Page 97 of Wild Bond

“You could have made time to come see me,” I stated plainly.

His brow creased. “I would have, but I’ve been in meetings with the council up until the banquet. Some of them weren’t happy with the decision to let your trial stand and let you compete. After you left to recover, several of them called for an emergency meeting to discuss it further.”

“And?” I asked, my ire at him momentarily forgotten, suddenly anxious about the result.

“And nothing,” he replied. “After arguing the point for several hours and listening to many fruitless protests, we decided to let the decision stand.”

A sense of cool relief washed through me, but I barely had time to register the emotion before Rake was speaking again.

“But I doubt that’s why you are upset with me?”

“Who says I’m upset with you?”

He gave me a knowing look as he took a step closer to me, away from the door. “The woman I left behind in Dessin was warm and willing in my arms, and dare I say sad to see me go. But downstairs just now you were stiff and clipped. What changed? What did the prince say to you?”

I opened my mouth to refute him, claiming nothing had changed, but then decided, what was the point? “You told me you didn’t know who your father was,” I said. “That you believed he was a wealthy noble, but that was all.”

I was watching his face closely, so I saw the flare of surprise in his eyes. “What are you—"

“Why didn’t you tell me you were Prince Malik’s half-brother?” I blurted.

His body stiffened. “Malik told you that?”

I nodded, and I could see in his eyes that he had known. He had known King Nazeem was his father. That Prince Malik was his brother. “You lied to me,” I stated. I tried to keep the hurt from my voice, but I knew some of it bled through as I asked, “Why didn’t you tell me?”

Rake sighed. “I didn’t lie. I just honestly didn’t think it mattered. I don’t see the king as my father. He was never a part of my life and never will be. He didn’t protect me or my mother when we needed him.” Anger lit his eyes. “When I discovered who he was to me, I felt disgust more than anything. Nazeem is a grasping, ruthless womanizer who subjected his people to a twenty-five-year war out of greed. And Malik is just like him. I want nothing to do with him or his son.”

That hadn’t been my impression of Prince Malik, but now wasn’t the time for that discussion. Some of my anger lessened as I listened to his explanation. But the hurt was still there. Part of me could understand why Rake might not want to tell me, especially if he didn’t truly see the man as his father, but that still left the larger issue of me wondering how well I actually knew him. And after everything . . .

He moved closer and pulled me into his arms. I let him, and stared up into his face as he vowed, “I’m sorry if I hurt you. I honestly just didn’t think it was relevant.”

I nodded again. “I’m sorry, too. I might have overreacted a little.”

He chuckled faintly. “From what you said downstairs, I thought you were mad because you thought I was flirting with Princess Helene. I thought you were jealous.”

I pulled back, staring up at him with a slight blush coloring my cheeks. “Iwasjealous,” I admitted.

He grinned, something soft and yet wicked in his eyes. “The only woman I want is you. I thought I had made that clear by now.”

He gently captured my lips in his. It started out soft and tender, a slow exploration of each other’s lips and mouths. It quickly morphed into something wanton and fierce as I got lost in the taste of him. I pressed myself against him. He growled into my mouth, and I was helpless to fight it as his hands sank into my hair and his lips consumed me.

He pulled away slightly, and I mewled in protest.

“Rin?” he said darkly, his eyes intense.

“What?” I panted in a breathless whisper. Our eyes met, his like chips of blue flame.

“It’s later,” was all he said, his voice gravelly with need, referencing what he had said the day he left.

My heart leapt in my chest, and I had no time to respond to the thrill his words caused in me before his lips returned to mine in a bruising kiss. His big body pressed into me, and his hands gripped my face tight as our mouths ate at each other like we were starving. I rose up on my toes so I could wrap my arms around his neck. He cursed, and I groaned as his hands moved down my body and around until they gripped my backside, lifting me up effortlessly until my legs wrapped around his lean waist—not an easy feat in the bulky dress. My hands moved into his hair, and I nipped his bottom lip playfully. He growled in response and ground himself against me. I felt his erection against my core, and a needy whimper left my lips.

“I love the sounds you make,” he breathed, his lips grazing over my skin. My heart felt like it was going to hammer out of my chest at his words, even as anticipation shivered through me.

I was vaguely aware of Skye’s presence retreating in my mind as she had done before, giving me privacy.

He gripped me to him more tightly. “As much as I love this dress, little thief,” he said, “I need it off you.” He dropped my legs back to the floor.

“And as delectable as you look in this armor,” I whispered against his lips, “I need it off of you.”

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