Hers To Cherish (Verdantia Book 3) by Patricia A. Knight

nuzzled against Steffania, kissing her neck, petting her breasts, trying to snatch sloppy kisses.
    When they got him into the water, Steffania told Pansy to bring food. “Maybe he will sober up with something in his stomach.”
    Steffania knew a lcohol rendered some men sexually incapable. Clearly, Ramsey was not one of them. Steffania finally fled from the tub. It was retreat or be drowned by his drunken attempts to maul her. When Pansy arrived with the food, Steffania gasped, “Put it down and help me get him into bed.” After a comedic, stumbling grapple, beginning at the tub and ending in the bedroom, all three fell onto the large bed.
    Ramsey regarded Pansy with a lopsided smile. “Mmm. A three-some.”
    Steffania looked at an alarmed Pansy. “Get out of here. Now!” she hissed.
    Pansy flew from the bedroom. That made Steffania Ram’s sole target.
    “Come here, vixen.” His dark brows waggled at her and a finger beckoned.
    “Ramsey, you are drunk out of your mind.”
    “Perhaps.” He looked down and stroked his wagging cockstand. “Important part still works.” He grinned boyishly, looking incredibly pleased with himself. A small giggle slipped out of her mouth in response.
    “Come here, sweetheart. Know you want to.” He blinked slowly, as if trying to focus.
    “ Ramsey, no. I won’t be some drunken fuck,” she said softly. “You won’t even remember this in the morning.”
    Ram sprang at her and she shrieked in surprise as he flattened her into the bed, covering her with his weight . Her abdomen registered the press of his hard cock. His face hovered inches above hers. His hands lacked their normal coordination and he clumsily smoothed her hair away from her face. His expression held an innocent solemnity. “Exquisite Steffania. Never forget anything about you.”
    His mouth descended on hers in a kiss as tender and sweet as any lover might give his virgin bride. “Never forget you,” he murmured and passed out.
    Trapped underneath him, Ste ffania sighed in resignation and ran her hands through his dark hair in a lingering caress. “I’m afraid I’ll never forget you, either, Ramsey.”
     

Chapter Eight
     
    A long, low groan awakened Steffania the next morning.
    “ Get me the bottle of pain pills and don’t jar the bed.”
    She grinned slowly. Ram lay face down, a pillow pulled over his head.
    “Immediately . It’s terribly dark in here, let me pull back the draperies and let in the sunlight. Would you like some breakfast? Some lovely gilly-worm heads? Or if you’d prefer, I’ll fry up some Vortian blood curds. Maybe some dýr intestine?”
    A muffled, “Don’t fuck with me. I’m not in the mood,” emerged from the pillows.
    Laughing to herself, she got him the pain pills and a glass of water.
    He swallowed three with a shudder and closing his eyes, lay back gingerly.
    Taking pity on him, Steffania offered, “Would you like me to see if Pansy has a miracle cure for hangovers?”
    Ram cracked an eyelid. A baleful, blood-shot eye stabbed her. “Yes.”
    Sliding off the bed, she went to find the violet-eyed slaaf .
  * * *
    Steffania walked into the living room and saw Pansy curled on the sofa watching a promo vid about the upcoming games. One of the names mentioned was Veacon Narr. Steffania couldn’t miss the shudder that ran through the tiny beauty’s body at the mention of his name. When his picture appeared on the screen, Pansy turned off the viewer and sat staring at the black screen in silence.
    Curious . I must get this woman to speak to me about Narr. “Well, our lord and master has awakened. His head is just as bad as I anticipated. You don’t have another miracle potion up your sleeve, do you, Pansy?”
    The young woman started and looked up . Steffania repeated her question.
    Pansy winced in sympathy. “The pain pills in the meds cabinet will be as effective as anything I could concoct. That and a hot shower. Is he very bad? I could rub his head for