She’d begun to do this, his stubborn wanton. She held onto her climax like she wanted to draw it out for a century.

It was tortuous.

And magnificent.

“Wife,” he slid a hand between them and tweaked her clit, “let go.”

She cried out, her pussy gripping his cock with her orgasm, and only then did he let go, roaring his climax, bucking into her, filling her with his seed, and through this, soft explosions lit the air all around them.

Nearly spent, he fell to her and rolled them, his hips twitching under hers, hers doing the same against his, her heavy breaths caressing his neck as he wrapped her hair around his fist and lifted her head.

He dipped his chin to catch her eyes while their combined fire still burst all over the room.

She was just noticing it, he could tell by the awe in which she was taking it in.

“Silence,” he rumbled to get her attention.

He got it as she breathed, “Mars, the room is on fire.”

“That is us,” he decreed.

She stared at him.

He pulsed up inside her and her lips parted as her eyes grew hooded and a flame erupted behind her body.

Proof.

“That…is…us,” he repeated.

“My love—” she began.

“Yes,” he bit, claiming those two words forcefully. “I was wrong, and you were right. But it is not about me. It is about we. We will be legend, Silence, Queen of Firenze.”

“I…I just want to be a good wife and a good mother…and maybe, if I can manage it, a good queen,” she replied.

The flames died out, the red receded, and they did this as Mars Laches stared at his bride.

This he did right before he burst into laughter, doing that wrapping his arms tight around her.

Eventually, Mars slid a hand up to cup the back of her head and he shoved her face in his neck.

But he was still laughing.

It took him a moment to feel her finger, which was trailing over his pectoral.

It did not take him any time at all to feel it circling his nipple.

“If you make me get out of this bed today, my king,” she muttered, “I won’t speak to you for a week.”

Smiling, he rolled them and looked down at his Silence.

“We will finish our breakfast. We will have the maids bring your wee monkey to us for a visit. We will have them take Piccola away when you have had your fill. And then I’ll fuck you for the rest of the day. Is that plan to your liking?”

“You seem to need, um…rest periods,” she noted.

He tipped his head. “Is that a challenge?”

“I don’t, well…know,” she replied, gazing up at him questioningly.

“It is a challenge,” he confirmed.

And then he smiled yet again before dipping closer.

“And I accept,” he drawled.