“Don’t you ever hide your body from me, wife,” I growled, low and lethal. “I own every fucking inch of you. Don’t make me keep you naked for the next week. Your body is my greatest treasure. I’ll fuck you against that window for the whole city to watch if that’s what it takes to remind you never to hide yourself from me.”
The towel slipped from her hands, crumpling into a heap at our feet. She looked up at me through her lashes. “I’m sorry to displease you, my king.” She bowed her head.
Oh, fuck. She was good at this game—raising the stakes, pushing me to the edge. My cock jerked, heavy and aching.
I slid my fingers from her hair to her throat, brushing my thumb over her frantic pulse. “You’re learning.” I gave her a light squeeze—just enough to make her breath hitch.
Fuck, being married was going to suit me just fine.
My lips ghosted over her ear. “We may not come up for air for the next week.”
Her breath stuttered; her pulse jumped under my hand.
Good.
“Come, Lacey.” My voice was coaxing, but I still had to tug on her hand. “Let’s warm up.”
Steam curled in lazy ribbons from the shower, the glass already fogging up. I guided her inside, positioning her with her back to me and her face toward the wall. She stood still, small tremors going through her body while the heat misted over us.
I reached for the shampoo and popped the cap. “Tilt your head back.”
With no hesitation, she obeyed. I poured a stream of the pearly-white liquid into my palm before working it into her hair. The slick strands slid between my fingers as I massaged her scalp. Her lashes fluttered closed, her lips parting just slightly.
“Surprised, little lamb? You didn’t think I’d take my time with you like this, did you?” I murmured near her ear.
“No, not exactly.”
Good. She needed to know I could be more than the man who tore her clothes off and made her scream. I kneaded her head in slow circles, dragging my fingers from crown to nape, working the soap through. After rinsing it clean, I reached for the conditioner and smoothed it down the length of her hair with the same care. Then I rinsed it out again.
“You have no idea how beautiful you are like this.”
Next I picked up the facial cleanser. “Close your eyes.”
She complied, trusting me, and I began rubbing the gel gently over her face. The black pigment around her eyes smudged instantly, trailing like war paint down her cheeks. Refocusing my efforts, I added a little more gel and traced my thumbs under her eyes.
She giggled. “Do I look like a raccoon?”
I huffed out a laugh. “No. Well…maybe a little. I’m working on it.”
Her smile lingered. I rinsed her face clean, then turned her toward the spray. The water rushed over her shoulders, sliding in rivulets down her bare chest.
“Absolutely fucking stunning,” I said, my voice rougher now. “Just like when you stood before me on the parapet trying to escape… You’re a goddess.”
She grinned but didn’t speak.
I turned her away from the spray, hauling her back against my chest, then wrapped my arms around her. She sighed, leaning back into me and curling her fingers around my forearms. “This is nice,” she hummed.
I kissed the top of her head. “It is,” I agreed. Then my thoughts turned dark. “But I’m still deciding on your punishment for recklessly risking your life up there. You almost died in front of my fucking eyes. And then—throwing that vase at the window? Bat-shit craziness.”
Her grip on my arms tightened.
“Yes, Lacey, I’ve got much to teach you about behaving.”
My cock hardened again just thinking of the ways I could punish her, what sweet, torturous lessons I could teach her.
I let her go and stepped back. “On your knees, my queen.”
She glanced over her shoulder, hesitation flickering in her eyes.
