I squirm. “I mean. Most women do. But real men don’t act like that.”
He makes a low noise in his throat—offended, amused, possibly both. “I once asked my sibling to stop time for seventy years to mourn a pigeon I had become fond of."
Laughing, I turn over in bed, adjusting my bonnet. “That explainsso much,actually.”
He closes the book with a soft thud, placing it on the nightstand like it's holy scripture. “Turn off the lights, little rabbit.”
I obey, still buzzing with secondhand embarrassment with the way he'd readmysmut like it was a philosophical treatise.
As I slip under the covers, he shifts behind me—warm, immense, and entirely inevitable. His nose presses gently to the nape of my neck. His arms come around me like a shadow swallowing light, and suddenly, I'm not just a woman in bed with a Primordial. I amhis, and he ismine, and my breath catches.
“Is this…” his voice is low, ancient, curling against my skin, “how you wish to be held?”
I can't stop my heart from pounding. My mouth is dry, the occurrence of early today is replaying in my mind. “Yes,” I whisper, small in the way that only love can make a person feel. We are not in love. This is a transaction. Servitude, let him tell it. Nothing romantic going on here, just what Athanasius sees as normal and what he expects.
His arms tighten, holding me like I might vanish between the seconds.
“Then sleep,myrabbit,” he murmurs. “Tomorrow, we’ll find a kingdom to ruin for you.”
Chapter eleven
Still Rolling My Eyes
Ione
"I'vebeenreadingyourbook and starving while you've been snoring."
Mind you, my eyes haven't even fully opened. I amjust now, regaining consciousness.
"What?"
"It is nearly noon." He sighs. "I am hungry, and I have been learning about how human males peacock to females they desire."
"Athanasius," I cannot deal with this. Why does he have to start mornings like this? "I am just now waking up."
"I know, I told you I was listening to you snore." He grunts, getting out of bed. "Feed me."
Pulling the covers over my head, I settle back into my pillow and I'm about to try to fall back asleep when he snatches the blanket. "Now, woman."
"You better back the fuck up!" Sitting up in bed, I snarl at him. "I am tired!"
He shrugs. "I want more steak."
Just as I'm about to tell him how he can go fuck himself, my cell phone rings. A video chat from my sister. Reaching for the nightstand, Athanasius grabs my phone and answers it.
"I've watched how you work this mechanism, green means yes." He chuckles.
"Who the hell are you?" Orlaya asks on the other line. "Where is Ione?"
"My rabbit," He smiles at her. "You must be her sister, hello Orlaya."
"Hello, who are you?"
"Ione's master." He replies.
I can't get out of bed fast enough, falling onto the floor, he watches as I practically crawl up his legs to reach the phone. "Give me that."
"Say please, rabbit," He smiles his stupid fanged grin. "Remember your manners."
