I wish I were less attracted to her. Then, I wouldn’t be sitting here wondering just how violet her eyes are.
“Are you well?” I ask.
She freezes for a split second. “Yes, I’m fine.”
“You seem tense,” I say.
Her eyes narrow, and she tries to shift away from me. The indecent dress strains against her breasts. Her nipples poke through the silk. I want to bite them, just to see how she reacts, but the communion issupposed to be about emotional and spiritual intimacy. The physical intimacy comes later.
I hate to admit that she feels good in my lap. Her body fits perfectly against mine.
I run my fingers up her right leg, tracing the slit in her dress. “You’ve hardly touched your first course,” I whisper.
“Forgive me for not being terribly hungry.”
“It’s normal to be nervous.”
She smiles sweetly. “Only concerned my new husband might not be able to perform in front of a crowd.”
I clench my teeth. “No need to worry about that.”
Her cheeks go dark. She knows exactly what she’s facing in that room. She saw me naked last night.
“I know we are just pretending, but these games can get rough, Harlow. You need a safe word.”
Harlow thrusts her lower lip into a pout. “It’s very sweet that you think so.”
I slide my hand up the back of her neck and grip her hair, giving it a quick, firm tug. “I promise you do.”
Goosebumps break out over her skin. That’s more satisfying than it should be. I already know what she’s comfortable with. She wrote it down for me. But seeing it on paper and in action are two very different things.
Her gaze keeps darting to the door of the ceremony room. I understand her apprehension. This must seem a strange custom to her, and, if I’m honest, it feels strangely casual to be feasting right beside the room where we’re supposed to do a sex ritual to honor Kennymyra. Loath as I am to admit it, she’s been remarkably easy-going about our Mountain Haven customs.
She seemed to enjoy watching Bryce on hunt night, but that doesn’t necessarily mean she’ll enjoy being watched. Plus, it’s one thing to be watched by someone who’s into it and quite another to be watched by a room full of people who don’t like you.
I would never admit it to her, but I’m apprehensive about the ceremony too. Being heir comes with expectations, and given that Harlow is the daughter of our enemy, I know everyone wants to see me fuck her into submission. I’d probably enjoy it.
But there’s pleasure in the long game. If I can win her over, get her to choose to let her guard down and give me what I want, this victory will be so much more satisfying.
“Stars,” she says finally.
I lean in close so my lips brush the shell of her ear. “Good girl. I can’t wait to see your face when you realize you’re going to come.” I chuckle low, and she squirms. “I know you’re going to fight me—but when you’re struggling, just remember I’m going to enjoy knowing that you hate how wet you are for me.”
The shock in her eyes is there and gone so quickly, but it zips through my body like a shiver. She leans in, her breath ghosting over my lips. “I’m going to smother you in your sleep.”
Then she kisses me. The room erupts into a combination of hoots and applause.
We’re not really supposed to kiss during this communion. I’m almost certain she knows that, but of everything she’s seen at the fort so far, this closeness is the thing that’s made her most uncomfortable. She doesn’t like intimacy that she’s not in control of. It gives me an irrational thrill when I think of how much I’m going to enjoy teaching her that surrender can be fun.
I move my hands down to squeeze her ass, and she immediately pulls away to glare at me.
I click my tongue. “I understand it’s hard to keep your hands off me, but you’re supposed to be looking into my eyes and telling me all your deepest, darkest secrets.”
Her lips twitch into the barest hint of a smile. She thrusts her hand into my hair and tugs my head back. She shifts closer, rubbing herself over my half-hard cock and pressing her breasts against my chest.
“Want to know my deepest, darkest secret, my wolf?” Her smile is wicked but so striking. It brightens her whole face.
Divine damn, she is beautiful.
