Page 93 of Undertow
“I’m willing to hear the truth—I want it even.”
“Good.” I meant it and I hoped he did too. I truly did or nothing could ever come from this and I would lose a possible ally who knew a bit too much about me and my situation already.
He moved closer and it was hard not to shiver when I felt the heat of his body. “You’re doing renovations to the residence wing too, or is this for security and I can’t know about it?”
I wasn’t going to answer, but then I realized he might be someone understanding about what I was feeling since he’d lost his parents too. “I don’t want to move into my parents’ suite. I have a whole wing and no other royals living here. It’s…”
“Crass. It’s not, but it feels that way to you,” he muttered as he leaned in more. “I was crushed when Uncle just packed it all up and bragged about the changes he would make.”
I swallowed loudly. “Yeah, like that.”
He moved a few of the pages around and after a moment tapped one large suite. “Where’s that?”
I sighed. “That’s my grandfather’s suite. Father had the same issue and converted his bachelor suite for him and Mother. It’s the best option, but I don’t want to do—it seems harsh to tell my father’s siblings to pack up their parents’ belongings so I can move in.”
He moved it closer and leaned over it… And his arm went around me to do it which wasn’t needed. “You have a kinder heart than people give you credit for, Sagan. He died before you were even born. Like ten years, right?”
“Five,” I breathed, my body reacting to his.
Thorn nuzzled my neck and inhaled my scent. “He’s been gone thirty-three years then. That’s long enough. They can do this for you—to help you. There’s no other big suite, and that’s the original suite meant for the ruler. It would be a powerful statement when people find out that they’re supporting you.”
I had trouble paying attention to his words with him so close, heat creeping up my sides and seeming to seep into my bones. I swallowed a moan when he pushed my hair to one side and kissed my neck. “I thought we were letting the potion take effect, not you seducing me?”
“Then stop being so fucking sexy,” he muttered as he kept kissing my skin and moved his hand to my hip. “Fucking teasing me by havingMyriamcall me asking if I wanted to have you again. Making what we shared sound clinical and like I’m a fuckboy to you or something.”
“She was being a good friend, not playing games,” I defended. I turned around and frowned when he snorted. “I don’t remember what happened, Thorn. We left things awkward and contentious and you didn’t even call to—”
His lips were on mine and I forgot why I was pissed and I was annoyed at myself for letting that happen. I wasn’t just going to let him shut me up with a kiss and get his way.
But it was very,verydifficult to break the kiss and fight against what I wanted.
I moved away and crossed my arms over my chest, ignoring how delicious he looked staying in the same spot watching me like a predator. He was making it clear that I was his prey in the best kind of way and he was going to get what he wanted.
Me.
He wanted me.
“Don’t snort at me like that especially when I’m valid,” I said firmly.
His eyes flashed shock and then he stood up. He moved towards me and took some of my hair between his fingers. “You’re right. I’m sorry. It felt like playing games, but I didn’t think about it from your side. I didn’t think things were awkward, just you needed to walk away from the conversation right then.”
I blinked up at him, not sure how to say what I was feeling without calling him a moron.
He chuckled, probably understanding where my head was. “Yeah, fucking stupid move. I got it. I’m sorry.” He leaneddown until we were nose to nose. “I’m sorry, Sagan. I’m a stupid man. I should have treated you better.” He became even sexier he gave me an impish smirk… And dropped to his knees.
“I like this apology better now,” I admitted, clearing my throat.
“Oh, I’m just getting started because my apology comes with eating you out. Repeatedly,” he said with a chuckle as he rubbed his hands up my thighs. “And this time you’re going to fucking remember how good I make you feel and love every second of it.”
Except I didn’t.
I remembered a few more minutes of teasing, but the moment my heat roared to life and the clothes came off, it was all a blur.
I woke the next morning to him naked in my bed and not even sore because our bodies healed too fast. I was cleaned up from sex, so clearly he’d taken care of me or… I had no idea actually.
I glanced at him and worried how he would take the news of this. Probably not well.
Rolling out of bed, I put on my robe and sat on the loveseat debating how to handle this. Not just him but all of it.
