by Ann Denton
“Why bother? You might just do it again.”
He stared daggers at me.
I simply pointed to the next bush. “Try again, sir.”
“Can you really control your power that precisely?” he challenged.
I stood. I straightened my sleeves, making sure my wrists were covered. I grabbed his hand. I met his eyes, trying not to get lost in their blue depths. I took a deep breath to center myself. Then I sent a tiny pulse of peace through his fingertips, up his arm, and across his chest. I spiraled peace down his torso like a snake. And when it reached his dick, I made the power pulse. Again. And again. Driving home the point.
Declan’s eyes widened. His breath caught. His back arched a bit like he was in pain. He gave an involuntary little moan. “Wha—what?” Declan looked down in alarm. “You can do that?”
“It’s just concentration.”
“It’s not. You made me—” He shut his mouth and widened his eyes for emphasis.
It took me a second. I glanced down at his trousers. There might have been a damp patch underneath the berry juice. “Declan, did you …?” I grinned. “I’ve never had that effect before.” I mentally filed that away. It might come in handy the next time I saw Quinn.
Declan groaned. “Now, we really have to go clean up.”
“No.”
“But people will see—”
“They’ll see your purple-stained pants. Move to the next bush. Try again. Tiny pulses. Like ants.”
“But—”
“Do it, Declan. Or I’ll pulse you with peace again until you scream my name and make everyone turn and stare.”
He went to the next bush. And a third. And a fourth. But on his fifth bush, he turned every thorn to berries. After he realized what he’d done, he turned to me in shock.
“I … I did it.”
I squealed. But we were on a steep ridge full of rocks. So, I couldn’t hug or jump or do much more than wildly clap my hands.
After Declan changed bushes six and seven, I let out a loud farm-girl whistle. Nearly every head on the hill turned toward me. “Can everyone step back from your bushes please? Two feet ought to do! And then our amazing Knight, Declan Hale, will transform all the thorns into more berries!”
I got a lot of strange and questioning looks, but the title of crown princess came in handy for eclectic requests.
Declan just stared at me, aghast. “I’ve done three bushes. Three! And now you want to ask me to do this in front of everyone!”
“Declan, you already know how to do it on a huge scale. It’s easy. Just let your power rip.”
He did. For a moment, the bright yellow pulse made it feel like a midsummer afternoon. And when the pulse faded, the bushes were so loaded with berries that the branches sagged to the ground.
A laugh and a cheer went up through the crowd.
I used my booming voice once more. “Let’s declare this Declan Day! A half-holiday!”
A cheer went up around us.
“To the genius of Evaness! Who can trade thorns for berries and turn weeds to wheat!” I shouted.
The little group around us all shouted, “The genius of Evaness!”
Declan turned an adorable shade of pink. I think the tips of his ears might even have turned full red. Or it could have been the berry juice. “I … it was nothing.”
“I’m having beer and food delivered to the town square. Meet us down there!” I screeched to the people.
A roar went up. And it was smiles and hugs all around.
“I really didn’t do anything … like you said, the big part is easy.”
I stood on my tiptoes and bopped his nose. “No getting out of it. The palace is throwing these people a party. And they deserve a little rest. So shut your trap.” I turned back to the crowd. “Declan deserves a party. Am I right?”
“Right!”
“Three cheers for Declan!”
The crowd clapped and wolf-whistled. Two men came and grabbed Declan, despite his sticky state. They lifted his protesting form onto their shoulders and awkwardly ran him to the base of the hill.
Ryan strolled over to me, from where he’d been picking berries with his mother.
“You brought us to my hometown to make him a hero?” Ryan shook his head.
I just smiled at him. “You’re already a hometown hero and you know it. Besides, I can see it in your face. You like seeing him happy.”
Ryan shrugged, watching the villagers pass Declan around.
“Fine, don’t admit it. But you do.”
“You know he gets motion sick, right?” Ryan asked.
“Nope. No idea.”
