And when we did catch them… punishment was met without sympathy.
“Everything is set up for Audun and Manning’s arrival. We will place them in the south wing, far away from you and the queen.” I appreciated Marric changing topics. It helped keep my territorial thoughts at bay.
I grunted in approval. I was thankful Marric had Prima’s best interest at heart, knowing she was the most precious thing in my world. He could see it. He could feel it pouring off me, no doubt.
“It’s much appreciated,” I replied, staring into the fire, getting lost in my thoughts.
“Manning and Audun will be bringing their seconds-in-command. Manning will have Ralstand, whom you’ve met from previous meetings, but Audun sent word that he’ll be accompanied by a new companion. He goes by Stiles and has served beside Audun in many battles. They will also stay in the south wing of the castle. I will have extra guards stationed there.”
I lifted a brow at the deep, warning tenor of Marric's voice.
“You may trust the two rulers, and I do to an extent, but any men they bring with them will be looked upon as strangers and will be watched.”
I nodded. “Agreed.” I went back to staring at the fire, thinking about getting all my obligations done so I could properly spend time with my wife.
I wanted to take her to the mountains, maybe to the fjords. I wanted to spend endless days and nights with her, just memorizing her body, knowing what pleased her… pleasured her.
I wanted to learn everything about her, all the little details that made up her childhood, her adolescence, and finally her womanhood.
Gods, I wanted all of that.
“Go to your female,” Marric said in a soft voice.
I glanced over at him, not surprised he’d been able to read me so easily. But I also saw a flickering of something akin to emotions and longing move across his face, heard it laced in his voice. But as fast as I’d heard and saw it, it disappeared, Marric was a master of keeping stoic under any and all situations.
I’d known Marric nearly my entire life, but there was a massive piece of his adolescence that I wasn’t privy to. And I knew that was when many of his horrors had happened. It wasn’t something we discussed, but I made sure to let him know I was here if and when he wanted to confide.
I also knew I’d be waiting an eternity before that ever happened.
He bowed low, which had me growling. I saw the way his lips twitched in what could have been a semblance of amusement. Having Marric treat me as royalty and going about the bullshit rituals and traditions that title afforded made me uncomfortable, and he knew it. I was pretty sure he did that shit to get under my skin.
Once alone, I gave myself one more second to watch the fire before letting a slow smile curve my mouth as I thought about all the filthy things I planned on doing to my Prima tonight.
But on the heels of that thought, a wave of distress filled me. I didn’t want her to hate me. I wanted her to love me as much as I already did her. But forcing her hand, making her feel like she had no choice in the matter of being with me, was not how I wanted to start our marriage.
So as much as I wanted to claim her in the way a husband did with his wife, we needed to talk.
Because when Prima gave herself to me, it would be with acceptance and her decision to be here. I wouldn’t allow my betrayal, the fact that I’d stolen my bride, to tarnish the future we could have.
12
Prima
Trying to go through the rest of the day without thinking about Fen and what I’d asked him—about tonight—was like asking someone not to take their next breath.
Impossible.
We’d eaten afternoon meal together, and if Fen had been as anxiously filled with desire as I was, he did a very good job of hiding it. Although I’d felt his gaze on me every time I wasn’t looking, as if he were reaching out and stroking my body with his big, scarred hands that turned me on just thinking about them.
And after eating our meal, he called me over, pulled me onto his lap, and proceeded to kiss me long and hard… thoroughly, until I’d been wiggling on his lap and all but begging him to claim my virginity on the table, his huge cock a hard rod nestled against my ass.
And when we’d been able to part from each other, I’d spent the rest of the evening wandering around the castle, finding myself in the garden once more.
And here I was now, freshly bathed, a delicate, ultra-feminine dress covering my sensitive body. All I could think about was Fen touching me this very evening. Would he be gentle or raw with passion? The dirty thoughts that filtered through my mind were so obscene I blushed furiously at how vivid they were.