“I’m positive the queen wouldn’t miss the opportunity. Graff, Jarvy, Decksin?”
I hit the bottom step and spun around. “Thosewere my suitors?”
A knowing smile crossed his face as he narrowed his eyes. “Charming, aren’t they?” When I made a move to turn around, he tapped my shoulder and said, “Well? Did you like any of them?” He laid a hand on his chest. “I, myself, am quite fond of Graff, if I had to choose one for you. He’s the smartest of the three. Knows his place around me.”
I sighed and turned away, opening the kitchen drawers, looking for my coin pouch. “What’s your game here, Fletcher?”
“No game.” He followed on my heels as I slammed the drawers shut. “Just curiosity.”
I felt his body warmth closing in on me. I leaned my hip on the counter, crossed my ankles, and folded my arms over my chest.
“So tell me.” His chin tilted down, cinnamon eyes glued to mine, and awaited my response.
A smirk tugged at my lips, sensing he was jealous but enjoying teasing him. “If I remember correctly, a few months ago in the showers together, you told me you preferred ignorance.”
His jaw feathered. “I changed my mind.”
I grinned and cupped his cheek, his stubble scratchy under my palm. “Well, I haven’t.” I’d choose him. I had been very clear about that. “Have you?” I narrowed my eyes.
His brows knitted and a confusion eddied through his gaze. “Why would you ask me that?”
“Because of that redhead you left behind in Elizy.”
He jerked his head back, scrunching his face like he had trouble placing the meaning behind my words.
“Rosaanne.”
His brows lifted and his lips parted. “Oh, wow.” Then, his hand came up to scratch the back of his head. “I haven’t thought about her in a long time.” His eyes darted to the ceiling, and I could tell he was picturing her.
Impulsively, I brought my hand up, sending an electric spark into Fletcher’s chest. “Stop thinking about her!” I raged.
“Ow!” He took a step back.
“I can’t believe you didn’t tell me you’ve had sex before me.”
He shrugged and a smile emerged over his face. “I figured you already knew.”
“Well,Ididn’tfigure, Fletcher. You told me you’ve been searching for me and only me for seventeenyears. So sorry if I was under a false impression that I was your only one because of the bonding ritual you’ve been so keen on sharing with me to win me back.”
He gulped, eyes roaming over me like he wasn’t sure what to say.
“Gosh, where was it? Was it here?” I said, gesturing to the table.
His eyes darkened. “Would details make you happy?”
“Yes.”
After a long, drawn-out huff and a ruffle of his dark bangs, he messily combed them to the side with his fingers. “In my hammock.”
That drilled a picture into my mind of him on top of her hoisted in the air by the thin material of his hanging bed. “Your hammock? Wouldn’t you just topple off? How would that even work?”
He rolled his eyes and slackened his posture.
“Oh gosh,” I lowered my voice to a loud whisper, “you guys had some kind ofmagicsex, didn’t you?”
“Ripley,” he said in warning.
“God! How do I compete withthat!”
