TheRedKing by Kate Hill

room. Echo closed the door behind her as she left the couple alone.
    Areus glanced around the room. The beautiful scene was almost
ruined by his suspicions from a moment ago. Almost.
    A bath filled with steamy water had been positioned not far
from the hearth where a welcoming fire blazed. The scent of flowers floated
throughout the room. On the table in front of the window rested a bottle of
wine, two goblets and a bowl of fat purple grapes. The covers on the bed had
been turned down and a glass container rested on the nightstand.
    Where was she?
    His gaze riveted to the dressing screen in the corner of the
room. It was painted pale blue and gold.
    Delia stepped from behind it, wearing nothing except a
string of pearls that hung to just above her navel. The pearls brought out the
hint of pink in her smooth, pale skin. The nipples on her small, round breasts
were enticingly stiff. Her thick brown hair hung loose down her back and a
smile tugged at her dark-pink lips.
    Areus’s cock twitched and his breeches felt far too tight.
    “I thought you might enjoy a hot bath,” she said. “Then to
be covered with kisses.”
    He couldn’t keep from laughing a bit at her unexpected
boldness. This was certainly different than her usual charade of lying still as
a corpse until he lured her into coupling.
    Was that part of her plan?
    What plan? He was being unreasonable, thinking this lovely,
honest woman—a virgin on their wedding night—was an assassin.
    “I hope you’re laughing because you like the idea, not
because you actually find this funny.” She folded her arms across her breasts.
Her little toes curled in the fur rug on which she stood. The seductress faded
for a moment, replaced by a more familiar woman. Strangely, it was a relief.
Not that he didn’t like being seduced, but he wanted to know he could trust her
first.
    “Of course I don’t think it’s funny,” he said. “It’s just
unexpected.”
    “You told me last night our other game bored you, so I thought
I’d change it.”
    He smiled and approached to place his hands on the luscious
curve of her hips. She was so soft and warm. He brushed her mouth with a kiss
and she stood on tiptoe, weaving her fingers through his hair.
    “The water is hot,” she whispered against his lips. “Let me
help you undress.”
    Delia tugged at his black tunic and he stepped back a bit,
since it was easier for him to pull it off. He wore a softer, billowy shirt
beneath. Delia slid her hands under it and caressed his stomach and chest. He
loved how she touched him.
    He quickly removed his shirt and kissed her again.
    Delia took his hand and guided him to the bed. She pushed
against his chest and though her strength meant little to him, he sat as she
clearly wanted him to.
    She knelt between his legs and caressed his thighs. “You’re
so hard all over. So strong.”
    “You have no idea how hard I am,” he said with another
playful grin.
    “Shall I see?” She cupped the bulge in the front of his breeches,
then rubbed her cheek against it.
    “Ah, Delia,” he murmured, caressing her silky hair.
    “That’s quite a beast those breeches are holding back. I think
we should set it free.” She lowered her chin to her chest and tilted her gaze
up to his in a way that made his heart beat faster.
    She grasped his boot and tugged it off, then removed the
other.
    Areus stood and pulled off his breeches. Delia approached
the table while he finished undressing. His brow furrowed when she poured the wine
and plucked a fat grape.
    She brought the goblet and the fruit to him and held the
grape to his lips.
    He gently grasped her wrist and lowered her hand.
    “Too soon after dinner for dessert?” she asked. “Would you
like some wine? It’s soothing and I did promise to help you relax.”
    Yes. She had promised that, but did she mean relaxed enough
to enjoy the evening or relaxed enough to lie in a grave?

Chapter Six
     
    “Delia, explain all this,” Areas demanded.
    Her eyes