Page 43 of Blood On His Lips

Riiiiight.

His nails were long, sharp, matte black. Lazily, he reached out and gently traced my jugular vein with one wicked point.

“So negotiate, Lady.”

I inhaled deeply, watching as his gaze flickered down, then back up to my face. “I won’t be your plaything. If you want me, you will respect me. In a fashion thatIunderstand and value.”

Renaud regarded me thoughtfully. He’d leashed the heat, and ice began to take its place. “Have I treated you lightly?”

“We’re still in the preliminary courting phase. I assume I won’t see your true personality until after you’ve had me under you a dozen times. Besides, it can take months for a personality disorder to unmask. I have no way of knowing exactly what I’m going to get with you until I’m in too deep.”

“Hmm. Continue.” He completely veiled his eyes now.

I glanced away, hesitating, and began to second-guess this conversation. Maybe I should just say never mind and go along with whatever it was he wanted until he tired of me. I didn’t have to give him anything other than my obedient body. He wasn’t the sort of male you cut your baby teeth on.

“Aerinne.”

I jumped, startled by the razor lash of his voice, and jerked my gaze back to his.

“What?” I snapped. “I’m thinking.”

“Eyes on me.”

This bastard.

I grit my teeth. Fine. Playing possum wasn’t my affinity anyway. “I’m not interested in the traditional exchange in this type of relationship.”

“Which is?”

Flicking my hand, I rolled my eyes. “Social influence, petty bureaucratic power, wealth. I don’t need any of that.”

“You do not want it,” he corrected. “You do need it. But what you say you want isrespect.”

He didn’t have to sound so mocking. “Yes, Renaud. I don’t want to be ordered around. I don’t want to be dressed up and trotted out at pointless Court functions to play your pet. I expect you to be honest with me, and when that is impossible, silent. I want more than fucking, I want mental and emotional intimacy.”

“Is that not what your Numair is for?”

I tilted my head, lip curling. That was a trick question for an idiot. “Numair is family, and he provides some of what I need. But he is not my lover. He will never have access to that side of me.” Up until recently I’d still thought that might be possible. I curled my hand into a fist. The next words had to be said, though I loathed saying them with every fiber of my being. “I could easily fall in love with you, Prince. I don’t want to fall in love with an enemy, or worse, an illusion.”

Renaud looked at me. “I could have had you any number of times over the last weeks. I’ve already had your come all over my fingers and my tongue. Each time I’ve held back from taking what I want. I amgentle.” A flash of savagery, buried back under cold a second later. “Why do you think that is?”

I frowned, hating this thing he did. Darkan did this to me too, these patronizing lectures where instead of just communicating, he wanted to make me think like him as if I were a child who needed to be taught critical reasoning.

“Because you have to sleep sometime, and you don’t want me to stab you somewhere vital.”

Renaud lifted his brows. His nail pressed harder into the hollow of my throat. “Try again.”

“Because penetrating me after I say no is rape?”

He snorted.

“I have held back because Iamconcerned with your feelings, and with your mental equilibrium. Because I want more than a pretty pet, as you say, at my side. What else would you call my restraint, if not respect?”

“And when we have a difference of opinion? When our goals misalign? What about then, Prince? Will you discuss it with me, and take my opinion into consideration, or will you shunt me to the side with commands and threats—and baubles to soothe my temper?”

“For a female who insists she does not want to rule,” he said, voice very dry, “you are highly interested in co-ruling.”

“No. I don’t care about ruling the city, or power. I just want to ensure my autonomy—and maintain my dignity among your peers.”

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