CHAPTER 12
Dorian
I THOUGHT OVER ALL that had happened in the last few months as I waited by my favorite tree in the orchard.
It was like a dream that I never wanted to end. My peach was everything I never knew I wanted and more. Sweet and caring but also with a lightning temper that when turned on me only served to make me want her more.
I had been firmly against the marriage arrangement when my mother had first told me about it. Even as I told myself it was for the good of the kingdom, I expected to end up in a loveless marriage with someone I couldn’t stand to be around.
Now, I couldn’t imagine being with anyone else.
I had spent the majority of my time with my peach and had been severely lax in my duties. I knew we would have to come out of our own little bubble eventually, but I needed more time with her before I returned to overseeing the UnSeelie Court with my mother.
My eyes glanced up to the sky where it had begun to darken. I turned around searching for my blonde goddess’s head but didn’t see it. She should be here by now.
Since it wasn’t exactly appropriate for us to spend alone time in either one of our bedrooms we had taken to meeting up at my favorite spot. Each night, after dinner, I would wait for her to meet me. Usually, it was just before the last light shone.
But tonight she was late.
Growling in frustration, I started down the hill determined to figure out where she was when her voice called out. I paused mid-step and turned my eyes toward the voice.
My peach came running out of the entrance to the hedge maze, out of breath, and slightly worn for wear. A worried frown marred my face.
“Are you all right?” I asked when she stopped before me. Her hair was mussed and her clothing covered in a thin layer of dirt. Even a mess she was still the most beautiful woman I had ever laid my eyes on.
“I apologize for being late, but I got lost.” She thumbed back toward the entrance. “Your mother wasn’t kidding when she said the maze had a mind of its own. I thought I was turning the right corner but then the next thing I knew I was in this graveyard like place.”
Oh no. I knew where she had ended up and it was no place for someone of stature to be.
“You didn’t happen to run into any small creatures about this big.” I held my fingers up about three inches apart.
“Yes!” She pointed at my hand. “They kept yelling at me in a language I didn’t understand and then they attacked for no reason whatsoever!”
I sighed. “That would be the Veil of the Faeries. A bunch of pains in my side is what they are. They don’t really need a reason to attack. If you come into their territory, you are free game.”
“Then why don’t you get rid of them?”
“They have their purpose as do many of the unpleasant creatures in the UnSeelie Court. Now, let us talk of something else more pleasant. I only get you for a short while before they will miss you.” I wrapped an arm around her shoulder and led her to the tree.
I didn’t want to worry my princess by telling her what the faeries were really used for. No need to make her panic, or with her curious nature make her want to examine them further.
Keepers of the deceased Fae, the faerie were temperamental and territorial. The only Fae they didn’t attack were my mother, myself, and the Reaper. I wasn’t sure he was actually a Fae. I’d only encountered him a few times, and each time was unpleasant at best. As I’d told my princess, each of us had our part, and we played them the best we could.
“So, how was your day?” she asked as we sat down beneath the tree and leaned against the base of the trunk.
“You were with me for most of it,” I smirked at her.
Giggling, she smacked me on the arm. “That’s beside the point.”
“Well,” I pretended to think for a moment, “There was this gorgeous princess that I have been dying to get alone all day. I think I might be in love with her.”
“Oh really?” She quirked a brow at me. “Is she prettier than me?”
“Oh most definitely.” I turned in my seat placing my hand on her hips.
“That’s not very nice.” She laughed and pushed at my chest. “You are supposed to say no one is prettier than me.”
I cupped the side of her face and lowered my face to hers. “No one makes my heart race like you do. No one makes my blood boil with desire like you. There is no one in this world or the next that will have a hold on my heart like you do.”
“Now that’s more like it,” she murmured before I captured her lips with mine.
Sliding my hands into her hair, I moved until I was hovering above her. I didn’t want to move things too fast. Unlike myself, she has not had lovers before and I don’t want to scare her away.
But my peach once more surprised me. She spread her legs beneath me and grabbed my hips, drawing me between them. The press of my center against hers caused me to groan. Encouraged by her movements, I cupped her breast in my palm kneading it gently. Moaning at my touch, she arched her back pressing more of herself into my hand.
As our tongues moved along each other, I pushed the length of her skirt up her legs, loving the smooth expansion of the skin beneath my hand. Moving up her leg, I sought out her warmth but frowned when her hand caught mine.
“Wait.”
I pulled back to see her face clearly. “Am I moving too fast?”
“No, no,” she quickly said, placing her hands on my hips to keep me from moving away. “I want you and I don’t want to wait any longer but first…”
She trailed off chewing her bottom lip. Her eyes searched around us as if she expected someone to be watching. But I knew that no one would dare intrude on us. Not if they knew what was good for them.
“What is it?” I asked. “You can tell me anything, you know that.”
“It’s silly, really.” She gave me a small smile that clenched at my heart.
“If it bothers you, I highly doubt it could ever be silly.” I stroked the side of her face with the back of my hand.
“It’s just…we are about to do something I’ve never done before and I…” she paused and held my gaze for a moment, “I don’t even know your name.”
I couldn’t stop the smile that crept up my face. My silly peach.
“Is this you asking me?”
Her eyes narrowed at my teasing. “Not if you are going to make fun.” She started to pull away from my grasp, but I grabbed her around the waist and flipped us over so that she was on my lap.
“I do not mean to make fun of you.” I held her close to me. “I find the new rule ridiculous and if it had been any other time, we would have already settled this matter.”
“Then why can’t we settle it now? No one is around to listen in on us. It would just be between us two.”
I stroked my thumb along her pouting bottom lip. Lovely. She was so breathtakingly beautiful I didn’t understand how I had gotten so lucky. The fates must have decided to bless me with this gift and I wasn’t about to waste it.
“Dorian.”
Her head jerked up at my words and the smile that spread across her face lit her face like a beacon. She leaned in close to me, her lips barely brushing mine and whispered, “My name is Lynne.”