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“I didn’t mean my fingers, Em.”
Oh, if only he could take a picture of the moment when those green eyes blazed with heat, darkening them with desire. It was gone in a second as she lifted her chin.
“We’re not fucking. I’m not going to be another notch in your bedpost.”
He knew, from the way her nipples tightened against him and the way her fingers drifted lower, that all it would take was a few choice words before he got her in his bed and she let him do things to her. But he didn’t want it easy, not when Emerald was worth fighting for and her full, uninhibited consent meant more than anything in the world could. That blew his mind even while he nodded…even while he fought damning it all to hell and just dragging her out of here so he could do everything he had been fantasizing about.
“All right,” he said, hard as a rock but voice steady. “I will respect that decision. I won’t fuck you unless you say yes.”
Her gaze narrowed, trying to catch any sign of mischief. “I’m glad we’re on the same page.”
“Is tasting you out of the question too? Or is it just my cock inside you? What about my tongue on the rest of your body?”
“Yes. I mean, no. I mean…yes, it’s out of the question.” Emerald growled once more, a sound that broke from her normally composed form. “You are so…”
“Sexy?”
“Crude,” she finished.
“I bet you’re wet from the crudeness.”
“Shut up.”
Her glower intensified, filling him with mirth and the need to tease her further…maybe get her hot and bothered as she had unconsciously done to him. The amusement died when he glanced up and found a male Fae dancing nearby with another female Fae, her gaze flying to him in interest from time to time. But she wasn’t his focus.
Tru was all dressed up in glittery clothes and not paying them any attention. The man was busy impressing his date with tales of his adventures, spoken in a low voice that only sensitive ears like Rick’s could catch. He knew the conversation was a buildup to seduction, but he didn’t care. All he cared about were Yu’s words.
Em needs his gemstone.
“I think we should return to our seats,” he found himself saying. When Emerald didn’t protest, he tugged her away from the dance floor but didn’t return to their seats. Instead, he took her to the side, out of Erin’s sight and in Bronco’s. Yu flew toward them, visibly tired but vibrating with excitement.
“Hungry,” the pixie announced.
“Perfect.”
He got a new selection of food on plates, waited for Emerald to get distracted with it, and excused himself to sit next to Bronco. The man graciously accepted the drink offer.
“Bronco, I need you to keep an eye on Yu.”
“Yu? The pixie?”
“Yes, the pixie. He likes to wander around and I prefer to keep him unharmed. He’s a great entertainer and I would be very annoyed if someone took advantage of him.”
And wherever Yu went, Emerald went, which meant he was indirectly asking the man to keep an eye on her too. Bronco didn’t suspect any of this, of course, and the man bowed slightly in an indication that he would do what he was asked to do. Satisfied, Rick lingered for a bit, making sure everyone was busy celebrating to pay any heed to their prince.
Then he was quickly, quietly slipping out.
Chapter 9
Emerald didn’t know how she got from following Tru out of the banquet room to listening to insults while hiding in a corner, but here she was. Their voices weren’t familiar, and she was crouched in a small, shadowy corner, where she didn’t dare take a peek and expose herself. But she was sure that Tru wasn’t one of them and that she had lost him.
“It was spectacularly grand, and you could tell that Jyss and the princess put out all the stops. But it was soboring. I was waiting for him to do something and get the partyreallystarted, but nothing. All he did was dance with that ugly plaything of his.”
“I don’t think she’s ugly. She was quite the sight, even in that hideous dress she had on. But you’re right. He’s no fun anymore. He used to be with us all the time, but suddenly, all he ever did was make excuses before he had his fun without us. Now that he’s back, he’s still ignoring us.”
Someone scoffed. “Maybe it’s best, then, that the princess is taking over the throne. That will teach him a lesson for looking down his nose at us. All the things we did to keep him entertained and for what?”
“Don’t talk about him that way! He probably just needs time to readjust to the court.”
