“No. Look at me.”
I opened my eyes and peered up at Ryan’s face, once again trying to read him. But his face had grown harsh, determined. The angled planes were even more obvious in the candlelight, the rough cut of his jaw lined in a day’s stubble. His thick lips were closed, and I couldn’t tell if his expression was angry or not. My nerves doubled. Did he take it as an insult? A rejection of him? “I thought it was the fair thing to do. I don’t want you to feel obligated—”
Ryan reached for me, grabbed me at the waist and pulled me flush against his body. His lips skimmed my ear. My pulse turned to thunder.
He stopped. He let go and pushed me roughly back.
“Obligated to what?”
“You don’t have to be with me. I won’t make you. You should be free to love whomever you want.”
“And you?”
I turned to him, hesitantly. I forced myself to meet his eyes. “I’d never have agreed to the marriage contract if I didn’t want you.” My eyes flickered down to the floor. Shite! I was coming across as skittish. As if I were still the young girl that ran away from him all those years ago. Why did he have this effect on me?
Ryan dipped his hand under my chin and raised my face. He waited until I looked into his eyes. His deep brown, burning eyes.
“I can’t do anything with you while you’re wearing my mother’s dress. You smell like her.”
My mouth dropped open. That was the absolute last thing I expected him to say.
“Take it off.”
I stared into his eyes and slowly realized Ryan had slipped into his dominant persona. He hadn’t headed out the door to find the first girl he could. He’d stayed. The desire I saw in his eyes squashed my insecurities. My nerves melted into elation. My body throbbed as I got to say the words I’d teased him with for a fortnight. Words that now made my lady bits pulse with desire.
“Yes … sir.”
I reached up to undo the string that tied the bodice of the dress closed. I untied it and pulled it over my head. I grabbed the ruffled, white one-piece gown underneath and slowly edged it upward, giving him time to trace the lines of my body with his eyes. I tossed it aside, and it landed half on Declan’s face. He didn’t notice.
“Turn around.”
I turned, slowly. In a full circle. When I returned to face him, Ryan’s eyes locked on my mound. It made my heart patter faster and faster in my chest. I wanted so badly to run to him. To rip his clothes off and expose him as well. But Ryan radiated dominance. He wanted me, I could feel it. I could see his desire bulging. But he was going to make me work to get it.
Since we were playing this game, I decided I should up the ante. Perhaps I could make him as desperate as I felt. As delirious with desire as I was.
“The girls in the bawd houses … they turn a bit differently,” I whispered.
Ryan’s eyes jerked up to mine. “Show me,” he growled.
I grabbed a wooden chair from the corner and dragged it over to him. I sat down on it, facing him. I waited until his gazed drifted to my face before giving him as naughty a smile as I could manage. Then I slowly spread my legs as wide as they could go. I could feel my nether lips part; I was so wet, I was certain he could see the gloss coating them.
Ryan licked his lips. His breathing grew ragged.
Seeing him, sensing he was close, that soon he might just grab me and slam me into the wall and give us both what we wanted, I pushed further.
Slowly I dragged my right leg skyward, until it was straight up in the air. I pointed my toes. I let him watch me in an open split for a moment, wishing he’d step forward and just take me right there in the chair. I shook with lust.
I swung my right leg over to the left side of the chair until my foot made contact with the floor. I stood and twisted to face the chair. I bent forward over the chair back to give him a good view of my ass—
Smack!
Ryan spanked me. Not too hard. But not gently, either. I sucked in a breath.
Sard! The spank nearly made me come undone. I panted, roughly, waiting for him to grab me, or to hear his pants hit the floor.
Neither happened.
“Get on your knees. And stay there. Wait for me.”
I sunk to my knees next to the chair. My entire body was strung so tight, I felt I might snap. I felt like one more word from him would make me shatter into a thousand pieces in an endless, mindless orgasm. But he was going to make me wait. Dominant asshole.
My nipples puckered in the cold. In anticipation. I heard the door to the bedroom open behind me. It swung shut. I heard footsteps fade. Then I couldn’t hear anymore.
I waited.
I waited.
