Page 20 of Golden Queen
"Fuck," he said.
I smiled. "You used that word a lot after I...." I looked slightly guilty as I let the words trail off. I also overused that particular curse, much to Markus' chagrin.
He narrowed his eyes, amused. "I did?"
"You did."
"Well, my apologies, My Lady, if I have offended your delicate sensibilities."
"Thank you, My Lord," I told him, straight faced. "But I assure you, I have no delicate fucking sensibilities." I gestured around me to encompass the fact that we were standing in a brothel.
He laughed. The sound shot through me like a warm bolt of lightning turning my insides to liquid. I would have taken the step over to him and used his very large frame to rub myself against him like a purring cat...if he had not spoken again.
"I should go. My people will be worried that I have come to some misfortune at the hands of a beautiful woman with a very sharp knife."
I swallowed hard as the words registered. "Is that...something that happens to you often?" I said, moving to the door and opening it. I had to step out into the hall to give him room to pass.
"Not often enough," he said, giving me a wicked sort of smile as he ducked beneath the door frame, buttoning his bloodied shirt as he went.
I motioned toward the stairs that led down to the door.
"Thank you, Sera." My name on his lips seemed to crack something delicious open in my chest.
"You are most welcome, Io."
He narrowed his eyes imperceptibly and studied me for a long moment. I could have sworn it was in response to me saying his name again—as though the sound of it surprised him. Like no one ever said it.
But that was impossible. This man would have every woman within a thousand miles sighing his name, falling forward on their starstruck faces in the dirt, just to bathe in the dust kicked up by his boots.
He turned to leave without another word, but just before he stepped onto the stairs, he looked back at me again and smiled. His expression held some promise of something I could not even guess at. It made chills skate down my sides all the way to my feet.
Only after he was gone, and I heard his footsteps recede down the stairs did I realize the implication of my littledelicate fucking sensibilitiesquip. No delicate sensibilities—in a pleasure house! He most definitely thought I was a courtesan.
Three
The following morning, I found myself once again riding out into the godsgrass to meet a complement of riders from afar.
My cousin met us at the stables, and when he had mounted his horse and sidled up next to me, I gave him a cross look.
"Where did you..." we both said in unison.
I raised a brow and offered my palm in acquiescence. "Go ahead."
He looked slightly embarrassed. "I suddenly don't want to tell you,” he said, surprising me. There was very little that embarrassed Arkadian Lithaway.
I widened my eyes. "Tell me!" I hissed, as the column began moving toward the portcullis and gates of the inner fortress.
Arkadian sighed dramatically. "I met someone." As he said the words, his face changed, only imperceptibly...and I knew.
"Someone special," I breathed.
His mouth curved into a slow smile. It made my heart trip a little to see it. I had never known him to offer more than lust and respectful indifference when it came to women.
"Tell me," I begged, but he only smiled.
"Later," he finally agreed when I gave him another beseeching look. "Stop looking so happy," he added as we passed through the portcullis.
"I'll stop looking so happy, when you stop looking so happy."
