The Lynx Who Purred for a Sidhe Prince (12 page)

meeting important people and solving problems. Perhaps this

wouldn’t be so hard after all.

Shortly afterward, Kaname took his leave, promising that he

would, indeed, take them up on their offer once Winter became king.

The mer elder, Kaliad, was here with two sons and one daughter, and

it was a wonder to watch them move around, their motions so sinuous

and elegant.

But again, there was nothing more beautiful than Winter. As the

hours flew by, Corbin was forced to watch as more and more layers

fell from Winter’s outfit. It was more than Corbin could withstand,

and Corbin was amazed at his own resilience when he didn’t just

abandon all caution and steal his mate.

Several times, Corbin saw something like a shadow of confusion

and frustration sweep over Winter, but he couldn’t identify the source.

He vowed he would ask Winter about it once they got a moment

alone.

Still, he could say he was enjoying the anticipation, at least until

something unexpected happened. A female figure emerged from the

numerous crowd, heading straight toward Corbin and Winter.

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Cherise had been one of the many women who’d paraded through

Corbin’s bed throughout the years. Of course, they’d all known he

just slept around and didn’t settle down with anyone, so Corbin had

never felt guilty about leaving them. Cherise had been different since for some reason, she’d believed she could change him.

Ironically, that wasn’t why he’d broken up with her. Cherise had

drawn information out of him regarding one of his closest friends.

One night, Corbin had gotten drunk, and she’d used it to find out

everything about Layton. Corbin had broken up with her after she’d

mocked the seahorse with the garnered info.

Corbin was torn between panic and shock. He stole a look at

Preston, who, in turn, exchanged glances with Layton. Layton

discreetly gestured toward Morgan, and the end result was that Alexis snaked through the crowd and made his way to Winter’s side.

“This crowd is such a bother, don’t you think?” he asked the

Sidhe with a smile. “Join me for a moment while I check up on

Elian?”

There was no way Winter would refuse seeing either of the

Cunningham babies. He seemed a bit puzzled at the request but

acquiesced, regardless. “Sure. It would be my pleasure.”

Alexis winked at Corbin over Winter’s shoulder, but in the

incubus’s eyes, Corbin saw concern. So far, his wedding had gone

exactly as planned. The important guests had been almost

suspiciously well behaved. It would be a pity, and somewhat

ridiculous, if Corbin’s former squeeze spoiled all the effort.

While Alexis was fleeing with Winter in tow, Isaac and Reed had

intercepted Cherise, stopping her from following. Corbin hastily

joined them and grabbed the woman’s arm. “What are you doing here,

Cherise? You weren’t invited.”

“My cousin was,” Cherise replied. “I just took her invitation and

decided to crash your little party.”

Corbin took a deep breath, cursing himself for ever sleeping with

Cherise in the first place. She was beautiful, no doubt about it, but he
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should have known she would be trouble. “Come with me,” he told

her, barely managing to keep his anger in check.

Without waiting for her agreement, Corbin started to pull her

away from the party. Thankfully, she didn’t protest. In fact, Corbin

could almost feel her smugness. Perhaps she believed she’d won

because he’d gotten Corbin to speak to her in private. Well, that was hardly the case.

Corbin found the first empty room and pushed her inside. Almost

instantly, she was on him, her hands greedily pawing at his body.

“Oh, baby. I knew you were just excited to see me as I am.”

Fuming, Corbin caught her wrists before she could do any damage

to his clothing. “What the hell is wrong with you, Cherise? I’m mated.

You can’t just barge in here and demand I take you back.”

Cherise crossed her arms over her ample bosom and scoffed.

“And you can’t tell me you suddenly fell in love with a man. I know

you, Corbin. You’re a lady’s man, through and through. Your family

may be full of faggots, but not you.”

Corbin couldn’t believe his ears. Prejudice like that was no longer

so rampant even among humans, let alone shifters. Shifters had

started to understand sexuality wasn’t labeled in one way or another, and even if Corbin had actively attempted to pretend to be strictly

straight, he’d always been bisexual.

