Page 21 of Crown of Thorns
“Quid for your thoughts?” he asks.
I’m so relaxed, I just answer without thinking better of it. “Not much,” I reply. “Today was just weird.”
“Weird how?”
“Not bad weird, just a little tense from some surprising angles,” I answer.
“Like what?”
“I think there’s something going on between Gabe and Dahlia,” I tell him. “They’re attracted to each other at least, because when the equerry flirted with her, Gabe looked ready to rip heads off. Damn the consequences. It was kind of hot.”
“It was, was it?”
“Yes,” I whisper.
“So, you want me to rip apart any man who looks at you twice?”
“Of course not, but…”
“But what?”
“I don’t know… I guess it’s nice to feel wanted every now and then.”
“Lass, I took you hard not even thirty minutes ago and you’ve already taken a promise to ride my cock before you fall to sleep. What more do you need to feel wanted?”
“It’s not just sex,” I whisper, feeling foolish. How could I have let him bait me into such a personal conversation? I have to change the subject and fast. “Besides, there was a weird vibe between Dahlia and the vice admiral. What’s up with that?” I ask not evenbothering to realize that Rhys has stiffened beneath me and not in a way that held up his earlier promises.
“Hen—” he starts.
“What?” I ask nervously.
“I have to know.”
“Know what?”
“Are you in or are you out?” he says.
“I don’t understand,” I say, shaking my head.
“You do,” he says, his eyes locked with mine. “Are you in or are you out?”
“I-I-I haven’t decided.”
“You have. Not that it matters because I’ve decided I’m keeping you,” he says.
“You can’t just decide to keep a person, Rhys!”
“I can and I did. Haven’t you noticed? I’m king. I can do anything I bloody well want and what I want is you.”
“That’s ridiculous!”
“No. What’s ridiculous is having this conversation over and over again when it doesn’t matter.”
“It does, too, matter because you promised.”
“I lied,” he says boldly. “So for argument’s sake, let’s say you’re not going anywhere. You’re going to live out your days here by my side as my wife and the mother of the future king. Are you in or are you out? Are you a broodmare to be fucked until you ensure the next line of kings and queens or are you going to rule at my side like you were always meant to?”
“This is crazy talk.” I try to push away from him,but he holds me tight to his chest with his arms banded around me. “I was never meant to do anything but live in a quiet town and sell books.”
