Page 131 of A Vow of Embers

She smiled at me. “He is my friend, nothing more. It won’t happen again.”

That was a relief. The kiss had been a onetime mistake and now it was over. There was a shuffling noise behind us and Quynh jumped to her feet. “I should go. As should you. And don’t let her win. Make sure everyone in there knows whose husband he is.”

She grabbed her pitcher and hurried off. She was right. I was the only one allowed to publicly claim him. He wanted me to show everyone that we had a happy marriage, didn’t he?

This would be the best way to get revenge. Perhaps his mistress would even fight with him over it.

I got up, dusted off my dress, and went back into the dining hall. Xander rushed over to me. “Where were you?” There was an edge of worry in his voice.

“I’m back now,” I said, lacing my fingers through his. He stared at where our hands were joined. I was going to play this game to the best of my ability. “Should we get something to eat?”

He didn’t say anything as I took him over to the food tables to fill our plates. When we were finished, we went over to our places and sat. Everyone had already begun eating.

I dipped a piece of fig in honey and offered it to him. “Would you like a bite?”

His eyes narrowed at me, as if he were trying to figure out what I was doing. He leaned forward and bit into it, his mouth closing around the fruit. His tongue darted out to get the honey on his lips and I felt my stomach go hollow.

“You missed a spot,” I whispered, and before I lost my nerve, I leaned over and licked the corner of his mouth. Instinctually his lips followed after mine and he kissed me softly, briefly, before pulling back.

The entire room faded away. As far as I was concerned, we were the only two people in it.

We were breathing into each other, our faces close together.

“Are you having sex with Chryseis?” I asked him.

Chapter Forty-Two

I heard him suck in a breath, felt his shock at my boldness. “What?”

I repeated my question. “Are you having sex with Chryseis?”

“No.” Xander’s answer was clear, precise.

Powerful.

And even though I never believed any of the words that came out of his mouth, even though he had every reason to lie to me now, I believed him. A feeling deep in my gut whispered that he was telling me the truth.

Despite what his own phratry brother had insinuated, I believed him.

And that was dangerous.

“Are you pregnant?” he asked.

Now I was the one who was shocked. “Am Iwhat?”

“Thanks to your performance earlier, many people here believe that you are pregnant. And I certainly didn’t impregnate you. Do you carry another man’s child?”

I wanted to be outraged, but hadn’t I just essentially asked him the same question? “That would be impossible. I have never even kissed anyone but you.”

The smug satisfaction on his face made me want to hit him. It had been his intent to get me to admit that. The smugness faded away and then we were just staring into each other’s eyes. He was so beautiful. Iworried about what I was willing to throw away over a pair of pretty eyes. His constant gaze made some of the anger inside me fade away.

Until he said, “You were jealous.”

I was but didn’t want to admit to it. I would not show him that weakness. So I turned away from him and started eating my food. His gaze was still on me, watching me take every bite. I didn’t even know what I was playing at. I wanted to mark him as mine, to punish him by acting loving, and it had quickly taken a turn. Even if he hadn’t bedded Chryseis, he had been kissing her only a few days ago.

Perhaps it was my pride. That I was embarrassed that my own husband had sought out another and I wanted to make him yearn for me. It didn’t make any sense, given the goals that both of us had, but I didn’t feel very rational at the moment.

Apparently tired of being ignored, Xander leaned in and started to nuzzle my neck. Blissful pleasure pulsed through me at the feel of his warm lips on my skin. “What are you doing?” I closed my eyes at the soft onslaught.