It wasn’t. But bleeding skies fall down on me if I gave a damn anymore. Vale and I had been attracted to one another since day one. We’d shared a room, and a bed for many nights. We were becoming increasingly familiar with one another. I liked him, and my body wanted his.

Surely it wouldn’t hurt to give in to desire? The fae were known for being very sexual, and I would bet many coins that Vale had had many casual flings. He was a prince of the realm, for stars’ sake! Fae must throw themselves at him every day.

So I’d made a choice to seduce him, and I hoped he met me halfway.

Please, you big, handsome lug, get in the tub!

After what felt like an age, he took off his boots and pulled his shirt over his head. I swallowed. Soon, I’d be able to run my hands over those stunning muscles. As I’d wanted to do for so long.

The bloodied shirt fell to the ground, and he stared at me as if still questioning this choice. “You’re sure?”

“I am. Are you?”

A lengthy pause in which I about died followed. Then his hands went to his pants and before I could blink, the pants were on the floor too.

“I wanted to make sure you could handle me, wife.”

The prince hadn’t been wearing undergarments and now he stood before me, nude and glorious.

Every line of him was sheer perfection, even those that were scars, which he had many. His tattoos, which I’d glimpsed many times since we’d been living together, were only decorations on a more beautiful canvas.

And his cock . . . a delicious ache grew inside me.

Vale watched me watching him, a faint curve of his lips the only tell of his amusement. When I could drag my eyes up, up, up, back to his face, he winked.

“Do I meet your requirements, little beast?”

“Aesthetically, I believe you’ll do.” I winked back. “I hope you know how to use what the stars gave you, my prince.”

He snorted and came to stand at the edge of the bath, his malehood so close, already stiff and standing proud. “I think I’ll measure up.”

He raised a leg and sank it into the tub sothat the water rose and covered the bosom I’d ensured was barely exposed. The other leg followed, and the prince settled into the large tub, the water level rising with his bulk, his legs extending to rest on each side of mine.

Across from me, Vale placed his arms on the sides of the tub and smirked. “Why don’t you come here, little beast? I’ll wash your back.” He lifted a cloth from the pinewood table beside the tub.

I rose in the water, just enough that everything below my navel was still hidden. The air, far cooler than the water, caressed my breasts and my nipples hardened.

A soft intake of air was all I needed to hear to know that Vale appreciated the sight.

“Make room,” I purred, parting the bubbles and petals as I came closer. I settled between his legs and his firm shaft pressed against my rear. Playfully, I rubbed up and down.

“By the dead gods, Neve,” Vale ground out. “Are you against foreplay?”

“I have no idea what you mean, dear husband.”

A dry chuckle and Vale’s sudsy hands were on my back, rubbing, pulling me closer. His cock pressed harder against me, and my sex clenched.

“Two can play at this game,” Vale whispered into my ear, drawing chills down my spine. His hands moved in slow, circular motions on my back, making good on his promise to wash me, though it didn’t take long before they were moving, gravitating to my breasts. My breathing tightened as his fingers landed on my nipples and pulled them lightly.

I let out a whimper as our bodies slid together in the warm water.

“What was that, dear wife?”

I swallowed. He was enjoying teasing me far too much.

“I said, what was that?” He pulled at my nipples again before one of his hands crept up, the fingers splaying over my neck. The other hand dipped lower, down my belly, parting my thighs. With slow, languid circles, he rubbed the swollen apex of my thighs.

My body became boneless as I relaxed into him, rested my head on his shoulders, and twisted to kiss his neck as my hand lifted to tangle into his long, black hair. I pulled lightly at his roots.