Iwasalways ‘fun’, but his emphasis sounded different, as if he wanted to say another word. For once, my heart and not my girly bits wanted to hear it. “How can you say that? I slept with my sister’s boyfriend.”
I didn’t realize it until now, but I wanted someone to punish me for what I’d done. Nothing Evie dished out seemed to absolve my guilt and my own efforts ended in a confused mess, like tonight. Maybe that was the other reason I needed to kill Noth, because if I didn’t survive the process, I would finally get what I deserved.
“It wasn't a great choice, Maggie.”
That’s what everyone thought, but the truth slipped out of me; easier when I wasn’t facing him.
“It wasn't a choice,” I said.
Noth turned to stone at my back. “What?” He squeezed me until all breath left my lungs. “I'll kill him.”
The sniffle into my hair somewhat undercut Noth’s declaration but I wouldn’t quibble with the sentiment. I would have gladly killed the bastard at my sister’s homecoming celebration, but her mate dumped him in the moat instead. I elbowed Noth in the stomach and he loosened his hold enough for me to breathe.
“He bribed one of your Elves to give him a glamor and must have felt particularly motivated after he left Evie crying. Perhaps he thought once I knew they broke up, he wouldn’t even make it close to me, glamor or not. But he dispelled the magic right in the middle of the worst fuck of my life. He wanted me to know. He wanted Evie to find out.”
Noth brushed my hair back from my face and gooseflesh broke out along the back of my neck. I braced for more over the top declarations. Instead, my stomach sank at his next words.
“You need to tell her.”
“How can I tell her? Even though I stopped, gave him a black eye, it doesn’t matter. I never would have been in that situation if I hadn’t needed that hole or bucket or well, whatever it is, filled. It’s always hungry.”
“OhMaggie. She doesn’t need you to explain. Or do crazy things to make it up to her. She just needs to hear you’re sorry. Sincerely, sorry. If you can’t do it for yourself, do it for her.”
The words got stuck in my throat again. I never made them come out at the right time. Advice from the arrogant bastard who never apologized once for how he moved through the world? When you were a King, I guess you didn’t have to.
“I can’t.” I didn’t like admitting it when he was so nice and sensible about all of this.
“You can. Say it.” He growled into my hair like that did anything but clench my thighs together. So much for ‘nice’.
“The stars curse you to the seven hells.” A bit of power surged to my fingertips and I jerked back, afraid I actually would curse him. We were so explosive together, it was possible.
His smile spread across my hair. “I don’t mind doing it the hard way.” Noth gathered me closer. “When I let go, you better run for your life.”
The heated afternoon air rushed between us, and he freed me. I didn’t think. I just ran. Wild abandon welled up inside me - better than any sex I had attempted over the past few years. My heart lifted in my chest as my feet flew over the cobbles. I really didn’t think, because I found myself at the end of a pier with nowhere left to run.
The glance behind me didn’t even fully turn my bodyaround before Noth plowed into me, diving us both into the water. Air exited my lungs without my permission but my kicking and a firm hand dragging me up allowed me to break the surface. I choked out seawater, digging my claws into Noth’s skin as he calmly treaded water. His linen shirt plastered to his broad chest, going nearly transparent while wet, showing me everything. I’d be damned if I would tell him I didn’t know how to swim.
“Say you’re sorry,” he barked.
My skirts threatened to drag me down into the harbor but Noth barely kept me afloat, the waves lapping at my mouth.
“Fuck off.” I spat salty water at him.
“As you like.” His brow furrowed and an oil slick of poison suddenly surrounded us. He was powerful enough to just expel it from his body? Why did I have to wait on him hand and foot back at the inn?
He let go and plunged me back into the water and no amount of clawing at him tightened his grip again. The poisoned water had to stay out of my mouth and the danger clenched everything between my legs. I flailed until he pulled me up. I wrapped my arms around his shoulders, legs around his waist, clinging to him like a limpet.
“Are you sorry now?”
Yes. I was so sorry. And so grateful for some punishment. My willpower to resist his overwhelming gravitationalpull crumbled before my eyes. No matter what I did, he wanted me more.
“No.”
“Bad girl.”
I whimpered. He banned an arm around my back and kissed me rough and senseless enough to get the words out.
“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry,” I gasped.
