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“The prince’s favorite color,” she said, giving me a knowing look. That wasn’t why I chose the color, but it did make me smile slightly at her blatant remarks. The real reason I had chosen black was because I was terrified of wearing white and ruining it with a stain.
She guided me to a room where she took endless measurements of me as I stood in front of mirrors. I zoned out at one point, and I didn’t realize what was happening until I saw myself standing in front of a mirror at Crimson Castle.
?????
Cassius walked up behind me as I stood in a sheer nightgown. His eyes met mine in the mirror and he smiled at me as his arms wrapped around my stomach pulling me flush against him.
“What are you thinking about so hard in here, My Love?” he whispered into my ear before kissing the soft skin below it.
“Mostly you.” I smiled back when he looked up just enough to catch my eyes in the mirror.
He gave me a knowing look before tugging me harder against him.
“You miss me today?” he teased.
I could hardly think about anything when his mouth moved against my skin and his hands teased me. My eyes closed and I let my head fall back onto his shoulder so he could have better access.
“Yes,” I whispered. “I missed you.”
He gave me a noise of approval as he slowly lifted my nightgown up to expose my stomach. His hands were rough from hard work, but he was gentle as he touched me. His hand slid over my stomach and inched closer and closer to where I actually wanted him. He chuckled softly in my ear when I pushed my hips forward so he would get there faster.
“Look at how pretty you look like this.”
I opened my eyes to our reflection in the mirror. Cassius was still in his black uniform, but my nightgown was sheer and white. His hands held me tightly against him as he held up my nightgown to expose me. His eyes were glowing gold and mine were bright green. My hand reached around me and found his hair.
I turned my face and his lips crashed into mine with so much pent up want and need. I turned in his grip as he grabbed the back of my legs and lifted me. My legs wrapped around him as our kiss grew wild. His tongue forced its way into my mouth as his hand grabbed the back of my neck and forced me to not move. I had hardly realized we were moving until he sat on the edge of the bed, so I was straddling him.
His hands lifted off my nightgown as my fingers fumbled with the buttons on his uniform. I tore it off of him and my hands immediately ran over his muscled arms and chest. His tattoos swirled around every inch of him. It still caught my breath every time I saw them. Cassius was so fucking handsome. He pulled back slightly and looked at me.
“Gods, you're beautiful,” he whispered and gave me a soft kiss as my hands ran through his hair. He looked at me again with a slight smile. “I thank the gods every day that I found you, Thea. That you’re mine and no one else can have you.”
My heart raced in my chest at his words. His finger softly traced my face.
“I’m only yours, Cassius, forever,” I whispered before his mouth crushed into mine.
?????
Ophelia turning me for measurements startled me out of the memory. My heart was pounding so fast I thought she would notice. She continued to hum and take measurements without noticing my flushed cheeks or racing heart. I could practically feel the ghost of Cassius touching my skin and kissing me deeply still. He looked like he cared for me, not like I was a monster. So, which was true?
Ophelia smiled up at me as she finally finished taking measurements. “Well, darling I should have this done tomorrow afternoon. Swing by a few hours before dinner.”
“Okay. Thank you, Ophelia.” Throwing my cloak back on, I lifted my hood as I left the store. It was still raining, and the clouds had blocked out nearly all the light. I followed the stoned street back to the castle. My mind flashed with the memory of Cassius and me. The Wisp followed me, but she was pure black, so she didn’t help see anything in the dark.
I froze in the rain just outside the castle door for a long moment stuck in the way he kissed me. The way he touched me and looked at me. Those pretty words he said. I shook my head and headed inside. Dinner had already been served but I went to get my plate hoping I wasn’t too late.
When I walked into the dining room it was empty. Damn it. My stomach growled loudly as I glanced up at Cassius stalking down the hallway going the opposite direction to me. His eyes were glued to me, but I could instantly feel the heat in my cheeks as I looked at him. He could remember all of this. Did he walk around plagued with these memories all the time? Cassius could remember every kiss, every touch, every word spoken.
Did it haunt him like this single memory haunted me? He was still openly watching me, and I wanted to say something to him, but I didn’t know what to say. I had been cruel to him, but he was the same to me. My mind flashed to him kissing me. He wouldn’t kiss me like that if he hated me. Would he?
“I set a plate of food on your bed just in case you’re hungry.” He spoke when I passed him. My feet stopped instantly at the sound of his voice, but he didn’t stop. He kept walking down the dark hallway until he disappeared.
Chapter 20
“You know most ladies aren’t keen on this sort of thing,” Cassius smirked at me from the other side of the white circle on the ground. My smile grew bigger.
“If you’re scared of me, just come out and say it.” He gave me a wonderful laugh in return. My eyes took in all of the happiness on his face, his pretty eyes shining brightly at me. For me.
“You don’t scare me, Little Viper.”
