Page 19

19

As she Wishes

Caspian

Dimitri will have a fit when I inform him of Winifred’s upcoming return, and the thought of his reaction brings a smile to my face. He’ll want an explanation as well as every detail regarding what brought me to this decision, but it simply isn’t his business. The decision was made between Annalise and I, and that’s all there is to it.

The moment I turn the corner, and Annalise’s bedroom door comes into view, I notice how my steps quicken. Her guards spot me, and I’ve long-since abandoned my pride when it comes to her, so I simply nod in their direction, not bothering to care if they think I’m being a fool for her.

If being a fool upgraded me from the floor to her settee, then I’d do it all again.

Hiking my bag higher on my shoulder, I knock, listening for her on the other side of the door. It’s gotten late, and as I finished my work in the study, I almost decided not to disturb her. However, when I returned to my bedroom, glancing around at the dark colors and the vast, empty space, being at least in the vicinity of her warmth was far more appealing. So, I packed my things, preparing to shower in her ensuite like she offered, and now, here I am, listening to the softness of her feet padding toward the door.

Her face lights up when she twists the knob and lays eyes on me, and I swear my hart skips an entire fucking beat. I don’t think anyone’s ever looked at me like this before, and I don’t imagine anyone ever will.

“You came back,” she says, and I can’t fathom the surprise in her voice. Aside from not wanting to wake her, I wouldn’t have considered staying away.

“I did. I hope you weren’t asleep.”

She steps aside, letting me enter the room as she gestures toward the open book on her comforter.

“Not even close. I did exactly as I said I would. I bathed, then got lost in a story.”

I manage to smile a little, but if I’m being honest, my thoughts are now focused on the image of her bathing. Her dark hair piled on top of her head while a blanket of thick, frothy suds cover her nakedness. Oh, what I would have given to be that water, touching every surface of her skin, slipping into her body every time she moved the slightest bit.

“I placed a pillow and blanket on the settee,” she says, cutting into my thoughts. “I figured you’d be tired, but you’re still welcome to shower here if you’d like.”

She offers a shy smile as she settles on the edge of her bed, wearing a dangerously thin nightgown. With it stretching to her wrists and reaching well past her knees, I imagine she thought this was a safe choice. A chaste choice. But the fabric is so thin I can easily make out the slightly darker pigment of her nipples, the shadow between her legs where her thighs touch at their apex, the curve of her hips.

It isn’t until I taste the twinge of liquid metal that I realize I’ve bitten my own fucking cheek as I gawk at her.

“You can set your bag down wherever you’d like,” she says, but then a soft laugh leaves her. “I’m not sure why I said that. This is your home, after all.”

“And yours.”

There’s a quiet moment that passes between us, and I can’t help but feel desperate for her to understand that. To feel that. Because my home is every bit as much hers as it is mine.

“I suppose you’re right.” Her voice is quiet, but it seems to mostly be from fatigue.

I’m aware of the late hour again, and I know I should just shower and go to bed, but despite having spent the better part of the day together, I want more of her time.

“At the risk of being incredibly selfish, would you mind if we talk for a bit? I know it’s late, but?—”

“I’d like that.” The way she rushes to say those words, the way her eyes widen with them, I can’t help but think we’re equally desperate for this night to continue.

“Good,” I smile, and then let my back settle against the wall where I stand, staring at the space beside her on the bed as I fight the urge to fill it.

“Did you… finish your work?”

“Mostly,” I nod. “Sometimes it feels like there’s no such thing as finishing. It’s more like doing enough to temporarily sideline a task, but I never actually get to cross things off the list.”

“I imagine there’s always something popping up.” Her large eyes melt my heart when she flutters them during the pause. “Having an entire clan to run, do you ever, I don’t know, wish you could pass it all off to someone else?”

The question draws a laugh from me, but she seems to wish she hadn’t asked it.

“That was probably a stupid thing to say. I know how seriously you take your position. I only mean that?—”

“Yes. I do, actually.” She seems shocked by this answer when I cut in.

