Page 179 of The Moon's Fury

He slipped the ring on her finger and joined their hands.

“When did you get this?” she asked.

“In Sendouk. The same night I bought the dagger.”

“But—but that wasmonthsago!” she sputtered. “Why didn’t you say anything sooner?”

His smile wilted as he tucked her into his chest.

“Leaving Alzahra with me … that wasn’t your decision. Not really.” He smoothed a hand over her hair. “I wanted at leastthisto be your choice, and yours alone.”

If Layna thought she loved him before, that was nothing compared to the rush of pure devotion that flowed through her now. If she hadn’t already been kneeling, she’d fall to her knees before him.

“Now if you’re done with your questions,” he murmured into her ear, “I’d like to make love to my wife.”

Desire coursed through her, and this time, when their lips melded together, her husband was not gentle. His kiss was demanding, insistent. He was ravenous, as if nothing could quench his thirst except her lips. Without breaking away, heunstrapped his sword and tossed it to the side. His baldric followed. Zarian wrapped her legs around his hips and carried her to the mattress.

He set her down gently, and she nestled back against the pillows. The candles flickered around them, casting shadows that danced across her bare skin as Zarian tugged off her dress. He had made love to her countless different times, in countless different ways.

But this was the first time as her husband.

He savored her body as if he had never before felt the softness of her skin, never traced the slopes of her curves, never tasted the sweetness of her lips.

She was his to cherish.

With the night sky above them, she gazed at Zarian as he moved above her, moonlight illuminating his handsome face. Arms wrapped tightly around his neck, forehead pressed against his, legs twined around hips, pulling him closer, still closer, forever closer.

He buried his face in her neck, breath hot against her damp skin, his movements becoming erratic. Her back arched off the thin mattress, mouth open in a silent scream. Zarian found his release soon after, his delicious weight pressing her into the thin mattress.

He braced himself on one arm to gaze at her, always, always,alwaysmaking sure she was all right. A bead of sweat dripped from his forehead into her hair.

She pulled him back down.

75

Thenextmorning,sheawoke in their bed to Zarian trailing kisses up the length of her bare back.

“Good morning, wife,” he whispered huskily in her ear. He made love to her again, tenderly, languorously, until release shuddered through her sleepy limbs.

Afterward, as she drifted back into contented slumber, he kissed her cheek and said something about going into town for a few hours.

Layna lounged in their bed, the morning light brightening the bedroom. Eventually, she rose and readied for the day, wondering what was so important that Zarian had left for town so early in the morning.

Ambling downstairs, her footsteps felt light as air.

She was Zarian’swife.

The thought made her giddy.

As always, her thoughtful husband had already measured out the ingredients for hersilpharoontea. She turned on thesihrrock-infused burner and sat at the table. Zarian had set out bread and a mango marmalade that Kylah had sent last week. There was a lone, purple lily placed beside her plate, along with a jar of honey. With a small smile, she ate her breakfast and gulped down her sweetened-but-still-bitter tea.

She meandered to the back courtyard and checked on the garden. She watered the plants that needed it, picked a few ripe vegetables, and brushed a special mixture over the entire garden to keep parasitic insects away.

Soraya would have been proud.

Afterward, she grabbed a sewing kit and a bolt of white cloth—well-intentioned but misplaced gifts from Kylah—and sat against a palm tree in their front yard. She knew nothing of sewing, had never even tried, but was determined to makesomesort of wedding gift for Zarian.

Frowning, she held up the cloth. It was white and soft—perfect for a turban.And a turban couldn’t be too hard, could it?She just needed to cut and sew in the sides and make a clean edge.