Total pages in book: 197
Estimated words: 186911 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 935(@200wpm)___ 748(@250wpm)___ 623(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 186911 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 935(@200wpm)___ 748(@250wpm)___ 623(@300wpm)
“Don’t give me that. I know everything. I see the way you laugh, joke, and touch him. I see how he laughs, jokes, and touches you. I know he’s your companion.”
Alisdair’s eyes blew wide, jaw slackening. I’d never seen that look on his face. I don’t think anyone’s had for a thousand years. “He’s my— Don’t be absurd!”
“You’re absurd if you think you’re going to lie to me now. Bradach told me himself. He’s your right hand, your most trusted advisor, your sage counsel, your truest comrade, and your closest companion.” I smiled at him in equal parts irritation and triumph. “Are you calling Bradach a liar?”
“Unreservedly and without hesitation,” he dropped, tone flat. “That fool is none of those things to me. He’s only bold enough to say otherwise because he’s proven extraordinarily difficult to kill,” he gritted. “Blast him and those fucking wings.”
My jaw worked. “Oh.”
While it made me feel marginally better to know he wasn’t denying me because he preferred someone else’s company, it was hard to swallow that the only reason Alisdair Shadowsoul had a friend... was because he hadn’t figured out how to kill him yet.
I cleared my throat, shaking away the thought. “Well, then, if that’s the case, you have no reason to say no. Woo me, husband.”
He snorted. “I have no reason to say yes. I fulfill my husbandly duties to perfection nightly. I cater to your pleasure above my own—as is the Wind and Wild way. I do not let you sleep until you’ve completed at least four times. I ensure you can’t walk in the morning for limping. Beyond that, I’ve bestowed my protection on you, making sure my enemies dare not lay a hand on you, and I waste considerable time teaching you to fight and rule my country.
“No other husbandly duties are required of me.” Alisdair ripped off his clothes. “Now hands and knees. Head down. Ass up.”
My jaw worked but nothing came out. I didn’t know where to begin. Marking me was to protect me? It wasn’t to cheat or make it harder for me to run? Was that true? Could I possibly believe it was? But more importantly, did he just say putting my pleasure above his own was no more than a faeriken custom? Did that mean he didn’t enjoy his nights with me? Why did the thought of that cut as deep as him saying every minute he spent with me—teaching me to rule and fight—was a waste of his time?
Why would this man put any effort into winning me? He already had a pet. He didn’t need a wife.
I turned away, my lips pressed tight to stop them trembling. “You’re right,” I rasped, drawing up my robe. “Just forget it.”
“What’s this?” he demanded. “What’s happened?”
“Nothing happened.” I blew out the candle on the nightstand. “You win, okay? I ran, you caught me. Let’s just go to bed.”
“No, you’re crying. Why are you doing that?”
I hurriedly wiped my eyes. “I’m not crying, I’m tired. It’s been a long day, and I wouldn’t want you to waste any more time on me.”
A heavy silence filled the room.
“I see,” he said. “Very well. I will seduce you.”
“What? What do you mean?”
“Prepare yourself, woman.”
“I don’t— Ah!” A hand grabbed my ankle and slid me across the bed, depositing me gaping beneath him.
Slowly, deliberately, Alisdair ran a finger down the length of my body—from my neck to the crown of my thighs, parting my robe.
The fabric fell to the sides, exposing me to his cold eyes—something that’s happened every night since I met the man, but that night, I shivered under his gaze.
Dropping down, Alisdair pressed a light, tickling kiss to my ankle, then continued the trail—dropping soft pecks along my leg, knee, and up my thigh—coming to my slit where he passed over and went to the other thigh, and gifted it the same tender treatment.
I was wide-eyed and still, afraid to move and break whatever spell he was under. Where was the man who barked at me to put my ass up, then took me before I had the chance?
Alisdair rose over me, cupping the back of my head. I gasped as he kissed me—a slow, tender creation that parted my lips with the softest nip, and invited my tongue to dance—unhurried and teasing.
I didn’t have to search my memory. This was the first Alisdair had ever kissed me in this way. He rarely kissed me at all, but when he did, he was rough, fierce, and passionate. I felt like I was in a hurricane, clinging to the ground by a blade of grass.
But this kiss... felt like we were both in that hurricane, but Alisdair was holding me. Protecting me. Anchoring me through the storm.
Eyes so cold. Words so harsh, but his lips were soft and warm. They banished my hate, anger, and fear, leaving nothing behind, except me and Alisdair.