I narrowed my gaze. “What do you mean?”
Dark glee twinkled in his eyes. “Make it in her best interest to stand at your side.”
Straight from the black depths of his eyes, the giddy feeling reached out and spread through my veins. Bind her to me. Why the fuck hadn’t I thought of that?
“Fuck, brother, you’re right.” I itched my chin with the tip of the knife. The rough scrape was audible in the sepulchral stillness of the room. “Every kingdom needs a queen.”
“Indeed,” Rayko said dryly. He didn’t relax until I did. “Just don’t ask me to be the best man.”
Plans formed in my mind. By the time I crept through the back door, a solid course of action was clear. The scent of meat greeted me, instantly making my stomach growl.
There she stood on the tips of her toes, reaching high into the corner cupboard. The loose tee rose up, revealing a slip of skin.
Heat coiled tight inside me. My shaft tightened, and my balls grew heavy.
Fuck me—that was all mine.
She just didn’t know it yet.
She should. I brought her here. But if my men needed proof, she probably did too.
I whispered up behind her, not touching but caging her against the counter. I plucked the bowl she was fumbling for and set it down beside her. Her squeak of surprise was pure music.
What other sounds do you make, my little flower?
It was on the tip of my tongue to ask her. But I smiled instead.
“Good morning, Poppy. Sleep well?”
Despite her home remedies, she’d healed over the last few days. Such a strong woman. Classically beautiful, with a heart and soul that matched.
I couldn’t wait to bind her to my side, make her a loyal subject of this world.
My gaze dropped to her hips. Strong indeed.
“You scared me,” she gasped.
I could reach out, splay my fingers over the curves. What would it be like to see her swollen with my child? Fuck, the picture was damn near real.
“What are you making this morning?” I coaxed, fighting the urge to touch.
Poppy swallowed hard. She looked past me to the living room where the sound of a battle seemed to be taking place. Hristo hadn’t heard me yet, otherwise my boy would be here, interrupting the sweltering moment.
“Pancakes and bacon,” Poppy said after a moment.
“Hmm….” I reached out and swiped the pad of my thumb over the corner of her mouth. The contact was a spark. Such a little thing, but it had my insides buzzing. “Sampling the batter?”
Her cheeks did that beautiful thing where they pinkened. She’d seemed like such a timid little thing when I first met her. But over the course of her living here, seeing the true beauty beneath the surface, I realized it was a mistake to hold such preconceptions.
“Take a nap today,” I instructed her, wanting to get this out before we were interrupted.
Poppy frowned, embarrassment forgotten.
I loved watching the emotions and thoughts play out on her face. Just to see it change again, I stuck my thumb in my mouth.
And sucked.
This time her gasp was electric.
