“Do sausages count as finger food?”
Chapter Twenty Two
Daphne
Turns out sliced sausage is indeed finger food. My life is almost perfect.
I tip my head back against the smooth stone. Color me surprised that this little village has the best solution for bathing grime out of your skin. A three-step process, starting with a dip into a copper tub filled with cleansing minerals that apparently “open my pores.” No idea what that means, but I am here for it. Then I sweated my body weight out in a small room with wooden benches. I could see the dark spirals leaking from my flesh and disappearing down the drain in the floor. There must be some kind of dirt-gobbling monster hiding down there.
Now, the final stage is a pool deep inside a cave. Candles flicker in the corners, and there are large, soft beds piled with furs scattered around. Petals float on the gloriously smelling waters that work to unknot each of my sore muscles from horse riding. Not knight riding. Sadly.
Yet.
Eyes closed, I reach out to the metal platter resting on the edge and come away empty-handed. I frown. I definitely didn’t eat all the fruit. Sausage, yes, that was devoured in a tempo. But I’ve been grazing on slices of glorious, sweet, and juicy fruit since.
My eyes flip open, and I start to turn. Hands clamp down on my shoulders, keeping me in place.
“Don’t move, pretty mouse,” Theo growls in my ear.
I tip my head back to meet his eyes shining with a golden light as he traces the swell of my breasts hidden beneath the petals and water. “I’m still hungry,” I point out.
He smirks. He’s almost naked, only clad in loose breeches just begging to be removed. “Can’t have a starving maiden. The realm wouldn’t survive.”
Glad we are on the same page. “So what are you going to do about it?” I taunt the beast in him, a call to come out and play with my body the way he’s done before. Someone needs to before I lose my patience and take matters into my own hands.
His thumb traces my bottom lip. Heat that has nothing to do with the water builds low in my belly. “Theo,” I utter. It’s a demand, and a prayer wrapped in need.
He lifts a piece of frost fruit and clamps it between his teeth before leaning down. I open my mouth, accepting this new food delivery method with relish. It tastes a thousand times better. I fear he’s spoiled cutlery for me, but that’s his problem moving forward.
His lips move against my own, delivering more than fruit. He’s fanning the flames. One hand remains clamped on my shoulder while the other caresses my collarbone, then moves lower over my breasts before pinching my nipples. I jerk, tear my mouth free, and curse him under my breath.
“Stop teasing. Get in here, or get me out there.”
He tilts his head as if he’s weighing up both options. “You just sat against my body for many turns. It is I who was teased.”
“I was happy to get freaky on a horse,” I point out. “You teased yourself.”
“Daphne?”
“Yes?”
“Shut up and take it,” he growls.
Take what?
My thighs are yanked open beneath the water, and I cry out in shock. Holy Idol babies, there’s something in here.
“Theo,” I snap as whatever it is pins my legs apart. “There’s something—” Something strokes along my center, hot, rough, knowing, and oh so familiar. My hand dives beneath the water, tangling in Nash’s hair as he nips my inner thigh.
“Found you,” I breathe.
He breaches the surface and smirks at me. “You were always going to. I’ve waited longer than the others.” He disappears back beneath the water, shoving me closer to the edge. There’s no more hesitation in his movements. He came here to deliver. Fucking finally.
“Easy, brother,” Theo murmurs. “Remember who she is and what we discussed.”
They planned this? Why? I don’t want this choreographed. I need him to be as desperate for me as I am for him. We’ve waited long enough.
“You’re staying?” I check with Theo.
