Page 24 of The Serpent's Bride
Maybe she should just stab him and be done with it. Throw out her plan of killing the rest of his family first to make him suffer and just cut him to ribbons instead.
Maybe she should have thought this all through before throwing herself into the middle of things. But she hadn’t had much time to react. She’d seen her opportunity and gone for it without really considering all of the details.
Never mind the fact that he wasn’t telling “Monica” the whole truth about what the arrangement was with the wedding. That Monica was doomed to either be turned or be killed. But she had to play her part, either way.
“There has to be more to you than shipping and receiving, and, well,that.”She looked down at her lap. Monica was likely a little shy, and it gave Nadi an excuse to hide her turmoil.
“Hm.” That was all he was willing to give her at first. But a moment later, he got up to sit closer, his thigh against hers. When he draped an arm over her shoulders, she fought the urge to punch him in the face. “Tomorrow, you have a dress fitting appointment with my mother that you need to attend. She’ll know if you’re hungover. You cannot be hungover.”
It wasn’t a question. He wasn’t giving her a choice. That much wasn’t lost on her. But she smiled at him brightly, all the same. “Noted.” After a pause, she frowned. “Your sister isn’t going to be mad if I refuse the powder, is she?”
“You have an issue with drugs?”
“No, I just don’t like what it does to me.” She wrinkled her nose. That wasn’t a lie. “I prefer the natural stuff. The chemicals make me feel itchy.”
Laughing, he leaned in closer to her and kissed her temple. “I didn’t even know they had powder out your way.”
She almost flinched away from his lips. They were too hot, and he was too close. He must have fed recently. And a lot, by the feel of it. “You’d be surprised. Not much else to do out there, except get drunk and high.”
“Well, I’ll let her know. She’ll bring a selection, I’m sure.” He began to run his thumb back and forth over her shirt on her shoulder. The heat was still there, even through the extra layer. “Should I worry about you going too far with anyone? She does love to bring all of her pretty friends along.”
“I—I mean. I did warn you I wasn’t a virgin, if that’s what you’re asking?—”
He barked a laugh, squeezing her closer to him briefly. “No, no…trust me. I do not do well with breakable things.”
The knot in her stomach cinched tighter at his insinuation.
“But I would very much rather you not get in the mix with Lana or any of herassociatesif you can help it. I’m sure you understand why I’d rather my future wife not have a history with anyone too close.” Those red eyes were watching her again. “It just gets needlessly dramatic.”
“Another good reason to stay off the powder.” She smiled, though it was wavering and didn’t last long. “And I’ll do my best.”
“What, no promise?”
“I don’t know what I’m up against.” Chuckling, she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “I can’t very well promise if I’m not certain. But I promise to try my best.”
“Smart girl.” Her fingers were replaced by his in her hair. “Because if you break your promises to me, Iwillhave to punish you…”
There was that knot in her stomach again, twisting and turning like a bag of snakes. She knew exactly what he was threatening her with. She had a choice—play shy or surprise him. Resting her hand on his thigh, she shot him a wry smile of her own. “Something tells me, you’ll find a reason to punish me no matter what I do.”
The look on his face made her heart skip a beat for a reason she couldn’t understand. It was equal parts shock and like a wild dog being shown a platter of fresh, raw meat. The sudden hunger in his expression made her want to shrink away from him. She’d just thrown gasoline on a fire.
“Pretty, tasty thing…” He cupped her chin in his hand. His lips were hovering close to hers. “Teaching me to adjust my expectations for what cattle country has to offer.”
The heat of his nearness, the feeling of his breath against her skin, gave her goosebumps and a shiver of cold despite the warmth of him. She had no response. No words she could form. Nothing she could think of to say. She had made an unexpected move on the board—but he was still winning.
“I suppose…” His voice was a dark, dusky purr. “I could make sure I get to have you first…I’ve been trying to be a good boy—trying to keep my hands off you until we’re married. But,fuckif you aren’t testing me to my limits.”
He wanted her. The realization sent another roll of electricity through her body. Hewantedher. Her. A fae whose life he ruined.
Nadi had spent her life being invisible. Unknown. Someone else. Literally and figuratively.
To have those red eyes boring into her, seeing through her, with such starving need? She didn’t know what to do with that. Didn’t know how to respond.
She didn’t know how to contend with her own smoldering fire.
This was wrong.
This was dangerous.
