Page 68 of A Crown of Lies

Ieduin shook his head and looked down at the water. “Nothing.” He cleared his throat. “I talked to Rixxis last night.”

He sighed and lowered his hand to Ieduin’s shoulder. “I owe her an apology. Part of the reason I couldn’t sleep. I was up all night pacing, worried I’d damaged our relationship beyond repair.”

Ieduin shrugged. “Well, she might be more open to the idea this morning. The sooner you approach her, the more likely you are to find her in a better mood, I think.”

Rowan frowned. “I didn’t expect to see much of her today, considering she’d be in bereavement over the loss of her husband.”

“That guy?” Ieduin snorted. “Doubt it. Maybe he was rich, but apparently, he was shit in bed. She’d never even had an orgasm before.”

“Before?” Rowan’s eyebrows shot up. “Before what?”

Ieduin tried and failed to keep from breaking out into a cold sweat, realizing his mistake. He’d been so caught up in bragging about bedding her and being the superior lover that he’d forgotten about Rowan’s rule.

Rowan grasped him by the chin again, making Ieduin’s heart race. “Did you fuck her?”

“I… I didn’t plan to!” he stammered. “It just happened!”

“Didn’t I tell you that you were to come to me for that, boy?”

Ieduin’s pulse throbbed in his ears. The hot water of the bath was suddenly too much, and he wished for snow, for ice, for anything to cool down the heat suddenly thrumming in his blood. “Yes, sir. I’m sorry. I… She asked me to, and she was upset I just…”

“Shh.” He put a finger to Ieduin’s lips, stilling them. “You’re not going to give me any excuses, are you?”

“No, sir.”

Rowan sprouted a wry smile. “I’m honestly surprised you didn’t break the rules sooner. Self-control isn’t your strong suit. Never mind. What’s done is done.” He released his hold on Ieduin, tipping his head back again and reclining on the edge of the bath.

Ieduin stood there, belly deep in the water, frowning and unsure. “You’re not mad at me?”

“I have far more pressing matters to be angry about, Ieduin. However, I can’t let you go unpunished, can I?” He smirked at Ieduin.

Ieduin swallowed, suddenly more nervous than ever. “What sort of punishment am I in for?”

Rowan made a non-committal sound and closed his eyes. “Something for later, when we have nothing but time and the proper space. You and I haven’t had a proper full session yet. I’d like the opportunity to put you through your paces. What would you say to a proper introduction tonight? We’ll negotiate boundaries and expectations beforehand.”

He could say no. If he did, he might even escape the consequences, at least for a little while. What would Rowan do to him? His heart thudded and his cock twitched, considering all the possibilities. Even if the punishment hurt, Rowan wasn’t cruel. If he endured it, he might get something in the end. Something worth waiting for.

“You sure you’ll be up for it with your headache?” Ieduin asked.

Rowan smirked. “My headache is nearly gone now, thanks to you, something I will take into consideration tonight. If you’re interested, that is.”

“Oh, I definitely am,” Ieduin said.

“Good.” Rowan turned and pulled himself out of the bath.

Gods, the man had an ass Ieduin could bounce coins off of. Now that’d be a sight, wouldn’t it? He wondered if Rowan had enough in liquid assets to fill the bath with coin. That’d be a hell of a way to fuck, knee deep in gold.

“Oh, and one more thing.” Rowan wrapped a towel around his waist before giving Ieduin a knowing glance. “Get your hand off your cock, boy. You don’t get to touch yourself today, not until I give you permission.”

“And what if I don’t listen?”

“You’ll only be making it worse for yourself,” Rowan advised in a sing-song voice, wagging his finger. “I have high standards, Ieduin. I expect you to meet them, regardless. And I’ll be watching you today to make sure you behave.” He walked over to Ieduin’s clothes, winked at him, and nudged them into the bath.

Ieduin let out a curse and rushed to save them, knowing it was a lost cause. He was going to have to trudge through the castle soaking wet now, not a prospect he was looking forward to, considering the cool morning.

“Ass,” Ieduin muttered, flinging the wet clothes onto the side of the bath.

Rowan narrowed his eyes. “Excuse me?”

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