“Super serious, eh?”
“He asked me to marry him right before I came here.” I tug on one of my braids. “My mundane human romantic life must seem so boring to you.”
The way he’s looking at me, he doesn’t seem bored. His gaze pierces into mine. But then he laughs, long and loud. “So, should we expect any ill-fated rescue attempts for our stolen Rose?”
“Ill-fated? You’re confident.” I smile. “Lucas is no fae, but he’s a brilliant hunter.”
“I’ve never lost a fight, Rosie, and my first won’t be to your human.” There’s a dark promise in his words, one that causes me to shiver, but not from fear.
“Well, I don’t think you have to worry about it.” I take another long drink of my wine, trying to drown the sinking feeling in my stomach. “Lucas took one look at those goblins and hightailed it back home. I bet he thinks it was all a bad dream.”
“He left you to the goblins?” Fury rages in Dayton’s words.
“Look, we’d never seen anything like that before,” I say. “I was running too! Unfortunately, I’m way clumsier and fell into the thorns.”
Dayton chugs the rest of the bottle of wine, but before he can order another, the server places several more bottles on the table, along with a plate of fruit and nuts and a tankard of foaming ale. “From the patrons. They wanted to pay their respects to you.”
Dayton gives a thankful wave to the crowd, and wow, I didn’t notice how many eyes were on us. I guess the Prince is a bit of a spectacle. But Dayton’s attention is still solely on me.
“What about—” I begin, but Dayton cuts me off.
“Tell me more about this Lucas.”
“He’s handsome. Red hair. When we were in high school, he basically had his own fan club. I was their number one arch-nemesis.” I pour more wine, this one a glittering purple. It tastes like blackberries and the last rays of light on a summer night. “He’s big on family. Always talks about getting a house, having kids, y’know the white picket fence dream.”
“Are you going to say yes?”
I freeze the cup halfway to my lips. “I honestly haven’t had time to think about it.”
“There’s your answer,” Dayton says. “No.”
“No?” I slam my cup down. “Why would you say that?”
“If it were a yes, then you’d know. You wouldn’t have to think about it.”
I roll my eyes. “Look, I’m not a fae with a magical mating bond that sparkles and tells me who is the one. We humans must think with our heads. Like, can we make each other happy long-term? Do we have the same values and goals? Does he—”
“Does he make you come?”
I spit my wine all over the table. Dayton doesn’t notice. He leans closer and his voice pitches low. “Is he good to you? Does he leave you satisfied? How many times a night does he pleasure you, blossom?”
Sex with Lucas was pleasant, and I had enjoyed it most of the time. I liked being close to him, how hard and passionate his kisses were. But when I think about the mind-blowing orgasms the women in my books have, my mind draws a blank. “I don’t,” I stammer, “I don’t know.”
“If you don’t know,” he gives a rueful smile, “then the answer is never.”
“Well, I—”
“Before you say yes to this human, you need to experience someone worshiping your body the way you deserve. You need someone to take you over the edge again and again and again.”
Liquid heat pools in my belly as his words rush over me. “Marigold said fae from the Summer Realm were the best lovers.”
“Did she now?” Dayton leans so our foreheads are almost touching. He’s got one hand braced on the side of the table, and the large muscles in his arms strain.
“Yes.” I breathe in and flutter my eyes shut.
“Then I’m sure you can find some fae here desperate enough to give you that.” There’s a clatter as Dayton falls back to his chair, laughing.
Foolish disappointment swells in my belly. Of course Dayton’s not interested in me. He’s a freaking fae prince. He could have anyone he wants. Plus, I’m trying to find his mate. I can’t think about him like that, no matter how charming and gorgeous he is.