Jax’s attention dipped to where my hand was, and another low sound came from his throat, part content rumble and part possessive purr.
Stepping closer, he slid an arm around my waist and pressed his lips to my ear. “Soon, mate, I shall place a child in your belly and watch it grow. Nothing would give me greater pleasure than to see you with my seed swelling you round the middle.”
A throb of lust shivered through my insides. “Perhaps we could enjoy a few summers first with just the two of us? If the stars and galaxy eventually decide to bless us with a child, that is.”
Nostrils flaring, Jax drank in my scent, then opened the door to what I assumed was his private suite. A sultry smile curved his lips. “I could be persuaded to wait. But I shall insist we practice conceiving a child many,manytimes in the interim. Now, come, my love, this chambers is now just as much yours as it is mine.”
I stepped over the threshold, Jax still in front of me, and a strong wash of magic prickled my skin. I arched an eyebrow. “Another ward?”
He turned, his large frame blocking the view of his residence. “Of course. This is my private suite. I don’t allow anyone in here, not even the servants. Only you have access now, in addition to me.”
“Truly? You do the cleaning yourself?”
“It’s nothing a few charms can’t take care of.”
“And you’ve never allowed anyone in here? Ever? Not even your friends? Or your parents?”
“No, not even them. Much of my life”—his brow furrowed—“hasn’t been mine. It’s owned by others, but here, within these walls, it’s truly a haven for me. Nobody disturbs me when my doors are shut, not even the king and queen.”
My breath caught. “Are you seriously telling me I’m the only one to have ever stepped over that threshold?”
He nodded. “Since I moved up here eighty summers ago? Yes. Only you.”
“And you’re truly telling me you’ve never had another female up here? Not even for a night?” It was a ridiculous question. If he had, I didn’t want to know, but in response, he only stepped closer to me.
“No, Elowen. You are the only female ever to pass through my ward. Nobody has been in here since I claimed this as my private residence. Only you, my love.”
Warmth bloomed through me, and he finally moved so I could see the chambers that he’d now opened up to me.
I gasped, my gaze alighting on the circular stone walls holding dozens of tall windows. A thick, plush carpet graced the room’s center, and a large canopied bed sat by the far wall. The bed was large enough to easily hold three, even four, fae and was perfectly made without a wrinkle or crease in sight.
The bed’s large coverlet was a deep navy with stone-gray sheets peeking out beneath it. Matching dark-wood tables graced the bed’s sides, and across the chamber directly facing the bed waited a huge fireplace.
Surrounding the fire were two chairs and a sofa. I couldn’t help but imagine us one day curling up on that couch, letting the fire warm us on a cold winter night, as the sounds of Jaggedston drifted to us faintly from the city streets below.
On the far wall of the chamber sat a huge bookshelf filled with hundreds of books. Next to that was a writing desk covered with a stack of parchments and quills. And beside that was a wall of swords, crossbows, and bows and arrows.
I smiled playfully. “Do you do a bit of training up here as well?”
He chuckled. “I like having my weapons close.” Jax waited patiently, a content smile on his face as I explored his private suite. “I’ll make room for whatever you would like added to our chambers as well. There’s plenty of space.”
I couldn’t help but grin as I continued my wander. In the chambers’ corner, a door waited. The door led to a large bathing room, putting the one attached to the suite Bastian had to shame. Unlike that suite, the windows in this one were crystal clear and awarded one a breathtaking view of the Adriastic Sea glimmering along the coast.
I eyed the monstrous tub and fluffy towels beside it. Jax and I could both easily fit in that tub, and the thought of doing so sent a shiver through me.
“Do you like it?” he asked quietly from the doorway.
I swirled toward him. “I love it.”
“Come. I have something to show you.” He beckoned me, then wrapped his hand around mine.
I followed him out of the bathroom to another door that I hadn’t spotted since it lay close to the chambers’ entryway and was easy to miss behind the double doors.
Jax stepped through it, and I followed, only to stop dead in my tracks.
Ahugewardrobe stretched out in front of us, but instead of only holding clothes for the crown prince, half of it held female garments.
My heart began to pound when I eyed rack upon rack of beautiful sweaters, cozy tops, breeches in every color imaginable, billowy cottonum pants, simple dresses, and shelf after shelf of underthings in every shade of color. And at the far end of the wardrobe in a very small space, was a rack of opulent gowns.
