Page 88 of A Bond in Blood

“Brenna,” he groaned. “Have you ever laid with someone you loathe?”

“Is that not what we do each night?” I forced out.

He laughed and pressed his hand against my back. “Ursa, you know what I’m asking.”

My body was too close to him. Suffocating my ability to think straight.

“Let me go,” I whispered.

His thumb circled my back. “You were taking too long to get into bed. I had to fetch you.”

“Stop doing that,” I squeaked.

“That noise.” He pressed my body against his. “Do it again.”

“Unhand me,” I replied.

His palm left a burning brand on my skin when he pulled away. “One day, Brenna, you will ask—no—you willbegfor my touch.”

“Ulrich,” I laughed. “I would have to go mad for that day to come.”

His hand brushed my cheek. “I’m patient.”

The bed groaned and I blinked, realizing he’d been leading us across the room. Quietly, I slipped off my gown, allowing myself to sleep in only my chemise.

“You should sleep like that more often,” Ulrich sneered in the dark.

I climbed under the covers quickly, lining the pillows between our bodies.

“Do not touch me,” I demanded.

His body shifted toward mine and his voice drew closer. “Fucking someone you hate can be addictive. It fuels the body and your blood with a need for more. The passion,Ursa, it’s as maddening as faerie wine.”

“Then go fuck someone you hate,” I replied. “I’m sure there’s plenty of people who fit that requirement.

“None as close to me as you.”

I shoved against the pillows and my hand connected with a hard muscle. “Unfortunately for you, that’s not an option.”

“What, will you cut me frommy balls to my headif I do?”

I froze at his words.

“Olen and I are the closest of friends. We tell each other everything.”

“I hate you,” I replied.

“He didn’t fail to mention the little ink you have on your hip.”

My shocked gasp echoed in the room. “What?”

“When he removed your clothing so you wouldn’t stink up his bed, he said he found ink on your skin. A little bird on your hip.”

“Olen took advantage of me in a vulnerable state and removed my clothing without my permission,” I replied.

“Avoiding the conversation like a perfectly trained princess.” Ulrich laughed.

I grabbed the pillow under my head and threw it. His shocked grunt filled me with satisfaction.

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