Page 97 of An Heir to Blood and Power

He leaned in and brushed a gentle kiss across my lips, then retreated a few inches, his eyes still dancing like he was drunk. “Because I’m rich as fuck, and that means Ican.Now, youwillshare a bed with me,wife.Lie down and close your eyes before I decide to tire you out some more.”

I could feel my eyelids stretching because Nicolai wasstill in my face, invading the layer of air touching my skin like his aura was flaring around me. “That sounds like a threat.”

He didn’t blink, but his smile grew, showing straight, white teeth. “Take it however you like.”

I slunk down, wiggling between the sheets that were as tight as a cocoon from his hands and knees pinning them down around me, until I was peeking out from under the covers at him. “Is this okay?”

“Better.” Nicolai flipped open the covers on his side of the bed and rolled over to slide under them, settling close to me even though the bed was the size of a football field. His hands found my waist under the covers, and he rolled me onto my side and dragged my hips back in contact with his pajamas. “Now go to sleep, little angel. I think this day has been too much for you, and you’re a tired, sleepy little wife.”

I was, like,stunned.

No thoughts, empty head.

Had Nicolai just calmed me down and put me to bed like a fussy puppy?

Was thatallowed?

Jimmy would have gotten exasperated at my dithering and started a fight, and then I would’ve had to calmhimdown and promise not to be so stupid anymore.

Nicolai’s lips brushed the back of my neck, his breath a minty warmth that trickled over my shoulder.

Thoughts fled again.

Okay, no thoughts. That’s fine. I’m fine with that.

The way he calmed me down was like magic. “You’re sure you’re not a fae high lord, huh?”

“I can confirm that I am definitely not any sort of fae.” He paused. “But wait, maybe I am a—what did Clemmy call it—ashadow daddy.”

I laughed at him.“What?”

Nicolai rolled away from my back a little.“Kreest-yanin,lights off.”

The ceiling chandelier and bedside lights clicked off, and darkness filled the room. My eyes strained to see.

His phone’s female voice intoned,“Da, Nicolai.Good night.”

I was still laughing. “No way.”

Pale glow from the lights of the Strip a few blocks away radiated through the dark-tinted window, throwing spires of ghostly light onto the ceiling.

From behind me, Nicolai snickered. His suppressed laugh had a devious edge. “And, according to some, I have a magic dick.”

I cringed and cracked up, though softly. “I should never have told you they said that.”

“I’m not sure whether it’s gratifying or objectifying, but I find it awfully funny.”

I could hear the smile in his sigh as he tightened his arm around me, and he relaxed.

And so I relaxed, first onto the mattress, then against him. “How you live is so different than how I grew up. As far as I can tell, you might as well be faeries, or sexy elves, or Greek gods from Olympus. I’m so out of my league, Nico.”

“We’ll practice before the next event. By John’s wedding, you’ll fit in like you were born to royalty.”

His arm tightened around my waist, pulling me more firmly against his huge, muscular body.

I was being spooned.

I’d always wanted to be spooned, to be lying in a man’s arms and resting, feeling his strength.