Page 156 of Ruthless Scoundrel
She nips my earlobe. “Don’t get too excited. You’ve got at least nine more hours of feasting and games to endure. You’ll need your wits about you.”
I groan needily and watch her nipples tighten through the fabric of her dress. “Why would I want my wits? I prefer to be your fool.”
She giggles. “I love you.”
She’s punched the air from my lungs again. I cup her cheek and angle her chin up so I might steal a kiss for this perfect moment. Her lips are warm and soft, with a hint of sweetness from the mead.
Her eyes remain closed when I draw back. “I’ve loved you since the moment you made me shove a biscuit in your mouth.”
She smiles, her lashes glittering with tears. “I hated you so much.”
“Every act of defiance, every punch, kick, and bite, just made me love you more. It was agony keeping the truth from you. I should’ve told you from the start.”
She shakes her head. “There is no should’ve, or could’ve, only what is. We’re here now.”
“And I’m so glad for it,” I say, kissing her again.
She smiles against my lips, laughing. “You may regret that tonight when you can’t catch me.”
My hand firms against her cheek and I thumb her bottom lip. “You better run quick if you’re going to escape.”
Her eyes flash brilliant blue as her magic thrums in her veins. She’s excited, too, and that only makes me more impatient.
Gods willing, I’ll survive until sunset. Somehow.
Chapter forty-eight
Reina
Jasper watches me hungrily for the rest of the day. We play classic palace games like wicket ball, egg pass, and hoops, but then we play new ones that Scarlett learned from her time in the Underbelly. Those games are more fun, with a lot more cheering.
As the sun descends from its apex toward the mountains, the mead flow changes to wine, and the games shift to something bloodier. Brawls. Scarlett crosses her arms and looks on with disgust as people shout out bets for their favorite fighter. They display their magus abilities without hesitation, revealing themselves to us as if we’re safe to reveal these things to.
I suppose we are.
We are their lords and ladies, the ones running the war. Knowing their combat prowess will be essential to saving as many lives as possible in the coming conflict.
“Hush, this isn’t the time,”Alyse reminds me.
Why don’t you mind your own business,I snark back at her.
We share a conspiratorial look and a smile.
It’s not frightening to me that Alyse can hear all my thoughts. I have none I need to hide from her. Well, except perhaps Jasper’s hands slithering into tentacles as he presses me against a tree and—
“Right, I’m buggering off, I promise,”Alyse says in my mind, and I sense her watchful presence disappear.
I grin widely and Jasper catches my gaze. “What has you so happy?”
“Oh, just scarring my sister with thoughts of your octopus form,” I say.
He pouts a little.
I lean into him. “Specifically, your tentacles writhing inside me.”
Jasper groans and his hand clenches on my thigh under the table. “Can the sun not set any faster?”
“We could always start early,” I reply and his eyes flash with desire. “Do you already have the spot picked out?”
