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Aleks’s eyes darken. “Shave you? I can arrange that.”
A giggle bubbles up. I take the joint back and take another drag.
“Easy,” he says. “Now, keep your hands in your lap.”
He lifts another one of the chocolate-covered strawberries and puts the smallest tip in my mouth. The flavor of creamy chocolate and tangy, cold fruit hits my tongue. I lick my lips. "Yum. "
I watch him polish off three. “Yum, but we need some real food. Let’s take a walk.”
“I’m high as a kite and almost naked.”
“Sounds perfect.”
It's strange, walking down to the kitchen wearing next to nothing, but he makes it seem normal. A king in his domain, rummaging around the fridge and coming up with some cheese and crackers, cured meats and olives. We put together a makeshift charcuterie board, pair it with the champagne, and bring it all back to the bedroom. It's delicious.
Emboldened with my stomach full, I ask him a question. “Why did you marry me?" A handsome man like him could've gotten anybody, I would think. “Whyme?”
He shrugs. “I’m not one for dating. I had a girlfriend a long, long time ago. And I lost her. I haven’t wanted to date anyone since then. But you know the rules. You know the expectations. So when Mikhail made a deal with your brother, I agreed.”
He had someone before me? She isn’t here anymore, but I’m still jealous.
I put a small wedge of Parmesan on a round wheat cracker and take a bite. "And what happens now that we're married?"
"There have been many who were bidding for power in The Cove in the wake of our enemy’s death. Now that we're married, it gives us the first stronghold we need. Next step, children." My heart leaps.
"And then world domination," I say with forced cheerfulness.
“Exactly. My mother likes to say that man should not be alone.”
"Does she really quote the Bible to you? Does she know who you are?"
"I think it'sbecauseshe knows who we are that she's always quoting the Bible to us. Hoping to save our souls or something."
That makes me laugh. I go to reach for another strawberry, remember his admonition, and very politely put my hand back in my lap.
"Good girl,” he says approvingly.
I love it when he praises me. I love it when he looks at me like he's starving and he wants to eat me up. I love a lot of things about the two of us and that's probably dangerous as hell.
He's sitting in a chair across from the bed, spread in that casual manly way with his knees parted and his elbows resting on his thighs. "I want to look at you. Stand in front of me, Harper.”
CHAPTER NINE
Harper
I’msuperdrunk,or high, or whatever you call the combination of both of those things. And I had no idea this could happen, but I swear every nerve ending in my body’s been lit on fire.
I flinch when he reaches for me but have no chance to do anything more before he tugs me onto his lap. The feel of his hardness pressing into my ass tells me he likes what he sees. Pride swells in my chest.
That feels nice, not scary like I’d imagined it would.
“How are you feeling now?” he asks. I hold my breath when he leans forward and slides his mouth over the hollow of my neck. His hair tickles my chin.
“Less inhibited, you could say.” My voice sounds distant. “What are you doing?”
His shoulders rise when he inhales. “You smell so good.”
“You wanted to smell me?”
