“My lord.” She shoved the book into the pearlescent drawer of her nightstand and sat up, crossing her legs beneath her. “You’re back.”
“Yes.” He cleared his throat and slowly moved toward the bed, carefully setting the plate between them. “I brought food.”
Solarius inwardly cringed.
I brought food.
What a stupidly obvious thing to say.
“I can see that.” Narissa tilted her head, her waves tumbling over one shoulder and he had half a mind to sweep them back, just for an excuse to touch her.
His throat worked, but words would not form. There was something different about her, something so inexplicably eye-catching that he couldn’t quite name what held him utterly captivated.
She blinked, those frosty green eyes watching him stare at her, and he realized they were not lined with kohl. She wore no shimmering powder or paint, yet her lips were a natural rosy pink. There were no ornaments or charms in her hair, no excessive glamour or fabrics with dazzling designs meant to draw a male’s eye.
This was the real Narissa, in her purest form. The one she kept hidden from the rest of society. The one she may have inadvertently revealed only to him.
And he fucking loved it.
“You look beautiful.” He shook his head once and sat down on the opposite side of the bed. “Are. Youarebeautiful. My lady.”
Stars above, he could not evenspeakproperly around her today. She had affected him somehow, her very presence made him feel as though he was lost in an ocean of wonder, and for her he would gladly drown.
“Thank you.” Her voice was soft yet clipped, as though she wasn’t entirely sure if she should accept his compliment or not. Like perhaps she didn’t truly believe him.
Not that he could blame her, their relationship was built off stony insults and harsh insinuations. It had been forged in the fires of disparagement, honeyed words and flattery were lost between them.
They ate together in mostly companionable silence, with a few casual remarks about the weather and Narissa’s fondness for sweets.
“Are you going to open that?” she asked, nodding to the letter in his hand. She popped her thumb into her mouth, sucking off a bit of icing.
Solarius swallowed a groan of desire and spared her a glance.
“I was…” His voice trailed off when he realized she had a smear of creamy blue icing clinging to her bottom lip. He grinned. “You’ve got something just there.”
He tapped his own lip, then reached out, his gaze flicking to hers. “May I?”
She nodded once, her pale green eyes darting to his mouth.
Solarius gently cupped the right side of her face with his fingertips, then dragged his thumb across her lip, swiping away the remnants of the sugary residue. When he licked the icing from his thumb, wishing he was tasting something else, her eyes rounded and a distinctive blush flooded her cheeks.
She edged back, away from him, and blew out a harsh breath.
She hates me, he reminded himself.
And damn it, he should hate her as well. Narissa had been the one to play him for a fool, to lead him into thinking there was something good and wonderful between them before seeking solace in the arms of Calfair Skyhelm. Solarius was the one who’d been humiliated, the one deemed an “unlovable rake” by society, because he couldn’t manage to hold the interest of one of Aeramere’s sweetest souls.
Sweet, indeed.
Solarius had been on the receiving end of Narissa’s venomous mouth more times than he could count. So why then could he not quit thinking of her? He shouldn’t be imagining her writhing beneath him while he teased and taunted her into oblivion. He shouldn’t want to die from the poison of her velvety lips or melt into the satin of her skin. It would be unusually cruel to coerce her into thinking there was attraction between them just to what, pretend they were happily married?
Eventually, he would have to bed Narissa, but it would not be done out of obligation. No, the first time he filled her, he wanted her wet and willing. And he would claim her in such a way, no other male would ever compare.
He plucked the envelope from Ariesian off the plate and tore it open.
Solarius unfolded the piece of parchment and skimmed his brother’s bold, clean script.
“What’s it say?” Narissa asked as she drew her knees to her chest and wrapped her arms around them.
