She jumped down from the counter, her breasts jiggling, and he nearly forgot what they were arguing about.
She bent over to grab her panties and chemise, then hastily pulled them on. Her frustration was so adorable that he had to bite his lip to keep from laughing. HighGods, he was such an asshole. But if he broke, she’d resume her ill-advised campaign to spy on his fiancée.
Dressed again, she ran her fingers through her hair, pulling out the last few pins. “Thanks for the orgasm, pterodactyl, but if you’re not going to get me that key, I’ll do it myself.”
She made to stride past him, but he caught her elbow. He didn’t understand why she was so insistent.
“Zee, justleaveit. There are far more important things to be doing.” Cael leaned in again, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. “And you’re going to prefer your new assignment.”
She cocked a brow. “Oh, am I?”
“Trust me.” Cael nodded, then lifted her wrist and tapped the cuff, portaling them out of the room.
After a quick tripto Xenia’s quarters to snag a clean uniform and ensure she could hide the cuff beneath her sleeve—and after Cael did some careful rearranging of his untucked shirt to hide the spot on his pants—he brought her to Mistress Ostere to secure her new assignment.
The Stoneridge estate library was a beautiful stone and glass building just inside the entrance gate and separate from the main house.
It wasn’t as large as the Temple library in Thalenn, but certainly larger than one would expect to find within a private residence.
When he opened the thick glass door, Xenia’s jaw dropped, her gaze gamboling through the hall.
The exact reaction he’d been hoping for.
“Told you you’d like it.” He winked.
Flowing up to the coffered ceiling, three full floors of shelves were accessed by an iron spiral staircase. On the main floor, tufted leather couches and an arrangement of oak tables surrounded a floor-to-ceiling riverstone fireplace.
He placed his hand at the small of her back, savoring the contact. He wanted to steal her back to his bedroom and lock her away from the world. Keep her safe.
Keep herhis.
But cocooning Xenia here among her beloved books, hidden from the prying eyes of Arran and Tomas—not to mention his fucking fiancée—gave him at leastsomesense of security. He could’ve kissed Mistress Ostere when she’d agreed to it.
He walked Xenia up to the main desk and the human librarian, a middle-aged woman with soil-dark hair and kind eyes, bowed at his approach.
“Master Zephryus,” she said, “what a pleasure. What can I do for you today?”
“Good to see you again, Margaret.” He pasted on his most charming smile. One that felt less fake than it might have a few weeks ago. Swore he saw Xenia bite her lip to stifle a chuckle. “This is Mistress Cirillo. She’s new on staff and she’s been assigned to the library.”
“Wonderful.” Margaret’s eyes twinkled with genuine merriment. “I’ll be happy for the help.”
“She’s also assisting me with some research.” Cael leaned a forearm onto the desk. “I’ve been away from Stoneridge for too long, and I need to get up to speed on my father’s business ventures. I trust you’ll make sure she’s not too bogged down with dusting and re-shelving to help me?”
Margaret sighed, enraptured by the full force of Cael’s charisma. “Of course. Whatever you need.”
“You’re a doll, Margaret, thank you.” The woman giggled, a peony blush staining her cheeks. Xenia was shaking with barely concealed laughter. “I’ll show her around the hall, then leave her to your care.”
Margaret dipped her head. “As you wish.”
Cael tapped a hand against his heart, a gesture of gratitude, then led Xenia to the first row of stacks, loudly naming the section.
Once he knew Margaret couldn’t overhear them, he cornered Xenia, placing his hands on the shelf behind her head and caging her between his arms.
“Whatever you need, Master Zephryus,” Xenia teased in Margaret’s high-pitched voice. “High Gods, you had that woman—and Mistress Ostere, I might add—eating out of the palm of your hand.”
He smirked, leaning in close enough to run his nose along her cheek. Fuck, she smelled damn-near edible. Especially with that lingering arousal still on her. “I can be charming when I want to be.”
“Good thing I’m not silly enough to fall for it.” Her eyes glittered with mischievous intent, and it took all of his restraint to not pull up her skirt, wrap her thighs around his waist and fuck her right here in the blissfully empty stacks.
