The Spellbinding Courtship: Calatini Tales Book 0.5

by Katherine Dotterer

  Selena tsked. "Silly man. As if I'd want other gentlemen when I'd met you. I only considered them because I believed you didn't want me."

  His ribs squeezed while he devoured his fish pie. If only he'd realized that. "And when I did begin courting you, I couldn't rush you, but I burned to make love to you, so my restraint kept failing."

  Selena dimpled and grasped his hand. "I should have realized your chivalry was why you kept denying our attraction."

  Aragon threaded his fingers through hers then revealed dessert with a flourish. "Perhaps this karamel nut sweetice can atone for repeatedly withdrawing."

  Selena giggled as she leaned forward and licked her lips. "Depends on how much of it you let me eat."

  He slid beside her and offered her a spoonful, his pulse quickening. He'd barely resisted kissing her when they shared a bowl at the brothel, and now he didn't need to. "The entire sweetice. I recall how you adore it."

  Selena hummed as she gulped that spoonful. "I do indeed."

  Aragon leaned over and captured her mouth in a hungry kiss. She tasted as delicious as ambrosia fresh from a melissae hive. "I'll steal my portion from your lips."

  Selena's dark-gray eyes gleamed. "Sounds perfect."

  So he fed her dessert and stole kisses after each bite. With each kiss, his hunger deepened until his body throbbed.

  After the final spoonful of sweetice, Selena moued. "No more?"

  Aragon nodded, his eyes riveted on her lips. Goddess, she was spellbinding. "I doubt I could withstand more."

  Selena flicked him a coy glance. "What are we to do with the rest of the evening?"

  He shuddered when his body hardened further. Not make love—he must give her until tomorrow to recover. She'd been a virgin, after all. "We could play cards or read aloud."

  Selena hummed, her gaze roaming her chambers until it paused on her window. "Perhaps I could sketch you again."

  Aragon swallowed. When she'd sketched him at the picnic, he'd almost made love to her outdoors. Could he restrain himself this time? Yet he couldn't deny her. "If you like."

  Selena dimpled and leapt to fetch her sketch journal from the window sill. "Go recline on the bed."

  He stretched across the bed then stiffened when she adjusted his pose. He mustn't grab her like a lusty satyr. She required time to recover. He could restrain himself until tomorrow at least.

  Selena dragged a chair beside him and began sketching. A smile curved her lips. "I always preferred landscapes to portraits, but I could sketch you for ages."

  His body throbbing, Aragon clenched his hands to remain still. If he moved, he'd haul her into his arms. And he must wait until tomorrow for that.

  "You've become my new inspiration." Selena whirled her sketch journal to show him her finished sketch. "What do you think?"

  He suppressed a grimace. He wasn't worthy of her talents, but he'd continue posing since it pleased her. "Very nice."

  Selena tilted her head and eyed her sketch. "I think you appear too tense. Perhaps if you were wearing less clothing."

  Aragon jerked back as she reached for his cravat. "I can undress myself." He must if he was to restrain himself.

  Selena giggled. "I was simply attempting to help."

  Shuddering with desire, he stripped down to his shirt and trousers. Removing more would be dangerous.

  Selena sketched him again. When she finished, she murmured, "You're still much too tense. Perhaps—"

  Aragon snorted. "Removing more clothing would make me more tense, not less." And he'd burst if he was more tense.

  Selena's lips twitched in a smile before flattening to a sober line. "Oh dear."

  He eyed her. She was plotting something. "Selena, what are you doing?"

  A coy look danced across her face. "Attempting to seduce you. Is it succeeding?"

  Hunger roaring through him, Aragon groaned and covered his eyes. Goddess, give him strength. "Only too well. Now quit it. You require time to recover."

  Selena slid onto the bed beside him. "I feel remarkably well. I'm certain I'll be fine."

  He shook his head despite his painfully hard body. "I don't wish to hurt you."

  Selena twined her arms about his neck. "Go slowly then. Please, Aragon."

  His resistance crumbling, Aragon seized her mouth in a deep kiss. He caressed and kissed her everywhere as he slid open her dressing gown. When she attempted to yank off his shirt, he shackled her hands in her dressing gown. He made love to her with agonizing slowness, and they both sobbed with relief when they joined at last.

  Curled against him, Selena nuzzled his chest. "Going slowly hurt worse than going fast would have."

  He chuckled, his body finally languid. "Perhaps, but 'twas a good kind of hurt."

  Selena's smile tickled his skin. "Cruel man." After several breaths, she added, "I should attempt some unclad sketches next. The masters were fond of those."

