“What?”
His voice lowered to a deep rasp. “It wouldn’t be special if I spoiled it by telling you now, would it?”
Unable to form words, I shook my head. Heat thrummedthrough me. I had a feeling his surprise was going to come in many forms, and I couldn’t wait.
We finished, and my guard escorted me to my suite, where Moira and Calista helped me change. With my sword strapped to my back and armed with my favorite side blades, I followed my guards to the training room.
Merrick waited inside, wearing nothing but his gorgeous skin and a snug scrap of fabric covering his groin.
He crossed his arms on his chest and looked me up and down with his heated gaze. “Guards, leave. I want to be alone with my pretty little bride.”
43
MERRICK
The vast, empty training room echoed around me and would be the perfect place for the start of the afternoon I had in mind. Pillars marched along the outer walls, evenly spaced, creating small alcoves between them where various weapons hung, ready for use. Polished wood covered the floor, though training mats had been placed here and there for wrestling or to work from various positions.
The door opened and there she was, my fiery little bride. Dressed in supple leather that hugged every tempting curve, I could stand here and stare at her forever.
I dismissed the guards. They'd surround the room and ward it to protect us. My own wards would block whatever sound might erupt from inside. I hoped it would be my wildfire's scream of pleasure.
She walked right up to me, her boots lightly padding,stopping when the front of her snug leather tunic brushed against my bare chest. “Not wearing much, are you, King Merrick?”
“Would you like me to wear more?”
“Don't dress on my behalf.”
I grinned as she sauntered around me, trailing a fingertip across my exposed skin.
“You work out,” she said. “A lot.”
“That I do.” I rocked on my heels.
She traced her fingertip along a scar zigzagging above my left ass cheek. “What happened here?”
Her simple touch blazed through me. My cock twitched and shifted beneath my loincloth, eager for the sport yet to come. “I got a little too close to a wild youngling dragon.”
“Why did you go near one? They can be vicious.”
I frowned, staring forward, unable to grab onto the memory. “I’m not sure why. I felt . . . like I had to.”
“Had to?”
I scrunched my nose. “I was young. Impulsive, I guess.”
“You, impulsive? I suspect you never act without thinking everything through.”
“You’re right.” She knew me well already, and I liked that.
“Who won, you or the dragon?” I asked.
“It was a draw. We both lived.”
She shifted around to stand directly behind me, the heat of her gaze warming my skin. “Nice ass.”
“I’m quite proud of it.”
She poked my right butt cheek. “Cocky too.”
