Page 15

Chapter

Twelve

T he setting sun casts a peachy golden glow through the floor-to-ceiling leaded arched windows.

A pair of high-backed scarlet armchairs surround several stacks of books piled on the wooden floor, no doubt helping him become even smarter than he already is.

The air smells clean, of lemons and something deeply masculine and all Nash.

Unlit, half-melted candles sit around the room, on the floors, the fireplace, and the bedside tables.

I can picture him growing his brain by candlelight as he devours the knowledge.

A large four-poster bed, the covers pulled taut, dominates the room, free from random objects like mice or cheese. Ooh, cheese.

The room is exactly what I expected it would be.

Nash circles me like a predator deciding on its best route of attack. My spine stiffens as I refuse to cower. I might get dizzy when surrounded by any of the knights, even Hart, but Nash knows, or at least he should, that I am not the obedient type. I think they’d get bored if I was.

He pauses in front of me, and a slow grin appears. “You are racking up your punishment, Daphne.”

I tilt my chin in the air. “All I hear is you promising me a good time, and yet I am still clothed and untouched. Maybe I should take my leave and see if Hart is available?”

Nash’s eyes flash gold for a moment before settling into the green I’m familiar with. I tilt my head to the side, my brows furrowing. What is he hiding?

He slides the sword at his side free and lifts it between us. I challenge him with a look that says I dare you. He won’t hurt me. None of them would. I know it deep in my psyche, where nothing makes any rational sense, but it is there all the same, totally undeniable.

“My, my, Knight Stirling, is that a sword in your hand, or are you just excited to see me?” I smile prettily at him and bat my eyelashes. Wait. Why am I antagonizing the dark, moody knight while we are alone in his chambers and he has taken issue with my decision-making skills?

The blade inches beneath his shirt I’m wearing, and my heart thrashes like a trapped bird in my chest. The sword moves up and over my shoulder before repeating the motion with the other side.

The fabric drifts to the floor in tattered shreds.

Now, I’m naked—apart from the boots—and the fire in his gaze licks over my skin.

I’ve never been ashamed of my nakedness, or my body.

We get what we are born with, and we make the best of it.

I wouldn’t be here in his room challenging him if he didn’t find me attractive, and really, if I had my way, we would be naked far more often.

Emphasis on the we, as this should be a team sport.

However, if Nash needs a meek woman, then we need to stop this right now.

“Why do you want me? I will never fall in line, or obey you without thought. I am neither a damsel nor a lady.”

He shakes his head as he places his sword against the wall and strides toward me, closing the distance until the heat rolling off him embraces me. His fingers trail over my cheek and along my jaw before curving around the back of my neck in a possessive grip.

“I’m finding your defiance is the most entertaining and attractive thing I’ve witnessed in a long time.

” He fists my hair and tilts my head back.

The sting makes me hiss as he closes the space so our lips are almost touching.

“You are chaos and sunshine wrapped in an irresistible package. Not once have I or my brothers fallen for the same girl. In fact, we’ve never fallen—period.

Then you waltz into our lives and rewrite our future from dull and predictable to excitement and unknown. You have us under a spell.”

I smile against his lips as I grip his muscular forearms. “And I have never had my head turned by a male, never mind four. I may have you under my spell, but I can assure you, in return, you four have woven your magic over me.”

His mouth meets mine, making the heat Malachi began flare back to life with reinforcements.

His tongue sweeps into my mouth, tangling with my own and making my knees tremble.

As far as punishments go, this is probably the best ever dealt, and is the opposite of a deterrent.

Not that I’m going to tell Nash that, because he would probably stop.

Best I act like this is the worst thing I’ve experienced, so he continues.

He spins us and backs me toward his bed.

My thighs hit the edge, but he keeps me upright as his lips remain fused with mine.

Do I need oxygen? I didn’t while under the ocean, so maybe I can do without, given I am still technically the Lady of the Lake.

Which again, is a misnomer, since she doesn’t reside in a lake.

Perhaps she fashioned herself that way so stalkers couldn’t trail her back to her home address?

They were all busy scouting lakes while she was living her best life with sea creatures great and small, and rubbing shoulders with the Idol, Poseidon.

Nash suddenly nips my bottom lip between his teeth, and my eyes flick open. “Stay here with me, Daphne.”

