Kailigh escaped the rowdy reception for a few minutes of quiet—and to cool her head. Serephone’s idea to travel to the Seattle Dome and root out the patron financing Ruthus was just the kind of reckless, harebrained scheme she would have expected from Persia.

But her own wedding wasn’t the right time to get into a hissy match with her daughter. Maddugh, damn him, had watched the argument with amusement. And she was pretty sure her stepsons were quietly placing bets. Not the eldest one, Nuaddan. He barely spoke.

Kailigh pressed her forehead against a window, staring up at the moon. She knew the trouble wasn’t resolved—not really. But now she had to worry about her daughters running off half cocked. Wonderful.

The door opened and Maddugh approached her from behind, arms wrapping around her torso as his hands swept up to cup her breasts. She’d chosen a sleeveless gown in black with heavy red embroidery at the hems, tiny winking diamonds sewn into the skirt. The heart shaped bustier pushed her breasts up. She’d seen his eye flicker during the ceremony—though no one else would have noticed the Dragon Lord couldn’t keep his attention on his bride’s face.

Kailigh hissed, leaning against him as his fingers pinched her nipples, mouth kissing the side of her neck.

“Say my name, wife,” he murmured in her ear.

Kai bit her bottom lip as he began to bunch her gown, pulling it up slowly to expose first her calves, then her thighs.

“Maddugh,” she said, tensing in anticipation. Nothing innocent ever came from a man lifting a woman’s skirts.

“Not good enough,” he said. “Kai—no panties? How naughty.”

His fingers delved into her curls, conveniently bared because she had, indeed, forgone undergarments. All the better for a quick tumble in between dinner courses.

“You know if you scream in this room everyone will hear you.” His voice was a deep, satisfied purr, as if he didn’t care if anyone heard her at all.

Kai gasped, knees trembling when his fingers entered her, thumb brushing her clit.

“Will you let me take you right here, on the floor, with everyone just a thin door away?” he asked. “Are you mine, Kailigh?”

He knew he was tormenting her, taunting her. She didn’t care. Kai allowed her knees to buckle, sliding to the floor. Maddugh dropped with her, not relinquishing his grip. A hand tangled in her coiffed hair, pulling her neck back so he could access her mouth. She didn’t care that the hairpins were tinkling to the floor. Didn’t care that everyone would know what they had been doing. Only cared about his lips on hers, his tongue ravishing her mouth while his fingers were deep inside, preparing her for an entry she knew would be tight, but delicious.

She rubbed against him, teasing his cock with the warmth of her buttocks.

“Forward,” he said, hand moving to the small of her back.

Kailigh leaned forward onto her hands and knees gladly, glancing over her shoulder to look at the male who hurried to undo his trousers and free himself, eyes burning, a iridescent sheen crawling over his skin as his pupils narrowed to slits. And he was free, velvety length hard, the tip moist. He pushed her skirts up over her hips, exposing her to his view. Maddugh grasped her waist and Kailigh arched properly, inhaling as he nudged her entrance.

His heat seared, the width of him an exquisite torture as he slid inside. Kai moaned, widening her thighs, the fullness giving her a feeling of sensual helplessness. A satisfying friction as he began to pump back and forth, trusting her to handle his strength, his passion.

“Yes, moan for me, Kai,” he said, the deep gravelly tone betraying his uncontrolled lust. “Every night for the rest of our lives.”

She wasn’t certain she could handle this every night, and wondered if he was a male who didn’t mind a woman’s monthly.

Kailigh laughed, as much as she could with so little breath. “Have mercy, my Lord.”

His fingers flexed on her hips, breath catching, then he exploded in a fury of thrusts, taking her harder, spurred by her words. Kailigh screamed, unable to hold back when her pleasure crested, mind too far gone to even care if the guests heard.

His roar followed moments later, hot seed flooding her body, swelling inside her with a final burst of energy until she feared they might fuse together. He ground against her, not a whisper of air between their bodies.

“Maddugh…” she whispered.

His hand tangled in her hair. “I want a child with you, Kai.”

She knew. But she also had the feeling it wasn’t the right time. She needed to be at her fastest, her most alert, in case the girls pulled a stunt.

“In time,” she said.

He helped her straighten her clothing. There was nothing to do about the scent covering them both—she’d have to walk through the crowd to get to her suite.

“Nuaddan and Amnan will watch over them,” her husband said, hands going around her waist. “They won’t get far with any schemes without us being alerted.”

Her brow arched. “Not Hrutha?”

Maddugh snorted. “He will just egg them on. Come, my darling. Let’s go back to the party. We can conspire against our children in the morning.”