that comes with being one of your many castoffs.”
“I know you do not. And that is why you will not become one of my castoffs if you do not wish to be. This is all in your hands,” he said reassuringly. “I will not force myself upon you. But I will see you give me that fair chance.”
“And coming in here demanding a kiss, that is not forcing yourself upon me? For you know I cannot say no. I have no power here.”
“Is that how you feel? That you have no power here? That’s odd because I feel it is you who has all the power. You have edged your way into my consciousness. Ever since our first meeting I have been unable to think of anything else but you.”
She scoffed. “I find that hard to believe. You’ve an entire kingdom to run.”
“And I’ve been doing a poor job of it these past two shona, believe me.”
He lifted her clenched fist to his lips and pressed a gentle kiss to the inside of her wrist. His lips were warm and surprisingly soft. She could see into the light purple of his eyes, see the intensity he was feeling within them.
“So…if I told you to leave right now…you would do so? Without your kiss?” she asked, testing him.
“I would…if you promised me a chance to kiss you in the future.”
“I…but…” She floundered, unable think of something to say. She could either kiss him now…or promise to kiss him later. Those were her two choices. “It…would be just a kiss? A simple kiss?”
“A kiss, but I have a feeling there would be nothing simple about it,” he said.
“Then…I would have to promise one for later.” Perhaps she could talk him out of this between now and then. And there wasn't exactly a time in specific where she would have to do this. It could be yana in the future if she wanted it to be.
“Within the next shona,” he amended, blowing that option out of the water.
“But…”
He kissed her closed fist and in spite of herself, her fingers relaxed. He took advantage and pressed a kiss into her open palm.
“T-technically you are already kissing me,” she said.
“I think we can both be adults and agree that this is not the kind of kiss we are speaking of.” He kissed her palm again and her fingertips curled against his cheek. He needed a shave. The king was not the sort to wear a beard or goatee. He kept his face smooth and clean. Except for right then.
“I s-still would prefer later then. But,” she agreed, “within the next shona. Sometime.”
“Very well.” He dropped her hand slowly and stepped back. He reached for the handle to the door. “I will hold you to this promise.”
“I have no doubt,” she muttered.
He laughed. “Do not fret. It will not be as bad as all that. I am told I am quite pleasant to kiss. I will make certain my teeth are polished clean and my breath sweet.”
She couldn’t help but smile with mischief. “And I can promise you I will stink of old meat pies and my teeth will grow fur.”
“Fur. I should like to see your fur.”
Female Vena only showed their truform to their husbands during certain mating rituals.
“It is ugly and splotchy,” she promised him.
“We shall see about that,” he said with a smile. “Good night, Sarea.”
“Good night, my king.”
“Garrick. You may call me Garrick.”
“I will call you my king,” she said stubbornly.
“We shall see about that as well,” he said. Then he pulled open the door and stepped through. When the door closed behind him, she sagged in relief.
She was in huge trouble, she realized. Somehow she had managed to put herself under his skin. She did not wish to be there. But she knew now he wasn't going anywhere any time soon. So…she had to figure out ways to keep him at bay. He said she had all the power…she would have to test that.
Test it thoroughly.
Chapter Six
The next day they rode back to the city as a group. Dakon, Garrick, her mother and Sarea. The king once again rode abreast of her and engaged her in conversation. They talked of
“I know you do not. And that is why you will not become one of my castoffs if you do not wish to be. This is all in your hands,” he said reassuringly. “I will not force myself upon you. But I will see you give me that fair chance.”
“And coming in here demanding a kiss, that is not forcing yourself upon me? For you know I cannot say no. I have no power here.”
“Is that how you feel? That you have no power here? That’s odd because I feel it is you who has all the power. You have edged your way into my consciousness. Ever since our first meeting I have been unable to think of anything else but you.”
She scoffed. “I find that hard to believe. You’ve an entire kingdom to run.”
“And I’ve been doing a poor job of it these past two shona, believe me.”
He lifted her clenched fist to his lips and pressed a gentle kiss to the inside of her wrist. His lips were warm and surprisingly soft. She could see into the light purple of his eyes, see the intensity he was feeling within them.
“So…if I told you to leave right now…you would do so? Without your kiss?” she asked, testing him.
“I would…if you promised me a chance to kiss you in the future.”
“I…but…” She floundered, unable think of something to say. She could either kiss him now…or promise to kiss him later. Those were her two choices. “It…would be just a kiss? A simple kiss?”
“A kiss, but I have a feeling there would be nothing simple about it,” he said.
“Then…I would have to promise one for later.” Perhaps she could talk him out of this between now and then. And there wasn't exactly a time in specific where she would have to do this. It could be yana in the future if she wanted it to be.
“Within the next shona,” he amended, blowing that option out of the water.
“But…”
He kissed her closed fist and in spite of herself, her fingers relaxed. He took advantage and pressed a kiss into her open palm.
“T-technically you are already kissing me,” she said.
“I think we can both be adults and agree that this is not the kind of kiss we are speaking of.” He kissed her palm again and her fingertips curled against his cheek. He needed a shave. The king was not the sort to wear a beard or goatee. He kept his face smooth and clean. Except for right then.
“I s-still would prefer later then. But,” she agreed, “within the next shona. Sometime.”
“Very well.” He dropped her hand slowly and stepped back. He reached for the handle to the door. “I will hold you to this promise.”
“I have no doubt,” she muttered.
He laughed. “Do not fret. It will not be as bad as all that. I am told I am quite pleasant to kiss. I will make certain my teeth are polished clean and my breath sweet.”
She couldn’t help but smile with mischief. “And I can promise you I will stink of old meat pies and my teeth will grow fur.”
“Fur. I should like to see your fur.”
Female Vena only showed their truform to their husbands during certain mating rituals.
“It is ugly and splotchy,” she promised him.
“We shall see about that,” he said with a smile. “Good night, Sarea.”
“Good night, my king.”
“Garrick. You may call me Garrick.”
“I will call you my king,” she said stubbornly.
“We shall see about that as well,” he said. Then he pulled open the door and stepped through. When the door closed behind him, she sagged in relief.
She was in huge trouble, she realized. Somehow she had managed to put herself under his skin. She did not wish to be there. But she knew now he wasn't going anywhere any time soon. So…she had to figure out ways to keep him at bay. He said she had all the power…she would have to test that.
Test it thoroughly.
Chapter Six
The next day they rode back to the city as a group. Dakon, Garrick, her mother and Sarea. The king once again rode abreast of her and engaged her in conversation. They talked of
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