Chapter 177

Taking a deep breath, Kit told Danyen, “I believe there is a spy among us, that one of the Representatives is actually working closely with the queen. But I don’t know how he may be accessing her. None of my guards have ever seen him in the hall that leads to her chambers, save for when we are all attending an event on that side of the castle, of course. I need to know if he’s truly in cahoots with her, or if I’m mistaken for suspecting such deviousness.”

Danyen’s brown eyes narrowed slightly before he said, “Pierce?”

Once again, Kit felt relieved. “Yes, and since your room is so very close to his, I thought perhaps you may have some insight. And if not, perhaps you’d be willing to help me gain some.”

Brushing back his light brown hair, Danyen leaned back against the settee in thought. Kit decided to give him a moment before she pressed on. Eventually, he said, “He leaves sometimes in the middle of the night. I hear his footsteps in the hallway. I know it’s him because there’s no one else near us now, and I can also hear his bed creak and the door open and close. But he doesn’t go toward the hall that leads past your room and around to the queen’s portion of the castle. He goes the other direction, back toward the kitchen and the infirmary.”

Confused, Kit cocked her head to the side and deliberated over what he’d said. “How do you know that he’s going that direction?”

“I can tell by the echo of his footsteps.”

“Wouldn’t he have to pass by quite a few of the other Representatives’ rooms?”

“Yes, I believe he would. But his footsteps alone might not be enough to wake them. It’s all the other commotion I think that rouses me. And I happen to be a light sleeper.”

Kit knew that from the times she had shared her bed with him. It seemed any time she stirred at all, he would awaken. “Why would he be headed that direction?”

“Perhaps he’s going to meet someone, an informant, a messenger from the queen?” Danyen’s ideas seemed valid, but Kit wasn’t certain her mother would leave the sort of important information she was handing off to Pierce up to one of her minions. Rona would likely want to impart her secret information to him herself.

“It is a possibility,” she agreed. “I wonder though....” She couldn’t think of a hallway that crossed back over and joined the main hall that went to her mother’s chambers, but there could be a roundabout way of getting there. Castle Wrenbrook was huge, with lots of halls and passages. Perhaps Pierce was taking a different route so he wouldn’t be seen.

“I could follow him.”

Kit raised an eyebrow at the suggestion. She would’ve never considered asking him to do something so dangerous. “What if he saw you?”

“I don’t think he would. I’m very nimble.” Danyen’s eyes had a twinkle in them with that last statement, and she remembered how very true it was. “Pierce isn’t as sneaky as he lets on. He’s rather dull-witted, if you don’t mind me saying so, and I’m fairly certain I could hide from him if need be.”

“I do appreciate the offer. Let me think on it.” Kit placed her hand on his knee, still mulling over the situation in her mind. There had to be a logical reason why Pierce would go that direction. It would occur to her eventually.

“I’m more than happy to do anything I can to assist you, Kit,” Danyen said, his voice becoming more heady with each word. He reached up and brushed a loose curl from her face, his fingertips grazing her cheek and setting it aflame. “Say the word, and I’ll do whatever you wish.”

Sparks ignited in Kit’s core. She shifted toward him on the couch, and Danyen leaned in as well, their lips meeting as his arms came around her, and Kit slid her hand around his back. He wasn’t musclebound like some of the others, but he had a nice physique. Long and lithe with more grace than most of the women Kit knew, it had crossed her mind more than once that he would make a wonderful professional dancer in a different life. Now, she was having trouble catching her breath as he cupped her jaw and moved his lips to her ear and down her neck.

They were in the library, and anyone could walk in at any time. In fact, Kit was fairly certain her guards had followed her and that they were standing outside of the door now. It wasn’t likely they could hear anything, since the entangled couple was in the back of a large room, but the idea that they could be interrupted at any moment was both terrifying and tantalizing.

Danyen’s hand slid up her skirts, and through her thin knickers, she could feel the warmth of his palm as he massaged her thigh. Initially, Kit had thought they might kiss a few times and be done, but the urgency within her was building, and when he ran his tongue across the exposed skin above her bodice, Kit needed him to take her now.

She wanted to rip his jerkin and tunic off to have more of his flesh on hers, but since that was not a necessity, she reached for his trousers instead, pulling at his belt. Danyen seemed to realize at that moment that this was more than he had expected. He pulled back slightly, caught her eyes, and when Kit smiled at him, he reached around to unlatch the top few hooks of her dress. Once it was loosened, he kissed her once more, deeper this time, and then freed her breasts from their restraints.

