Page 35 of The Sunbound Princess
So I didn’t bother. I sighed, letting the men’s murmurs carry me into sleep.
Chapter
Nine
DAIN
Early morning sunlight spilled through the bedchamber’s window. Nikolas had thrown it open the moment we woke, leaning out to get a “read on the street,” as he called it.
He’d pulled his head back in a moment later, a sunny expression on his face as he declared the street below constable-free. He’d left the window open, however, and now the sounds of the rousing village drifted inside. The clip clop of horses’ hooves. Shutters slapping against the sides of buildings. The occasional shout or bark of laughter. Towns were always noisy places in the morning.
But the bedchamber was quiet as a tomb. Part of it was Nikolas’s absence. He’d left ten minutes ago to rustle up something in the way of breakfast. Undoubtedly, he wanted to get a “read” on the brothel, too. Maybe pass the brothel-keeper he’d threatened a few more gold pieces to stop the man from summoning the authorities.
Although, that was unlikely. If knights showed up, Nikolas and I could simply point them to the brothel’s kitchens, where they were sure to find stores of aphrodisiac.
A scratching sound pulled me from my thoughts. Bel knelt before the fire, her skirts pooled around her and a poker in her hand. The flames sputtered, the meager crackle a pale imitation of the heat that had roared through me last night.
I shifted in my chair, memories of Bel’s sleek body parading through my mind. She was exquisite, but even that word didn’t do her justice. For the rest of my life, I’d carry the image of her perfect curves and soaking wet desire like a brand stamped into my brain. Every time I reached for my cock, I’d hear her ordering me to strip.
I’d hear Nikolas describing how it would feel for the two of us to take her together.
My dick stirred, and I shifted again. Pain blossomed low in my back—a reminder of the night I’d spent in the chair. The sofa was too short to accommodate my height, so Nikolas had taken it, his snores a rhythmic reminder that most furniture wasn’t built for me.
“Nikolas has been gone a long time,” Bel murmured, rising from the hearth. Sunlight haloed her as she faced me, a slight frown between her eyes. “Do you think we should be worried?”
“No,” I said, sitting forward. But it was awkward staying seated while she stood, so I rose. The second I straightened, my back twinged again.
Bel’s gaze sharpened. “Are you all right?”
“Never better.”
Her frown deepened. “You look like you’re in pain.”
Magic tugged in my chest, and I bit back a curse. But hiding was useless because she obviously felt it, too. She rubbed at her chest, a humorless smile playing around her mouth.
“It came back this morning,” she said.
I nodded. “Same for me.” The pull had disappeared in the tavern—and I could only assume the aphrodisiac had blunted it.But the magic had roared back, its claws sunk deep and its pull relentless.
Bel worried at her bottom lip, her white teeth making a deep impression in the plump pink. Heavy silence descended again, leaving me with nothing to do but stare.
And, fuck, I couldn’t look away. Her high-necked gown hid her sigils, but they’d shimmered like gold on her skin last night, the little suns appearing to writhe with her movements.
Before I could stop myself, my gaze went to her breasts. They were easily my favorite thing about her body. Except her pussy was also beautiful. And her ass. And her mouth.
Gods, her mouth.
“Dain?”
I jerked my gaze up to find her frowning again. Fuck, I’d been staring at her tits.
“Hmm?” I asked, scratching my cheek. My beard itched, the hairs in that awkward stage between too short and too long.
Everything about me was awkward, apparently. I should have volunteered to find food. Nikolas could have stayed behind with Bel. He was good with words. He would have smoothed things over, making her laugh until she forgot that the three of us had masturbated our way into a conversational stalemate.
The claws in my chest yanked harder, making me step toward Bel. She jumped at the same time, a little yelp escaping her as she clutched at the spot over her heart.
“It’s stronger,” I said hoarsely, fighting not to close the distance between us.
