I balled my hands into fists, willing away the hunger that visual caused. “You will die in Novasgard if you go. They aren’t welcoming to strangers.”
“I’m not a stranger. I’m their prince’s mate.”
“You can’t go alone.”
“I won’t. And that’s why I asked you to come with me.”
“I couldn’t go even if I wanted to. I have obligations here.”
“More important than me?”
“Yes, Miss Fallon. More important than you. How many times are you going to make me say it? Do you enjoy rejection as much as I enjoy punishment? You and your childish whims do not make the list of my priorities.”
Hurt flashed in her irises, but she was quick to school her expression. “You don’t mean that.”
“Don’t I?”
She stared into my eyes, her gaze intent and searching for a glimmer of fallacy within me. “Fine. Lie to yourself if you need to. I’m going. When I come back, we’ll continue this conversation.”
“We won’t. Our time is over.”
For the first time, her expression hardened with genuine anger. “You know, I was in that room too, Caleb. I felt the way your hands shook when you touched me. How hot you burned for me. I felt your cock weeping with your cum as you came inside me.”
“Enough! Throwing my indiscretions in my face will not get you what you want. I’m a man. I have the same weaknesses as the rest of them. You can’t blame me for giving in when you spread your thighs so willingly.”
“Maybe not, but I can sure as hell blame you for acting like it never happened.”
“Because I should have been better! I should never have let myself touch you. Watch you. Want you.”
“You can’t help who you love any more than you can deny what you are.”
“Watch me.”
Her lips pressed into a tight line. “That’s your job.”
Turning on my heels, I blurred back to my quarters. I should have felt relief at my departure, but my body was still burning with need when I entered my private space.
I leaned against the door, not entirely sure what to do with myself. I was too on edge, brimming with emotions I had no right to feel. I was in no state of mind for atonement, too restless to trust myself not to go too far.
Needing to quiet my mind, I knelt at the small altar in the corner of my modest living space, desperate for some focus, some way to ground myself.
“Give me the strength to resist temptation, to remain steadfastly loyal to my goal. Remind me of why I am doing this in the first place. My eternal soul hangs in the balance, but I am weak. The sins of the flesh torture me.Shetorments me. Please guide me on the correct path. Help me remain virtuous. Give me what I—”
As if mocking my plea, the door flew open, and Sunday swept into the room with the full force of a tempest.
“What do you think—”
“No. You will not deny what’s between us again.”
She began stripping off her clothes, flinging them on the floor without a word. Fuck me, I couldn’t have her naked in my chambers for a multitude of reasons. Chief among them that I was a breath away from shoving her against the wall and sinking inside her here and now. Was she a sign from God? Had He sent her to me?
I chuckled darkly. No. That would be far too easy. She was sent by the devil himself to tempt me.
“Stop this, right now.”
She met my gaze and peeled her knickers down her legs before sinking to the floor and assuming the most sensually submissive pose I’d ever seen.
“I need to be punished, Daddy.”