That was better than thinking that he'd spent a fortune commissioning a ransom's worth of jewels and clothing long enough in advance for it to actually be sewn or tailored to my measurements.
It had only been days since the ball.
I didn't, literally or metaphorically, want to be fucked.
The catch was, if that was what he wanted, I was in no position to say no.
ChapterEighteen
Unease skated through my body as I walked the palace corridors, trailing a household attendant. I entered a suite with a darkened living area, a bedroom off to one side.
My dark nemesis stood on a balcony overlooking the city as I joined him outside, my breath catching at the fantastic view.
Of course his suite would look out over the entire city and the forested mountains beyond, the white central boulevard reflecting moonlight, a ruler surveying his domain. In the distance, the lights of my district twinkled.
I rested my hands on the railing, angling my body toward him. “Nice view.”
An oblique glance. “You were in pain earlier.”
My hands tightened on the railing. “You threatened to remove me from the negotiations.”
“A pity I must result to threats in order to take care of you.”
“I'm not your responsibility.” I inched away from him, hackles rising—I almost hissed.
“No? You're doing such a poor job of it, and I am your Prince.”
“I've sworn no oaths of fealty.”
“Hmm. That will be remedied, though the point will soon become moot.”
More internal hissing.
Renaud moved behind me, halting my retreat, and his lips brushed one of my bare shoulders, his hand cupping the other to hold me still. At 5'11”, I wasn't a petite girl. He still topped me by at least six inches. In heels, we were almost the same height. I wondered if he’d chosen higher heels for me on purpose—easier on his neck.
I jerked a shoulder to dislodge him, which he ignored. “Putting the cart before the horse, aren't you?”
“I am not young, Aerinne,” he said after a thoughtful silence. “I no longer suffer from the frailty of indecision.” He glanced at me. “I’ve learned the consequences of not taking what you want before it slips from your grasp.”
He claimed to be so old and wise, but he thought like a deprived toddler. It took me a moment to formulate an even reply.
“Even so, why move so fast? There’stime, Prince.” Haha, no there wasn’t. I doubted he’d forgotten either.
“Some things, Lady, are not a matter of time. Some things are a matter of action.”
I understood he wouldn’t be swayed. For whatever reason, he’d decided I was important to him on some level—even if only physical and temporary.
I adjusted tactics. “You don't know anything about me.”
“I know more than you think. If only you would see beyond the length of your nose.”
The controlled strength of the male at my back set off every instinct to flee or fight. He shifted, his chest brushing my back, and pulled me against him. Internally, his power uncoiled, shimmering just barely under the surface, and it kept. . .licking at me. My own power perked up, its avatar roused. It sniffed, sticking out a tongue to taste him, then sat up, wanting more.
I tried to wrestle it back, but it swiped at me, lunging for Renaud.
For the barest of seconds, the tendrils of our powers merged outside our bodies, the flare of color and electricity breathtaking.
By the realms and the gods of my mother. They'd called me a Bridge, and I hoped that wasn't because powerful people could walk all over me.
