Page 64 of What Blooms from Death

“A useful skill for a king to possess.”

“I could think of several others that would be more useful.”

His gaze raked over my body. “Aren’t you cold?”

“I’ve survived colder.”

A muscle ticked in his jaw, distorting his arrogant smile for a fraction of a moment. The gleam in his eyes shifted, too, into something that looked almost like…concern. Something I neither wanted nor needed—least of all from him.

“Unless you and your cock are offering to warm me up, do me a favor and go away.”

He seemed to consider this proposition for a moment before he shrugged and said, “An orgasm might improve your mood, if nothing else.”

“It usually does,” I replied, and then I couldn’t help but add: “But just so we’re clear? I hardly need your help for that.”

“No?”

“I do have a hand. Two of them, in fact.” I held one up and gave my fingers a wiggle. “These are very capable.”

“Not as capable as me.”

“Doubt it.”

Another of those quiet, darkly amused chuckles. “If you think your own hand is a sufficient substitute, you clearly haven’t been with any partners worth a damn.”

I stopped wiggling my fingers long enough to flash him a rude gesture along with a charming smile.

He was undeterred. “Of course, you can use your hands to show me exactly how you like it, if you want. I’ll take notes for later.”

“Later?”

“Mm.”

“On second thought, I think I’m going to use these hands to strangle you if you come any closer,” I said, sweetly.

“That’s a step up from stabbing, at least.”

“Let’s not rule out the possibility of a stabbing.”

“So what I’m hearing is that you and your hands are into the rough stuff. Noted.”

I bit my lip.

Infuriating bastard.

He took yet another step closer, stopping just shy of the water’s edge—close enough to reach out and touch me, if he dared.

He didn’t lay a finger on my shivering body, but the way his gaze traveled over my pebbling skin, lingering on the creases and curves where the blanket clung the closest, felt as intimate as a touch.

I felt unbalanced. Shifting my footing brought us even closer. I inhaled several deep breaths, trying to steady my heartbeat, but only ended up making it race faster as I swallowed up his scent. He smelled like earth and dew. Paired with the golden warmth of his eyes, I couldn’t help but think of an early morningsunrise, when all the world still slept and the promise of the day remained untarnished. When the possibilities were endless.

And for an instant, I couldn’t help wondering about the endless possibility ofus.

But he still didn’t reach for me.

Instead, he knelt down and dipped his fingertips into the water, swirling them back and forth until it became so clear I could make out every rock and twig along the lakebed.

“There,” he said, straightening. “Now you’ll be able to see the snakes coming. And I warmed it up a bit, even, so when you’re bitten, at least you can enjoy a warm, cozy atmosphere while you drift off to your death.”

---