Page 37

It took me three tries to teleport before making it to Aldris’s room.

Fletcher was already there. He was sitting on the bed with Invisible Etta cracked open.

His dark hair was fluffed up in gentle waves like he had just showered.

His sharp jawline beckoned to be kissed.

Just seeing him do something so casual, reading and relaxing, sent a blanket of tranquility over me.

He looked up and closed the book with a smile tinged with confusion. His brows furrowed as he sat up in alert, eyes dazzling as he zeroed in on me. “You’re here. I was supposed to come get you.” He adjusted the collar of his loose-fitted black shirt.

I sent him a faint smile. “Uh, yeah. I didn’t want to wait another hour.”

“What if you didn’t get here safely though?”

His disapproval annoyed me. “But, I did, okay?”

His head snapped back. “Hostile much?”

“Sorry,” I huffed and scrubbed my face with an open hand, rubbing my temples at the end of the movement. “I just don’t like being away from you for this long.”

He frowned. “Come to bed.”

“In a minute.” I sent my feet into motion toward the drawers of the dresser on the opposite wall of the bed, shuffling through Aldris’s belongings for my pouch of money.

I heard shifting on the bed, and when I turned around, I ran straight into him.

He towered over me, flashing an amused grin as I stepped back.

But he followed and closed the distance between us, bringing me into his arms swiftly before his mouth crashed down on mine.

He parted my lips with his tongue and drove his hands into my hair .

I melted, almost wept, that I was back with him. Missing his steady presence had been digging at my heart since I had left his side. My arms wrapped around his tapered waist, pushing up on my tiptoes to deepen the kiss.

He pulled away, grinned sullenly, and traced the curve of my cheek softly with the knuckle of his index finger. “Did your three suitors upset you?”

The question upset me. I retreated by a step, tension filling the foot of space between us. “Excuse me?”

He stood straight and let the distance lengthen as a smirk graced his face. “Well, I assume your mother was eager to introduce them to you. And their off-putting, dull personalities are definitely enough to upset anyone, especially you.”

I gave him a trite laugh then wiped it off my face abruptly with an eye roll before I made my way down the stairs. Like he was a shadow sewn to my feet, his footsteps pattered behind me. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I didn’t meet my suitors, and I never want to.”

“I’m positive the queen wouldn’t miss the opportunity. Graff, Jarvy, Decksin? ”

I hit the bottom step and spun around. “ Those were my suitors?”

A knowing smile crossed his face as he narrowed his eyes.

“Charming, aren’t they?” When I made a move to turn around, he tapped my shoulder and said, “Well? Did you like any of them?” He laid a hand on his chest. “I, myself, am quite fond of Graff, if I had to choose one for you. He’s the smartest of the three. Knows his place around me.”

I sighed and turned away, opening the kitchen drawers, looking for my coin pouch. “What’s your game here, Fletcher?”

“No game.” He followed on my heels as I slammed the drawers shut. “Just curiosity.”

I felt his body warmth closing in on me. I leaned my hip on the counter, crossed my ankles, and folded my arms over my chest.

“So tell me.” His chin tilted down, cinnamon eyes glued to mine, and awaited my response.

A smirk tugged at my lips, sensing he was jealous but enjoying teasing him. “If I remember correctly, a few months ago in the showers together, you told me you preferred ignorance.”

His jaw feathered. “I changed my mind. ”

I grinned and cupped his cheek, his stubble scratchy under my palm. “Well, I haven’t.” I’d choose him. I had been very clear about that. “Have you?” I narrowed my eyes.

His brows knitted and a confusion eddied through his gaze. “Why would you ask me that?”

“Because of that redhead you left behind in Elizy.”

He jerked his head back, scrunching his face like he had trouble placing the meaning behind my words.

“Rosaanne.”

His brows lifted and his lips parted. “Oh, wow.” Then, his hand came up to scratch the back of his head. “I haven’t thought about her in a long time.” His eyes darted to the ceiling, and I could tell he was picturing her.

Impulsively, I brought my hand up, sending an electric spark into Fletcher’s chest. “Stop thinking about her!” I raged.

“Ow!” He took a step back.

“I can’t believe you didn’t tell me you’ve had sex before me.”

He shrugged and a smile emerged over his face. “I figured you already knew.”

