Page 69 of Kiss of Ice

Gods, he was arrogant.She grabbed one of the robes from the back of the door.

“I need to get out of these wet clothes,” she said stiffly. “I saw an ablution room down the hall.”

She locked herself into the tiny washroom and looked in the mirror. Could she trust him? He said he wouldn’t touch her unless she asked but she was about to share a bed with him. What man would make such a promise unless… she swallowed. Unless he wasn’t attracted to her.

Was that it? Had he deliberately given her an out to get himself off the hook? He didn’t need her for children, he could take other wives for that. And he certainly didn’t need her for sex. He had an army of women queuing up for that.

She should be relieved, shouldn’t she? So why did she feel so upset? Had she secretly been hoping he did, after all, find her attractive?

“You’re an absolute idiot, Morenna bin Salaq. What in the name of the hells were you expecting? That the Emperor would fall in love with you? He’d never love someone like you.”

Angrily, she dragged off her sopping dress and hung it over the airer to dry. She dithered over her underwear, but it too was wet from the rain and she knew it would be unpleasant to sleep in.

Anyway, that bed was enormous. They could put pillows down the centre and still have plenty of room on either side. She stripped off her underclothes and towelled her hair. It hung in damp curls down her back.

Then she donned the robe, grimacing as the cheap itchy material grazed her skin. Sleeping in this was going to be like sleeping in a hessian sack. It was also made for someone smaller than her. But there was nothing else to wear. And there was no way she was sleeping naked next to Kam. She tightened the sash around her waist and went back to the bedroom.

Twenty Eight

Kam had discarded his own clothes over the chair but decided against the prickly robe. Instead, he was wearing new garments he’d shaped himself from his light magic. They were moulded to his form, serving only to highlight his carved abs and muscled thighs.

She would have rolled her eyes at this display of narcissism, if she hadn’t been too busy trying not to stare.He has a great body,she thought. And immediately pulled in her own stomach.

“Don’t do that,” he said sharply. She was surprised.

“Don’t do what?”

“Don’t try to hide yourself. It’s annoying. I don’t understand why you do it.”

“Of course not,” she snorted. “Someone like you could never understand why someone like me is self-conscious about their body.”

He frowned.

“What’s wrong with your body?”

“It’s… I mean, surely you’ve noticed?” She was nonplussed. Was he blind? “I’m… I’m a bit bigger than most jinn girls.”

Annoyed, Kam strode to Ren and grasped her by the shoulders. Then he pulled her in front of the mirror.

“Look at yourself, Ren.” She averted her eyes and with an impatient sound he took her chin and forced her to face her reflection. “I’m giving you an order. Look in the mirror.”

Reluctantly she did as she was told. She saw a ridiculously tall woman with wild hair in a horrible ill-fitting robe. A sharp contrast to the man who stood behind her, chiselled and sculpted and completely unaware of how easy things were for beautiful people.

“Are you deliberately trying to humiliate me?” she asked in a low voice.

“I’m trying to make you see what I see. I don’t know why you think you aren’t desirable Ren, but you’re wrong.”

“Don’t patronise me.” Tears pricked at her eyelids. “Let me go.” She tried to wrench herself out of his grasp but his hands tightened on her shoulders and held her in place.

“You’ve been taught you aren’t worth anything,” he said quietly. “But you’re wrong. You’re smart and brave and caring, and yes,desirable.”

She swallowed, refusing to accept his words.

“Is this your attempt at seduction, your Majesty? Are you trying to win your wager?”

“This isn’t about me. I’ve given my word I won’t lay a hand on you, and I’ll keep it. This is about you, Ren. You have to learn to love yourself.” He paused, frustrated that she couldn’t see what was in front of her. “Do you trust me?”

“Why would I trust you?”

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