Page 71 of Cruelest Kiss and Fairest Blood
Cassius inhales. “Do you smell that? There must be something burning nearby.”
I sniff. “Honestly, I’ve cried so much today, I can’t smell anything.”
His eyes bulge. “The soup.” Flinging himself from the bed, he darts to the kitchen. Soup? So that’s what he was doing when I was up to my eyeballs in a mental breakdown. Gone is the dark,dominating man whose bruises I currently wear and back is my sweet, silly prince. Smoke fills the kitchen. Watching him, bare-assed, racing around to save what must surely be a ruined meal, brings a real smile to my face. The lingering fear from our sexual experience evaporates. My guilt eases. I’m reminded why I enjoy Cassius’s company. The ease of his energy is unmatched.
“You better not spill. You’ll burn your dick,” I tease.
His eyes flit to his lower half. He sets the pot down and grabs his trousers. “Can’t lose that. I’m worthless without it.” He winks at me as he buttons them up.
Cassius blows on the spoon, cooling the steaming liquid before holding it in front of my mouth. I raise a brow. “You’re trying to spoon-feed me?”
“Eat. You’ve had a rough day.” He ferries the spoon closer.
“I am perfectly capable of?—”
“Stop arguing with me and eat. Or should I bend you over my knee and spank you until you agree to do what I say?” There’s that flicker of his darkness, looming at the surface.
My mouth opens obediently, and Cassius pushes the spoon inside.
I close my mouth down around it, jerking back. I have every intention of bitching about the parental treatment but the moment the soup hits my tongue I fall silent. “Mmmm.” Salty broth with melt-in-your-mouth chunks of smoky meat and fresh vegetables. “This is incredible.”
“Eat all you can. You’ve lost weight since I first arrived.”
Heat swallows up my cheeks.He noticed that? “Too much stress.”
“Well, I’ll do everything I can while we’re hidden away here to de-stress you.” He smiles wide enough to reveal his dimples. “Now open.”
I down another spoonful, practically moaning. “Where did you learn to cook?” Royalty don’t receive lessons in the kitchen. I doubt I contain the culinary skills necessary to do more than add jam and cream to my scones.
“My early adult years were unconventional. I learned many things.”
“Oh? What kinds of things?” I speak between mouthfuls.
“I could show you a few, but it will be hard for you to eat soup on your back.”
Broth coasts down the wrong pipe, making me sputter and cough. Cassius’s grin grows. He loves toying with me.
“Aren’t you going to eat?” I point to the pot.
“I can’t feed myself if I’m using my hands to feed you.”
“I told you I am perfectly capable of feed?—”
“Be quiet and open up, you stubborn thing.”
I allow Cassius to feed me an entire bowl of soup. By the time he’s convinced I’ve had enough, I’m warm, full, and satiated.
Grabbing a bowl for himself, he sits next to me and begins eating.
“Don’t I get to feed you?”
He swallows what’s currently in his mouth. Handing me the spoon, he leans back. A dangerously smug smirk dances across his lips.
“Open wide,” I singsong.
My hand lifts to his lips but stops just before. Tremors possess my fingers, forcing the liquid to spill out and all over his bare chest.
“Lenore?” Concern replaces the haughty look in his eyes.