“Well, I didn’t figure , Fletcher. You told me you’ve been searching for me and only me for seventeen years. So sorry if I was under a false impression that I was your only one because of the bonding ritual you’ve been so keen on sharing with me to win me back.”

He gulped, eyes roaming over me like he wasn’t sure what to say.

“Gosh, where was it? Was it here?” I said, gesturing to the table.

His eyes darkened. “Would details make you happy?”

“Yes.”

After a long, drawn-out huff and a ruffle of his dark bangs, he messily combed them to the side with his fingers. “In my hammock.”

That drilled a picture into my mind of him on top of her hoisted in the air by the thin material of his hanging bed. “Your hammock? Wouldn’t you just topple off? How would that even work?”

He rolled his eyes and slackened his posture.

“Oh gosh,” I lowered my voice to a loud whisper, “you guys had some kind of magic sex, didn’t you?”

“Ripley,” he said in warning.

“God! How do I compete with that !”

“You don’t. I love you. I adore you and the ground you walk on. Do not let your encounter with Rosaanne confuse how deeply I feel for you. ”

My fingers fisted at my sides as I took a step away from the counter. “Did the ritual bond save anything for just me?”

Annoyance suddenly emerged in his expression. “Ripley, how can you be mad at me for this?

“Because this whole time you knew you were mine.”

“Yes. It’s true. But I didn’t know if you would be mine.

” We stared at each other for a moment before he turned away from me, and it felt like he had taken my heart with him.

He moseyed to the rectangular table and took a seat.

“I was trying to prepare myself for the inevitable. For when I’d have to watch you marry someone else.

And I’d have to settle for someone who isn’t you. ”

I could taste the truth on his lips. If I hadn’t known Fletcher would be mine in the end, there was a strong possibility that, perhaps, I would have acted the same way.

But, I had to rip the bandage off fast and smooth and open this wound as wide as it’d go because I wanted this conversation to never rear its ugly head again. “How many?”

He scrubbed his face. “Five women.”

My jaw dropped with the disappointment. “And how many times? ”

He scratched the back of his head. “More than five—But, no one compares to you.”

I rolled my eyes. “Oh, sure. Little old inexperienced me—”

“Actually, I find your inexperience quite endearing.” There was a small twinkle in his eye.

I sent him a cold stare with crossed arms.

“Ripley,” he smiled, “while I find your jealousy and possessiveness wildly attractive, know it’s unnecessary.” He waved a glowing hand in the air and the lights dimmed. “They don’t hold a candle to you, and I’d sacrifice all of them in a heartbeat if you asked.”

Something about his intensity appeased the jealous storm raging in me. My eyes widened with tenderness. “You would?”

“Yes. I’m the one who is insecure that you’ll find love elsewhere in Elizy.

I hardly think you need to worry about me finding anyone.

” His hands sparked with my magic and soft music played in the air.

He stood, took my hand, and spun me in a gentle twirl before bringing me to him.

His posture relaxed as he stepped forward, his body a wall against mine as he tipped his head forward and kissed me.

“I worry you’ll forget about this if you’re away for too long. ”

I undid my hair, letting the golden locks fall to a puddle on the ground near my feet. “Maybe we both need some reminding then.”

He clamped his hands over my waist and hoisted me on the counter, hands threading between my knees and spreading them apart.

The trail of his fingertips was hot as they inched up my thighs.

“Maybe we do, princess.” His mouth pressed against mine with desperate, primal need.

A moan escaped unbidden as his hands unclasped my leather pants and tugged my underwear to the side to prod the wetness at my core.

He hummed a solitary deep note when he noticed how his touch affected me then kissed me harder. His other hand traveled up the loose shirt he had let me borrow and cupped my breast, massaging as he slid his finger into me down to his knuckle.

I broke the kiss, head falling back in pleasure as he pumped in and out of me. His other hand moved away from my breast, and lifted my shirt up and over my head. Then, his fingers threaded through my long locks of hair as he grabbed a fistful and gently tugged my head to the left, exposing my neck.

His lips came down on it as I reached forward and undid his pants .

He groaned when I grabbed a hold of his hardness, stroking the considerable length and lingering at the sensitive tip.

It caused him to quicken the pace of his fingers sliding in me before withdrawing.

His fingers slid down my back and beneath my underwear until his hands were flat on my bottom, working my clothing off.

As he slid my pants off my feet, he confessed, “I need to be inside you.”