Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 81261 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 406(@200wpm)___ 325(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81261 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 406(@200wpm)___ 325(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
He introduced me to his daughter.
A surge of fondness renders me breathless. Few people have ever elicited such emotion from me, mostly since there have been so few I’d ever let get close enough for me to develop feelings.
And with that tenderness, something hotter pools low in my belly. The best way I know how to show my gratitude is through sex. For my entire life, it’s been the only thing of value I have to give.
But right now, I don’t want to just give something to Amell for what he’s done.
I actually want to take, because if I give Amell pleasure, it will pleasure me.
That is antithetical to everything I’ve ever known when it comes to sex.
“Can I touch you?” I ask, my voice raspy.
Amell cocks an eyebrow at me. “I was going to ask if you were ready to set your friend free.”
I walk toward the king and come to stand before him. I tilt my head back as his height demands. “We can set him free later. I’d rather touch you first.”
Amell’s blue eyes darken to the color of denim and red pulses within his pupils. He sets the goblet down and reaches out to finger a lock of my hair. “What did you have in mind?”
“I’d like to taste you.” He doesn’t need more explanation than that.
“Fuck,” he growls, his hand sliding to the back of my neck. “Words like that will land you in bed where we’ll stay for the entire day.”
“You make that sound like it’s a bad thing,” I say with a slight smile, a renewed ache pulsing between my legs.
“It’s not a bad thing at all.” He releases me and takes a cooling step back. “But let’s go handle your friend first. I don’t want him on your mind at all when you’re… tasting me.”
“Um, okay.” I’m slightly confused because, well… he knows I’m offering a blow job, right?
“One thing first,” Amell says just before leaning in to kiss me. More than a brush of his mouth against mine, but not a toe-curler either.
My lips tingle, though, in an unnatural way. “What was that?”
“A bit of protection,” he says, taking my hand in his and walking us to the door. “Insurance if you’re in harm’s way again.”
“Why would I be?”
“You shouldn’t, but I never say never. This way I’ll always know where you are.”
I find his statement odd since he said I’m always to be with him, but I don’t question it.
Amell leads me through the castle, holding my hand the entire time. I believe this is calculated on his part, and everyone notices. While I don’t garner much attention when I walk these same halls, everyone looks at the king with his tall frame and luscious wings trailing behind him. More than one pair of eyes drops to where our hands intertwine, and I see confusion and even hatred.
I don’t see one smile or indication that anyone finds it sweet.
In the kitchens, Amell releases me to find Rhynda, and I spot Will still shelling peas. I rush over to him, and he nearly spills the bowl when I touch his shoulder.
“You scared the crap out of me,” Will says grumpily, and then his eyes widen as he sees Amell talking to Rhynda.
“It’s time, Will. You’re going home.”
“Right now?” he asks, his eyes shimmering with hope.
“Right now.”
“Come, Nyssa,” Amell says, and I look over my shoulder to see him by the door. “Bring your friend.”
I offer my hand to Will. “Let’s go.”
We follow Amell out of the kitchen. I almost feel sorry for Rhynda as she looks so befuddled over Amell coming for one of her human workers.
Will’s hand is slick with sweat, and he tries to pull it away. “I don’t think he wants me touching you,” he whispers as we follow about five paces behind Amell. “There are rumors that you end up in the river if you do.”
“I think us holding hands in friendship is okay,” I murmur back and give him a squeeze of reassurance.
Amell leads us out the castle’s front double doors, so tall, they stretch almost three stories. The path leads directly out to the Bridge of Judgment.
Will tries in earnest to jerk his hand from mine, but Amell says, “Easy, human friend of Nyssa’s. I’m not tossing you into the river.”
This was done without him seeing us behind him, so he either has super hearing or eyes in the back of his head.
“It’s okay,” I reassure Will, but I drop his hand so he’s not distressed.
Amell walks out to the middle of the bridge where his throne sits. The air is warm from the river churning below.
He turns and addresses Will. “Where would you like me to return you?”
My heart aches—Will seems so lost right now. His eyes come to mine. “Where do I go? Straight to my parents, who probably assume I’m dead. What do I even tell them?”