  Aragon smiled at her new seduction attempt. She was adorable. "Not tonight. Now I require time to recover."

  Selena sighed. "So do I. Tomorrow perhaps?"

  He kissed her hair, inhaling her lymon balm scent. She could sketch him however she wished in private. "As long as they don't get shown anywhere."

  Selena giggled. "Of course. I can't have other ladies knowing how perfect you are."

  His heart full, Aragon kissed her hair again then drew the covers over them. Nestled in each other's arms, they drifted into slumber. Together at last.

  * * *

  The following morning, Aragon and Selena were still entwined, and he woke her with a drowsy kiss. What a perfect way to greet the day. "Morning, my love."

  Selena drew him back for another kiss. "Morning."

  He glanced at the clock on the mantel, and his stomach tightened. "We're late for breakfast. Mother and Father shall hunt for us soon."

  Selena chuckled. "And finding us in bed together is the opposite of discreet."

  After a final kiss, Aragon sighed and slid from bed. "Right. We can tell my parents about our betrothal at breakfast." Then Mother would stop matching Selena with other gentlemen.

  He changed then returned for Selena and escorted her down to the breakfast room. He paused before the door and arched a brow to ask if she was ready. At her nod, they swept inside and greeted his parents while serving themselves breakfast.

  Her plate almost empty, Mother eyed them over her teacup. "What kept you two this morning? I was about to send servants to fetch you."

  To divert attention from the blush tinting Selena's freckled cheeks, Aragon lifted his chin and replied, "Entirely my fault. We'd some private matters to discuss."

  Father inclined his head. "About the black witch, I presume."

  Only to start. Aragon grinned as he devoured his bacon. "No, I asked Selena to marry me."

  Selena dimpled, laying her hand on his arm. "And I joyfully accepted."

  Mother beamed like the reborn Winter Queen in a Longnight play. "Finally! I suppose Selena's peril prompted you. I'd hoped throwing other suitors at each of you would be enough."

  His fork halfway to his mouth, Aragon stilled. "That was what you were doing?" He should have realized.

  Mother nodded. "Your father and I always knew you'd ask for Selena's hand."

  Father flashed a crooked grin. "Only a gentleman in love would rescue a lady from a brothel, a disreputable uncle, and a black witch."

  Aragon and Selena exchanged a wry glance. His parents were dauntingly astute. However, he only said, "We wish to marry in a bloodbinding as soon as it can be arranged."

  Father sighed and shook his head. "Unfortunately, as my heir, you must have children, so a bloodbinding is too risky. But if you still wish to, you can perform a bloodbinding after a child or two."

  Aragon grimaced. Father's refusal was common for those needing heirs—bloodbound couples could only have children together and often died at the same time, so if one of them was infertile, heirs were impossible. "I'll still wish to," he glanced at Selena, "if Selena
does."

  Selena beamed back and threaded her fingers through his. "I will."

  "You two are so romantic." Mother's eyes gleamed. "The ceremony shall be the beginning of next season, I think."

  Aragon stilled. Next season? That was much too long. "We'd thought in the next month or two."

  Still holding his hand, Selena nodded as she sipped her tea. "The wedding needn't be lavish."

  Mother goggled at them. "Nonsense. Your wedding shall be a grand affair as befits our family. Elise's shall be nothing compared to it."

  Aragon and Selena exchanged another glance. They should have realized Mother wouldn't allow a simple wedding. Too bad.

  Father rose and clapped Aragon's shoulder. "At least your love shall live under the same roof while you wait."

  His neck heating, Aragon jerked a nod as Selena blushed scarlet. True, but must his parents mention that? So embarrassing.

  Mother pursed her lips. "We'll start by announcing your betrothal at another ball in a few weeks. So don't act possessive at court events before then." She accepted Father's arm, and they sailed from the room.

  Aragon sighed then squeezed Selena's hand and slanted her an apologetic smile. "We could try eloping." Although Mother might never forgive them.

  Selena shook her head. "We'd better let your mother handle the wedding." She eyed him beneath her lashes. "Although perhaps we should go riding today. If we take enough food, we can remain out past dinner. I doubt I can avoid acting possessive at whatever court events she's chosen."

  Warmth filled his chest. Neither could he. He drew her upright and captured her mouth in a fervent kiss. When she yanked him closer, he lifted his head. Goddess, she was perfect. And his now. "I love you, Selena."

  Selena caressed his cheek. "I love you too. Let's go before your mother notices." She winked at him. "If we race again, I might even let you win."

  His heart fluttering, Aragon threaded his fingers through hers as they darted upstairs to change. "I already won when you agreed to marry me."

  * * *

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