keep an eye on your crazy subjects and protect my brother . That’s it . Sorry if I’m not comfortable with you screwing Bleach-Bottle Barbie and then feeling me up on the bed.”
He tossed his shirt next to his coat, and I paled, backing against the headboard at the cold wrath in his eyes.
“Oh, and P.S. - this little candle-lit, porn set-up? Tacky .”
His eyes turned to cold, gray stone.
“My valets prepared this room for our wedding night.” He stood at the foot of the bed, staring at me sternly with his arms crossed over his broad chest. “I’m going to tell you what to expect over the course of the coming weeks. Are you listening?”
I stared at him, crossing my own arms over my chest and leaning against the headboard.
“You’ll be up at dawn each morning and take breakfast in either the hall or in your room. Immediately following, you’ll begin conditioning. Eric has taken responsibility for weaponry. Fencing and swordplay will be my responsibility. After that, you’ll bathe and dress for the day, and I have a female instructor for your etiquette. Her name is Valerie.”
“ Etiquette? I-…,”
“Be silent.” He snapped, and I closed my mouth, glaring at him. “You’ll have an opportunity to ask questions. I don’t care for your iniquitous tongue this evening.”
I bit the inside of my cheek, giving him a defiant stare.
“You’ll break to take your midday meal, and then proceed to your grandfather’s quarters for lessons in magic. Your kingdom responsibilities begin after magic; you’ll be working with my personal physician, Alexander. You’ll be able to express your artistic talent and aid him in his journaling.”
“I can barely contain my excitement.”
He moved around the bed, leaning forward to cage me in both of his arms as his palms flattened against the headboard. “When your king is speaking, you are silent. And despite your juvenile rant moments ago- I am your king. If you do not agree, then you do not recognize your responsibilities as queen.”
I lowered my eyes; I couldn’t help it. His authoritative tone- and bare chest- quickened my pulse.
“Yes… my lord.”
“After your work with Alexander, you’ll either choose- or I’ll assign you- a humanitarian task.” He must have recognized the confusion my expression. “Charity, volunteer work. Your people need a compassionate queen.”
“Every evening, you’ll join my side in the hall to dine. You’ll retire to your chamber with your women, and you will not attempt to come to my bed.”
The flush of rage that immediately swept over my bare neck and chest was not lost on him. Uninterrupted time with your whores? Are you kidding me?
He pulled away, softening his tone. “If you need me, at any time, you may ask for an escort to my chamber. I will always see you, no matter what the hour. What I mean, Eva, is that you will not parade yourself, dripping wet and naked, in my presence. I have no intention of consummating this marriage.”
I felt the tears burning in my sinuses, and I fought against them with all of my strength. “May I speak?”
“Yes.”
“You promise you won’t sleep with other girls?”
“I told you, Eva. I will respect your wishes.”
What I wished was I could see his face more clearly. The flickering candlelight masked the truth that was always clear in his eyes.
“ I never slept with Liam.” I let the tears fill my eyes, but refused to let them drip down my cheeks. “I don’t love him. I don’t even like him. I… touched him… and let him touch me… so I could stop him. To make him mad. I just want him to hurt… like he hurt me.”
Even in the darkness of the bedroom, I could read the pity in his expression.
“Eva,” he lowered to the bed, at my side. I looked down, tracing the intricate designs on my gown. “It is my responsibility to protect you- in every way. You are not ready for the complications- or the intimacy- of sex.” He softened his gaze. “I must keep my
He tossed his shirt next to his coat, and I paled, backing against the headboard at the cold wrath in his eyes.
“Oh, and P.S. - this little candle-lit, porn set-up? Tacky .”
His eyes turned to cold, gray stone.
“My valets prepared this room for our wedding night.” He stood at the foot of the bed, staring at me sternly with his arms crossed over his broad chest. “I’m going to tell you what to expect over the course of the coming weeks. Are you listening?”
I stared at him, crossing my own arms over my chest and leaning against the headboard.
“You’ll be up at dawn each morning and take breakfast in either the hall or in your room. Immediately following, you’ll begin conditioning. Eric has taken responsibility for weaponry. Fencing and swordplay will be my responsibility. After that, you’ll bathe and dress for the day, and I have a female instructor for your etiquette. Her name is Valerie.”
“ Etiquette? I-…,”
“Be silent.” He snapped, and I closed my mouth, glaring at him. “You’ll have an opportunity to ask questions. I don’t care for your iniquitous tongue this evening.”
I bit the inside of my cheek, giving him a defiant stare.
“You’ll break to take your midday meal, and then proceed to your grandfather’s quarters for lessons in magic. Your kingdom responsibilities begin after magic; you’ll be working with my personal physician, Alexander. You’ll be able to express your artistic talent and aid him in his journaling.”
“I can barely contain my excitement.”
He moved around the bed, leaning forward to cage me in both of his arms as his palms flattened against the headboard. “When your king is speaking, you are silent. And despite your juvenile rant moments ago- I am your king. If you do not agree, then you do not recognize your responsibilities as queen.”
I lowered my eyes; I couldn’t help it. His authoritative tone- and bare chest- quickened my pulse.
“Yes… my lord.”
“After your work with Alexander, you’ll either choose- or I’ll assign you- a humanitarian task.” He must have recognized the confusion my expression. “Charity, volunteer work. Your people need a compassionate queen.”
“Every evening, you’ll join my side in the hall to dine. You’ll retire to your chamber with your women, and you will not attempt to come to my bed.”
The flush of rage that immediately swept over my bare neck and chest was not lost on him. Uninterrupted time with your whores? Are you kidding me?
He pulled away, softening his tone. “If you need me, at any time, you may ask for an escort to my chamber. I will always see you, no matter what the hour. What I mean, Eva, is that you will not parade yourself, dripping wet and naked, in my presence. I have no intention of consummating this marriage.”
I felt the tears burning in my sinuses, and I fought against them with all of my strength. “May I speak?”
“Yes.”
“You promise you won’t sleep with other girls?”
“I told you, Eva. I will respect your wishes.”
What I wished was I could see his face more clearly. The flickering candlelight masked the truth that was always clear in his eyes.
“ I never slept with Liam.” I let the tears fill my eyes, but refused to let them drip down my cheeks. “I don’t love him. I don’t even like him. I… touched him… and let him touch me… so I could stop him. To make him mad. I just want him to hurt… like he hurt me.”
Even in the darkness of the bedroom, I could read the pity in his expression.
“Eva,” he lowered to the bed, at my side. I looked down, tracing the intricate designs on my gown. “It is my responsibility to protect you- in every way. You are not ready for the complications- or the intimacy- of sex.” He softened his gaze. “I must keep my
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