“Can’t ride a pegasus to save his life. Nearly died on that horse on the way here. Part of why we hung back so much. When he first took the ship over from Sedara, he—”
“Well, he’d better hold it in now. I don’t want Declan Day ruined.”
Ryan laughed and trotted off after the crowd. “I’d better go get him down.”
I got to work.
After a quick rinse at the burgmasters, where Ryan kindly brought Declan and I some clothes from his family, I went out to the square to coordinate the celebration.
As planned, the page from this morning and a group of kitchen servants arrived in a wagon weighed down by kegs of beer, wine, suckling pig, and wheels of cheese. The smell of fresh bread also wafted toward me. “Wonderful. Would you all please set it up in the clearing right there? Picnic style,” I gestured to a field of clover that was dulled from the chill of fall. “Once you’re done with set up, you’re welcome to stay and celebrate, of course.”
A few of them raised their eyebrows, but they all got to work. And not a single one left after set up was done.
Four hours and quite a few kegs later, Ryan and I sat on the ground and watched the villagers dance around a bonfire. One old man played a fiddle, and many clapped their hands. The children giggled and wove in and out of the adults, playing crack the whip.
Declan plopped down beside us. “Thish is great.”
“Yesh it ish,” I couldn’t help but tease him. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you drunk before.”
“I don’t think I’ve ever been drunk before,” he responded.
“About time then,” I patted his arm.
He grabbed my hand. “Thank you Bloshie. You’re good at spreading Peach. Piss. Peash. I can’ talk.”
“That would be the alcohol.” I tried not to laugh.
He pointed at the smiling people. “You did thish. Made them happy.”
I turned so our knees touched and waited while his eyes struggled to focus on mine. “No, this is Declan Day. You did this. You do this. Every day. I know it can be hard to see, when you’re up there in the castle running the numbers. Calculating the boring-ass stuff you do. But, Dec, you help these people when times are hard. You keep their children’s bellies full. When they’ve lost hope, they look to you. Do you know how many people I’ve seen cry … tears of joy … because you saved them? Your power is amazing. But the way you use it … thank you. Thank you for being selfless.” My eyes smiled in gratitude, and I stroked his cheek.
He smiled and leaned into my hand. And for a second, he looked completely lost in bliss.
Then his eyes popped open. “I think I’m gonna be shick.”
And he was.
Chapter Sixteen
Declan lay with his head on the floor. His legs were tucked under him and his butt stuck in the air like a toddler. Next to him was a chamber pot. Ryan had already emptied it two times.
We were in Ryan’s old home. A farmhouse, down the road from the town square. Ryan’s parents had given us the master bedroom, insistent we use it to care for Declan. Then they’d gone back to the celebration.
I ran a wet washcloth over Declan’s forehead one last time. But, when he emitted a snore, I gave up the task and stood.
I sighed. “Well, I didn’t quite expect that.” I shook my head at Declan and turned to Ryan. “If you want to go back
out with your family, visit with your mother and fathers some more, I’m fine here. I can keep an eye on him.” I gestured at my silly, snoring husband.
Ryan didn’t respond, and I looked up. When I did, I saw a bit of hesitancy in his eyes.
“Um …” he glanced toward the door. Then back to me.
He didn’t want to leave me. But he didn’t want to take me. Sard.
My tongue tripped over itself. “You don’t need to feel obligated to stay with me. This is your town. Your friends. I promise, I didn’t bring us here to make things awkward for you. And you don’t have to lead me around or anything. I’m fine. I’ll just stay here. Perfect excuse, right?” I didn’t know what to do with myself. I put the rag in a basin. I grabbed a blanket out of a chest and unfolded it. I laid it over Declan’s back.
Ryan didn’t speak.
So my mouth continued to ramble. “Poor Dec. I just wanted … he was so hurt this morning. Did you know people at court call him the invader knight? I just wanted him to know—never mind. Please tell your mother thank you for the dress. And your dad or brother or whoever’s clothes Dec has on. We’ll wash and return them. I’m pretty sure ours are ruined.”
