“What?” His voice grew softer, and he reached for my hand across the table. “What is it, Gus? You can talk to me. I want you to feel at home here while you stay with me.”
I looked up and found his eyes resting on me, with nothing but sincerity in them.
“I do. You’ve been nothing but kind to me, Your Majesty. It’s just…”
“What?”
“I’m not used to this. It’s very—”
“Overwhelming?” He smiled. “Oh, I know what you mean. I was born to be a king, and it still overwhelms me from time to time.”
“It does?”
“Of course. It can get quite tiresome, you know, to always have people watching you, hovering over you.” He briefly looked sad, and his voice had taken on an edge of wistfulness. Before I knew what I was saying, the words flew from my mouth, “Do you get lonely, Your Majesty?”
Sebastian’s gaze darkened, and he nodded. “Yes, I get lonely, Gus. Do you?”
“Sometimes,” I admitted. “When I miss my omega family, I get lonely.”
“Yes, I get that. I miss my father too. And my grandfather.” He bit his lip like he hadn’t meant to share that with me, but before he could hide it, I saw it, the flicker of sadness and vulnerability in his eyes, before he seemed to catch himself. “But I’m glad that you’re here, Gus. I truly am. Are you too? Glad to be here?”
I didn’t have to think about my reply. It fell easily from my lips. “I am, Your Majesty.”
He smiled at that, warmth pooling in his eyes along with what looked like lust. “Then you’ll stay? During my heat? You’ll stay and breed me?”
I nodded, my gaze fixed on his pink lips as he spoke.
“So, I have your consent?”
I’d gathered by now that this consent thing was an important matter to him. It confused me a little because he was the king and I was his subject. I didn’t question the authority he held over me. But I humored him because I heard the silent plea in his voice.
“You do, Your Majesty.”
He sighed with clear relief. “Good. I’m happy.”
Then I’m happy too, I wanted to blurt, because it was the truth. I felt it. How connected I was to this peculiar omega who seemed so grumpy and coarse around anyone else but me. His lips pursed into a sour pout, like he’d just eaten a lemon, whenever he addressed his advisors.
“Let’s eat then. Which honey would you like to try?”
“Huh?” I didn’t see any honey on the table. “Anything is fine.”
“Well, you can have anything you want.” He nodded at the cart behind him and the selection of small jars. “Lavender perhaps? Or orange blossom?”
“You decide, Your Majesty,” I murmured, and he smiled again as he reached for a jar, his ring sparkling in the sunlight, competing with his green eyes.
“Acacia then! My favorite.” He reached for a jar with light golden honey inside. “Oh, and Gus?” His eyes bored into me, and I nearly swallowed my tongue.
“Yes?”
“Please call me Seb. If we are to sleep together very shortly, I think you should call me Seb. Your Majesty sounds a little too formal for us, don’t you think?”
I nodded slowly, my mind zeroing in on that small word.Us. I needed to remind myself that this, as wonderful and magical as it was being withSeblike this, was only temporary. There could never be anus. Not really. But I could enjoy it while it lasted and store enough moments away with him to last me a lifetime. I could do that and make it last, even when he sent me away.
“Seb?” I tasted his name on my tongue, and it instantly calmed my racing heart. “Seb.”
And the smile he sent my way was worth all the honey in the world.
Chapter 7
