Page 24 of Obsessively Yours (Fae Kings of Eden #2)

24

Roman whipped off his shirt and laid back on a bed in the palace infirmary.

“Are you sure you want another tattoo?” Marissa asked, eyeing Roman’s chest, where his newest addition would go.

Roman glanced at her sideways. “I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t.”

His friend reached out to trace the swirling lines on his left arm, and he absentmindedly shook her off. “Don’t you think both arms are enough?” Her eyes raised to his. “There’s no need to cover up all of this beautiful skin.”

“You don’t like them?” he tried to joke, but something in the way she looked at him rubbed him the wrong way.

She dropped her hand and sighed. “I like tattoos, but yours are all the same thing.” Leaning closer, she examined the design going down his arm. “Why don’t you mix it up?”

Roman surveyed both arms, twisting them. “Because I don’t want anything else.”

Marissa dropped down on the stool beside him like a bored child and frowned at his arms.

What is with her lately? Wherever he went, Marissa either wanted to accompany him or happened to be there, too. She sought him out during training, always asking him to be her sparring partner, and lately, she’d been touching him more than he thought she should. Which was never. Perhaps she was just lonely. She didn’t have many other friends, if any.

Roman made a mental note to ask Slayton what he thought.

Alexander, the tattoo artist, waltzed in, took a seat, and cleaned Roman’s chest with soap and a damp cloth. “Okay, boss, show me which direction you want them to go.”

Roman tapped his familiar mark that covered the left side of his chest. “Toward my heart.”

Alexander bobbed his head and dipped the needle-point tool in an inkpot. “You didn’t strike me as the sappy type.”

Marissa stood abruptly. “I forgot that I promised my father I’d meet him this afternoon.”

“You needn’t explain yourself, Riss,” Roman said dismissively. “I’ll see you tomorrow at training.”

Her face fell. “We’re not meeting at the cafe tonight?”

Roman shook his head. He didn’t remember making dinner plans with her tonight. “No. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

The woman fled the infirmary in a whirl of red hair and resentment. “I take it the tattoos aren’t for her.”

Roman would have recoiled if Alex weren’t holding a needle over his chest. “They’re for my mate.”

Alexander’s hand froze. “I thought your mate married another man. Broke the bond. Put our entire kingdom in danger, if you believe the old religious texts.”

“The gods bonding me to Vivian was a mistake,” Roman replied matter-of-factly. “Her identical twin sister, Violet, is my true mate.”

Alexander chuckled. “Makes sense.” He began puncturing Roman’s skin, leaving tiny trails of fire in his wake. “The townsfolk will be glad to know the gods gave you another mate.” He leaned back and dipped his needle in the black ink again. “Why haven’t you announced her yet?”

If the people wanted to think the gods bonded them, Roman would let them. “She’s traveling right now. We were going to announce her when she’s back home.”

Alexander hummed. “Does she know about all this?” He waved a hand over Roman’s upper body.

Roman looked down at the intricate artwork that would soon cover his entire upper body. “They’re a surprise.”

In hindsight, he should have asked Violet if she liked tattoos before having his entire torso covered in them.

* * *

Princess,

How was your first week in the Mountain Kingdom? Two weeks ago, I sent a carriage with more money, shells, and warmer clothes for you. By the time you get this, it should already be there. I hate that the Mountain Kingdom is so far away. Waiting weeks for a letter back is excruciating.

To answer your question in your last letter, yes, I still go to the pleasure house, but not to see the shows. I go because I remember how you looked, flushed and squirming, fighting off the need to slip your hand under your dress and stroke your slick little cunt.

Sometimes I rent out one of the elite boxes and imagine pressing your front against the glass while I eat you from behind. It always was your favorite part of the show.

Would you like that, princess? Or would you rather I fucked you against the glass instead?

Fuck, I miss you.

One hundred and eighty-one days.

Obsessively Yours,

Roman

P.S. There’s a sweets shop in town that makes a new chocolate I want you to try. It’s become my favorite indulgence, though I think your pussy will replace it once I’ve had a taste.