She glancesat me, then Fabia, then me again.I will her to say yes.
Opening her mouth, shefreezes.
Thenshe closesit.
Opensit again.
Jace glancesat me.In another few seconds of hesitation, hewillbe forced to cancel the wedding.Oyveni’sLaw of Matrimonyisclear: any pause longer than ten seconds after the question: “Do youenter this marriage willingly?”countsas a sign of duress.
“Yes,” she breathes, releasing the tightness in my chest.
“Then I pronounce you wife and husband.”
With the ceremony over, I start to turndown the aisleto leave.Arienna does as well, but Jace, damn him, says,“You may now kiss the groom.”
As soon as those words poison the air, Arienna throwsherselfat me.She wrapsher hands aroundthe back of my neck and yanksme down, moving me out of surprise rather thanbymerestrength.Her lips touch mine, and the curse Iwasabout to hurl at Jaceisdrowned out by the wet slop of her mouth.The glare Iwasabout to pin him withis nowredirectedather.Lifting my hands, Igoto rip hers off me.
Butoftheir own will, they land on her face, cupping both her cheeks.Tilting her head, Igoover every possible reason why I should put a stop to this.I’mgoing to be the one executing her.The one torturing her.The Courtwilluse her against me.
And yet, none of that stopsmy fingers from holding her still when she triesto move back.Doesn’tstop my tongue from pushing past her lips andturning her chaotic kiss into one of skill.Doesn’tstop me from running a hand down her face to her neck.Her pulse beatsrapidly against my palm as I curl my fingers around her throat.A breathy sigh escapesher as she pressesagainst my hand.
Testing me.
My grip tightens.My cock jumpsupright, begging to be used with the same fervour sheis.
Moving my other hand into her hair, I grab hershortpink locks and pull.Her lipsareripped from mine, giving me the reprieve Idon’twant but desperately need.
As she opensher eyes, staring at me under lashes heavy with lust, I’mnearly overcome with the urge to taste her again.To claim her soft lips as mine.
But Idon’tneed to kiss heragainin order to seal our marriage.
And I sure as heldon’tneed to see her again untilhercoronation.
Dropping my hands, I shoot a hard glare at Jace, turn on my heels, andstridefrom the hall.
For fuck’s sake, I never should’ve come to my wedding.
Eighteen
Agood brownie… never eats children.
That should be a rule, right?How is that not a rule?- Arienna
Oh.
Dear.
Gods.
That mancankiss.
Raising a hand to myswollenlips, I wonder how I made it twenty-seven years without ever having been kissed likethat.Karl’s ideawasall tongueand teethand no lips.And he definitelynever didthat hand thing.
I trail my fingers down to my neck and swallow, feeling my pulse against the tips.Feeling the ghost of his touch still branding my throat.
My eyes land onKing Richard’sass as he walksaway.Between his wasp-like wings and his pitch-black waistcoat, myeyescan’tsee much of it, but my minddoesn’tseem to have the same issue.
Hot.
