“His nipples?”I breathe, picturing it in my mind.
Sheshakesher head again.
My eyes widen.I swallow.Hard.And imagine something else sliding down my throat.A cold piece of metal hitting my tonsils.
Dear gods, Icannot wait to feel it.
“Does he last longer than four seconds?”
It’sher turn to stumble.“Oh, you poor thing.Seconds?No.Minutes?No.Hours… I’ve heard he’s gone for days before.”
My mind meltsfrom the heat coursing through my body.
“And given how long it’s been for him – suspected, of course.”She grins.“We take bets.Ajax said Irin said that Revna said that no one has gained entrance to his bedroom in almost six months.”
My feet bang into each other again.I reach a hand out to the wall to find my balance.“Six months?”A brownie would literally die.It’s how my Aunt Nora kicked the bucket.She could’ve used a bucket, ironically, considering she fell into an emptywellthree days before her end.
“Suspected.My sister reckons it’s been longer.”
“How much longer?”
“A year?But that’s just crazy.”Shestopsbefore we turn thecorner.Lowering her voice, sheleansin.“Do me a favour and keep track of how long he lasts the first time, will you?”
“The first…” I blink, the rest of her words sinking in.“What, no?I’m not –”
She laughs.“Yeah, you’re right.There’s no way you’ll be in a mind to count.”Shrugging, she stepsaround the corner.“But with a week of latrine duty on the line, I had to ask.”
Before Icansay anything, she stopsin front of a black door.Two guardsarestationed outside it: one raven-haired male, one blonde female.Curved swords hang at their sides.Leather adornstheir toned bodies.
“She’s here to see King Morningstar.”
Nodding, the woman knockson the door.
I twist my fingers in my slip, my nerves coming back in a rush.I shiver assomeone on the other side pullsthe dooropen.
Jace pokeshis head out, his mien easy, relaxing some of the tension in my shoulders.A grin spreadsacross his lips as his eyes land on mine.“Come in.”
I glance at my guardasI takethe first step.My chest squeezesall of the air from my lungs as Ilook uponmy king.Sittingat his desk,his headbent over some paper, he looksregal.Untouchable.Way out of my league.
Maybe thisisa mistake.Maybe I should’ve stayed in my chambers.
“Your wife is here to see you.”Walking past me, Jacestandsbeside Richard.He smilesencouragingly, and I grab on to that like the last slice of cake.
Lifting my chin, taking solace in the fact thatthere isn’t another woman in here, I blurt, “I’dlike you to… to join me in my chambers.For our wedding night.”
Flipping a page, Richardkeepshis eyes on his desk.“No.”He jotssomething down.“You’re dismissed.”
Twenty-One
Agood brownie neverscreams.
Ever.Ever.-Arienna
“What?”I stareat him, certain I’vemisheard.As my fingers dig into my thin blue slip, I wish I was wearing something thicker, something that could guard me against the harsh cut of his words, the embarrassment piercing my soul.I wish with all my being that Iwasat least wearingpanties.Itookthem off to be sexy, and now all Ifeellikeisa fool.
“I won’t join you in your chambers.”Heflipsthe page he’sreading, hisvioleteyes never once looking up.“I’m not interested in having sex with you.”
“But why?”
