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“It could have.” she nearly screamed.
“You’re an idiot.” My hands rested on her shoulders and I found them inching up to cup her face. The touch was only meant to keep her steady.
“I hate you. I’ll never forgive you.” Every pointed word was like a sharp dagger stabbing at my heart.
“I hate you,” I snarled.
The air between us sizzled and cracked and our bodies moved violently, like the whips I loved to snap. Bitterly and aggressively, I pressed my lips to hers. Her shapely form melded to mine, her lips parting greedily.
Something in me broke when she kissed me back. Any semblance of self-control was gone at the wanton need in her caress. A carefully balanced push and pull of desire controlled both of us in a way neither of us had intended. Small, sacred, and foreign, ecstasy blossomed inside me.
Until it ended. And it did end.
Almost faster than it started, she peeled herself away from me. Her face and lips flushed.
My cheek reddened too, by the stinging slap of her hand.
Chapter14
Ryker
This wasn’t the same as Dace’s bridal proposition. There wasn’t a line of women I felt like I needed to compete with. My name wasn’t announced as I entered the room. Though some things did remain the same.
My scalp was sore from the poking and prodding, and the staff had twisted my curls into a smooth ponytail that curled behind me. Red was dabbed on my cheeks to give the impression of a never-ending blush, even though I usually did that just fine on my own. Lastly, I was given a dress.
This dress wasn’t made for someone else and then tailored last minute to fit my proportions. No, Dace’s tailor and dressmaker worked for hours on end to complete something that nobody else had ever worn, and the fabric was draped to complement me. This dress screamed royalty and it made me believe it too. I was a queen in this dress.
Gold satin was fitted to my bust and down my body, just past my bottom before flowing loosely to my toes. Glitter, like a thousand yellow diamonds, sparkled over the material that gathered in ruching along my sides. Sleeves dipped off my shoulders, like liquid gold as the sheer material flowed down in its own train. The tan skin of my thigh peeked out from the high slit.
I thanked the mother for that slit, without it I feared I wouldn’t have been able to walk. My metallic heels clicked against the floors as I paced back and forth. A ballroom was filled to the brim with members of the noble Fae from throughout the Twinity Court. Their babble carried out into the hallway with me.
A commotion rose and fell like a tidal wave as their new king entered to greet them. There were many here that didn’t like Dace and, given his track record, I didn’t entirely blame them. Yet, here he was, stepping up to the plate for them, for this court. And there were still plenty of Fae who did support him, plenty of Nymphs too, like me.
I wouldn’t be alone now, and I was dressed for the part I played, but somehow I still couldn’t bring myself to enter the room. Cold stone pressed against my back and I leaned into the wall, picking at my fingernails.Waiting does you no good. Just go in there.
Dace’s voice carried throughout the room, I could hear him growing closer to the door that I lurked next to like a poorly hidden stalker. He shook hands and welcomed people, politely asking how they were and thanking them for their presence on such an important day.
You should be in there. This is his crowning.
“Thank you, thank you,” Dace said warmly. I smiled to myself at the richness of his voice. “Now, I know that I’ve just arrived, but it seems that I have forgotten something. Please excuse me.”
Whomever he spoke to pardoned him politely. The light tap of feet by someone who held themselves confidently passed through the door next to me. My teeth scraped over my lips as I looked up.
“Hello there,” Dace said in a quiet tone, lowering his head to meet my gaze.
The tailor had done…amazing. Just like every other suit I’d ever seen him wear, it fit his body perfectly, slimming him, but complementing the bulk of muscle he carried. He shimmered under the light, the golden tone only broken by the heavy embroidery of black flowers along the material and the onyx of the button up shirt underneath his jacket.
His hands were tucked into the pockets of the pants, the front panels of his jacket pushed behind his arms. His crystalline blue eyes were wide, his smile falling open to gape at me. “Oh, my gods,” he said just as quietly. The slash of his grin flashed across his face. He stepped closer to me.
Traces of pine and the crisp scent of a fresh winter snowfall filled the air between us. I breathed it in. My vision bent the room at odd angles as my head became light. Gently, I placed my hand on his chest. I teased at a black button, thinking about what I could do if I just… unbuttoned it. And the next one. And the one after that. This was a little rude after all. I was so used to seeing through his shirts, and now he wanted to dress modestly? I supposed it didn’t matter when his nearness already made my head spin.
“Oh, my gods,” he breathed. Both hands were already reaching out, tracing down the sides of my bust, my stomach, and down to my hips. His hands were like fire, searing through my gown, and burning down my flesh.
“You said that already,” I said, my body warming too quickly.
“And I meant it. You look,” he swallowed, waving one hand in the air as if he was trying to pluck the words from the atmosphere, “unbelievable. I may actually be speechless.”
“Thank you.” I looked up at his face, hardly able to pull my eyes away from his lips.
