“Ah,” he says, stepping away from me with a wicked smirk on his lips. He tucks his hands in his pockets. “It is possible to get your heart racing.”
I nearly stumble in my efforts to gather my composure. With a huff, I smooth out my dress and pin him with a glare. “You’re clearly feeling much better.”
“I am, thank you.” His eyes crinkle with mirth, but histhank yousounds genuine.
“Well, I’ve had about all I can stand of you,” I say. “Now, do we walk back the way we came, or can you get us out of here without subjecting you to the horrors of the north wing once more?”
“The wing ends here. There’s no other way out but back the way we came.”
“Don’t you have any special fae magic? What kind of fae are you? Do you have wings? Wind magic? Can you float us down to the garden below?”
He snorts a laugh. “I’m not a useful kind of fae in this situation.”
Yet he pointedly avoids telling me what kind of fae he is. If most fae have a seelie and unseelie form, what’s his secondary manifestation? Is he an animal? An element? A spirit? Some legendary creature like a banshee or vampire?
“Come, Weenie,” he says before I can let my curiosity run amok. “Don’t worry about me. We’ll go back the way we came.”
I give him a teasing pout. “Do you need me to hold your hand so you don’t faint, Willy boy?”
“Yes.” His answer wipes the pout off my lips. “But only so we can hurry out of here before you’re dragged away by some virulent satyr, or you stop to gawk at the next pair of blushing nipples.”
I clasp my hands to my chest. “But did you see all those nipples? I didn’t know they came in such lovely shapes and colors.”
He chuckles and takes my hand in his. “You really love your research, don’t you?”
“I do. Oh, speaking of…you never told me what this is.” I extract the glass vial I received when we first arrived at the north wing. I’d tucked it into my bodice until now.
“It’s a tonic,” he explains. “One part contraceptive, one part disease prevention. Anyone who engages in north wing activities with a partner must consume the full contents of the vial.”
My mouth falls open as I assess the vial with new eyes. “Are you serious? This is brilliant! How long does it last?”
“One month.”
I remove the cap with gusto and down the liquid at once. The flavor is sweet yet herbal, with only a slightly bitter aftertaste.
“Really?” William deadpans. “Have you no restraint? I could have been trying to poison you.”
I tuck the empty vial back into my bodice. “Yes, but you can’t lie. Besides, if I’m going to win our bet, I might as well prepare myself. You should too.”
He rolls his eyes but reluctantly retrieves his own vial and downs its contents with far less enthusiasm. “Oh, yes. Our bet.”
Now that I know more about him, I wonder if his reluctance to participate in the bet has anything to do with what he told me. I’m about to ask but stop myself. Our serious mood has ended. He proved that when he teased me about getting my heart racing. So instead, I tease him back. “Now that I know your weakness, Willy, I’m feeling more confident than ever.”
He gives me a simpering smile. “Oh, Ed, did you not listen to a word I said? I can’t kiss someone when I’m not stimulated by attraction. That doesn’t mean I’m not easily attracted.”
But it does, doesn’t it? If he was easily attracted, he wouldn’t have had a problem kissing Greta Garter. I may have only seen her perform once, but I know for a fact that she’s stunning. Hell, I’d kiss her, if only to learn how to write about the feel of such luscious lips. I’d probably do anything she asked, to be honest.
I don’t say any of this out loud though.
I arch a haughty brow. “Then let’s see which of us is the best seducer. I’ve learned some things tonight.” I lift my palm andwiggle my fingertips in an imitation of the first couple we saw. I’m still so impressed with how he worked his lover’s testicles.
“Never make that gesture again,” William says as he grabs my hand and pulls me back into the hall. Apparently he was serious about us holding hands.
I could easily pull away…but I don’t. And as we leave the main room full of its beautifully writhing naked bodies, I find my eyes trail back to William’s face. An amused grin dances over his lips, and I can’t help but admit his smile is the best work of art here.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
EDWINA
