His answer is gruff and low and, for a man who claims to not be very good at words, also quite perfect. “It would be my fucking honor, Rissa Bell.”
A tear threatens to slip from my eye, but I sniff and clear my throat. “My last name is Caddell.”
“Your last name is going to be Ferox soon, because that’s mine.”
He abruptly stands up with me in his arms, making me squeal in surprise, so it takes me a couple seconds to realize what he said.
“Wait a minute, I’m not marrying you!” I blurt out, staring at him aghast.
“Yes, you are.”
He sets me gently on the bed, and I sit up, bracing my hands behind me as I glare at him. “I most certainlyam not. Marriage is a cheat.”
Standing at the foot of the bed, he smirks at me. “How so?”
He looks ridiculously good standing like that, but I’m not to be deterred. “It legally ties the woman to the man. Gives him all the rights and gives her none. Makes him seem respectable, affording him more freedom in the process, while the freedoms of the wife are limited even more.”
“Okay, so we won’t marry,” he says with an easy shrug, as if I haven’t just said what most men would consider blasphemy.
“Just like that?”
“I’ll get you a ring. To us, we’ll be married. Without any of the bullshit. It’s just for us—for me and you. Think you can handle that?”
I feel shaky, my adrenaline not used to being flooded with so many feelings. Sniffing, I wipe at the corner of my eye and then straighten. “Well. I suppose that would be fine.”
His gaze flashes. “Yeah?”
My heart flutters, though I keep my face impassive. “Idoadore jewelry, and rings look quite nice on my fingers,” I say, holding out my hand and wiggling my fingers.
He captures my hand in his, threading his thick fingers through each of mine, clasping tight as he bends one knee on the bed. Leans over me while I tip my head to look up at him.
“You’ll wear my ring, Yellow Bell?”
I nod slowly, and the hunger that comes in his eyes makes my stomach go hot. “Yes, but I hope being captain of Fourth’s army pays well, because my taste is very expensive.”
He chuckles, and great Divine, I do love how the sound seems to travel all the way down my back. “You get whatever you want, so long as I get you.”
I swallow hard, and I feel like I’m filled with bubbles, ready to float right off the bed. I tug on his hand, pulling it to my waist. “Touch me.”
The hunger in his eyes magnifies. He drags his hand up, cupping my breasts through my clothes, and it feelswonderful. “Are you sure you can handle me?” he asks quietly, his massive hands continuing to massage, to knead and grip.
“Are you sure you can handleme?” I retort as I let my head hang back, relishing in his touch.
What I don’t say is that it’s been a while for me, and before Osrik, it was King Midas. It was a job. It’salwaysbeen a job.
An undercurrent of humor ripples through his chest. “If I couldn’t, we wouldn’t be here.”
He’s right. He’s the only man in the world I think actuallycanhandle me.
Reaching up, I make him drop his hold for a moment, while I slowly start undoing the buttons on my nightdress. His eyes drop, watching raptly as the fabric parts inch by inch. My cleavage is revealed, the curve of my breasts uncovered for his roving gaze. My chest has gone slightly pink, and every breath tugs at the fabric, making it nearly fall open.
Instead of pouncing, he fists his hands, continuing to watch.
So I part it the rest of the way, tugging off my sleeves, letting the nightdress drop behind me and baring myself to him, naked everywhere. His eyes flow down my body like waterrushing over a parched ground. He soaks in every inch, making my skin go hot everywhere he looks.
Is this what real attraction feels like? Without the strings attached? It’s quite…exciting.
And incredibly nerve-wracking.
