I’m warm and drowsy, but I don’t want to sleep. Not yet.
“Do you think he left us alone on purpose?” I say to Asher.
He’s quiet for a moment, as if considering that. “I think he wants to make sure you feel safe.”
That makes me shiver a little—in a good way.
“He’s very kind,” I whisper, like it’s a secret.
Asher says nothing to that, but he presses a kiss to my neck through my hair. “Doyou feel safe?” he says.
I nod and give his hand a squeeze. “Is it...is it always like that?”
He’s quiet for a moment, and then he shakes his head. “No.”
There’s a heavy note in his voice that I can’t quite make sense of, but he draws the hair back from my neck to press a kiss to my skin. “There’s plenty more to discover,” he says, the words almost wicked.
It makes me laugh and shiver again.
Then he whispers, “I didn’t even get to use my mouth onyou.”
My laughter cuts off. My pulse leaps. Heat swells in my belly at once.
Now it’s Asher’s turn to laugh, the tone low and sultry against my skin. “Sleep, Jory. There’s plenty of time.”
“Promise?” I say.
Again, he’s quiet for a beat too long. But then he nods against me. “Promise.”
He’s so warm, and I feel so cherished in his arms. To my surprise, I find myself longing for Ky, too, wanting him to complete this circle of safety and contentment.
After a while, Asher’s breathing turns slow and heavy. Against my will, I begin to drift to sleep as well.
But then I realize what he said, how the king wanted to make sure I feel safe.
He didn’t say a word about himself.
“Asher,” I murmur, turning my head slightly. “Doyoufeel safe?”
He must already be asleep, because I wait, but he doesn’t answer. So I sigh and close my eyes again, pulling his hand to my heart.
He’s here. He’s with me. For now, that’ll have to be enough.
Chapter Thirty-Four
The Warrior
When I returned to my quarters, I found them curled up beside each other, the princess clearly sound asleep. At first, I thought Asher was, too, but when I slipped under the blanket beside them, his body took on an alertness that hasn’t gone away. When the princess eventually shifted in her sleep, Asher moved away, letting her go. He’s adrift in the blankets now, lying on his belly, because the brand is still a bit raw. His eyes are still closed, but I know he’s not sleeping.
He’s avoiding me.
He hasn’t looked at me since the moment he said,Don’t touch me.Not after he took my cock in his mouth to show her how to pleasure a man, not when I confirmed Jory’s lack of experience, not even when the princess was so lusciously pinned between us. When he wrapped his hand around me, I nearly spilled right there. I was already so close and Jory was exquisitely clenching around my fingers and Asher’s grip was...perfection. But his face was buried in her neck, and he never lifted his eyes.
And despite what he did—despite the fact that we’ve spent the last two nights all but pressed together—he’s now lying three feet away from me.
It didn’t escape my notice that he also left the Hall of Stars still rock hard, his trousers still laced in place. The princess wouldn’t notice—likely wouldn’tthinkto notice—but I did.
Maybe I should have stopped him before any of that happened. Maybe I broke whatever began. Or maybe he’s simply realized that I won’t stop him from being with Jory, so there’s no need to continue...whatever we were doing.
