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The edges of his lips twitched, a sign that I had absolutely no reason to be concerned. “Take care of him. He is very fond of you and I don’t want to see his light extinguished, either. Treasure the light within the other and you two will flourish.”
My heart squeezed. It was such a simple request and it was one that I would have absolutely no problem with heeding. Lifting my jaw, I offered a small smile in return. “I will, I promise.”
All he gave me was a small nod before he started moving along, calling over his shoulder, “Your reservation is set up within the hour. I’ll send Gwen to Aydin so he can come collect you two when it’s time to be seated. Don’t make a mess, you two.”
I turned slightly to watch him go, a cluster of emotions still tearing through me. It didn’t dawn on me that I had succumbed to my thoughts so much that I didn’t hear the prince come up behind me. As soon as his hands took me by the shoulders to spin me around, I stiffened up with a gasp. The shock quickly shifted into pure panic with a part of me anticipating the sound of glass shattering.
Asher’s lips twitched. “The bottles are over on the table, pet. There’s no need to fret.”
Releasing the air trapped in my lungs, I managed to relax my tense muscles. “I’m sorry, I…I got lost in my thoughts. Today has been amazing so far and you have no idea how much it means to me just to meet some of your family. Emersyn was so sweet and Dario… He genuinely cares about you.”
Don’t snuff out her light.
His hands shifted to my lower back, keeping me pinned against him. “In time, it will make sense why I’ve chosen these places to show you. Even if it wasn’t the intention when we first crossed paths, you are my mate. I want you by my side when I take the throne and I want you to understand there is the side that I show the world…and one that I keep hidden.”
My eyes misted as I gazed up into those stunning eyes, spotting his eagerness to show me that he wasn’t that playboy prince any longer. Add in the fact that he was more than willing to introduce me to those hailing from his mother’s side and I was beginning to see him in an entirely different light. There was one side that was willing to burn down the world to protect what he held dear to his heart, while the other side was a sensitive soul that no one ever got to see.
Asher didn’t say anything further. He simply pressed his lips against my forehead and lingered there while the raw emotions continued to tear through us. Several minutes had passed before he pulled back and gestured at the platform. “I do hope you don't mind getting a little messy before dinner. This is…something my mother used to do with me when I was younger. Wine tends to taste far better when it’s done fresh like this.”
I couldn’t stop the giggle that was clawing up my throat. “You’ve seen how my mother treated me when I still lived in that house. I have absolutely no problem with getting a little messy.”
“Even if it means your feet might be stained for a week?” he teased.
Blowing out a breath, I pulled away from him and eased down to tug my shoes off. “As long as our witness for the sexual task doesn’t mind watching me go to town on you with purple feet. It’s not going to bother me either way.”
The edges of Asher’s lips twitched. “Very well, then. You might just enjoy this like I was hoping you would.” He shrugged off his jacket to drape it over the back of a nearby chair. There was a part of me that anticipated he would reach inside to retrieve his cell phone and transfer it to his back pocket, but he left the device behind. He simply nudged off his own shoes and socks before he strolled over toward a bucket on the floor filled to the brim with water.
Once I had my own shoes kicked off to the side and my pant legs rolled up, I joined him by it. My cheeks flushed with a familiar heat when he gestured for me to sit on the stool. I didn’t offer a hint of resistance on my part, simply obeying his request without question. That heat intensified when he knelt down onto one knee and started scrubbing my feet clean.
“Speak your mind, pet.” Asher dipped the sponge back into the water before continuing to work on my other foot.
I nibbled on my lower lip while I clung to the stool, holding on tightly to avoid succumbing to a fit of giggles. There were quite a few places that I couldn’t stand being touched simply because it tickled, yet I was also fully aware just how much those hands could work the tension away. It was orgasmic in its own way.
“Pet.”
Gritting my teeth, I closed my eyes and fought to work my way through my scrambled thoughts. “I just… You’re a prince, Asher. This isn’t a sight I ever thought I would see.”
The edges of his lips curled with the amusement echoing in his aura. “This is not something I would do for just anyone, pet. You are my mate, my future queen. I was being entirely serious when I told you we are equals now.”
The blush only gained strength the more he reminded me of how much things had changed compared to when we first met. Not only did I appreciate that he was eager to ensure those words stuck, it meant a lot that he believed them. I eased off the stool to pat my feet dry on the mat nearby. “Your turn.”
The prince drew his head back slightly. “There’s no need-”
I cut him off with a low growl. “Are you going to make me use your own middle name as ammo just so you will sit down? I want to return the favor.”
His eyes narrowed into thin slits. “The only time I want to hear Alessio coming out of those lips is when I’m fucking your pussy and making you scream it. You’ll be playing with fire otherwise, pet.” He eased down onto the stool, every part of his body language making it clear he was going to do this part himself.
Grinning, I immediately dipped down and grabbed his foot before he could stop me. With the sponge in one hand, I ran it along his heel. “Do I hear that punishment is in the near future if I do let it slip?” I purred.
Although he didn’t stop me from doing his feet just like he’d done mine, he did lean forward and catch me by the jaw. All it took was a tug up for me to lock gazes with him. “I can tell by the way you cringed sitting down that your ass is still raw, Quinn. Tempt me any further and you won’t be able to eat dinner properly.”
I smirked and reluctantly decided to let it slide for now. Attempting to eat dinner standing up would definitely prove a little too complicated, especially for how fancy this one appeared to be. That didn’t mean that I couldn’t push my luck later until he did bend me back over his knee. For now, I settled for finishing with his feet. I remained on my knees while he eased off the stool and dried them off.
Asher paused, reaching out to take me by the hand and pull me upright. He cupped my cheek with his spare hand. “I will never snuff out that flame within you, Quinn… You have my word on that.”
Those words took me by surprise, causing my breathing to hitch. “W-What?”
His lips twitched. “There’s a reason why my uncle made that request from both of us, pet. My mother was a lively woman when my father stumbled upon her. They came from two different worlds, but he had to have her. The life she came from didn’t quite line up with what his own father had expected for him when it came to a queen… So he changed her, year by year, until everything she loved had been tucked away. Hidden from the world.” He shook his head slowly, running his thumb along my skin. “I will never ask that of you.”
