Total pages in book: 134
Estimated words: 127026 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 635(@200wpm)___ 508(@250wpm)___ 423(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 127026 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 635(@200wpm)___ 508(@250wpm)___ 423(@300wpm)
“It will be fine,” Hadrian said. “Get dressed. We should be gone soon.”
A knock sounded on the door, and Hadrian glanced sharply at her. She was too much of a street urchin not to know that look, and she made herself scarce.
“Fallon,” Hadrian said in greeting.
Fallon was of tribe Galanthea and had selected Hadrian to join his household during the House of Dragons ceremony. Unlike his other fellows, he was a studious type, not a war-mongering fool. Clover liked him. And his time in the dragon tournament with the human Cyrene had made him more accepting of humans in general. Though … not of her extracurricular activities with Hadrian.
“I am attending the opera tonight. We have a box, and I could introduce you to the latest scholar. Will you join me?”
“Unfortunately, I have an invitation elsewhere.”
Fallon made a skeptical sound. “You cannot spend all of your time with that girl and neglect your culture appetites.”
“I assure you that I neglect nothing. I would be honored to attend another night but am otherwise engaged.”
Fallon raised his voice, as if knowing that Clover was hidden within the room. “Tell Clover hello for me then. We will plan for another night.”
“I will do that.”
Fallon left, and Clover appeared from behind the wardrobe.
“I should get dressed,” she said, letting the sheet fall.
Hadrian’s eyes roamed her naked body. He reached for her, tangling his hands into her dark hair before she could utter a word. Their lips crashed together, and time disappeared. They had already been together once this afternoon, but he was trying to calm her nerves. And could she fault him?
He laid her out across the bed, spreading her legs wide before him, and buried his head between them. She gasped at the drag of his tongue against her. He flicked out experimentally, causing her body to ripple with delight.
“You taste…” Hadrian groaned, unable to even get words out.
“Yes,” she gasped.
Then, he drove two fingers deep, and she saw stars. The world tilted as her body arched off the bed.
With how straitlaced Hadrian had always been, she’d assumed that he would be a shy lover. But she should have known the boy who had survived the streets all those years lurked underneath.
She had been trying for years to goad this out of him. To get him to admit to where he had come from and not just the man he had been raised to be in the House of Dragons. She hadn’t expected to find it under the sheets, but she couldn’t control her delight that that was the case.
Clover cried out as he brought her over the brink. She panted as she came down and reached for his laced britches, eager to get him out of them again.
A knock sounded on the door once more. They both froze.
“I’ll leave the carriage for you for the evening,” Fallon said through the door.
“Thank you, sir,” Hadrian called back.
Fallon cleared his throat, and then they heard his retreating steps.
Clover burst into laughter. “Well then.”
“I suppose … you should get dressed.”
“I suppose I should,” she said and then went looking for her discarded clothing.
Twenty minutes later, they were in Fallon’s carriage, heading toward the Row. Hadrian directed them to be dropped off several blocks away from the House of Cruse house, and then they took an alley toward the side entrance.
Kerrigan’s father, Kivrin Argon, waited for them at door. “Were you seen?”
“No, sir,” Hadrian said, offering his hand.
“Good.” They shook. “I’m glad you both could make it. Come in. You’ll find refreshments in the lounge to your left. We’re waiting for one more.”
Hadrian and Clover exchanged a look and then entered. She didn’t know who the one person they were waiting on was, but she could guess. Except that guess was shattered when they entered the lounge and found Darby seated on a divan, holding a golden goblet.
Darby rose to her feet. “Good evening.”
Hadrian grinned broadly and then swept his friend into a hug. “Hey, Darbs. I’ve missed you.”
Their friendship was so easy. Years in the House of Dragons together. A quartet—Kerrigan, Hadrian, Darby, and Lyam—always getting in trouble. Now, everything was different, fractured. Clover hated it. She had wanted so badly to be a part of their group. And once she was, she had ruined it.
“It’s good to see you, Darby,” Clover said.
Darby looked wary. “Is it?”
“Always.” Clover sighed heavily. “I want to apologize. I should have told you about me and Hadrian. It was cowardly of me to hide the extent of our relationship from you. No matter what we once were, I hope that you will always see me as a friend.”
Darby’s eyes widened. “That isn’t exactly what you said last time.”
“Last time, I was caught unawares, and I just reacted.”
Hadrian nodded at her once reassuringly. “You should hear her out, Darbs.”
“I want to be with you,” Clover said. “I know that you cannot allow that because of your status in Bryonica, but that does not change the fact.”