Page 5 of Frost and Death
“It’s fine, Tee. If it makes you feel any better, I sleep naked, too,” he teases.
I groan, envious of his sunny disposition and lack of awareness regarding my true feelings. “Back to our discussion,Nikolaj,” I grit through clenched teeth. “No matter the plan, I don’t think anyone is going to want to marry theSnow Queen.”
His mouth thins at the nickname my people have coined for me. “Tee, every eligible male wants to marry you. You are a queen with no heirs.”
I know he is trying to reassure me, but reassurance doesn’t make the nickname go away.
“Oh?” I challenge, throwing my flirtation attempts back at him. “Then, I guess you must want to marry me, too.”
Eyes flashing, Niko shrinks back as if I have burned him. Even as his amber eyes rake down my entire body, my heart pounds.
My throat bobs when he meets my gaze again, and I don’t allow myself a chance to understand why he just looked at me like that. I feign nonchalance with a wave of my hand.
“Relax. I was joking. Forgive me. I haven’t eaten yet today.”
His brows furrow. “Why haven’t you been eating?”
Gesturing to the bed, I reply, “I was attempting to sleep before you came knocking, remember?”
Niko chuckles. “You probably need to eatandsleep.”
I nod, knowing he is right and hoping my compliance will end this conversation.
He turns for the door, and I follow, only to bump into him when he stops. Niko twists and catches me before I fall on my ass.
When I look up to thank him, the sunlight normally surrounding him has turned to clouded darkness. My instincts kick in, concern tugging his face toward mine.
“Niko?” I ask. “What is it?”
He pulls me close, latching on as if I am a lifeline and lowering his head into the crook of my neck. His stubble rubs against my skin as he releases a long sigh.
Deities, my wish for him to always be this close has me wrapping my arms around him, allowing this token of affection. It is just a hug.
We have hugged plenty of times, and there is nothing different about this one.
But Niko remains quiet in our embrace.
I pull away and study him. “Niko?”
Niko moves, his face dipping inward, warmth hitting my nose. “It’s—”
Hanging on with bated breath, I wait for a response as the rest of my body heats at his proximity.
His cheeky grin returns as he taunts, “Pleasemake sure you eat today.”
I deflate as glee erupts from him. My temper defends my crushed hope that he was going to do something more.
I shove him out of my chambers, slamming my door, unable to remove the sound of Niko’s laughter echoing down the corridor.
I clench my fists. “Make sure you eat today.”
Slinking out of my gown, I approach my bed, slumping onto it with a loud thump. The debate of whether I should remain lying on top of my covers or not fuels my anger.
I stew in my irritation and eventually tug the blankets out from under me, refusing to move another inch.
FuckingNiko.
My mind wanders over our conversation and the impending arrival of next week. I wrap one arm around my pillow, burying the unease in favor of looming sleep.
