Merciless Saints (St. Monarch's Academy 1)

I feel a little anxious about us consummating the marriage. I’m used to being in control, and I don’t think it’s something Damien will stand for in the bedroom.

“A toast,” Alexei says as he raises his flute filled with champagne. We do the same, and then he says, “To alliances, family, and loyalty.”

Demitri and Damien repeat the words, and then Alexei looks at me, and it has me saying, “Oh, yes. Alliances and loyalty.”

“And family,” Alexei murmurs darkly, his eyes locking with mine.

Family.

The word creates a sharp ache in my chest, but still, I force it over my lips, “Family.”

I take a sip of the champagne, and as the conversation turns to the grounds, how many guards there are, and when the other men will arrive, I set the flute down on a table and walk out of the room.

If we’re going to talk business, I’m not doing it in a wedding dress. I take the stairs up, and as I enter my bedroom, I wonder if Damien will move into this room now that we’re married or if he’ll want separate bedrooms.

Stopping in front of the dressing table, I take out the earrings and pull the veil off. I remove all the pins from my hair and let out a tired sigh as I pull my fingers through the strands. All this dressing up and effort for one hour.

I walk to my closet and kick off my shoes, and then I freeze. I feel Damien, but listening closely, there’s not a sound from him. Then his fingertips brush over my bare shoulder blades, and it instantly makes goosebumps burst over my skin.

Just a touch. That’s all it takes from Damien to make me tremble.

“You’re not staying to talk business?” I ask, keeping my voice soft.

“That’s what tomorrow is for,” he murmurs.

My stomach begins to tighten with nerves, and my breathing speeds up.

Damien’s hand moves down, and I feel him fiddle with the back of the dress.

“Thank you for looking beautiful today.” His voice is a soft caress that makes my heartbeat speeds up until it feels as if it’s fluttering in my throat.

Damien tugs at the dress's strings, and I feel as the pressure of the fabric begins to give way. Not wearing a bra, I’m left standing in my panties as the wedding dress drops to the floor.

Deep breaths, Winter. You can do this.

Remember, he already wants you. Half the battle is won.

I swallow and then step out of the dress and turn to face Damien.

His eyes sweep slowly over my body, then back up every inch before settling on my face. His brown irises darken to midnight black, and he clenches his jaw as if it’s taking all his self-control to not just fuck me.

Ravenous. That’s how he looks. Like a predator that’s about to devour its prey.

God.

I close the distance between us and then lift my hands to his belt. Damien tilts his head when I begin to unfasten it, and when he doesn’t stop me, I unbutton his pants and pull down the zip. When my knuckles brush over the hard outline of his cock, I almost freeze.

I take a slow breath, and keeping my eyes locked with his, I lower myself to my knees.

My pride takes a blow as I tilt my head back, and I see the corner of his mouth lifting.

“Kneeling before me, princess? So soon?” he murmurs, his voice laced with warning.

It’s a bitter pill to swallow as I go against what I told him yesterday, that I’ll never bow before him.

Look at me now.

I shove the thoughts aside.

Focus.

“You’re my husband,” I explain as I begin to pull the fabric open, exposing black boxers to me.

“Get up,” he grumbles as I take hold of his boxers, my knuckles brushing over the hard muscles of his abdomen.

I shoot a glare up at him, then snap, “This is where you want me, is it not?”

This time his lips curve higher as he replies, “I’m curious to see how far you’re willing to go with this façade.”

All the way, if it means I’ll have you kneeling at my feet by the time I’m done blowing your mind.

I pull the fabric down, and Damien does nothing to stop me as I expose his cock to me. Unable to stop myself, I lower my eyes until I come face to face with his thick hard length. Velvet skin stretches firmly over his large cock, the veins snaking from the base to the crown, making it look like a merciless weapon.

I let out a breath, and when the hot air hits his erection, Damien lets out a hiss. “Enough. Get up.”

Ignoring his order, my lips part, and I lean forward. As I suck him into my mouth, Damien’s body stiffens, and he twitches against my tongue.

Up until now, I’ve been too anxious to feel anything else, but as I begin to suck him deeper, my abdomen tightens, and my core flushes with heat.