Page 108 of The Gathering

“What would you have me do if I were on your beach?”

His eyes wandered tantalizingly over her body, even leaning back a little to see her backside. She smacked his arm.

“What, are you going to put me to work in a brothel?” she bantered.

“Sex work is good work, Princess. I think you’d enjoy it. People would pay a high price to fuck a stolen Princess. Although, I think I’d keep you as my own consort instead.”

“Consort?” Her brows raised. “That’s a daring position, Commander. Why would I agree to such a thing after being taken away from my home?”

“Yeah, you’re right,” he agreed. “Too soon. You’d have to learn the tricks of the trade for a few years first before being allowed to be the Commander of the greatest army in Haerland’s personal consort.”

“So, you’re a prize I should have to win?” she drawled teasingly. “How many other women should I need to beat out to get this sought-after position?”

“A fair few,” he replied. “I’m sure you’ll do your best.”

“Why wouldn’t I?” she joked. “A great prize like you. On your arm, I could take the army for myself.”

His brows elevated as he smeared butter over the top of the bread. “Oi, she’s ambitious now,” he bantered before licking the butter off his finger. “Using my status to climb ladders.”

“Just because I will never be used as a ladder does not mean I am not allowed to use others as my own. You’ll bemyconsort, Commander.”

He paused to grin at her. “There’s a position I wouldn’t mind having,” he said, voice lowering. He leaned sideways at her and gave her a lingering kiss. She could taste the salt and butter from the bread on his tongue.

When he pulled back, she chuckled at the smirk on his lips. “You’re doing this on purpose, aren’t you?”

“Doing what?” he asked innocently.

“How did you put it…” she paused for effect, though she knew exactly what she was going to say. “Ruining me,” she finished.

A seriousness rose in his eyes. He didn’t answer as he placed the bread back in the oven. But when he straightened over her, she stilled beneath his gaze.

“Am I?” he asked, only half teasing she knew. His arms wrapped around her waist, chin lifting.

A soft grin spread on her lips upon seeing the delight in his eyes, and she couldn’t stop herself from circling her arms around his neck. “Definitely.”

It was the needing kiss that he pressed to her lips then. The one they’d shared in the bedroom that had made her heart flutter. And this time was no different. She thought her heart would burst at the taste of him.

It didn’t last long, but when he pulled back and rested his forehead against hers, she heard him swallow.

“Your sister was fucking right,” he whispered.

“She usually is,” Nyssa whispered back.

Part Five

Departures

CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

“YOU ARE MY great prize, Princess.”

The words kept repeating themselves over and over in Nyssa’s mind as she lay in Nadir’s arms, the last hour of darkness pouring through her window. They had read more out of the book of Somniarb as they laid together on the lounger once coming back from the kitchens. He’d massaged her legs more as he’d told her he was going to, and talking with her about his position as Commander and how he’d achieved it.

The last time he took her was against the arm of the lounger, ending up with her riding backward atop him in bed. She’d tried to sleep, and had gotten a few hours, though every time she closed her eyes, she’d open them back up, her heart aching at the fact that he would be gone soon.

She shifted to reach for water on the bedside table, and as she lifted up, Nadir squeezed her ass.

“We’ll never make it to the gates if you keep doing that,” Nyssa said after taking a long sip of water. She turned, finding his eyes closed, but his smile spread wide over his face, and she settled herself back into his grasp.