Page 69 of Prince of the Northwest Forest
“Thank you. Then you may both stay the night,” Felix says. “Along with your animal companions. I will have you shown to your room.”
Room, I note. Singular. Like he assumes we’re together. I suppose I should stop feeling this is a novelty. I’ve slept next to Justice in his tent and in the cabin. But this is … sleeping together in theIce Palace,not roughing it in a small tent.
Most importantly, Justice is safe from Felix’s seduction. Thank the gods.
“Thank you,” Justice says.
“When will you return my sword?” I say, hating that I have to ask.
“You may reclaim it at the border tomorrow, when you are on your way out of our realm.”
I’m not happy about that, but unless I figure out where the guards took it, there’s not much I can do. And I don’t fear Felix. I just want my sword back. “Fine,” I say. We say goodbye and turn and leave, walking past all the courtiers who just watched this exchange.
Two guards lead Justice and me, along with Hazel and Martin, to our quarters for the night. My security takes up their posts in the hall, and Justice and I open the blue doors to a wonder of a room. Justice inhales a sharp breath, his eyes wide.
Even I’m impressed. I’m used to Huckleberry Castle, all dark, heavy carved wood and velvet tapestries. This is ice and flickering pale light. A large bed, with white satin sheets topped by furs, stands on a pedestal in the middle of the room under a heavily brocaded canopy. A blue fire burns in a white stone fireplace, and the entire room is cool but comfortable.
I glance down at my dirty boots and then look at Justice, who seems to be doing the same calculation. “I’m too dirty for this room,” I say.
Justice raises an eyebrow. “We’ll see about that.”
His innuendo makes my dick plump. Which it most definitely should not be doing. “Do you want to take a bath?” I ask as I step into the large adjoining bathroom. Large is an understatement; I look around and see a steaming whirlpool spa, a wood-lined sauna, and a pair of massage tables off to the side, in addition to double sinks, a small closet housing a toilet and a bidet, a regular bathtub, and an enormous shower.
“Oh my gods, yes,” he whispers. “After sleeping on the ground and huddling up next to each other in a tent, having indoor plumbing feels like the most decadent thing ever.” He yawns. “I’m so tired, though.”
“You can bathe first.”
He winks. “Or you can just come in with me.”
Oh my gods, I want to get in that warm water. And I want to see Justice naked more than I want to breathe. “Are you sure that’s a good idea?” I ask, knowing the answer.
Justice hangs his cloak on a hook and starts taking off his boots. “It’s a terrible idea, but how often are you going to get to relax in a hot tub in an ice castle?”
I nod and take a deep breath. My dick is getting even harder. Oh well.
The floor is cool white granite, but it doesn’t feel overly cold on my bare feet once I get my boots and socks off. I take off my shirt and get distracted when Justice takes off his.
He looks at me and sighs. “I’m going to look but not touch,” he says, almost as if he’s saying it to himself.
He drops his pants and underwear and sashays into the spa. I watch his cute ass as he bends over to climb in. Why did I ever think I was straight? There’s a wide bench seat that goes most of the way around the tub, and he settles himself on one side.
Self-conscious about my raging erection, I shed the rest of my clothes and sit down opposite Justice, letting out a sigh of relief as the warm water envelops my chilled skin.
The tub looked bigger from the outside, but Justice and I are practically knocking knees. The walls are a sparkly rock, perhaps one with mica in it?
Justice slides down until the water covers his shoulders, then takes a soft white washcloth from a stack nearby and wipes off his face. I do the same with my own.
I’m warmed, feeling cleaner, and so turned on I may explode.
“Not what I thought was going to happen in Icedonia,” Justice says.
“Not what I thought was going to happen, either. I considered we might have to talk with some guards, but I never thought they’d march us up to the palace.”
He nods. “I can’t complain about the result, though. This water feels so good.”
“Not as good as …”
“As good as what?” Justice gets a knowing smile on his handsome face.
