But I didn’t dare say no either.
He lowered himself into the water, and the level immediately rose as his mass displaced the volume. The water that entered the basin continued to be cold, but between the fire and his body heat, it warmed up at lightning speed.
He took my feet in his hands and started to massage them on his chest, his big hands working on my little feet with just enough pressure but mostly gentleness. He stared at me across the tub, his signature intensity present.
I felt myself sink farther into the towel that supported the back of my neck, his perfect touch bringing me to a heightened level of relaxation. It made my eyes heavy and sleepy, even though I hadn’t been tired before I’d gotten into the tub.
When the tub was completely filled, he reached behind his head and turned off the faucet. The fire continued to burnbeneath us, warming the water before it rose to the surface and heating the cold water that replaced it.
“You don’t have to rub my feet,” I whispered.
“I know,” he said. “I want to.”
“Like I said, I just went fishing.”
He brought himself forward and pressed a kiss to the side of my toe, just to drive the point home. Then he relaxed again and continued to rub my feet. “You’re beautiful.”
My heart softened in my chest because I knew he meant it. Even when I was sticky and gross from all the fishing. My father and I had fried up our catch and ate it in the castle, so even my lips probably tasted like fish.
“Still can’t believe you’re my wife.”
“I’m pretty sure every woman who sees me with you hates me.”
He stared at my feet as he continued to massage them. “How long can we stay like this?”
“Like what?”
“Free of all cares and worries. You’re a queen now,Xivin. You have a kingdom to run.”
I released a sigh. “I don’t want to be queen right now. I just want to be with you.”
He smiled. “Unfortunately, that’s not reality.”
“My father said he could handle things until I’m ready.”
“But he’s not the one in charge.”
“Queens can’t take honeymoons and vacations?” I asked with a sigh.
He smirked again.
“It took us so long to be together, and I’m just not ready to give up this time with you. We both earned it.” We’d both risked our lives for each other and everyone else multiple times. The kingdom was in a time of peace, the dragons were free, and after my dedication to everyone else, it was time to have what I wanted. “So let’s take a little longer to ourselves…”
EPILOGUE
CALLUM
“Dad, this is takingforeveeer.” Xiathan trailed behind me with his bow across his back and his dagger at his hip.
“You want to eat? We’ve got to find the deer.”
“There’s food back at the castle.”
I stopped to turn back to him. “We’re eating what we catch tonight.”
He sighed, five years old but tall for his age, getting that from both Lily and me.
“I already told you that.”