“Oh.”

I tuck my hands into my pockets, letting my gaze slip to the floor as I think. “I take my role as alpha very seriously, but in the past, there have been times it’s cost me more than I was willing to lose.”

When I peer up again, she’s smiling a little. “Nearly,” she says. “It nearly cost you more than you were willing to lose.”

One corner of my mouth quirks with a smile, realizing she understands that she is what my position nearly cost me. “Indeed.”

She studies me after that, thinking what seems like a million thoughts as she stares straight through me. “Today took me by surprise.”

I could take her words any number of ways, but as I cycle through flashbacks of the day, I’m not worried.

“I just thought you should know… I’m glad we did this—spent time together, talked. It was good for us.” She nods, like she maybe needs to reassure herself.

“I couldn’t agree with you more.” The words leave me earnestly, without a shadow of doubt. “It wasn’t always easy being so transparent with you, but… it was refreshing.”

To my surprise, that’s not a lie. I’ve found that people can’t always handle the truth when I give it to them straight, but with Annalise, it’s different.

So different.

Her eyes flit to the right, settling on that same space beside her on the bed that I’d been focused on. It crosses my mind that she might want me there, closer. It’s a bold move that could potentially go badly, but before I can talk myself out of it, my feet are already moving in that direction, taking me to her.

When I lower onto her bed, she peers up, her dark eyes meeting mine as my weight causes her body to shift. The slight bounce of her full breasts doesn’t slip past me either. Hence the reason my cock is stiffening behind my zipper, begging to be set free, begging for her touch.

“I—I’ve missed you,” she admits. It’s not the first time she’s told me this, but it’s the first time the look in her eyes tells the rest of the story.

That she’s missed my conversation, yes, my presence even. But also my touch, the way our physical intimacy makes us feel more complete, more connected.

“I’ve missed you so much, I didn’t think I’d survive it,” I admit, because I wouldn’t want this night to end without her knowing.

She smiles and leans into my hand when I cup her cheek. “Then, I suppose it’s a good thing we’re together now. You know… for the sake of your survival.”

What on Earth does this woman do to me? The only part of me that’s touching any part of her is my hand to her cheek, but even such minimal contact has my heart pulsating inside my chest. I can only imagine what would happen if?—

Before I can even form a complete thought, the warmth of her fingers grips the side of my neck, bringing me closer. Then, her mouth is on mine. Soft, wet, quivering. My tongue pushes between her lips, wishing it were another part of her body against my tastebuds instead.

A very specific part, actually.

“Fuck…”

That word leaves me, reflecting the physical pain of not having her quite like I want her. Pain that’s only made worse by the feel of her hand resting on my thigh, dangerously close to my cock.

“I’m not sure this is a good idea,” I say as she gently sucks my bottom lip between hers.

“Why not?” she asks. It doesn’t even sound like she’s being coy, which only drives me even crazier.

“Because. Once I get started,” I warn, “I’m not sure I’ll be able to stop.”

Something I’ve said has her deepening our kiss, turning her body to face mine completely.

“What if… I don’t want you to stop?” Her question is more of a tease than anything. We both know we can only go so far. And we both know why.

“The council would have both our fucking heads if we break protocol.”

She doesn’t groan out loud, but her wolf sure as hell protests. I nearly laugh out loud as a frustrated growl vibrates inside her chest. It isn’t often she’s more in need than I am, but I’m willing to oblige. Even though our pact was to take things slowly. I get the feeling she won’t mind if we break the rules.

Just this once.

Her arousal was already scenting the air, like faint ribbons of untapped pleasure winding through my senses. But as the seconds tick past, it’s become maddening, beckoning to me like an audible plea, screaming her request to make her needs known, loud and clear. She needs me to pleasure her, needs me to tease her slick, throbbing clit until she comes.

There is yet breath in my lungs, which means my woman, my queen , shall have what she wants. Because despite the title before my name, I’m here to serve her .

“Lie back.”