I waited until pinpricks grew in my legs and I had no choice but to move them. I waited until the goosebumps turned into shivers. I waited until I realized … Ryan wasn’t coming back.
That’s when I curled into a ball and cried.
A hand on the nape of my neck pulled me out of my tear-induced stupor.
I turned, wiping my wet face on my arm.
Come here, Dove.
Quinn pulled me onto his lap. He stroked my back gently. Stroked my arms.
What are you doing here?
I heard you crying.
But—how?
Hopped on a pegasus.
I nodded and snuggled further into his chest. He rocked me back and forth.
He left me. I know I deserve it. But he left—
I’m here, Dove. I’m not going to leave you. Quinn chafed warmth back into my hands. He gave me gentle, chaste kisses all along my forehead and cheeks. Shh. Shh. It’s alright.
Is this what it felt like? I’m a monster. I swear, I didn’t—
Dove, you didn’t leave us naked in the middle of the room.
But, Connor—
Will come around. Hush.
He rocked me. Then stopped. Look, Dove.
He pointed toward the bed. From under it, out hopped a bunny. Then a deer seemed to stand from behind the bed. Birds fluttered down from the flower-patterned canopy.
What? How?
The animals came closer. The bunny snuggled his head under my hand. I swear, I could feel him—the soft feathery texture of his grey fur on my fingertips.
I turned to Quinn. You’re making me hallucinate again?
Hallucinate. I would call it more ‘an enchanted state.’ Sounds better.
I rolled my eyes.
What? I thought princesses loved woodland creatures. No? Would you prefer—the creatures disappeared. Instead, they were replaced by flaming salamanders running up and down the walls.
You shite! I gave a broken laugh and leaned into Quinn. I pressed my nose against him.
Too much? he asked.
No. You’re perfect. And then I closed the tiny gap between us. And I kissed him. In real life. I ignored the fact that I’d been naked for another man, that tear tracks still streaked my face, that my eyes were probably puffy and swollen. All I thought about was how much I was falling for Quinn.
The kiss was sweet and pure. And it seemed to wash away the insecurities I’d just felt.
I pressed my tongue toward his lips and he parted them. I leaned further into him, pressing my body against his, taking his black hair in my hands. One of my hands slid along his pointed elf ear and he shuddered.
Like that?
Love it.
I stroked the edge of his ear again as our tongues danced and his fingers wandered down my spine to grab my ass. He pulled me even tighter against him.
Just then, the bedroom door swung open and Ryan entered with a carafe of wine and two glasses in his hands. “I hope you’re ready for—what the hell?”
Quinn and I broke apart. I tried to climb out of his lap, but he wouldn’t let me. He held onto my hips. He let me turn enough that I could see Ryan, who had stopped in the doorway and was glaring down at us.
Quinn stood, dragging me behind him. I tried to wipe the tears off my face, but I was sure it was still blotchy.
I wasn’t sure what Quinn thought at Ryan, but Ryan exploded.
“What the sard are you talking about? This was my night. We’d agreed. I just went out for a second to get some goddamned wine so I didn’t shoot my load in two seconds!”
Quinn must have said something then.
“—I wouldn’t do that!” Ryan leaned around Quinn, making eye contact with me. “I didn’t leave you here to teach you a lesson, Blossie,” he whispered gently. “The burgmaster wanted a word, and then one of my fathers, and my uncle—”
My face flushed. Shite. I was so stupid. What an idiot. Of course. His family rarely saw him. And it was a party out there. Of course. “I’m sorry,” I whispered. “I thought—”
“I know.” Ryan set the wine and glasses down on the dresser with the basin and rag. “Come here.” He held his arms out for me.
I walked around Quinn toward Ryan. The tears started up without my permission. “I would have deserved it, if you had left,” I said, as he wrapped me up in his arms.
“No, you wouldn’t have,” Ryan grunted. “You didn’t leave out of spite or anger. You left because of whatever stupid spell is on you.” He crushed me into a hug.
“I did,” I muttered into his neck. “I really did.”
Ryan latched onto the back of my thighs and lifted my legs so that they surrounded his waist. He hugged me closer, kissing the top of my head. “Little Dearling. I’m not gonna hurt you. Okay? I won’t ever hurt you.”