“I don’t know!”
We pass another person, a male servant, I think, and I just catch his wide-eyed stare when he straightens from a deep bow.
Magnar curses in the Agnidari language and takes the stairs three at a time. “Shouldn’t let others see you like this. All mine. I don’t care we’re sharing, you’re only mine today. You there! Close your fucking eyes or I’ll have them out!”
We pass more Agnidari, all of them locked into deep bows, their faces obscured. Magnar steps into the corridor which I think is wherethe bedrooms are. He pulls a door open and walks in, not stopping until he reaches the bed.
This isn’t my room. It’s much darker and more austere, the bed not as enormous, though still large. Half-drawn curtains flutter in the breeze from an open window.
Magnar heaves in a large breath, then lets me stand on the bed. His face is closed off, brows drawn tight. We’re face to face, and I grab onto his shoulder for balance as I kick off my shoes.
He squeezes his eyes tight and clenches his teeth, the barest sound of suffering escaping his pursed lips. His voice is choked up with regret.
“I terrified you, didn’t I?”
“No.”
I take his face in both hands and tug him to me, kissing everything I feel into his mouth. I am determined to make him understand.
My husband grunts and deepens the kiss, his tongue possessive and violent, hands urgent as they smooth the silk down my hips and buttocks. I let myself be lost in his caresses, breathing in his scent, tasting him with pleasure until my body moves on its own, my leg trying to hook around his hip, my arms pulling him closer.
Magnar pulls away, breathing hard, and looks into my eyes.
“How was my mother?”
“Terrible,” I say honestly. “She’s agreed to teach me how to be a queen. I’ll keep seeing her.”
He shakes his head and pulls me in, burying my face in the crook of his neck. I hold him as tight as I can, and he lets out a long breath, his shoulders dropping. He kisses my hair and murmurs softly into my ear.
“You’re tougher than you look. If she’s out of line, tell me. Please. I’ll set her straight.”
“I can deal with her. Magnar, I’m sorry about what I told Khay thatnight. I should have kept my mouth shut.”
He laughs derisively and pulls away to look at me. “Not your fault. I’m just so fucking jealous, but I will deal with it. Khay was helping.”
“I want to help, too,” I whisper, fingering the edge of his sharp ear until he swallows roughly.
“Good. Undress. I don’t want to tear this pretty thing, because you’re going to wear it for me again. Every time you want your husband inside you, you’ll wear a pretty dress.”
I laugh with embarrassment, slowly pulling the fabric up to my hips. “Um, I believe pretty dresses are the only ones I have.”
“I know.”
XXXV Love
His breath escapes in a rush when he sees I am completely naked underneath. He shakes his head with a low growl.
“I could have just hiked it up, taken you on my desk. Fuck, pet. Next time.”
I don’t tell him Arvi engineered this, and instead, I throw the dress onto the floor by his feet. Magnar tsks with disapproval and bends to pick it up, the breathtaking musculature of his back playing and straining with the movement. He goes over to a chair and drapes the silk over it.
“Respect those nice clothes that make me so fucking horny for you, wife.”
“Oh, so it’s the clothes,” I say, a bit amused, a bit uncertain.
He scoffs. “Of course not. You could wear a potato sack and still make me hard. Undo my belt.”
I glance at him, my face hot. He ordered me to undress him on our wedding night, as well. His fists clench and unclench at his sides as I loosen the buckle and pull the trousers down his hips, kneeling on the bed while he stands in front of me. He wears underwear today, and I push them down, too. The sight of his hard length fills my belly with hot fluttering.