“Just get out of my house,” he told Cherise. “Get out before I

throw you out.”

“You don’t mean that.” Cherise pouted. “Come on, I get that

you’re marrying the Sidhe for money. Or political reasons. But the

sex? Oh, baby, I’m willing to understand it as long as you share that handsome bod of yours with me.”

Corbin felt sick and ashamed that he’d ever even accepted her in

his bed. She was tainting this day with her presence. The only good

thing was that Winter had not realized it yet, but that could change.

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“You insulted my mate and my family,” he said between gritted

teeth. “I have no idea how you think that will win you any

appreciation in my eyes.”

Deciding conversation was pointless when people like Cherise

were concerned, Corbin grabbed her arm and dragged her out of the

room. The important event guaranteed that there were plenty of

guards around. They were currently doing their best to avoid looking

at Corbin and Cherise, probably thinking exactly what Cherise had. It irked Corbin immensely that anyone would think Corbin would

choose Cherise over Winter.

He stopped in front of a guard and pushed Cherise in his arms.

“Get rid of her.” When the man gave him a befuddled, shocked look,

he clarified, “Throw her out and make sure she doesn’t get in again.”

“Yes, sir,” the guard said. “On it.”

“You’ll regret this, Corbin,” Cherise shouted as she was dragged

away by several men. “Your little fae won’t be able to satisfy you,

and then you’ll come running back to me.”

As the guards disappeared with his nemesis, Corbin sighed and

rubbed his eyes tiredly. Things had been going so well, but now, he

was in a horrible mood. “Don’t mention this to anyone,” he told the

remaining guards. “I don’t want it to spoil Winter’s day.”

“Yes, sir,” the men said as one.

Corbin hoped he could trust them, but he couldn’t afford waiting

for much longer. He’d already been away from Winter for a long

time, and he didn’t know how long Alexis could distract the Sidhe.

His concern turned out to be justified. He found his mate waiting

for him a few feet from the garden entrance, an expression of

heartbreak on his face. Alexis was by the Sidhe’s side, looking

regretful.

“So it’s like that then,” the Sidhe said. “All that talk about you

feeling something for me was just nonsense, wasn’t it?”

Corbin reached for his mate, wincing when the Sidhe pulled away.

“Look, it’s not what you think,” he said, “Cherise is just my ex. She
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doesn’t think I truly have a bond with you. I’ve set her straight, and she won’t bother us again. “

Winter released a bitter laugh, and his eyes were like chips of ice

when he glowered at Corbin. “But I notice you didn’t deny lying

about your feelings. I guess that explains why we didn’t bond then.”

Corbin gave his mate a look of disbelief. “We are mates,” he

protested. “Don’t deny that.”

“My parents used to be able to speak through their minds after the

ceremony of bonding was over,” Winter shot back. “Why can’t we?”

“I still need to claim you by the shifter way.” Corbin reached for

Winter again. This time, however, he caught the Sidhe, not because he was any quicker, but because Winter allowed it. “Please, sweetheart.

Let’s just talk. I swear to you I can explain everything.”

Winter didn’t look convinced. “The guests—”

“Fuck the guests,” Corbin interrupted him. “We can go back to the

party later. We need this, and you know it.”

The beautiful Sidhe nodded. “Okay. You’re right. I’ll listen.”

Feeling a small measure of relief, Corbin smiled at his mate.

“Thank you,” he breathed out. Turning toward Alexis, he took in the

regret in the incubus’s eyes with a mixed sense of gratitude and

dismay. “It’s okay. I got this. Just make sure no one bothers us.”

“I’ll do my best,” Alexis replied. After a brief pause, he added,

“You take care, okay?”

Corbin lifted Winter in his arms, making the Sidhe release a

protesting squeak. “I will,” Corbin told Alexis. “Thanks.”

