“Not sure I’d want this one as a snack,” Neal replied, and I rolled my eyes.
Caden continued kneading the area with his large hand, and if he thought that was going to make the burn go away, he was wrong. The burn was spreading. “Oh, I plan to keep snacking on this one.”
I planned on kneeing him in the junk.
“You wanted to speak with me?” the Prince asked.
“I do.” The voice was closer, and then I sensed that he sat at the booth. “I was surprised when I saw you on the security camera. You’ve been… back for two years now and not once have you come here.”
“So, is this how you greet all newcomers?” Caden’s hand drifted off my rear. That was a good thing—a great thing. At first. Because now his hand was on my bare thigh and his long fingers had slipped under the hem of my dress. My eyes widened. What was he doing?
“Only newcomers like you.”
“I feel special,” Caden replied.
“You should.” There was a pause and then Neal asked, “So, what brought you here after all this time?”
Wanting to see who Caden was talking to, I managed to move an inch, and it was the wrong move because it put me more solidly in his lap. The Prince’s hand stilled and tensed, holding me still.
Was he…?
Holy smokes, there was no mistaking the thick, hard ridge straining against my inner thigh.
I did not know what to think about that, but my body… Oh God, my body was way on board with what his body was doing, and that was wrong, just as wrong as me liking it when he smacked my ass.
“Did you know there were some missing younglings from the Summer Court?” The Prince’s thumb began to move again, in a slow, idle slide across my inner thigh.
“I did not, but that is unfortunate to hear,” Neal replied. “Do you think they have been here?”
“Possibly. I ran into one of the missing younglings last night. There was something odd about him.”
“How so?” Neal sounded bored.
“His eyes were… wrong. So black I couldn’t even see a pupil.”
“Well, that does sound bizarre.”
“Does it?” Caden asked carefully. “You know what’s even more bizarre is that there’s apparently a substance that can rob a fae of their free will and the substance apparently has a neat little side effect.”
“Changes their eye color, I assume?”
I felt Caden nod.
“That is interesting, but I don’t see how it has anything to do with my place.”
“Do you know what that substance could be?”
There was a pause and then Neal said, “I have never heard of any substance that could have that kind of impact on a fae.”
Now that was definitely a lie.
“I have a question for you,” Neal said. “Heard through the grapevine that several of my… associates ran into an issue at Flux last weekend.”
“They did,” he answered, and I tensed. “And you should have better associates.”
Wait. If Neal was somehow connected to Tobias, then wouldn’t he be connected to Alyssa? I curled my fingers around the neckline of Caden’s shirt.
“So, you’re the reason why Tobias is no longer among us?” Neal asked, and I was a little surprised that this fae would speak so freely in front of me. He had no idea who I was.
Then again, based on my current position, he probably wasn’t worried about what I’d say or do. He probably thought I was glamoured.
“I am,” the Prince replied.
He’d just lied.
Holy crap, Caden had just lied for me, and he could’ve said anything, but he took responsibility for what I’d done. I didn’t know how to process that.
Neal snorted. “Tobias was an idiot.”
“True.” His hand was moving again, and every fiber of my being zeroed in on its travels. “Why would Tobias be meeting with Aric?”
“He was?”
“And you don’t know why he was at Flux?”
“I figured he was there to fuck and feed as most do.”
I wrinkled my nose.
“And they can’t do that here?” Caden asked.
“My establishment is a bit more… high class than that.” Neal sighed. “You know, I have heard something else through the grapevine. From what I hear, Aric is wanting to test the loyalty of the fae here.”
“Loyalty to the Queen?” he asked, and I sucked in a sharp breath.
Neal didn’t answer vocally, but I was assuming he must’ve nodded, because the Prince asked, “Is Aric planning to find a way to contact the Queen?”
“That is something you’d have to ask him, but if I was a betting man, I would say yes,” Neal responded. “Aric wants to be more than a Knight. He wants to be a King.”
What the….?
The Prince scoffed at that as his hand crept farther under the dress, those fingers reaching the crease between my thigh and pelvis, causing me to gasp. His other hand squeezed the base of my neck, the touching oddly reassuring.
And that made no sense. So it had to be him. His scent was… it was doing strange things to my common sense, but he smelled amazing. A wicked spice and fresh scent that permeated. The skin of his throat was right there, scant inches from my lips. If I opened my mouth, I could taste him.
I shouldn’t be thinking about that. I should be paying attention to this conversation, priorities and all, but he was messing with me, and after what I saw at his place and what I’d done for him, that really ticked me off.
Fake it ‘til you make it? Isn’t that what he said? Screw that. More like make this just as uncomfortable for him as it was for me. He thought he had the upper hand? He was about to learn that wasn’t the case.
“Do you know where Aric—” The Prince’s voice cut off abruptly as I flicked my tongue over his skin. The grip on my neck tightened, and I grinned. He cleared his throat. “Do you know where Aric is staying?”
“I don’t.” Amusement clouded Neal’s voice. “You know that he knows how to stay hidden.”