“Bloss …”
I rubbed Declan’s back again, feeling nervous and jittery. Why was I feeling nervous? What was wrong with me? I was acting like a school girl. A stupid one. Ryan was going to leave and have fun with his family and friends. And that was fine.
He was going without me. It was what I deserved. Which made me think … I hadn’t told him yet. I suddenly realized why my hands felt clammy and my throat kept constricting.
“Before you go … this morning, Wyle sent a page to me with a message. He let me know that the spell regarding … your release … has been undone. I have the note,” my hands fumbled with my dress. It took me a second. “Oh, right. Not my dress. Here. I’ll get it, so you can see it.” My heart thundered in my chest as I stood back up and ruffled through my ruined dress to find that slip of parchment. It was soaked, but luckily still readable.
“What release?”
“The um … the spell where you can only find physical release with … me.” I stared at the floorboards, cheeks burning.
I’m a sarding idiot, I thought. I could talk dirty to all of them. I could tease them endlessly. Why the hell was this making me so uncomfortable?
Ryan reached out and grabbed my hand. “Really?”
I nodded. “Yes.” I made myself take a deep breath and look at his eyes. I handed him the slip.
He stared down at the words for a long time. When he looked up, his face was stone. I didn’t know what that meant. Shouldn’t he be happy?
For the last two weeks, there’d been lots of innuendo and naughty exchanges. But he’d never made a move to kiss me. Touch me, yes. All the time. But that was just his pent-up frustration, right? It wasn’t me. Tonight, he’d prove that. Tonight, he was free. My stomach lurched at the thought and I closed my eyes.
“No. Look at me.”
I opened my eyes and peered up at Ryan’s face, once again trying to read him. But his face had grown harsh, determined. The angled planes were even more obvious in the candlelight, the rough cut of his jaw lined in a day’s stubble. His thick lips were closed, and I couldn’t tell if his expression was angry or not. My nerves doubled. Did he take it as an insult? A rejection of him? “I thought it was the fair thing to do. I don’t want you to feel obligated—”
Ryan reached for me, grabbed me at the waist and pulled me flush against his body. His lips skimmed my ear. My pulse turned to thunder.
He stopped. He let go and pushed me roughly back.
“Obligated to what?”
“You don’t have to be with me. I won’t make you. You should be free to love whomever you want.”
“And you?”
I turned to him, hesitantly. I forced myself to meet his eyes. “I’d never have agreed to the marriage contract if I didn’t want you.” My eyes flickered down to the floor. Shite! I was coming across as skittish. As if I were still the young girl that ran away from him all those years ago. Why did he have this effect on me?
Ryan dipped his hand under my chin and raised my face. He waited until I looked into his eyes. His deep brown, burning eyes.
“I can’t do anything with you while you’re wearing my mother’s dress. You smell like her.”
My mouth dropped open. That was the absolute last thing I expected him to say.
“Take it off.”
I stared into his eyes and slowly realized Ryan had slipped into his dominant persona. He hadn’t headed out the door to find the first girl he could. He’d stayed. The desire I saw in his eyes squashed my insecurities. My nerves melted into elation. My body throbbed as I got to say the words I’d teased him with for a fortnight. Words that now made my lady bits pulse with desire.
“Yes … sir.”
I reached up to undo the string that tied the bodice of the dress closed. I untied it and pulled it over my head. I grabbed the ruffled, white one-piece gown underneath and slowly edged it upward, giving him time to trace the lines of my body with his eyes. I tossed it aside, and it landed half on Declan’s face. He didn’t notice.
“Turn around.”
I turned, slowly. In a full circle. When I returned to face him, Ryan’s eyes locked on my mound. It made my heart patter faster and faster in my chest. I wanted so badly to run to him. To rip his clothes off and expose him as well. But Ryan radiated dominance. He wanted me, I could feel it. I could see his desire bulging. But he was going to make me work to get it.
Since we were playing this game, I decided I should up the ante. Perhaps I could make him as desperate as I felt. As delirious with desire as I was.
