He tucked a strand of hair behind my ear, his fingers lingering. “Victoria.”
The possessive way he said my name turned my bones to honey.
I stepped back first, because if I didn’t put distance between us, I was going to do something profoundly unstrategic, like kiss my husband again.
“Goodnight,” I said, though it came out breathless.
A slow smile curved his mouth, his eyes still bright and intent on mine. “Goodnight, wife.”
I went inside on unsteady legs, washed, and brushed my teeth, then climbed into bed and stared at the ceiling.
My enchanted pen sat on the bedside table, forgotten earlier when I’d been too distracted by dinner and Feral’s presence to put it away.
It lifted into the air, floated over to my notebook, and wrote a single notation without me dictating anything.
I turned my head to read.
In my own handwriting, it said:Hypothesis confirmed.
From the sofa, Acorn let out a sleepy, satisfied chitter.
I closed my eyes, my lips still tingling, and tried not to smile.
I failed completely.
CHAPTER NINE
FERAL
Iwoke to the steady rhythm of breathing that wasn’t my own.
Victoria lay draped across my chest, one leg thrown over mine, her hand splayed across my ribs.
My wolf rumbled with satisfaction.Mate. Ours. Where she belongs.
I thought about extracting myself before she woke and we had to go through the whole mortification routine again. The practical thing would be to slip out, give her space, and maintain the boundaries she kept trying to establish.
I didn’t move, telling myself it was to avoid waking her. And I knew it was a lie.
We’d kissed last night, and I’d enjoyed it. I was sure she had too.
But she scurried away as soon as it ended, so maybe she hadn’t? I’d hate to think I’d forced something on her she didn’t want.
She looked different while asleep. The analytical intensity that usually took over her expression had smoothed away, leaving her features soft and unguarded. Some of her hair hadcome loose from her braid, falling across her cheek and over my shoulder.
I watched her breathe, counting the rise and fall of her ribs against mine. Cataloged her weight like I was the researcher and she was the experiment.
This was dangerous territory, the kind that led to admitting things I wasn’t ready to face.
I forced myself to slide out from underneath her with the careful attention of a wolf stalking prey. She made a small sound, her hand reaching for where I’d been, but she didn’t wake.
Everything inside me pulled tight.
I washed up and dressed quickly, stepping into the sitting room and closing the bedroom door behind me with a soft click.
The suite felt too quiet. I strode to the hall and flagged down a servant, keeping my voice low as I ordered breakfast. The floral tea blend she preferred. Bread, still warm from the oven. Fresh fruit, butter, and the bangleberry jam she’d mentioned liking.
Basic hospitality. Nothing more.
