“I risk myself every time I take in a breath, but I know what you’re saying. I won’t do it if you promise not to do it either.”
“What if I want to climb into your window and sneak across your room to join you in bed?”
“Is that what you were doing that night?”
She nodded.
Fuck, this woman could slice my heart wide open with only a few words. I’d willingly rip it from my chest and hand it to her if I thought she’d take it. Claim it forever. “I’ll welcome you into my room and bed at any time and in any way, but I’d rather you flitted to me or walked down the hall. Join me when you’re ready.”
She was my mate. The symbols on my wrist, Lorant’s, and hers proved it. If only…
“Soon, Merrick. It’s going to be soon.”
“I’ll be waiting.” I glided my palms up and down her sides, and her nightgown rode up even further. She was going to kill me with her unintentional tease, and I’d die with her on my mind.
“My queen?” Lord Briscalar called out again. “Do you need me to send your ladies in to assist you with dressing?”
I grinned. “I’ll help you dress if you’d like. Undress too.”
She smirked. “I’m sure you will.” Her voice lifted. “I can handle it.”
“Very well,” the lord said. “Would you like me to send for your breakfast, then, my queen? We can talk while you eat.”
“Yes, order enough for two.”
A long pause followed. “Are you…” he croaked. “Eatingfor two?”
I snorted. “I wish.”
She shook her head and pressed her face into my neck, kissing my overheated skin. “You.”
“Yes, me,” I drawled.
“Not yet,” she called out to the lord. “You’ll be the first to know.”
“The second, becauseI’llbe the first,” I said simply.
“We need to ask who told him I couldn’t meet you in the tower room.” Reyla slid off my lap and strode toward the closet. Her confidence made it impossible to look away.
“You meet someone else there, notme.”
“No, it’s you.” She tugged open the door, sorting through outfits and dresses, pausing on a deep green gown. She pulled it free and held it up, studying it. “You’re the same to me.”
There went my heart, crushed all over again.
“This dress?” she asked.
“I approve.” I leaned back on her pillows, the weight of my gaze centered solely on her.
Her gaze shot to me, and the teasing lilt in her voice coasted across my bones. “Youwouldlike this one. The color matches your eyes.”
“You should always strive to match them.” My grin broke wider across my face. “I like that you think of them often.”
She snorted, a sharp, sweet thing, and shook her head. “You're dangerously approaching arrogance, Merrick.”
“I didn’t hear a denial.”
“I’m not always trying to match your eye color, but it's good to know you enjoy admiring yourself.”