“The girls in the bawd houses … they turn a bit differently,” I whispered.
Ryan’s eyes jerked up to mine. “Show me,” he growled.
I grabbed a wooden chair from the corner and dragged it over to him. I sat down on it, facing him. I waited until his gazed drifted to my face before giving him as naughty a smile as I could manage. Then I slowly spread my legs as wide as they could go. I could feel my nether lips part; I was so wet, I was certain he could see the gloss coating them.
Ryan licked his lips. His breathing grew ragged.
Seeing him, sensing he was close, that soon he might just grab me and slam me into the wall and give us both what we wanted, I pushed further.
Slowly I dragged my right leg skyward, until it was straight up in the air. I pointed my toes. I let him watch me in an open split for a moment, wishing he’d step forward and just take me right there in the chair. I shook with lust.
I swung my right leg over to the left side of the chair until my foot made contact with the floor. I stood and twisted to face the chair. I bent forward over the chair back to give him a good view of my ass—
Smack!
Ryan spanked me. Not too hard. But not gently, either. I sucked in a breath.
Sard! The spank nearly made me come undone. I panted, roughly, waiting for him to grab me, or to hear his pants hit the floor.
Neither happened.
“Get on your knees. And stay there. Wait for me.”
I sunk to my knees next to the chair. My entire body was strung so tight, I felt I might snap. I felt like one more word from him would make me shatter into a thousand pieces in an endless, mindless orgasm. But he was going to make me wait. Dominant asshole.
My nipples puckered in the cold. In anticipation. I heard the door to the bedroom open behind me. It swung shut. I heard footsteps fade. Then I couldn’t hear anymore.
I waited.
I waited.
I waited until pinpricks grew in my legs and I had no choice but to move them. I waited until the goosebumps turned into shivers. I waited until I realized … Ryan wasn’t coming back.
That’s when I curled into a ball and cried.
A hand on the nape of my neck pulled me out of my tear-induced stupor.
I turned, wip
ing my wet face on my arm.
Come here, Dove.
Quinn pulled me onto his lap. He stroked my back gently. Stroked my arms.
What are you doing here?
I heard you crying.
But—how?
Hopped on a pegasus.
I nodded and snuggled further into his chest. He rocked me back and forth.
He left me. I know I deserve it. But he left—
I’m here, Dove. I’m not going to leave you. Quinn chafed warmth back into my hands. He gave me gentle, chaste kisses all along my forehead and cheeks. Shh. Shh. It’s alright.
Is this what it felt like? I’m a monster. I swear, I didn’t—
Dove, you didn’t leave us naked in the middle of the room.
But, Connor—
Will come around. Hush.
He rocked me. Then stopped. Look, Dove.
He pointed toward the bed. From under it, out hopped a bunny. Then a deer seemed to stand from behind the bed. Birds fluttered down from the flower-patterned canopy.
What? How?
The animals came closer. The bunny snuggled his head under my hand. I swear, I could feel him—the soft feathery texture of his grey fur on my fingertips.
I turned to Quinn. You’re making me hallucinate again?
Hallucinate. I would call it more ‘an enchanted state.’ Sounds better.
I rolled my eyes.
What? I thought princesses loved woodland creatures. No? Would you prefer—the creatures disappeared. Instead, they were replaced by flaming salamanders running up and down the walls.
You shite! I gave a broken laugh and leaned into Quinn. I pressed my nose against him.
Too much? he asked.
No. You’re perfect. And then I closed the tiny gap between us. And I kissed him. In real life. I ignored the fact that I’d been naked for another man, that tear tracks still streaked my face, that my eyes were probably puffy and swollen. All I thought about was how much I was falling for Quinn.
The kiss was sweet and pure. And it seemed to wash away the insecurities I’d just felt.
I pressed my tongue toward his lips and he parted them. I leaned further into him, pressing my body against his, taking his black hair in my hands. One of my hands slid along his pointed elf ear and he shuddered.