But my parents would never forgive me for making a scene. And it’s only a few more hours to get through and then we will be free. I’ll never invite them here again, nor accept any invitation from them. It will be fine.

If Marquess Mallory has any doubts about my ability to guard the shrine, he can take it up via official channels. I’m sure my parents will have my back. After all, they have seats on the Council too.

I shovel a forkful of my dinner into my mouth and try to appear perfectly calm. My mother steers the conversation to the terrible time she is having with her dressmaker. She receives the compliments she is fishing for, and I tune it all out.

Dinner drags on and on. Eventually, it ends and we move to the drawing room. I offer cigars to my father and Luci’s. And Luci takes his place at the piano.

The ladies sit themselves on a chaise lounge and busy themselves with conversation.

The fire is burning merrily and the wind is blowing a gale outside. Despite the unpleasant company, it actually feels cozy in here. If these were people I liked, this would be a lovely evening.

A few notes tinkle out from the piano, and I look over in surprise. I don’t think I’ve ever heard Luci play before. There is a look of rapt concentration on his face, but the music flowing from his fingers is quite lovely.

A whack on my back jolts me. “You’re looking quite besotted there, my boy!” says my father.

I snatch my gaze away from Luci, but it is far too late. My father laughs, and a dark, pleased look crosses over Luci’s father’s face.

“Happy with the match we made for you?”

“Yes, thank you.” My face feels hot. Oh gosh, am I blushing? I don’t blush. That’s what pretty boys do. Not me.

My father chuckles and Mallory puffs on the cigar I gave him. His dark eyes look over his son with an appraising look and I do not like it one bit.

“Perhaps you should take Lucien upstairs?” he says.

My fists clench by my side. Of all the inappropriate…wait. Luci’s magic. It is brimming. Warm tendrils are spilling out across the room. Potent. Alluring. I see the moment my father senses it. He blinks and then avarice ignites in his eyes.

My fists nearly rise, but I take a deep breath. My father is a mage. Desire is a perfectly normal reaction to sensing a ripe vessel.

“If you will excuse me, gentlemen,” I say, far too curtly.

I stride across the room to my vessel. My hand reaches out and rests on his wrist, silencing his playing. He startles and looks up at me with wide, green eyes. Hazy and slightly unfocused with all the magic swelling within him.

“I think it is time to go upstairs,” I say softly.

His eyes widen even more, and his cheeks color. “But we have guests!” he whispers.

“And you are ripe, they will understand.”

Surprise and shock flow across his beautiful face. He clearly hadn’t realized how full his magic has grown.

He nods and bites his bottom lip. I help him to his feet and lead him away. On the one hand, this is fabulous timing. It’s the perfect excuse to get Luci away from his parents, on the other hand, it is awkward as hell.

But my cock is already full. That part of me knows no shame at all. It only knows that Luci is ripe and I get the privilege of emptying him.

As far as my libido is concerned, tonight has turned out to be rather marvelous.

Chapter twenty

Luci

“Where are you going?” asks Felford.

I’ve only just disengaged myself from his arm and taken two steps across my bedchamber floor.

“Just to pop a changing gown on,” I say.

Felford tilts his head and grins. I’ve never been quite sure what a wolfish grin is before, but I think I am looking at one right now. And it is a mighty powerful thing. It’s making me forget that my parents are downstairs.

“No point in that, I’m only going to rip it off you,” he says in a delightfully low rumble.

My heart flutters and a wave of dizziness washes over me. Arousal is stirring. Awakening and stretching. Getting ready to drag its claws through every part of me. Though that could simply be caused by my magic and not my husband’s words.

“Okay,” I agree shakily.

I take one more step.

“Now where are you going?”

I turn back to face my husband. “To the bathroom. To prepare.” Surely this is obvious?

He grins again and reaches for me. I stumble slightly as he pulls me towards him.

“That’s part of the fun.” His dark eyes are gleaming. “I don’t want things to be formal between us.”

I’m staring up at him. Lost for words, yet again. “I haven’t taken a tea,” I say. Damnit, that makes no sense at all.

“Neither have I,” says Felford simply. “Perhaps it will be better this way, with both of us in our right minds.”

“As you wish, my lord…I mean Drew.”

His eyes narrow. They blaze at me intensely. They burrow and burn their way into my very soul and all I can do is stand here while he reads the deepest and darkest parts of me.

Eventually, he nods decisively. “It is what I wish.”

Shakily, I nod my understanding of his command. He is my husband, of course I will obey.

He pulls me even closer. Now our chests are nearly touching.

“If you really must take a tea, I will allow it. But I want you, Luci. Not some addled version of you.”

The room tilts. If his hands were not on my shoulders, I would have fallen. The things he says are going to destroy me. I should beg for him to stop. I should beg for mercy. But I won’t. I like it far too much. I’m going to seize it with both hands and hold on to it. While I can.

Daggers and plots await us. This, whatever this is, will not last for long. So I’m going to try my best to enjoy it while I can.

Suddenly, his head is lowering, and his lips claim mine. The moment our bodies connect feels like a blast of lightning. All bright sparks and tingling electricity. I swear I can even smell ozone in the air.

He pulls away. He breaks the connection. I want to whine. To go up on my toes and chase him. But I don’t. I stand still. I am a good boy.