Page 99

“When it comes to you, wife, I am indeed.”

I slapped gently at his back, laughing as his mouth continued to roam. “Come now, let us have some breakfast, I am famished, and it is Christmas morning!” I smiled up at him as he raised his head, and reached out to stroke his cheek. “Then later you may unwrap me again, and do as you like with me.”

“As I like?” He lifted an eyebrow. “Anything?”

“Within reason,” I said quickly, and Azriel laughed heartily.

“I shall have you again today, of that you may be certain.” He rose to his knees, his eyes roving up and down my body. “Such beauty must not be wasted.” He pushed apart my thighs, unabashedly looking upon my sex, and a growl emanated from low in his chest. “I shall never tire of the sight of my seed dripping out of your body, beloved.”

“You are a beast.” I tried to clench my thighs together, giggling as I clutched my hands to my face. “An utterly depraved beast.”

“And you would have me no other way.” He grinned at me, lifting my leg to nip his teeth into my calf, before dropping my leg to the bed and getting to his feet. “Now, we should indeed dress, as I have a present for you.”

“Just one?” I pouted playfully, sitting up and leaning on one hand.

Azriel stared at me, admiringly, lightly shaking his head.

“What?” I asked, pushing the hair out of my face.

“You. You are an angel. A vision. And you are my wife.”

I rolled my eyes a little, a flush rising on my cheeks. “You call me that often enough to be sure of that fact, don’t you think?”

“But you are now.” He dropped his eyes from mine, running a hand through his hair as a crooked grin pulled at his lips. “You truly are. The way you look at me is…” He cleared his throat, turning away and squaring his shoulders. “Let us dress now, I am famished too.”

I wanted to ask him what he’d wanted to say, what it was about how I looked at him now that had affected him so, but I did not want to press upon a point and perhaps ruin our Christmas. Instead, I went to the bathroom to wash as best I could, and allowed Azriel to help me into a green and white grown, a red shawl tucked around my shoulders.

The house was cold, and we made our way quickly to the drawing room, and the comfort of the fire. Azriel rang for the maids as I languished in front of the flames, warming my hands.

“Bring us tea here, and we shall breakfast later,” he informed the maid when she appeared. “And make sure the kitchen knows to prepare a fine dinner for the staff.”

“Thank you, sir.” The girl’s face was bright as she bobbed into a curtsey. “A merry Christmas to you sir, and to you, madam.”

“And to you as well,” I said with a smile, and she left quickly.

Azriel smiled at me, tapping his fingers on the mantelpiece. “Now, which of us goes first in the present giving? Only there are precious few parcels underneath this tree.”

“Allow me to gift you first, darling.”

The way his eyes lit up every time I called him by that name - it did something to me, something untold. As though perhaps I did hold some of the power in this marriage after all. Had he not always said he was my servant?

I got to my feet and plucked a small gift from underneath the tree, delicately wrapped and secured with a red bow. “For you.” I said, as I presented it to him.

His eyes stayed on me as he unwrapped the black velvet box. “And what could be in here?” He flipped open the latch,and his eyes dropped down to the box’s contents. He laughed and shook his head. “Cufflinks, beloved?”

“Indeed.” I smirked down at the box of cufflinks, an E that almost resembled a set of hand shackles. “It was as close as I could get to the design, without the silversmith thinking me truly depraved.”

“Shackles for your captor, ey?” Azriel took my chin between his fingers, grinning before planting a kiss on my lips. “You have a wicked sense of humour, my little viper.”

“I hope you like them though.” I raised my eyebrows innocently. “I thought you could wear them to the New Year’s Eve ball at the Grantham’s.”

“Perhaps if I get drunk enough I will tell everyone the true meaning behind them?” He chuckled darkly as I swatted at his chest. “I am sure the crowds would love to know it all.”

“Oh, stop it you.” I threw myself back down in the chair, draping my arms over the armrests and gazing up at him haughtily. “Now me. I wish to be spoiled.”

Azriel sighed, putting the box down on the side table. “Well, beloved, I have the usual fare here, jewels and so on, things that you shall find pretty but no doubt lose interest in almost immediately. However.” His grin widened. “I do have something I would like to fetch for you now.”

I frowned. “Fetch for me? Wherever from?”