Page 72 of Acedia

Chapter 22

Iris was in a strange mood when I went to collect her for dinner the following night—but strange in a good way. More settled and confident than usual, with her shoulders pushed back and her head held high. The last remnants of the strange color she’d added to her hair had washed out, and her natural bright, pale hair gleamed with a silvery sheen in the orb light.

Regal. Iris looked regal.

She’d have made a majestic princess, if that had been something she’d wanted.

Maybe someday. Don’t give up hope.

“How was your day?” I asked, sitting on the end of her bed and rubbing Tilly’s side as she trotted over to lean against my legs.

Iris paused in the middle of brushing her hair, pulling it all over one shoulder in a way that showcased the smooth column ofher neck to perfect advantage. I scrunched my eyes shut, doing my best not to look. That was a temptation I didn’t need.

“Illuminating,” she said after a long moment. “Each day that passes, I dream a little bigger. I suppose, when you don’t know what’s possible,everythingfeels impossible. The more I learn whatcouldbe, the more tempting it is to reach for it. Does that make sense?”

“Perfect sense,” I agreed, her words forcing me to assess my own complacency yet again. I knew what was possible. I knew what it was to have power—I’d been born into it. But had I been responsible with it? Had I considered the opportunities it provided? Not really. I’d dismissed that as Allerick’s domain, and nothing that I needed to concern myself with.

“Damen?” Iris asked sweetly. I memorized the soft way that she said my name, wanting to replay it in my mind before I went to sleep each night.

“Yes, Iris?”

“You know that thing you did the other night with your tongue?”

I almost choked on said tongue, not having seen that question coming for even a moment.

“Yes,” I rasped. “What about it?”

She chewed thoughtfully on her lower lip. “It was really fun.”

This woman would be the death of me.

“It was, wasn’t it?” I hesitated for a moment. “Would you like to do it again?”

“Only if you would. Or we could do something else that’s, you know, fun.”

“Do you have any requests?” My cock was so hard that somehow it was hard to talk. My dick was the only part of my anatomy that was functioning correctly right now.

“Well, no. I don’t really know what the options are. I’ve never done any of this before, as you’ve probably figured out.”

Was that a trap? Should I answer that?

“Why don’t you lie back and let me take care of you?” I asked, an idea springing to mind. A very sensory idea that I thought she’d enjoy.

“Okay.” There was no hesitation, no shyness. She stripped off her clothes as if it was the most natural thing in the world, and I closed the distance between us, savoring the feel of her naked skin under my palms as I scooped her up and carried her to the bed—now free of the heavy drapes. Not because I thought Iris couldn’t get there on her own, but because I thought I’d die if I didn’t touch her.

If Iris wasn’t blind, I’d still be trying to get my hands all over her at any given opportunity if she’d let me. At least this way, I could pretend I was being polite and helpful at the same time.

I set her down on the bed and she propped herself up her elbows, legs stretched out long.

“Iris,” I rasped, drinking her in. She was so relaxed in my presence, and while everything about her was beautiful, that might have been the most beautiful thing. Iris was comfortable around me, and it was an honor I would continue to work every day to be worthy of, no matter what happened between us in the future.

“What is it?” she asked, her hair rippling like silk as she tilted her head to the side.

“You’re like a dream.”

Her face flushed the most divine shade of pink. “Does my body look very strange compared to yours?”

“Different, but not strange. You’re very… delicate.” I trailed my claw down her thigh, watching as her skin pebbled in my wake.

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