by Jarica James
“You guys killed it. They look great and you’re right, I like starting small then working our way up. The garrison next to the portal was smart, too. And if we expand eventually, we can train soldiers here before they choose which court to venture to. I want it to be an open Faerie, unlike before.” I’m so excited I can’t help but do a small happy dance as I stack the sketches back up.
“We did, didn’t we?” Jacob grins. But he looks relieved that I approve. He’s always been his own worst critic. This was some of his best work, though.
Footsteps approach and I turn around to see Maddox sauntering toward us, a bemused expression on his face.
“You two are too much," he says.
“Don’t be jealous that we’re the epitome of fun and perfection," Jacob says with a dramatic hair flip.
“I’m not sure why people still try to understand us," I add. “Hell, even I don’t understand us sometimes.”
“It’s one of life’s greatest mysteries. We’re beyond explanations and understanding," he replies in a serious tone.
“You ready?” Maddox asks, reminding me that he claimed me for the evening. Jacob lets out a huff of annoyance, but I see his eyes dart toward the kitchens were Andras is.
“I am. Go find your man, Jacob,” I tease. “And these are amazing, thanks for doing all that work.”
“Well, I didn’t do it alone,” he says. “Tristan is really good at this. Now behave, you two.”
I roll my eyes at his snark but link my arm through Maddox’s. “Come on, we have a date to enjoy," Maddox says as he leads me away.
“Did you know about the town plans?” I ask as Maddox leads me toward the Court of Spring.
“We may or may not have been included in some of the planning," he offers with a smile.
“When?!” I ask. “We’ve all been together this whole time.”
“You also have been training with Emrick frequently.” He has a point, but I’m still shocked they got so far in so little time.
He doesn’t say much as we walk. Maddox isn’t one for small talk, which I’m fine with. He seems relaxed today and I’m glad. Things have been intense since the attack and we’ve barely had alone time. Not with Emrick on a rampage and me worried about Jacob.
I’m not familiar enough with Faerie or the Spring Court enough to know where Maddox is leading me, and I don’t bother to ask. I’m happy to soak up the silence and have a moment to just breathe.
We walked into the garden toward the familiar stone gazebo. Instead of heading into the main area of Spring, he leads me down a path I’ve never noticed before. The vines and plants are thicker here, and I can already feel how much healthier they are, my magic thrumming along my skin as it reacts to the land it saved.
There is still an unnerving silence in the land, an aspect of the current Faerie that I’ll never be able to come to terms with. The only thing we can hear are our own footsteps in the soft grass and the sound of the leaves rustling in the wind. And even that is muted, the air fairly still after this morning's rain that still hangs on the leaves and grass.
The sound of a waterfall starts to fill the air, faint at first and near thunderous by the time we step out of the covering of trees. It flows down from the mountain and into the crystal-clear lake below. I remember Jacob adding it to the map when Faerie was still a new concept to me. Being in front of it makes me feel like I’m in a magical land for the first time. There’s a vast difference between this natural beauty, vibrant colors, and the hint of magic in the air, and the land we saw upon arrival.
“It’s beautiful," I whisper in awe, as my eyes continue to study our surroundings. It’s like I can’t stop myself from taking in every single inch of its beauty. The sun streams down, reflecting on the lake’s surface. The water ripples out from the impact of the waterfall, but I can still see the bottom and I want to dive in. Though it comes from the mountain, so it’s likely freezing.
“Yes, you are," Maddox says softly, turning my head so he can give me a gentle kiss. He releases me and steps away so he can pull a blanket from his backpack. Maddox works meticulously, spreading out the blanket and putting a bottle of wine, glasses, and food down. My heart clenches at the thoughtfulness of it all. We don’t have many options for dates at the moment and he’s made all this happen. He’s clearly challenging Em for the most romantic title.
“I thought maybe a swim first, and then we can have a small picnic before we head back? I just don’t trust that there won’t be wildlife after you’ve given the land its power back,” he says solemnly. As vigilant as always, I watch as he carefully scans our surroundings before relaxing again.
