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I pull open the door, and Ali leans against the wall, drying her hair with a fluffy towel.
“You took longer than I did,” she says, laughing. “I thought Hex was joking about you being a bit of a diva.”
I smile, shaking my head. It’s preferable that she assume I took too much time fixing my hair. The truth that I fucked my palm not once, but twice thinking of her delicious curves could ruin whatever we have brewing.
“I wouldn’t feel comfortable invading the orc’s space.” My eyes fly to the guest room. Hex and I have meticulously prepared it for thechanceshe might give us the opportunity to show her our effort. “Would you mind—”
“Okay.” She shrugs, spinning to head down the hall. The back of Atlas’s T-shirt flies up as she twirls, giving me a beautiful peek at the creases just below her ass cheeks.
I curse under my breath. My libido went into stasis when she ran. It felt bloody impossible to feel arousal while being consumed by guilt and regret.
“Are you coming?” She glances over her shoulder, offering a confused smile.
I’d literally commit murder to be in a confident enough place to reply with something cheeky.
“Of course.” I wipe my sweaty palms on my sweats and follow my wife. She’s nearly to the door, so I pick up the pace, skirting around her side and grabbing the door handle. “We’ve made a few changes.” I grimace. Atlas has been more than accommodating. I don’t believe he’s been in this room since he offered it to us. He may not be pleased with the transformation, but it’s for Ali.
I’m sure he’ll cope.
The door swings open, and the glamor I placed on the far wall lights up. Well, it’s a dim setting of the Northern Forest, so it glows faintly, but it counts. Ali grew up splitting her time between the castle and at her mother’s court.
I suddenly realize I have no idea if she’s attached to the forest or not.
“Silence,” she whispers, moving past me into the room. “You made Atlas’s guest room into a cottage bedroom from Faere?” She looks back at me over her shoulder, holding the towel to her chest. There’s something about the way her hair falls around her face, or possibly how her mouth parts barely open as she looks at me with wide eyes.
It’s difficult not to fall to my knees and beg her to love me.
That motherfucking bond.
It wants me to look like a poor besotted fool, and I’m tempted to let it, but I’m still battling some lingering anger and disappointment.
I was raised to lead, to guide my people with their best interests at heart, and my own fucking soulmate couldn’t place an ounce of trust in me.
I’m fairly sure that’s my pride talking.
I swipe my fingers through the hair that’s fallen into my eyes while I studied her. “We did. We wanted to be able to provide you a nest, even though we aren’t in our realm.”
“Can I check it out?” She sounds a little breathless.
“That’s the idea.” I stride forward, grabbing her hand and giving it a squeeze. My thumb brushes over her inner wrist. It makes her bracelet bounce against my skin, and I yank my hand away in shock. The jolting electrical current isn’t anything I’ve felt before.
“What’s wrong?” Her brow furrows as she reaches for me, pulling her hand back like I might rebuff her touch.
I shake my head, not willing to broach the subject until I know how she’ll react.
“I must have forgotten what static electricity feels like in the human realm,” I say, carefully twisting the truth. “Would you allow me to lie with you in the nest? You’ll find we stocked it for you like we would’ve in Faere.”
“Really?” she squeals, lighting up.
“Let’s give it a go.” I rest my hands on her hips, giving her a little shove toward the stairs.
I barely contain the urge to slap her luscious ass as she climbs the steps on her tiptoes.
It’s cute. She’s fucking cute. Whatever, I suppose I am a besotted idiot. In my defense, I’ve never wanted anyone the way I yearn for my soulmate.
“Come on,” she says, her eyes sparkling in the low light.
The nest is constructed to the best of my magical ability. The wood is dark and mimics the forever trees in Faere. The front is open, but the three sides connect to the roof. The back wall is lined with pillows, and there’s two feet of space on either side of the mattress to walk along the edges.