“Unfortunately.” The Prince’s voice was deeper, rougher. Then I did something I would’ve never thought I’d ever do. I dragged the tip of my tongue up the side of his neck, and when I felt his chest rise sharply against me, I nipped at his ear. His chest then rubbed against mine, and I wanted to laugh. “There’s something I want to know,” he said, slipping his hand between my thighs, and the laugh died in my throat. I lost the upper hand that quickly. “Are you still loyal to the Queen?”
The question should’ve set off a million warning flags, especially since I was still convinced that the name Rica was just an anagram for Aric, but I couldn’t think beyond where his hand was, how close his fingers were to touching me.
“I was never loyal to the Queen in the first place,” Neal answered. “I am not loyal to Aric… or to you.”
“I never asked for your loyalty.” A moment passed and then he touched me with one finger, dragging it down the silk center of my panties.
I stopped breathing.
“You may not have asked, but don’t tell me you don’t want it. You’re the Summer Court’s—”
“I know what I am.” His finger toyed with the edges of the panty, grazing sensitive skin. Hazy heat swamped me. I couldn’t… I couldn’t remember the last time I’d been touched like this. “That does not change that I have never asked for your loyalty nor do I expect it.”
“Interesting,” Neal murmured. “Can that lovely little morsel in your lap handle both of us?”
Hold up.
Every muscle in my body locked up as I held my breath. I had no idea how the Prince would respond. What if he said yes? If so, things were about to get messy.
“I don’t share,” the Prince growled.
“Well,” Neal drawled. “That’s a shame.”
Part of me relaxed, but only an infinitely small part that wasn’t humming from the swipe of the Prince’s fingers. I was breathing heavy, my hands clenching at his shoulders at that sweep
ing heat. Two years ago I would have never imagined allowing something like this to occur, enjoying something like this.
But I was.
I couldn’t lie to myself.
“I’m finding this conversation fairly hard to follow,” Neal added, his voice thicker. “And the woman, although disappointingly human, to be rather distracting.”
“You and me both,” the Prince replied wryly while I wondered if he could feel how damp the thin piece of material was. He had to. So that meant I really would have to murder him. “There’s something else I need to ask you.”
“Make it quick.”
I bit down on my lip as his finger traveled down the center of my panties again, but this time with more pressure. It was no slight butterfly touch. Oh no, this one had purpose. The other hand left my neck and curled around my ass.
“Is Aric partners with you?” the Prince said, and I couldn’t stop my reaction as his thumb grazed over the bundle of nerves.
My hips twitched into his hand.
“If he was, wouldn’t I know where he is? I just told you that I didn’t nor was I loyal to him.”
“You did.” The Prince turned his head, pressing his hot mouth against my shoulder. The kiss… I don’t know. It did everything to me. Startled and confused me. Stirred up the heat and newly discovered lust.
“Are you suggesting what I think you are?” There was a pause. “That I’m lying to you?”
“I’m suggesting that Aric is involved in the missing younglings, because I know the missing males wouldn’t have willingly disappeared.” His finger moved as he spoke, lingering at the most sensitive spot before traveling along the center. It was driving me crazy. He put the slightest pressure against the crotch of my panties, and I bit down on my lip until I tasted blood to muffle the moan. The Prince still heard it. I knew he did, because he rewarded me with a hard squeeze with his other hand. “Not after so many of them lost family members during the battle with the Queen.”
“How many are missing?”
“Four so far.” His mouth grazed my shoulder again as the hand on my ass pulled me down and against him—against his erection.
None of this was real. It was all an act. So I gave up and the twitch of my hips turned into a slow, grinding roll. I expected to feel shame and embarrassment, but I only felt desire and need and want.
My hands were moving of their own accord, exploring the dips and planes of his chest and stomach. Blood pounded through my veins as the conversation around me faded out. I was moving now, little rocks and twists, and he was pushing his fingers against me, making me wish there was nothing between his flesh and mine.
And that was insane.
I couldn’t let myself think about what I was doing—riding his hand as he talked to the fae, flushed and hot and aching. Hell, I couldn’t think even if I tried. There was a deep, sharp curl in my core, causing my breath to hitch, and it was different than what I’d felt last night. This was real, but….
It’s just an act….
And I needed Neal to leave so we wouldn’t have to keep up this act, but I didn’t want him to leave, because I was so, so close to release, and I thought… I thought I heard a knock on the door.
“I’ll let you know if I hear anything about the younglings.” Neal’s voice was fading away as I tuned back in.
“I’m counting on that.” He swirled his thumb and there was no stopping the moan that slipped up my throat or the way his hips punched up in response. “Neal?”
“Yes.”
“If I find out that you have anything to do with the missing Summer younglings or if you’ve been working with Aric, I will fucking destroy you.”
“Understood.” There was a pause and then, “Use the room however long you need it.”
The door closed, and I was holding my breath again, trembling all over. Caden’s fingers stilled against me, but he didn’t pull his hand away and I didn’t lift my head or jump off him like my legs were made of springs. We both were… waiting, and my heart was thundering, my pulse pounding.
“Do you want me to finish?” he asked, voice coarse and hushed.
Yes.
I wanted him to finish me.
