“What has come overme?” he asked with a dry laugh. His brows then furrowed as he leaned down so he could look at her eye to eye. “I believe the question is what has come overyou? You complained just last week about me coming home without an announcement, yet here you are. Oh, how the tables have turned, little wife. First, it was you who caught me with a paramour; now it is I who has caught you. What a pair we make!”
Elara’s jaw dropped at the accusation.
“Howdareyou imply such a thing!” she seethed, thumping his chest again.
“Stop that,” he warned.
“Damien has been friends with my brothers since they were children. I grew up with him. I love him like a sister loves a brother, nothing more, and I assure you it is not me he is interested in. How dare you imply we are anything more!” she yelled, ignoring him and thumping his chest again.
“Elara,” he warned, grabbing her wrist.
It did not hurt. In fact, the moment his fingers circled around her wrist, it sent a jolt of desire straight into her lower belly, only serving to annoy her further.
“Unhand me!” she demanded.
“Do you plan on stopping hitting me?” he asked. “You enjoy doing this a little too much every time we argue.”
“I will strike you when you deserve it,” she said icily. “And if you accuse me of such awful behavior any more, it will surely earn you another thump.”
“You aremywife,” Constantine gritted out.
His other hand shot out, wrapping around her waist and pulling her to him with a quickness that made her gasp.
“You bearmyname,” He went on, his deep green eyes boring into hers. “You must conduct yourself properly. That includes not inviting unmarried men to come home with you at night!”
Elara glared at him for a moment longer; then realization hit her, and she started to laugh. Constantine immediately frowned.
“What is so humorous?” he demanded.
“I cannot believe this. Is this what this is all about? You are jealous,” Elara replied, then laughed harder.
“Do not be ridiculous,” Constantine spat out, jerking her closer.
Elara lost a little bit of her humor as the sudden movement revealed a hardness pressed against her skirts and into her thighs. Heat rushed to her cheeks when she realized it was Constantine’s arousal, and despite her efforts not to feel that way, the thought brought her a strange satisfaction. Pleasure, along with a glint of wickedness, took over her senses as she gaveher husband a slow, sultry smile.
“Youarejealous,” she whispered, boldly digging the nails of her captured hand into Constantine’s shirt.
“I am not,” he snapped, his pupils dilating. “It is a matter of principle. I have never pretended to like you more than I actually do.”
Hurt laced through wickedness, dampening her anger and desire.
“Well then,” she said softly. “It is good that this marriage is temporary.”
“Temporary,” Constantine agreed. “But not over yet.”
Before she could retort, Constantine’s lips sealed over hers. Heat burst through her body, making her already sensitive skin tremble. For the briefest of seconds, she pushed at him, but as his tongue swept across her lips, she lost herself to his kiss. With a whimper, Elara allowed her body to go pliant in Constantine’s arms.
“You are so aggravating,” she whispered against his lips, then kissed him back, nipping his bottom lip just like the first time they kissed.
A growl rumbled from Constantine’s chest as he dragged his other hand down to her waist and lifted her onto his hips. He fiercely broke away from the kiss as he opened his eyes; the bare rings of green burned bright as he studied her face.
“No,wife,”he rasped, his breath coming in heavy bursts. “It isyouwho aggravates me.”
Then he resumed their kiss, taking control as he carried her from her drawing room into the bedroom. With both hands free now, Elara wrapped one arm around his neck while her other hand ran up the back of his head and into his hair. She gripped his silken brown locks tightly, earning another growl as she gave them a little yank.
Constantine’s tongue slipped over her lips again, demanding access, and as she parted her lips and took him in, she immediately began to suckle. She did not know what it would do or why she wanted to do it, but as she whispered her tongue over his and claimed him just as he was claiming her, a powerful quiver moved through her body, pebbling her nipples as it spread through her chest and down to her womb, where it gathered and exploded, causing wetness to form between her thighs.
She moaned deeply at the sensation and undulated; the movement quickly rewarded her with the feel of his manhood. She rocked her hips intentionally the next time, and broke the kiss as she threw her head back and gasped.