“As wonderful as that sounds, I don’t have a swimsuit,” I point out. “And isn’t the water icy?” Mentally I’m trying to remember what my bra set looks like underneath. The last thing I want is for him to see me in a ratty old set and ruining the mood. We’re still in that stage of our relationship where there’s a hint of uncertainty and shyness. Faerie may have chosen them for me, and we in turn chose each other, but we still have to put in the work to get to know each other on a level that would make us strong. We’re almost like an arranged marriage at this point, with amazing attraction, but first date jitters.
“Me either," he says with a smirk. My jaw drops as he rips off his pants and shirt, leaving only his tight-fitting boxers behind. The man is sculpted like a fucking Greek god. Each inch of him muscled and fit. His tanned skin is dusted in golden hair, from his chiseled chest down to the perfectly sculpted vee that disappeared into his boxers. When I look back up at him, his blue eyes are full of amusement as I gape at him. I don’t bother to look away or feel embarrassed, if he didn’t want to be ogled, he wouldn’t have ripped his clothes off and stood there on display for me.
“If you keep staring at me, we’re never going to make it into the water,” he warns. His cock twitches at the attention and I force myself to look away before I start doing something embarrassing, like drooling.
No matter how hard I try to think of a coherent thought, my mind refuses to comply. So instead I strip down in a hasty, completely unsexy way. But Mads isn’t deterred in the least, returning the favor by slowly running his gaze over every inch of me. And I swear I can feel it like phantom caresses, my body already begging him to fuck me.
After several long minutes of neither of us making a move, I have to pull myself away from his gaze before I spontaneously combust. The heat and desire he evokes in me are almost too much to handle. Needing to cool off and wanting to break the sexual tension a bit, I take off at a run and jump as high as I can, tucking my legs under me to do a cannonball. When I resurface, I have to giggle at Maddox’s expression. He’s soaking wet and has water dripping down his face, a mix of shock and amusement on his face.
“How does someone so small cause such a ridiculous splash?” He laughs and wipes a hand down his face, before he gives me an evil smile. Turning, I try to swim as far out as I can, but he’s faster. I expect him to splash me, but instead he dives seamlessly into the water. Now that we’ve disturbed the water, I can’t figure out where he’s gone. My heart pounds in anticipation, expecting him to reach out and yank me under at any second. Even if he’s not as playful as Bo, I don’t trust him not to scare me. Slowly spinning in a circle, I keep my eyes glued to the water, watching and waiting for him to emerge.
A surge of water is my only warning before Maddox resurfaces and snatches me up in one movement. My squeals and his laughter are loud enough to be heard over the waterfall. Relief floods me and I let out a string of laughter as he holds me, shaking his long hair so I get a shower of water.
We aren’t quiet, but out here no one should hear us. And the idea of someone coming to join us is not appealing. Our spot feels so secluded and special that I want it to be just ours.
As he keeps his hold on me, I put on a show of trying to struggle against him, but my heart isn’t in it. The feel of his arms wrapped around me is too perfect and it’s helping fight off the chill of
the water.
When he doesn’t release me, I twist in his arms so I can at least see his face. Those ocean blue eyes captivate me, his gaze locked on mine until he drops them to my lips. The moment his lips slant over mine it’s like every cell in my body screams out for him, a magnetic pull that solidifies that he’s mine. All doubts are gone in moments like these.
He quickly pulls away and shifts me so my legs can wrap around his waist. Nuzzling into my neck he starts to lick his way over my sensitive skin, my hips grinding into him instinctively. The man has barely started and already has me unraveling under his attention.
Suddenly he stops and I let out a small noise in protest. He chuckles and runs a gentle hand down my cheek, eyes serious and stern. “Bella, are you sure about all of this? I know you didn’t grow up as a Fae. We are much more open with our sexuality. It isn’t uncommon for Fae to switch partners and have more than one lover in their long lives. We entered into this relationship because it felt right, but I can see how it could be a bit too fast and rushed to someone who grew up human. We just go with what we feel but we don’t mean to pressure you," he rambles out his explanation. The fact he would pull away from what he’s used to just to check in on me has my heart warming.
