“You never have to apologise for wanting to be close to us,” I tell her, and I mean it. “The past is in the past. I’m just happy you’re home. And however you want to deal with Elheart, I will… accept your choice.” It’s a struggle, but I get the words out.
“I’m not moving back to the palace with him.”
“Thank fuck,” I groan, and she laughs. It’s so nice to hear her laughter again that I can’t help but laugh with her.
Her grin turns to a smirk as she tips her wine glass towards the back of the hall. “I think your wife might want you.”
I follow her gaze to see Dahlia seated upon a banquet table, licking the chocolate icing off a muffin. She licks it like she wants a lot more from the damned thing, and when her gaze lifts it finds mine immediately before dropping to my hips.
I clear my throat, as if I haven’t been hiding a semi all day just watching her in that gown.
“Looks like some of your guests might want her too,” Maeve snorts, tipping her glass towards a few male demons who are staring at Dahlia like she’s part of the buffet.
My fists clench. “Excuse me.” I pass my glass to Maeve, who just chuckles as I push through a gaggle of guests.
In mere seconds, I’ve shoved the leftover muffin into my mouth and yanked Dahlia off the table.
“Hey,” she protests, but I can hear the excitement in her voice. “I was waiting for Eden to bring us more wine. She was going to tell me about the two handsome princes she’s going to be courting.”
“Two?” I scoff, dragging her towards a set of doors that lead to the gardens.
“They’re step brothers.” She grins. “That means she can fuck them both at the same?—”
I toss her over my shoulder before she can finish that barbaric sentence.
“Tauren,” she squeals, giggling.
“You’re misbehaving again.” Night air cools my face as we pass through the doors.
“What are you going to do about it?” she teases. “I was actually quite enjoying eating my muffin in front of your relatives. Once you’re finished with your tantrum, I think I’ll getright back to it—” I squeeze her rear hard enough to make her whimper.
“That’s enough of that, sweetheart.” This woman will be the death of me, I swear. I keep my hand against her rear as I carry her deeper into the gardens. I know exactly where to take her.
“Where are we going?” she asks after a few moments. There’s a fearful hitch in her tone. It’s fucking delicious.
“To the place I fell in love with you,” I breathe.
She tenses, but before she can reply the stable comes into view. “Here?” she blurts out as I march straight towards the stall where I first laid my hands against her bare rear. “You’re a sadist!”
I enter the stall, chuckling. “Never said I wasn’t. Then again, I’d like to remind you which one of us was fucking soaked afteryoukicked me.”
“You deserved it,” she huffs.
“And you’ve just earned yourself five strikes for that bratty comment,” I say, placing her onto her feet in the middle of the stall. I don’t even need to use my magic anymore. She raises her hands like the good slut I’ve trained her to be.
I’m gentle as I tighten the rope around her wrists, attaching it to the chain above her head.
“You’re being too nice to me tonight.” She rises onto her tiptoes, leaning into me. “I like you meaner.”
Grinning, I kiss her vicious mouth. “You’re wearing a wedding dress. What kind of monstrous husband would I be if I was cruel to you on our wedding night?”
“Mymonstrous husband,” she purrs, and I deepen the kiss. After a few more blissful moments, I pull away and twist her around by her hips. Yanking up her skirt, my chest seizes. I don’t know why I’m surprised to find her already bare for me.
“Tell me you’ve not been walking around without bloomers all night.” I fist the fabric of her skirt.
“Would it make you be meaner to me?” she teases.
This fucking woman.“Yes,” I growl into her ear, reaching for my riding crop.
