Things changed the day that I was eating in the banquet room.I’d settled down to some eggs and steaming linked, sausage for breakfast. The Dining Hall was relatively empty.As it usually is when I come to breakfast. It seemed I was generally the only early riser. Which was why I did it so often. I liked the peace of being the only one in this great hall, save for the guards near the mantle and door and a sprinkling of servants cleaning, I was the only occupant.I sawed at the bit of sausage with my knife and took a delicate bite. Savoring the spicy, tangy flavor.Nearly oblivious to the presence of the servants working diligently around the room. A man feeding logs into the fire and a few maids dusting. A servant stoking the fire, threw in the last log a bit carelessly. Which was what first drew my attention to him.Servants are not usually so careless for fear of reprisal. My blue gaze flitted over to him in time to see him spinning round and leaping into a full tilt run. Nearing
Huffing, I whipped my hair to keep moving, purposefully hitting him with what hung over my shoulders.He turned his head, seeing it coming. His eyes flashing in unholy fury.I gripped the railing to rush up the stairs but his hand landing over mine and pinching it in place stopped me. I turned to look over my shoulder at him. “When are you going to learn that some things are simply out of your reach.”“You’re not. Though you’re trying damn hard to be.”Succeeding. But I certainly couldn’t argue what he was saying. I’d worked hard to place myself far from where he could get to me.Now I’m a queen. And he still won’t let me go. I looked at the man thoughtfully and realized he wasn’t going to back down from this. I need to throw him off his game.To control him.He’s a wild card I need to rein in. I eyed him assessingly. Recalling the way his arm had shot out and blocked that blade without a moment’s hesitation.How efficiently he’d dispatched my attacker.I can use that.In-fact I ne
Months passed.Months of him finding assassins, and those that’d hire them, to kill me.Him dispatching them, before they could get anywhere near me.One after another. Until even I’d heard of his many triumphs.His decimation of killers.He’s certainly diligent. And though he cast me prolonged side-eyed looks when he passed me in the long halls, he didn’t demand payment.But I could tell from the annoyance on his features that he was growing further and further impatient.Wanting me to make good on my word. But if he thought I’d catch him and offer it to him, he was insane.He’ll have to ask me. And even that thought chaffed my nerves.Would I? Even then? I needed him in a very practical, primal sort of way. I was a female, with little power. And not particularly beloved by the people of the Enderon realm. Whereas he, he had somehow become one of my own guards, without me even knowing, track and kill numerous assassins and other feats.Like running me down as if I were no more th
“What?” I stared at him stunned.“I can smell your sex.” He whispered.“You’re wet. I could slide right into you, without the slightest ripple.” He promised. “Come in here, Lara. Let me have her…”“No! The bailey.” I cried. Backing up. I stumbled at the bottom of the stairs and had to turn and run up them.I could feel Alaric’s eyes on me, though he didn’t move.I knew that it had been exactly as he and I had both predicted.My she-wolf wants to mate. And she’s chosen him. Well, I hadn’t.So, she’s going to have to go without. But I knew depriving her for long, was going to do me in so I had to come up with an alternative.I found myself staring out the window of my chamber thoughtfully. At the forest beyond the meadow. Nothing moved down there.I’m safe. The problem was getting past Alaric to get out there.If he catches me heading out, there’ll be hell to pay. He’ll consider it an invitation. It was a foggy morning. Gray and heavy. The white teasing through the trees in thin w
I was extremely skittish after that. Careful to avoid him at all costs. Requiring breakfast in my chambers in case he was one of the guards who now stood in the Banquet Hall.I knew Alaric would find me again.He’ll want more of what he tasted. Still, I was unprepared when that day actually came.I’d barely gotten up for morning rituals. Wrapping my hair into a loose braid over my shoulder and heading out of my chamber only to find my maid, to order breakfast.But when I stepped beyond the doorway, I was snatched nearly off my feet. He rounded and pushed me against the wall.His mouth descended with crushing force.Alaric.I knew instantly who it was. I could smell his alluring, male scent. Hear the rumbling growl in his throat that told me he’d lost all patience.“The King!” I objected. Stunned when my shoulders hit the wall.He stood several inches above me and pressed his body to mine, letting me feel the evidence of his arousal. A hard rod against my lower pelvis.Reminding me th
I wanted to back out. I didn’t want to go. But I’d given him my word and I knew that the hell he’d make me pay this time would involve public humiliation and possibly the murder of my husband. The man who’s name currently protects me. I put on a simple muslin dress with laces up the front and a pull over vest. Walking across that meadow on hesitant feet. I drew a long breath, trying to control my feverish sweating. I clenched my fists and fought the urge to run back to that castle the way I had that first day. Maybe I could persuade them to keep him out. I looked back. “You’ve come too far to run now.” Alaric stood at the edge of the trees. Concealed from the view of the towers by a broad treetop. His shoulder rested against the trunk and his arms were crossed over his muscled chest as he watched me. Sensing what I was thinking. I rather disagreed with him. I thought I could make it back. “Com
I wasn’t deceived by the ploy at an endearing embrace. My chest lifted as I breathed more heavily. His head dropped to the side of my neck, and he nuzzled my hair away from it to place a kiss along the sensitive skin. Kissing his way up to just behind my earlobe. I shivered at the pleasant sensation. My resentment grew with every weak feminine response of my body. He was big enough to fold nearly entirely around me. Kissing at the hollow of clavicle before delving his tongue in. I jerked like he’d stuck me with a blade. But I met the restrictive limit of my own arms trapping me against him. “Ssh…” He whispered. “Stay. Relax against me.” I told myself I didn’t want to. But I did. Finally giving in, I let my body rock back into him. My head lolling against his opposite shoulder. Giving him free access to tease at my neck and the peak of my shoulder. He slid a finger under the shoulder of my dress. Pushing it lightly from
He brought me up against him. Smashing all that softness against me as he lifted me off my feet and carried me backwards, deeper into the woods. Is he trying to make me lose my way? I had an excellent sense of direction and knew I could find my way back the moment he let me go. “Why are we going further into the woods?” “So, no one will hear you screaming.” That sounded terrifying. He tossed me over his shoulder and gave my backside a swat as he walked further into the trees. Coming across a dark cave concealed by high boulders. “Alaric!” Objected. Hammering his back with my fists and kicking wildly. “Woman, you best cease unless you want to lie in the dirt with me, right here.” I clenched my teeth and twisted trying to glower at him, but he wouldn’t turn around. I was quiet as I watched warily as we wove deeper into the trees. I don’t like this. How far are we going?