The eyes of the Court had been on them for most of the night, so at its end to be near alone with her was a stark contrast. He had gone about with her as she tucked in the children, read to them from a large tome of stories and bid them good-night. Nuada accompanied them as far as the door to her Suite.
"...I will see you in the morning..." He said, a note of amusement in his voice. "...Do not bruise him too much my lady, he must appear...unblemished at breakfast."
She smiled and kissed her king with a clear intention that she'd not stay long with her companion.
They were alone, simple as that. She smiled at him and as before she laid the bit of honey in his hand, he looked at it for a few moments before putting it in his mouth and leaning down to share it with a kiss. The kiss was hungry, both knowing this should have happened weeks before. She broke the kiss beginning to undress, the dress made so she could do so without aid. She was down to her under garments before the aided him with his clothing, still too stunned to have moved. She returned to the kiss as she worked on his clothing.
"...What have you done to me..." He managed, something akin to heat started flowing in his veins. "I want you..."
"Soon my dear sage, you shall see..." She had him stripped to the waist by then, her hands moving over the ruined tattoo. "and I want you."
She was close enough to whisper into his ear, licking along the outer edge.
"You are being watched..." She warned him.
He lifted her up, looking for the nearest surface to place her so they were of a height. He continued the kiss, her hands working at the ties of his pants.
"...Move your hands lower..." He whispered into her ear. "..You will find what you seek."
She did so her fingers brushing the near nonexistent hair below his navel. She gently ran her nails against the skin. She felt him twitch against her fingers, she'd found a spot to explore much later. His gasp of surprise was genuine, he let a smile slide over his lips.
"...My lady is eager, as I am..."
His breeches and nickers were soon gone as were her undergarments. That delicious heat was beginning to pool in his groin, Stiffening him against her hand though she had not touched it. The kiss they shared grew in passion.
"...bed." She said, between kisses. "I want you...bed..."
He carried her there, hiking her upon his body, trapping the heat between them.
He had her beneath him, shifting to settle him properly. Her hand went down between them to guide, he gasped at that first touch. He knew it had to be as real as possible, if it was true they were being watched. He sank in, groaning in truth at the sensation. Her hands moved to his sides and her legs crossed behind his back, he thrust forward in response. He fell into a true rhythm, he could not think beyond the delicious heat that now sang along his nerves and the hunger in their kisses.
The kiss she gave him, distracted enough so he was beneath, her body a weight on his pinning him to earth. Her movements, the sounds she made. Her body griping him, he held her hips, pressing her down upon himself. She would have bruises on her hips from the grip to assure himself this was real and not a dream he'd fallen into after the impromptu party.
"...My lady..." He managed to gasp. "Close..."
The final kiss made the release all the sweeter. She smiled down at him as a languid sleep came over him.
Crevan awoke a short time later with Pen laying her head on his chest. He ran his hand over her head. Her dark hair splayed over his skin. It had been quick, proof he was her lover and had not had her in some time.
"...Do we still have watchers..." He said softly.
Her hand went down beneath the covers as a response to brush over that delightful spot she'd found earlier. He made a noise of contentment.
"...Yes then..." he said in a low tone. "My lady may explore, it has been a long time..."
She nipped his shoulder, then moved to brush light kisses on the way down. She just laid her head on his thigh, her fingers moving in slow circles just above. He wondered if she would make this real too, or feed the illusion. The delicate kiss he felt at the tip said illusion before she began to play with the spot she had found.
When Pen left his bed, Crevan was left to wonder if she were to do all those things to him in truth, the feel of her lips on sensitive skin had been...he groaned. With their coupling, At least he knew Ge'els spies were satisfied with the illusion he was now the queen's lover. He simply had to wait until the rumors started, that she was cuckolding her king with him and they would know where to look.
Nuada heard Pen in the bathing room, washing what little sex she'd had from her skin. He entered to join her after she finished her initial wash. He frowned a bit at the forming fingerprints on her skin.
"...How was he." Nuada teased as he joined her into the renewed and hotter water.
"Amazing." She said, with genuine conviction. "and he didn't even notice the healing."
Nuada smiled, he had asked her if it was possible to restore some of the tattoo. She had said yes, but the first coupling had to be genuine.
"...So he won't notice the rose and thorn knot you've placed upon him." Nuada smiled, his own tattoo humming under her touch. "that being Lord of your court is more than ceremonial..."
"He'll notice when it starts twining with the imagery already there..." She said. "Are you sure you are OK with this, letting him be my lord while you are my king?"
He let out a breath. "...Being king there are things I must do for my people's good. It does not mean I am comfortable with all of the choices..."
She knew he was avoiding the subject, he wasn't comfortable but he had done it to keep the peace they had a bit longer.
Crevan had not expected to find his rooms also connected to the Solar, not just the Royal one but one of his own. He found more fine clothes and adornments for his braids. He asked for breakfast to be brought and an invite to both the King and Queen, if he was also to be Queen's advisor it would be best he do so.
The remains of breakfast lay upon the table before Crevan found his voice. He was not too sure where he stood beyond being "companion" and advisor to the queen. Nuada had kept a pleasant conversation up with Pen, commenting on the current state of affairs.
"...We are hearing rumblings from the human kingdoms. It appears old ways die-hard..."
"...I know Ge'els is a crafty one, dangerous as a viper." Pen said. "Could you lend your incite...Crevan."
"...It is too much in us to settle peacefully." He said. "It is what divided us from the Aen Sidhe...I watched the slaughter first hand, regrettably."
"...I more worry of the cold spells." Nuada said. "The frost goes ahead of the raid, but I am glad there is not the ship..."
Crevan frowned. "...It does not seem like good practice. The hunt is known to come with winter, or that was the legend that came from us using the frost."
"...There is an ambitious general at the head of the Riders, It appears Ge'els chose him for having a silver tongue to convince the other courts to surrender." Pen said.
Both looked at her, surprised.
"My Singers keep the peace, remember..." She said. "I've had reports of riders asking for audiences with Sidhe lords. They haven't tried it with Jareth yet, but then again when you rule a living Labyrinth..."
Crevan raised an eyebrow at this.
"The Goblin King is one of the Few Sidhe lords the others avoid." She said. "Considering it devoured a whole army..." She paused. "...I was in his castle at the time."
Nuada frowned. "...it was a difficult time between Pen and I and wiser heads recommended her presence there..."
Two answers from his now sovereigns.
"Ge'els will want answers, try to sour me toward you."
"Unlike long ago, he holds nothing." Pen said. "By all the accounts he will receive you've come willingly to my bed since the mid-winter fair...Making you lord and my acknowledged companion confirmed that for them." She smiled. "Why else would I have given you such title if you were not significant to me..."
He knew she may have had a distaste for the intrigue of the court but she was well aware of it.
"...And tonight I will be introducing my "Mistress" to the court." Nuada said. "Rhiannon will play the part, so if you have concerns she is safe to relay them to or to the Bard Aiden."
Crevan nodded, it was time to let the game begin.