“I am sure. It did seem fast and still seems crazy, but I’m happier than I have ever been. My life has purpose and I think we all work well together. Magic magnetism aside, this is what feels right," I reply. “Now can we go back to kissing?” He chuckles but brings his heavenly lips back to my neck. Being fae definitely gives him an advantage with coordination, his mouth never leaving my skin as he carries me out of the water and onto the soft grass. He puts me down long enough to clear the blanket of our picnic before scooping me up and dropping me down. His eyes rake over me as I wait for him, silver blonde hair spread on the blanket around me and only my wet bra and panties to keep me hidden from him.
“You’re beautiful," he says in a husky voice before moving himself over me as his kisses move to my collarbone. Maddox’s fingertips skim over my skin, the nearly nonexistent touches leaving a trail of fire in their wake. Needing to feel him everywhere, I push him away long enough to peel off my wet, lacy bra and panties and toss them aside. “Much better.” His cocky grin has me clenching my thighs together, the smooth confidence he holds does things to me.
His teeth skim across my skin, soft nips that have my body feeling like it might combust already. My moans and whimpers seem to motivate him, his bites turning hungry as he tries to taste every inch of me. He hasn’t even teased my pussy yet, but I’m already soaking wet. The fact he’s taking his time like this has me worried that he’ll have me desperate before giving me what I really want, the big cock between his legs.
The way Maddox studies me as he works his way over my skin has me feeling vulnerable and exposed. I don’t feel the need to cover myself, but I’ve never had someone so thoroughly learn my body as he is. The only thing holding back self-consciousness is the look of pure lust in his eyes.
A shiver runs through me as his fingers tease gently over my pebbled nipples, his mouth never leaving my abdomen that he’s working his way down. As he kneads my breasts, I rock my hips toward him, silently begging for him to give me some relief. I feel like a violin, so tightly wound I’m liable to snap at any moment.
Tangling my fingers in his long blond hair, I guide his head downward so he can give me what I’m desperate for now. He looks up at me and grins, before going right back to his task.
“Maddox, please,” I beg. “You’re torturing me at this point.” His chuckle vibrates against my hip, the bite that follows a bit harder than before, the sting making my hips involuntarily rise. Even my body is begging him, yet he doesn't relent.
Trying to take matters into my own hands, I move out from under him and try to push him on his back. He grins and lets me, but I should have known it wasn’t for my benefit. He keeps strong hands on my hips, refusing to let me sink down on his cock. Growling at him, I wrap my fingers around his dick, hoping to urge him on this way. His smile falters and he lets out a low groan, but even then he holds strong. Damn this man and his stubbornness.
Using his chest to brace myself, I push against his hold until I’m able to wiggle my hips into position. I have a feeling he’s letting me achieve it, but I don’t care at the moment.
We both let out groans as I sink down on him, my pussy so wet it’s not hard to take him in one slow movement. He feels like heaven, filling me so completely that I can’t imagine anything else being this fucking amazing. Though the others make me feel that way too.
“Maddox,” I groan as he starts to move his hips, guiding mine in slow tortuous strokes. But all of my protests are forgotten in seconds, it feels too fucking good. My legs start to shake at the force of the orgasm threatening to break free. As if he can read every movement and sigh, he shifts us enough that with each stroke my clit grinds against him, sending a lightning bolt of pure bliss through me. “Fuck.” He chuckles as the curse falls from my lips, but from the way his jaw is clenched he’s just as needy and close as I am.
