Page 97 of A Blightress of Wrath
Myeyes drifted closed again,andIjerked back in response, blinking rapidly.
ThebooksRevhad taken fromViridislay in haphazard piles on our bed, the oneI’dbeen trying to finish lay open on my lap, held up by my enormous round belly.Iadded a length of gold ribbon to the page and closed it, setting it onRevich’sside of the bed.Ipulled myself up further onto all four of my pillows, ignoring my need to relieve myself for the fifth time in the last hour.
Ourfire crackled low in our hearth, andIwatched the flames from our bed, rubbing my sides to relieve some of the pressure.Icould tellSaelynslept as she was not twirling around in my womb like a dancer across a ballroom floor.
Givinginto my needs,Islid my legs over the bed and shuffled to the washing room.Tootired to bathe,Islipped out of my dress and stepped into a sheer green nightgown.
TheQueenhad sent clothes as soon asIhad written to her of the child growing in my belly.Shehad outdone herself with two trunks of dresses and nightgowns thatItruly did not need.Theyhad arrived along with the cradleClairanniaandIhad chosen, carved from dark walnut with bright yellow linens.
Iwashed my face and cleaned my teeth, stumbling back to our bed, only to findRevichthere readingTheGuideto aSafeHomestead.
Iadjusted my pillows, hitting them into submission and slid under the sheets.Hecontinued reading, flopping his left hand out next to me, palm up for me to take.
Icombed my fingers through his without a thought, reaching with my free hand to the plate of lemon slicesIhad snuck fromJesslyn’skitchen.
Iscooted toward the bottom of the bed and picked up a book from the piles, opening to the marked page, pressing on the spine to keep it flat and popped a quarter of lemon into my mouth.
“What’sthe latest treat you’ve brought into our bed?” he asked, squeezing my hand.
Isputtered, spitting out the sour fruit into my hand and said, “Closeyour eyes and stick out your tongue.”
“Ilike where this is going,” he murmured, doing just asIasked.
Ilaughed and pulled some of the flesh from the wedge.Isettled myself at his side, facing him as he lay back against our bed frame.Revcoughed and his face puckered whenIsqueezed the lemon over his tongue.
Laughing,Iwiped the bottom of his lip. “Whatis itI’vebrought into this bed on this night?”
Hesmacked his lips, eyes still closed. “Icannot tell.”
“Really?”Ihuffed in surprise. “Seemslike it would be obvious!”
Hehummed a low sound. “PerhapsIneed to taste it in a different way.”
“Howelse would you—”Icut myself off, noticing the smirk forming on his mouth.Arumble of laugher came from my chest asIfell into his.Hewrapped his arms over my back, holding me to him.
“Well?” he questioned, opening his blue eyes and watching me with raised brows.
Ilaughed on his lips, bringing myself up to his mouth.Thetartness on our tongues eased into something sweet and familiar and he lifted himself off the bed, keeping one hand wrapped around my back and sliding his fingers to my neck with the other.
Iswept my hands through the rough hair on his face, breaking from his kiss.Icrossed the straight line of his brow with my fingertips, down his cheek, ending at the fullness of his lips. “Youreally are beautiful,BaronRevich.”
Hetook my fingers and kissed them. “Andlemon has never tasted so sweet.”
Ipulled my lip under my teeth, my hands traveling lower on his torso.
“Haveyou read all of this book?”HeheldTheGuideto aSafeHomesteadin front of him, stalling my advances.
Iunhooked the first button on his vest. “I’veread some.”
Heignored my wandering hands and opened to the pageIhad marked. “You’veread through this?” he asked, pointing at the chapter titled, “TheMostImportantPartof aTreeis itsBark”.
Iskimmed the first few lines and nodded, remembering howIhad read this theory in a half-doze a few hours earlier.
“Whatdid you learn?” he continued, sliding one hand up my leg, bunching the soft sheer fabric with it.
Athrill of excitement ran through my skin, settling low between my legs in anticipation.Ileaned in again, kissing him harder than the last.
Hishand reached the heat that pooled at my core andIgasped, breaking our kiss.
