Read Online The Perfect Prince by Michelle M. Pillow - Free Book Online
Authors: Michelle M. Pillow
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but no sound came out. Instead, she furiously shook her head. Swallowing, she looked around.
“Where?” she asked, beginning to shake terribly. “Here?”
“Anywhere you wish.” Olek didn’t relent and he didn’t back away. It would be good to get this shyness out of the way. He didn’t want his wife afraid of him. He would just have to prove to her that he could be trusted with her body, as well as her spirit.
Nadja took a step back, looking around. Seeing the table, she said, “Can … I need a drink.”Olek’s body almost exploded in disappointment, as Nadja skirted past him. He took a deep breath, trying to be patient. They had all night for this and a lifetime for the other.
“Would you like some?” Nadja asked.
“Trying to get me drunk?” Olek mused, coming slowly to follow her.
Nadja instantly blushed, proving that she had in fact thought of it.
“Qurilixian males don’t get intoxicated with this wine.” Olek lifted a finger as if he would touch her neck, but then drew back, remembering his promise not to touch her until she touched him. By the look on her face, he might be waiting a very, very long time. “We are immune.”
“So you just get the girls drunk.” Nadja tried to laugh. His darkening look made it come out in a short, soundless chuckle. “Sorry.”
“Why are you so nervous? I am your husband. You have no reason for this embarrassment. The whole purpose of our customs is to do away with doubt. We trust in the powers around us to know our path.”
Nadja gulped down a goblet of wine before coughing. Taking a shaky breath, she said, “Yes, but you are also a stranger. I only saw you for the first time a few hours ago.” Olek lifted the crystal about his neck. He twirled the glowing orb in his fingers.
“But this proves we were meant to be. That is why we have these ceremonies, so there will be no walls. We trust in the power of it to guide us.” Nadja swallowed nervously. “So, is it true you have always had those? Since the day you were born?”
“It is,” Olek answered, pleased by the relaxing note he detected in her tone. It was good she showed an interest and knowledge in his people’s ways for they were now her ways too.
“And has it always pulsed like that?” Nadja took another drink. As if to prove her point, the crystal pulsed brightly sending tormented agony sweetly through her limbs, creating a mad rush of ache and need inside of her.
“No, only tonight, when I first saw you come to me,” Olek whispered. Taking the crystal, he touched it lightly to her skin. She felt a fire ignite on her flesh where he drew it softly in lazy circles about the base of her neck. “That is when the crystal first came to life.” “So, it reacts to the moonlight?” Nadja probed, her eyes fluttering weakly. She could feel the crystal pulling her towards Olek’s body, numbing her mind to everything but this handsome warrior man.
“It reacts to what is between us naturally. It shows us the will of our hearts,” he answered. Her reaction to his admission wasn’t what he would have expected.
Nadja stiffened and pulled away from him. A frown began to mar her features. “I told you. I don’t love you and I don’t expect you to love me. I will be practical about this.” Olek was hurt. How could she know the many years he had waited for her? He’d had blurred dreams of her since he was a boy. It wasn’t just fate that brought her to him. It was destiny. Even if she didn’t believe it, he did. And he knew it to be true, as did all his people.“Nadja,” he whispered tenderly. “Why are you afraid?”
“I’m not afraid--”
“You promised honesty,” Olek interrupted. “I can smell your lie on you.”
“I.…” She took another drink, stopping only to glance at him. For good measure, she turned away and took another.
Olek frowned, lifting his hand to stop her. With his fingers, he
“Where?” she asked, beginning to shake terribly. “Here?”
“Anywhere you wish.” Olek didn’t relent and he didn’t back away. It would be good to get this shyness out of the way. He didn’t want his wife afraid of him. He would just have to prove to her that he could be trusted with her body, as well as her spirit.
Nadja took a step back, looking around. Seeing the table, she said, “Can … I need a drink.”Olek’s body almost exploded in disappointment, as Nadja skirted past him. He took a deep breath, trying to be patient. They had all night for this and a lifetime for the other.
“Would you like some?” Nadja asked.
“Trying to get me drunk?” Olek mused, coming slowly to follow her.
Nadja instantly blushed, proving that she had in fact thought of it.
“Qurilixian males don’t get intoxicated with this wine.” Olek lifted a finger as if he would touch her neck, but then drew back, remembering his promise not to touch her until she touched him. By the look on her face, he might be waiting a very, very long time. “We are immune.”
“So you just get the girls drunk.” Nadja tried to laugh. His darkening look made it come out in a short, soundless chuckle. “Sorry.”
“Why are you so nervous? I am your husband. You have no reason for this embarrassment. The whole purpose of our customs is to do away with doubt. We trust in the powers around us to know our path.”
Nadja gulped down a goblet of wine before coughing. Taking a shaky breath, she said, “Yes, but you are also a stranger. I only saw you for the first time a few hours ago.” Olek lifted the crystal about his neck. He twirled the glowing orb in his fingers.
“But this proves we were meant to be. That is why we have these ceremonies, so there will be no walls. We trust in the power of it to guide us.” Nadja swallowed nervously. “So, is it true you have always had those? Since the day you were born?”
“It is,” Olek answered, pleased by the relaxing note he detected in her tone. It was good she showed an interest and knowledge in his people’s ways for they were now her ways too.
“And has it always pulsed like that?” Nadja took another drink. As if to prove her point, the crystal pulsed brightly sending tormented agony sweetly through her limbs, creating a mad rush of ache and need inside of her.
“No, only tonight, when I first saw you come to me,” Olek whispered. Taking the crystal, he touched it lightly to her skin. She felt a fire ignite on her flesh where he drew it softly in lazy circles about the base of her neck. “That is when the crystal first came to life.” “So, it reacts to the moonlight?” Nadja probed, her eyes fluttering weakly. She could feel the crystal pulling her towards Olek’s body, numbing her mind to everything but this handsome warrior man.
“It reacts to what is between us naturally. It shows us the will of our hearts,” he answered. Her reaction to his admission wasn’t what he would have expected.
Nadja stiffened and pulled away from him. A frown began to mar her features. “I told you. I don’t love you and I don’t expect you to love me. I will be practical about this.” Olek was hurt. How could she know the many years he had waited for her? He’d had blurred dreams of her since he was a boy. It wasn’t just fate that brought her to him. It was destiny. Even if she didn’t believe it, he did. And he knew it to be true, as did all his people.“Nadja,” he whispered tenderly. “Why are you afraid?”
“I’m not afraid--”
“You promised honesty,” Olek interrupted. “I can smell your lie on you.”
“I.…” She took another drink, stopping only to glance at him. For good measure, she turned away and took another.
Olek frowned, lifting his hand to stop her. With his fingers, he
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