The conversation shifted then, lighter topics returning as they finished the meal.

The women spoke of the villa’s daily affairs, the gardens that needed tending, and the training yards where Raani’s Dragon Maidens drilled with relentless discipline.

Jake listened, but his mind lingered on the invitation and the complicated web of bloodlines that seemed determined to pull him in every direction.

The morning light continued to pour through the tall arched windows, warming the long oak table and the women still gathered around it.

Jake sat at the head, the scroll from the Jiunsu clan set aside but not forgotten, his mind turning over the implications of old bloodlines and older grudges.

The meal had been cleared, but the air still carried the faint scent of spiced tea and fresh bread.

Elise and Maureen rose together, the two women exchanging a quick glance before Elise turned to Jake with a small, warm smile.

"Maureen has offered to take me into the city for some shopping," she said, her voice light but carrying an undercurrent of relief.

"We thought it might be good to get out for a while. Clear our heads after everything."

Maureen nodded, her arms crossed in her usual swordswoman stance, though her expression had softened slightly.

"The markets are quieter in the morning. We won’t be gone long. Just some supplies and a chance to breathe outside these walls."

Jake gave them both a nod, his gaze lingering on Elise for a moment longer than necessary.

The two women left with a final round of goodbyes, their footsteps fading down the corridor.

The remaining group—Rosa, Chelsea, Raani, Matilda, and a few others—settled back into their seats as the maids returned with fresh pots of tea and small plates of fruit.

The atmosphere eased slightly, the tension from the earlier discussion giving way to the more familiar rhythm of the household.

As the topics have died down, Rosa looked at the new woman and a small playful smile appeared on her lips.

"How was the night?" she asked, her voice warm and knowing, carrying the easy familiarity of women who had already shared much.

Matilda’s cheeks colored slightly, but she met Rosa’s gaze with a small, genuine smile.

"It was really nice," she said softly.

"A wonderful one. I didn’t expect... well, I didn’t expect any of it. But it was good. Very good."

The words hung in the air for a moment, the other women exchanging subtle glances.

Chelsea’s lips curved in a quiet smile, while Raani’s golden eyes held a spark of understanding. The conversation shifted naturally then, moving from the night’s intimacies to more practical matters.

Matilda mentioned her shops in the market district, speaking with the quiet confidence of a woman who had built something of her own before the troubles with Kunther had forced her to seek protection.

"I have several shops in the central market," she said, her voice steady as she reached for her tea.

"They’ve been in my family for years. If they would be of use to you, young master, I would be willing to give a few of them over. It seems only fair, after everything you’ve offered us."

Jake opened his mouth to respond, but the words never left him.

Rosa had dropped her knife.

It clattered against the edge of the table and fell to the floor with a soft metallic sound. She bent down to retrieve it, disappearing beneath the long tablecloth with a rustle of silk. The other women glanced at the spot where she had been, mild curiosity flickering across their faces, but no one thought much of it at first.

A dropped knife was a dropped knife.

Jake felt her hands on his thighs a moment later.

They were warm and deliberate, sliding up the fabric of his robe with quiet confidence.

Rosa’s fingers worked the ties open, unzipping the front of his trousers with practiced ease. Jake’s breath caught, but he kept his expression neutral, his hand tightening slightly around his goblet.

He looked down at her, her eyes staring at him while other women wondered what was happening.

She took his dick in her hands, slowly stroking him. Then she bent her head, taking in the smell of his dick.

He felt her warm breath against his skin, then the soft, wet heat of her mouth as she took him in. Her tongue swirled around the head of his cock, licking and sucking with slow, devoted strokes, cleaning him from the remnants of the night before while bringing him back to hardness.

She managed to move her head up and down on his length under the table, keeping the sounds to a minimum.

Her hand squeezed his thigh in warning, a silent reminder to stay quiet.

She took him deeper into her mouth, her full lips stretching around his girth as she sucked him with the same mature, experienced skill she had shown earlier that morning.

The wet, soft sounds were muffled by the tablecloth, but Jake could hear them clearly—the gentle slurps, the quiet hum of satisfaction in her throat. Her tongue pressed along the underside, swirling around the sensitive head before taking him deeper again.

She was thorough and devoted, her head bobbing slowly under the table as she worshipped him with her mouth.

Above the table, the conversation continued as if nothing was happening.

"I appreciate the offer," Jake said, his voice carefully controlled as Rosa’s mouth moved faster, her hand stroking the base of his shaft in time with her sucking.

"The shops could be useful for the villa’s trade. But I don’t want you to feel obligated."

Rosa’s response was a soft, muffled hum around his cock, the vibration sending a jolt of pleasure up his spine. She sucked him harder, her tongue working the sensitive underside, her cheeks hollowing with effort. Jake’s free hand tightened on the edge of the table, his knuckles whitening, but his face remained composed.

Chelsea raised her brows, clearly understanding what’s happening under the desk, as she could see his face and the twitching of his body.