She was lying on the left side of the bed, just as they did back in Midgard, her hair spread across the pillow. She’d left the sheet off, keeping her skin exposed, marble pale against the dark sapphire sheets.
He nearly dropped the washcloth. Despite the incredible sex they’d just had, her sleek, nude form almost made him hard again. His cock twitched, trying its dandiest to salute the mortal goddess displayed against his sheets.
She grinned. “See something you like?”
Nik dropped the washcloth and followed the siren song of her body. Not even a god could resist his woman, but fortunately none would ever touch Toni’s body but him.
Nik would kill anyone who tried.