Isshe naked?Doesshe like it rough?Isshe touching herself, sliding two fingers in as she–
Lunging to the right, I slam Jace into the wall,pinninghis throatwith my forearm.The bastard tried to sneak past me to take a look.
Cursing, Itakea step back anddropmy arm.
Jace staresat me for a split second and then he laughs.“Jealousy looks good on you,Your Majesty.”
I play with the idea of cutting his tongue off and shoving it down his throat.Except, masochist that heis, hewould probably get a boner.
I turn away in disgust.
“Where are you going?”he shouts.
Ifreeze, knowing damn well he said it loud enough for my brother to hear.A promise of death in my eyes, I turn backaround.
Jace grins, not a slither of fear in him.
“Richard?”Nicholas callsfrom the other side of the door.Water splashes.Wet footsteps squelch across the floor.
Before hecanopen it, I stride inside.Jace trailsbehind me, a shadow I’velong learned Icannotshake.
“Did you get an answer?”I snap, my voice a near growl.The urge to look into theemeraldpool, at the pink-haired brownie relaxing in it,wrapsaround every atom of my existence.My entire bodyisas attuned to her now as itwaslast night when I carried her drunken ass to the dungeons.
But I refuse to give in, to look.Iamthe master of my own body.
“Not yet.I’ve only just asked.”
“You’ve been down here for hours,Nicholas,” Isnap.
My brother raisesa brow in surprise, his eyes glancing to Jace.Picturing the bastard behind me smiling like a fool, I struggle to regain my control.
“It’s you,” the brownie breathes, rising from the water like Aphroditedidall those years ago.“I’m happy you’re not a dream.”
I look at her, about to ask what she’stalking about, but my tonguebecomesas useless as a male virgin to a woman wanting an orgasm.
Sheisnaked.
And dripping wet.
And staring at me as if she wantsto have things done to her that would make even abrownieblush.
Shifting my feet, Ibreakhold of her gaze.As my eyes latch on to her small breasts, Iamirritated to discover sheisn’tnaked at all.Her bathing suit – or bra, rather,isjust a close match to the colour of her skin.
Scowling, I look at Nicholas.Jace snickersbehind me.
“Is everything okay?”my brother asksslowly.
“I needed your answer before the meeting.Whatthe fuckhave you been doing?”
“And why did you need to take off your tunic?”Jace adds innocently behind me.
I refuse to react, to show my need to know.As Arienna movesagain, stepping from the rock pool, Ifindmyself watching her.Her legs, although short, captivate everypartof me.Beads of water slidedown her tanned flesh, and I imagine licking them all upone at a time.The V between her thighsissoaked, though not in the way I wantit to be.I wonder if sheisa squirter.I curse myself for never being able to find out.
If the Courtthinks I haveanobsession with her –which I don’t–theywilltry to finda way to use her against me.Theywillmake the torture even more vile, expecting me to break, to refuse to do my duty and execute her.It would be grounds for my ‘dismissal’ as king, something I refuse to let happenbefore I can drag Raza into a new age.
Wrenching my gaze away from her gorgeous body, I focus back on my brother.“Well?”Igrowlwhen ittakeshim more than a second to respond.Fuck.I need to get out of here, to get away from her.
“What in Hel’s name is your problem?”Awomansnaps.“Do you get off on throwing your weight around?It’s nowonder youcan’tfinda wife on your own.I bet Arienna isn’t even the firstprisoneryou asked, is she?But they all gladly chose death rather than be shackled to you.”