But… what was I doing? Neal was gone and there was no reason for this to continue. No good excuse other than seeking a release from him—from the Prince.
No, not from the Prince. From Caden.
He folded his arm around my shoulders as he drew back. His lips moved against my cheek as my chin lowered. “You don’t have to say anything, sunshine. You understand?”
I tensed so badly I wondered how I didn’t break a bone. Trembling all over, I nodded.
Caden made this sound that should’ve been frightening, but all it did was set my blood on fire and then his finger was under the thin material, skimming through the dampness and heat. I jerked against his hand. No one—no one had touched me in so long. Years, actually, and I knew then that this was no act.
I shifted, spreading my legs and giving him more access and he took it, smoothing his fingers over me and then inside me. I cried out, letting my head fall back as I lost myself to his touch—to him. My hips began moving again, rocking against his hand. A fierce heat surfaced, overshadowing anything I had ever felt before. Building and building till I feared it would consume me.
And then he did something with his finger, hooking it and finding that spot. The tension coiled and then erupted. I came hard, hips bucking against his hand as my forehead dropped against his.
I don’t know how long it took for everything that shattered to come back together and the room to come back into focus. When it did, I could feel him hard and throbbing under me.
Maybe it was the pleasant haze of post orgasmic bliss that gave me the courage. I lifted up ever so slightly and reached for the button on his jeans.
“Hey.” His voice was soft and thick as he caught my wrist, stilling my hand. “You don’t need to do that. What I just did, I did without expecting anything in return.”
“I know.” My forehead was still resting against his. “But I want to.”
He groaned deeply. “I wouldn’t be satisfied with your hand or your mouth. I’d want to get inside you and not only is this not the place for that, I sure as hell don’t want to be inside you when you look like this. I would want it to be you.”
I sucked in air, shuddering at his words. No one wanted me for who I was but Caden.
“We need to get out of here.” He cradled the back of my neck. “Okay?”
Unsure of how to really process him pumping the brakes on this, whatever this was, I nodded. “Okay.”
He drew my head back and then I felt his lips press to my temple. He kissed me there, and I don’t know why, but that act squeezed at my chest like my heart was in a juice grinder. It was sweet and intimate and… It was everything.
Caden helped me to my feet, where I swayed a little as I made sure my wig was in place. He stood and extended his hand. I took it, threading my fingers through his. We both turned—
The door swung open without warning. Standing in the center was the damn female fae. Alyssa. And she wasn’t alone. Behind her were two Ancients, and behind them was another.
“That’s her,” she said, lip curling. “I knew I recognized her. That’s the bitch from Flux. The one who went into the room with Tobias.”
Chapter 23
“Crap,” I muttered.
“You have got to be kidding me.” Alyssa sneered as one of the Ancients shoved another dark-haired Ancient forward, into the room. “Are you working with them too, Neal?”
It was that moment when I realized that Neal was an Ancient. He didn’t look all that concerned as he faced Alyssa and the other two Ancients, but I was.
There were two bald-headed Ancients eyeing Caden and me like they wanted to rip us limb from limb, and as I eyed Neal, I really didn’t trust the Ancient, because I kept seeing the name listed as co-owner.
“I really have no idea what you’re talking about and
I really don’t appreciate being shoved around.” Neal lifted a brow. “In my own bar, no less.”
Alyssa, wearing the same black sheath, crossed her slender arms. “Do I look like I care?”
“You should,” Neal replied, straightening the cuffs of his suit jacket.
The female fae smirked as her gaze flickered from Neal to Caden and then finally to me. “Do you think I didn’t know why you were asking about Aric?” she said, speaking to Caden. “You’re the Summer Prince. Wasn’t like I was going to trust you.”
“But you trust Aric?” Caden still held my hand. “You do realize he was one of my Knights before betraying me. Not exactly someone you should trust.”
“Was being the key word,” came a new voice from outside of the hall.
“Hell,” Neal muttered.
Caden let go of my hand.
The two Ancients stepped aside as they were joined by another. He came to stand behind Alyssa and….
And my heart—God, it felt like it stopped, because I recognized him. I would never forget those high, angular cheeks or close cropped light brown hair. I’d never forget that mouth and the scar that cut through the right side of his upper lip.
“It’s him,” I whispered, my stomach twisting. I couldn’t believe it. The Ancient Caden was looking for was the one who murdered my mother and nearly killed me. I could feel Caden’s gaze on me. “It’s him.”
The Ancient’s pale-eyed gaze flicked to me as he placed his hands on Alyssa’s shoulders. His head cocked to the side. “I remember you.” He laughed. “But you looked a hell of a lot different the last time I saw you. Not just the hair and the dress. Less blood.”
I reacted without thought. Engaging the iron cuff, I shot forward with a scream of rage.
Caden snagged me around the waist, hauling me back. “That wouldn’t be wise.”
“Let me go!” I shouted, digging my fingers in his arm. “He killed my mother. He—”
“I get it.” Caden’s voice was quiet. “I do, but Aric’s not yours.”
I didn’t care what Caden said or how he felt. Aric was mine.
The Summer King Bundle: 3 Stories by Jennifer L. Armentrout Page 17