“You are incredible, my Bella," he whispers as my pussy starts to pulse around him, the orgasm so strong that I can do little else but fall apart on top of this incredible man. My entire body feels like it’s on fire, vision tunneling as it courses through every inch of my body and leaving me breathless. My cries are cut off as I collapse on top of him, shaking in the aftershocks of the most intense orgasm of my life. I guess something can be said about taking your time, he knew exactly what he was doing. But instead of gloating, he was thrusting into me more forcefully now, using me to get his own release, and fuck that’s hot. He pulls my lips down to his as he comes, filling me with his seed and claiming my mouth at the same time. I’m breathless by the time he pulls away, finally finished with his exquisite torture.
“I don’t think I can move, you might have broken me with that one," I sigh happily. “And we might have ruined your picnic.”
“You made a far better snack,” he teases, pulling me mercilessly to my feet. Once I’m steady, he hurriedly fixes the picnic, sans blanket this time. Not wanting to eat naked, I pull on my clothes again, wishing my wet clothes had time to dry.
“You aren’t angry at me for me going slow?” he asks softly as he sits and pulls me down next to him. The question catches me off guard and I stare at him in confusion.
“I don’t think I actually have to answer that, my body just told you how much I enjoyed it," I joke, kissing him gently on the cheek. “Always trying to protect me, even from yourself.”
“I will always protect you," he says in an even more serious tone. I swallow hard at the conviction in his tone, still in awe that they chose me. Not just that, but went all in, body, heart, and soul.
“And I will do everything in my power to be a worthy partner and queen,” I vow. He smiles at me before pouring a glass of wine and passing it over.
“You’ve already proven that,” Maddox reassures me before we both start eating the food he brought, needing the fuel now.
We enjoy the late afternoon breeze and picnic in companionable silence, a moment of peace before we face the trials Winter will surely have for us.
Chapter 4
The next morning I wake up to an empty tent. Cursing, I jump up and get dressed as quickly as possible, not wanting them to prepare without me. Dormy squeaks at me nonstop, almost like he’s lecturing me for taking far too long to wake up. That or he’s promising retribution for leaving him behind last time. Something I don’t think I’ve been forgiven for yet.
“Well, come on,” I urge, stopping long enough for him to run out of his little enclosure and up my leg. He settles in on my shoulder like that’s his royal chariot, one last indignant squeak telling me to hurry up.
I’m relieved that he seems to have adjusted to the new realm so easily. The vocal little mouse has squeaked his way into my heart already and this time I don’t intend to leave him behind. Spring was dangerous, but he’s r
esourceful and I can protect him. Especially now that I’ve had extensive training with Emrick.
He means more to me than just a simple pet, and I hated leaving him behind, but dangerous lands are no place for a mouse.
By the time Dormy and I reach the bridge to Winter, the others are already gathered and waiting. Emrick was propped against the wooden beam of the bridge, arms crossed and waiting. Bowen and Gerwyn both have backpacks on and are discussing something quietly while Maddox takes stock of our supplies. Jacob and Andras are off to the side, looking half asleep still. A pang of guilt hits me for River not being here, but I’d had to ask her to stay behind. With Andras and all of us leaving, I need someone reliable to stay behind with the rest of the council. Her morals align well with mine, so I know the people are in good hands.
“Here,” Emrick grunts, holding out a brown paper bag for me. I grin as I walk forward and take my breakfast. They know better than to take me anywhere before I’m fed. I’m the furthest thing from a morning person.
“Coffee, Queenie?” Jacob asks, handing over the liquid perfection. He knows exactly how I like my coffee and I love him even more for bringing it. I take a long sip and groan in appreciation.
“Jacob, I think I love you," I sigh as the coffee warms my empty stomach. Emrick makes an offended noise and I turn to my biggest knight. “I love you for feeding me, big guy," I reassure him with a grin. He returns my smile and picks up our bags, happy with my small acknowledgement.
“Is your mouse really coming with us?” Maddox asks, as he looks appalled at my decision. Dormouse squeaks angrily at him. Mads raises an eyebrow but still looks at me expectantly for an answer. You would think he’d know me well enough by now, to not question my unconventional choices.
