Chapter 77

Violet

He licked his lips. His gaze dropping to my lips as I leaned over him, pressing my breasts against his chest and pressing him flat on the bed. I ran my hand through his hair. His eyes fluttered.

His hands came up to grasp my hips as I brushed my lips again his.

I knew enough to know that it was working, but inside I was a wreck. I’d… never tried to seduce Lucas or anyone. I’d never felt the need to, never felt empowered enough to— I never felt as though I could really pull it off, either.

Lucas had always seemed eager for sex for most of our marriage, and all the dating I’d done before hadn’t led anywhere.

It also wasn’t something I would think to do – using my feminine wiles to get my way, but I recognized that Theo wasn’t… some alpha jackass who thought all I was capable of being is a pretty face.

Theodore thought I was sexy, beautiful, and fuckable because I was sly, cunning, and damn intelligent.

He… loved me, and he needed me to explain this to him without judgement.

He needed me to give him peace about his and everything being married to me will mean in relation to the carefully balanced and crafted cover he’d live in for all these years.

He needed me to be the brave one and tell him it was okay to step into the limelight, and because of that the worry and self-consciousness that usually would have stopped me seemed to vanish.

“You’re a man of business. Deals and all that. You want to hear it, don’t you? I promise it’s worth your while.”

He grunted, his fingers tightening on my hips. “I’m listening.”

“You let me keep my space…” I dragged my lips against his, clenching my hand in his hair to keep him from lifting his lips to kiss me. I avoided his lips, pressing a soft peck on the corner of his mouth. “We share a bed… but I’m warning you… I like to sleep naked.”

He grunted. I dipped my head, skimming my lips against his neck. His breath sped up and I felt him growing harder. I rocked a little, just enough to make his eyes flutter. My heart was racing.

“Violet, you —”

“I keep my things separate from your tyrannical socks.”

He laughed low in his throat, his grip on me possessive now. “I’ll tell my socks to behave.”

“I wasn’t done.”

“I’m not sure you have anything to negotiate with, darling.” His eyes sparkled as he looked up at me. “I already have everything I want.”

I arched an eyebrow. “You think so?”

“Yes,” he murmured, tucking a lock of hair behind my ear. “You. Here. Us just like this.” I smiled, touched, and kissed him gently.

“They say you’re a greedy man.”

“Oh, I am.”

I cocked an eyebrow. “That means you always want more.”

“Naked sleeping is definitely on the list.”

I sat up, pressing my hand on his chest and starting a slow grind of our hips together. His face filled with color. He rocked up against me. He groaned, clenching his hands on my hips, not trying to control my movements, just enjoying feeling the movement, so I made the rolls of my hips smoother, mimicking the easy glide of what it would be like if I was riding him.

My mouth was dry. My nipples felt super sensitive and a pulsing ache had started between my legs. Goddess, I was turning myself on seducing him.

“Whatever this proposition is,” he said, his voice low and teasing, “I’m already sold.”

I ran my fingers up his chest, my nails grazing the thin fabric of his shirt. He looked utterly pleased with himself, his eyes glowing with anticipation. Well, that made two of us.

“You? Signing a deal without knowing the terms?” I shuddered, grinding down in a hard circle that made us both moan. “Marriage has addled your brain.”

“You’re not diabolical enough for it to matter.”

“Again, dear, you’re underestimating me.”

“Oh? I thought I’d learned from that mistake.” He panted. “Teach me again.”

“You’re underestimating what a wife and luna is,” I smiled, taking his hand and drawing it up from my hip, up the center of my body until it landed on my breast. He squeezed, pressing my nipple between his fingertips.

I gasped at the spark of pleasure, grinding against him harder.

“You may think you have everything you want… You might even be greedy enough to want more.”

He grunted, pumping his hips up in time with the rolls of my hips.

“Fuck, Violet.”

“You think you know yourself quite well.” I dragged my fingertips over one of his nipples and his hips jerked. His eyes flew open. “But it’s my job to show you things you didn’t even know you could want…” I slip my hand up his neck until I could slip my fingers between his lips. His eyes widened, but swirled his tongue around them. “And then give them to you…. when you’re good.”

He pulled back, releasing my finger. “Fuck, Violet. Tell me you’re not just teasing me.”

I stopped moving my hips, anchoring my weight, and pinning him in place. My heart quickened. My stomach clenched with his eyes on me, watching my every movement. I felt on fire and bold. I tugged the collar of my shirt down, one of my bra cups down just enough to catch my nipple between my saliva-slick fingers. His hand followed my hand as I started to roll my nipple.

“You have a problem, darling,” I said. He sat up, his lips found my neck. I wrapped my arm around his neck and spoke into his ear, breathy and low. “I’m a woman who likes to be seen.”

“Violet—”

“I go out,” I rolled my hips against his. The pleasure building— I could feel his muscles starting to strain in his shoulders. I moaned, letting my lips brush against his jaw before trailing to his ear. “I like being out and about. Going places. Seeing things. Talking with people.”

I dug my nails into his shoulder and groaned, gripping my hips again and latching on to my neck and lower. He nipped at my hand before sucking my nipple between his teeth.

“I have a full social calendar,” I pulled his off with a handful of hair and met his gaze. “And I can’t give you this and go to those things alone.”

His eyes widened. I felt too vulnerable for a moment as I saw the haze of desire clear a bit from his eyes. I could see the understanding settling on him. The sense of duty winning out against his stubborn hesitance.

I’d won.

“... what do you need?”

“You,” I said, trailing a finger down the buttons of his shirt. “You need more clothes because if you’re going to stand next to me as my mate, I need you to look the part.”

His lips turned into a small smile. “Need me?”

“And want you.” I cupped his face and tilted his chin up.

“Here’s the deal: I’ll take my things back to my room. I’ll keep my respectable clothes there…” I dropped my gaze to his lips and leaned in close, meeting his gaze. “And my… private clothes in your closet.”

He blinked, then his eyes glowed with wolf light and magic. I felt it ripple through the air.

“And I’ll sweeten the pot: for every new thing I add to your side of your closet,” I whispered, brushing my lips against his, “you can add something to mine. Whatever you want.”

He let out a low, rumbling growl. He pulled me flush against him, his mouth claiming mine in a kiss that made my head spin.

When he finally pulled back, his grin was downright predatory.

“Fucking deal.”

My phone chimed with a notification. I pulled it out and opened it, grinning at him.

“Perfect timing. The Vanthorns’ tea party is next week, and a Donovan only misses noble events on pain of death.”

It was semi-formal, but mostly traditional. Theodore definitely didn’t have a suit for the occasion.

His brow lifted. “Tea party? What do I wear to that? Linen?”

He scoffed at the idea.

“Yes,” I said with mock cheer. “A fancy linen suit that fits like a dream, and I need a date, darling.”

“I’ve… never been to a tea party.”

“I think you’ll like it… The nobles have traditional tea parties: food, tea, fighting.”

His jaw dropped. “What?”

I wiggled my eyebrows. “You heard me.”

“Well… sounds like we should go shopping.”

I grinned. “Now you’re in the spirit—whoa!”

He turned us over, hovering over me. “But that’s going to have to wait a bit… after that little proposition, there’s no way in hell I’m going to be able to get through a shopping trip.”

I checked the time and smiled. “The place I want to take you will be open early… tomorrow.”

“Perfect.” He reached over to his nightstand, tossing a handful of condoms on the bed before descending on me again.