Kit had his belt unbuckled but had to stop there as the feel of Danyen’s rough tongue encircling her nipple left her breathless. He nipped at her sensitive flesh, bringing a hint of pain to the rapture she was feeling and sending her head spinning. When he took hold of her with his lips and began to suck, she had to hold onto his shoulders to keep herself upright. Her head tipped back, and she cried out in bliss, though she had enough of her wits about her still to keep quiet.

Danyen released her and found her mouth again, producing a sheath from somewhere in his trousers. Kit helped him pull them down just enough to free his member, and then he worked the sheath on while Kit explored his neck with her lips. He tasted salty and smelled of soap and cedar, and with every lick of his skin, she grew more desperate to feel him inside of her.

Her knickers were in the way. She cursed herself for not wearing the ones she’d worn to the maze run, the ones with no crotch. As uncomfortable as they were to wear, in this position, it would have made access much simpler. Kicking her slippers off, she pulled her gown and skirts up, and Danyen took hold of the waistband of her knickers and pulled them completely off in one motion. Kit stared at him in shock, but she didn’t have much time to marvel in his newly found skills as he grabbed hold of her thighs and pulled her toward him, causing her to lean back against the arm of the settee as she went.

His tongue tangled with hers, and the weight of him on top of her was oddly satisfying as Kit considered how scandalous it was to be pleasuring each other in the library. Danyen seemed uninhibited, which was also a surprise to her because he was normally so reserved. He entered her quickly, one hand on her breast as the other steadied him against the sofa arm, and Kit stifled a squeal at the feel of him rushing into her. She tipped her hips up, bucking into him as he came at her again and again in swift fluid motions.

Danyen had one foot on the floor, which gave him even more leverage. He certainly wasn’t the most amply equipped of her men, but he knew how to make the most of what the goddesses had given him. Kit tightened around him, gripping his shaft and releasing with each rhythmic thrust. She began to spasm in euphoria, and Danyen’s hand on her hips lifted her to meet him.

In a matter of minutes, Kit was at her peak, shuttering and writhing in ecstasy. Danyen held her there for as long as he could, but it seemed the excitement of being together in the library was too much for him, and just when Kit thought she couldn’t control the moan that threatened to escape her lips, Danyen grunted and jerked inside of her a few times before stilling and resting his head on her shoulder.

Panting in pleasure and exhaustion, Kit held on to him tightly with both hands. He kissed her softly on the shoulder and then sat up, recovering more quickly than she did. Her lungs were burning, and there was a crick in her back from where she’d been pressed up against the arm of the settee, but it was absolutely worth it.

After a long moment, Kit pressed her breasts back down inside of her gown, and Danyen corrected his trousers. He reached around and tightened her stay and rehooked her gown. “Thank you, Princess.” His voice was low, calm. “I’m not sure what it is you do to me, but I’m afraid I can hardly stand to be in the same room with you without... wanting to do that.” He leaned down and picked up her knickers and handed them to her.

Kit wasn’t sure how to respond to his comment. She’d had no idea he felt that ravenous about her. He always seemed so relaxed. She pushed one leg into her undergarments and then the other. “I can honestly say I’ve never done that in a library before.”

He chuckled. “No, I haven’t either. As much as I love books, I think I shall love them even more now.”

Slipping her feet inside of her shoes, Kit ran her hands around her face, pressing back loose hairs. She hoped when she walked out the door, it wouldn’t be too obvious what they had been up to. Her breathing had almost returned to normal now, but she was still glistening with perspiration.

Kit took a moment to look at him and realized she was seeing him in a new light. She’d always found him interesting, though a bit aloof. Now, she realized he hadn’t been acting standoffish before; he was simply trying to control himself. She couldn’t help but smile. There was more to the tutor than met the eye.

“I will let you know what I can find out about Pierce,” Danyen said, looking down to make sure his clothing was straight.

“I would appreciate it,” Kit replied. She leaned over and found his lips one last time, hoping to convey that this was more than a quick tryst in the library to her. This was an enlightening experience for her to say the least.

Danyen stood, offering his hand, and Kit pulled herself to her feet. He smoothed back a loose hair, and Kit took his arm, trying to control her face as they exited the library. When she caught the eyes of her guards, she thought she saw a hint of amusement there, as if perhaps the princess had been a bit louder than she’d intended, but she couldn’t be sure. And she certainly wasn’t going to ask. As far as she was concerned, this was one more secret that could be locked among the books in her favorite room in the castle.