Page 64 of MidKnight
I held up the coin. “This.”
Chapter Fifteen
Ryan left me at the castle door, handing me into Jorad’s care. Connor had returned to the meeting with the nobles. At first, I thought Jorad might force me to return to that dull affair, but he actually followed Ryan’s orders to lead me to Declan’s chambers.
The butler and I didn’t speak to each other, both still a bit taut and angry from our prior encounters, until he held open the door.
“Your Majesty,” Jorad said, bowing his head politely.
“Jorad,” I gave a stiff nod. But then I decided against holding grudges. Perhaps because of the loony wizard’s little lectures on love. Or perhaps because Jorad knew so much about my mother, the thief, and might be useful one day. “Willard did us proud the other day. I hope he continues to do so.”
Jorad’s eyebrows raised. He didn’t give me any further response.
I walked into Declan’s chamber, swallowing a sigh. With some people, it wasn’t even worth trying. Blue twittered on my shoulder, agreeing with me.
Declan spun around in his chair when I walked in, pieces of parchment flying from the stacks on his desk. “Bloss!”
“Hey, handsome.” I smiled and stooped to help him pick up the fallen pages.
I caught Declan staring down the gap at the top of my dress and I grinned. “See something you like?”
He quirked a brow. “Actually, something I don’t.” His hand went into my dress and pulled out a little blue feather. “I knew you were sexually adventurous, but bestiality’s a bit far, isn’t it?”
Blue nearly died. He started tweeting on my shoulder so hard that it turned to wheezing. He nearly fell. I had to catch him and set him down on Declan’s desk. Declan and I watched his fit with amusement.
“Do you think that’s laughter?” Declan asked.
“Gods, I hope so. Because contrary to whatever you think, I’m not into animals. The idiot crawled in there when Ryan took us on a gargoyle.”
Declan grinned. “That better be it. If I find feathers anywhere else …”
“Wanna check?” I opened my hands wide with a smile.
“Oh no, Peace. Don’t you remember what I said? Our first time, I want you desperate for me,” Declan leaned in and nuzzled my nose and then gave me the world’s softest kiss. His plush lips hardly touched mine and then he was gone, leaving me leaning forward into thin air.
“Argh! Unfair!” I stomped a foot.
“You’re adorable when you pout. And when you bathe.” Declan’s eyes drifted to a tub that sat in the middle of his room.
My gaze followed. “They didn’t move it.”
“I wouldn’t let them. It was the first time I got to see you in all your glory.”
“Apparently, you saw Ryan as me hundreds of times,” I grumbled.
Declan shook his head and sat back down. “Not the same.”
“Why not?”
“That was transactional. Orgasm trading.”
I sat on Declan’s lap and snuggled in, making myself comfortable. I ran a hand through his blond hair. “What is it with me?”
“Perfect,” Declan said softly, his blue eyes gazing deep into mine.
I groaned. “How can you think I’m not desperate for you when you say shite like that?” I leaned up to kiss him.
“Not desperate enough,” Declan murmured, backing away from the kiss. “I want you clawing at me, I want you so needy and desperate that tears fill your eyes, I want you to not even be able to see anyone else in the room because all you see isme,” Declan whispered.