With that, Corbin took his leave of Alexis and headed upstairs

toward the room that had been prepared as theirs. He did his best to

avoid other folk, but unavoidably, he ran into several guards. He paid no heed to them, even if Winter seemed a touch embarrassed at being

seen in this posture. Perhaps it wasn’t exactly dignified for a king, and to a certain extent, Corbin regretted it, but Winter couldn’t have

minded too much as he didn’t tried to struggle away from Corbin’s

grasp.

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However, when at last they reached their room, Winter demanded

to be released. Corbin obediently set his mate down and waited to see what Winter would say.

“I can’t believe you used my friend against me,” Winter fumed as

he turned to Corbin. “Worse, you run off with your whore during our

wedding day? Who the hell do you think you are?”

Corbin stepped in Winter’s personal’s space and crowded the

beautiful Sidhe against the wall. “Alexis knows how I feel about

you,” he whispered in Winter’s ear.

Through his advanced senses, Corbin picked up his sweetheart’s

arousal. Winter’s breath sped up, and his heart started beating faster.

Corbin’s cock also responded to his mate’s proximity, and he felt

Winter’s own hard prick nudge against his thigh.

“Corbin.” His name was a moan on Winter’s lips. “God, we

shouldn’t be doing this. We should talk.”

Corbin’s hands slithered under Winter’s delicate clothing. Even

after so many hours, the outfit still had so many layers it was like

unwrapping a present. “We’re talking, sweetheart,” Corbin

murmured. “The best way to talk is through our bodies. Then you’re

gonna know I’m not lying. I’ve never lied to you.”

Winter trembled in his arms, the struggle clear in the beautiful

fae’s posture. Corbin knew the exact moment when his mate gave up

the fight. Winter threw his head back, exposing the pale, white

column of his neck in a gesture of pure surrender. The lingering

remnants of Corbin’s control shattered, and he started pressing kisses to every inch of silky skin he could reach.

Knowing they would still need Winter’s clothing for later, he

refrained from the urge to simply tear the delicate material off.

Instead, he found the clasps embedded in each item for the purpose of easy removal throughout the ceremony. Simply by a press of the twin

clasps on each side of the garment, Corbin could get rid of one layer of material that was in his way. It was quite convenient, especially

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since, even with all the effort he was putting into it, Corbin didn’t think he could be patient for much longer.

At last, Corbin reached the last layer, an almost transparent garb

that did nothing to cover Winter’s gorgeous body and only tantalized

with the promise of what lay beneath. Corbin unclasped it as well, and as the material pooled at Winter’s feet, he couldn’t suppress a groan.

Winter was simply perfect. Corbin didn’t know where to look and

what to touch first. He was simply enthralled with the beauty and

flawlessness of this ethereal being that had somehow become his

mate.

But the look on Winter’s face was more than real, and the blaze in

those ice-blue eyes so intense it almost felt palpable. “Please, Corbin, touch me. Make me believe in you. I want to. I want to so badly.”

Corbin took Winter in his arms once again, lifting him up. The

Sidhe wrapped his long legs around Corbin’s waist, and their lips met in a kiss that was curtained by Winter’s mane of crimson hair. Corbin took possession of his mate’s mouth, delving deep, branding Winter

as his. He simply couldn’t get enough of Winter, not now that he

finally had the sweet fae in his arms.

His own clothes restricted his options, however, so Corbin walked

them to the bed and slowly placed Winter on the mattress. Although

he didn’t have the same respect for his own clothes as he did for

Winter’s, he still did his best not to tear them since what little part of him remained rational knew they would have to go back to the party

later. Finally, he got naked and joined his beautiful mate on the bed.

As one, they reached for each other, bringing their bodies together

in an embrace that had been delayed for too long. Once more, their

lips met into a kiss that tasted like need, urgency, and desire. While he thrust his tongue into Winter’s mouth, Corbin caressed Winter’s