I drag my swollen bottom lip between my teeth, relishing the sting of his bite. Does he bite other places?

“You sure you want to find out?” he asks with an arch of his brow.

I was speaking my thoughts aloud again. “I do.”

“Good, because I am done playing, Daphne Stone. Time for your punishment.”

He pushes between my breasts, and I flop back onto the bed. My hands move across the soft sheets. Ah, cloud bed, how I have missed you. The one in the ocean was comfy, but had nothing on this. Perhaps it’s because these beds come with handsome knights.

“Hands above your head,” he snaps. I’m too invested in where this is going to argue. My arms rise, and I twist my fingers together. He stalks around the bed, his gaze never leaving mine as I track his movements. He scoops up a shredded piece of shirt from the floor.

“Please don’t blindfold me. I want to see you,” I whisper. I’ve had enough of not seeing them to last me a lifetime.

He shakes his head and moves to the other side of the bed. “No blindfolding. You need to see everything, as it will make it so much sweeter.”

I swallow. Make what sweeter? Holy Burgher balls, what have I let myself in for?

“Last chance, Daphne. Tell me you will stop making these stupid decisions, and I will consider going easy on you.”

“I could, but I have a strict policy against lying. It’s bad for the soul.”

He sighs as he wraps the white fabric around my wrists, binding them together.

He yanks and ties the other end of the fabric to the bed frame.

I think I should thank him for this. Without hands, I will cause fewer catastrophes.

He’s really doing me a favor. He should tie me up to his bed all the time.

Or one of the other knights’ beds. I could rotate.

“If you can’t stop thinking, at least voice your thoughts,” he demands before grabbing a pillow and gently guiding it under my head.

He circles the bed, grabs my booted ankles, and pulls them apart so the cool air kisses my core.

“Do I need to restrain these? Or can you keep your thighs open for me?”

“I’ll keep them like this,” I promise. My heart thunders, and the whooshing of my blood roars in my ears as his gaze trails over every bare inch of skin. Boom, boom, boom. “Please touch me.”

He pulls off his boots and undoes the cord of his breeches, but keeps them on. That is unfair. He crawls over me until his arms cage me in and his face hovers above mine.

He’s still not touching me. My legs wrap around his waist, and I tug him closer. He hisses as the evidence of his desire meets my core.

“Why are you torturing us both?” I grumble. There has to be a special name for a person who enjoys both giving and receiving pain. It’s the opposite of whatever I am. I’m all about the pleasure.

He chuckles. “Good to know. But in the right hands, my hands, I can walk you on the edge of both.”

I huff. “I’m hearing lots of promis?—”

He dips his head and wraps his mouth around my nipple, sucking so hard my spine arches, and a shout tears from my throat.

The pressure doesn’t let up; no, somehow he intensifies it until I’m panting and squirming beneath him.

Every single pull tugs at something lower in my belly, but I need more.

His gaze flashes gold as he holds my breast hostage in his mouth.

His hands find my legs, and he unravels them from around his waist to pin them open on the bed, never once relenting in the assault on my nipple.

My hands twist in their restraints, desperate for the freedom to touch and ravage the man intent on ruining me.

There’s an insistent, aching carnal throb between my legs, a clenching for something primal.

His teeth grip my flesh and pain flares to life, shooting through every nerve in my body and stealing my words. He releases my nipple with a pop and meets my eyes. “We are just getting started, Daphne. I have all night to make sure this lesson sticks.”

A smudge of blood lines his lips. My eyes dart down, finding a tiny trickle of crimson tracing my pale flesh.

“You are intoxicating, like the sweetest poison,” he mutters before flashing me his teeth. His pointy ones are a little longer, a little sharper than I’ve noticed before. Did they change, or have I just not noticed?

I lose my thoughts the second he trails his lips between the valley of my breasts, nipping lightly at my hips and belly before finally settling between my legs. With my head angled on the pillow, I’m not missing a single thing.

His hot breath skates over my flesh, causing me to cry out again. Suddenly, the door bangs open, and Hart stalks into the room. He slams it closed and folds his arms as he leans against it.

“I said no witnesses,” I whisper.

Hart raises an eyebrow. “Pretend I’m not here, Calamity.”