Page 52 of Rook of Ruin
“We made that decision together. I was the only one with high enough scores to become one.” His hands comb through my hair. “Before I became a Rook, we would have dinners similar to the one we had at Tess’s.”
“You seemed happy at Tess’s house. I think it was the first time I’ve ever seen you truly smile.” I find myself grinning at the memory.
“I smile all the time.” His deep silky voice gives no indication of teasing.
“What?” I turn to see his silver eyes. “When?”
“On the inside.”
I splash him again, and he grabs my neck, dipping me back, kissing me with such force that I want him to devour me whole. I feel his length rise. He adjusts himself, and hells if that isn’t the sexiest thing I’ve ever felt.
Alec pulls back, exhaling quickly. He clears his throat, and his voice is a little strained. “What is your favorite color?”
I smirk. He’s trying to distract himself, so I’ll play along. “That’s like saying ‘what is your favorite food.’ I’m quite partial to pink, just because it’s so beautiful in nature. But I can’t wear it well.”
He drips water down my breast and touches my incredibly hard pink nipple. “I would say you wear it quite well.” I blush.
“What’syourfavorite color?”
“Right now, I have a few . . . ivory”—he moves his hand down from my neck to my hand—“golden-brown”—he looks in my eyes as he pulls back my wet hair back from my ear—“pink”—he rolls my nipple between his finger and thumb—“red”—he kisses my mouth slowly—“and did I mention pink?”—his hand goes between my legs, teasing. I gasp, eyes widening. He removes his hand.Bastard.
“My turn to wash you off.” I move behind him and wash his soft hair, his back, looking at his beautiful tattoos. “What do they mean?”
“Each one is a memory of what I had to do to survive. I started getting them when I was young, probably too young. Some are from Enthe, a few from recruitment, but most are from missions.” He shrugs like each tattoo isn’t death itself carved intricately into his skin. A large rook has its wings spread across his back, and in its talons is a sad tiny black rabbit. The rook isn’t harming the rabbit but trying desperately to carry it away. I trace over the rook and rabbit, not daring to ask why he has this one. “That was my first mission. I couldn’t save someone, barely saved myself.”
I kissed where the rook’s heart would be, trailing my mouth up to Alec’s neck. My breasts lightly grazing his back, I wrap my arms around him, and there we sit until the water turns cool.
We go to bed together and wake up early, wrapped in each other’s arms. Alec stiffly walks into the bathroom, exposing patches of sadness in my heart from the thought of sleeping alone. Not just alone, without him.
I squirm watching him walk back into the room naked. “You know, I should get you some clothes, but I just really like you without them.” Eyeing his muscular legs and slowly moving my eyes up his body, licking my lips.
“I’m feeling slightly objectified.” He slides in next to me with a sly smile.
“Only slightly?” I sigh as he wraps his arms around me and kisses my neck. “I’ll try harder next time,” I say breathlessly as his mouth lingers close to mine.
He gives me a mischievous grin. “Have dinner with me tonight.”
“Maybe,” I say, staring at his beautiful, scarred lips. “I think I might have plans with a naked man in my bed.” His lips curve up even farther, and they gently brush mine, seeking, wanting me to open for him. I do, and I melt into him.
Banging on the door to my chamber has me cursing. I pull on the soft grey dressing gown and smooth out my hair. Alec gives me a wink of approval as I shut the door to my bedroom, then quickly shove a pillow and blanket onto the couch to make it look like I was sleeping there.
I walk over to the door and open it just as Simon lifts his fist to beat down my door. “What the hells, O? Why is your door locked? It’s never locked.” He studies my face.
I stand in the doorway, preventing entry, and I shrug.
He raises his eyebrows and then squints. “You’re still angry at me.”
I shrug again.
His jaw ticks.
I sigh. “Yes. You—”
“You think I kept it from you. You think I didn’t tell you because I was playing some kind of game. Truth is, O, you’re mad that I didn’t specifically introduce myself as the bastard prince of Bethal, and you feel that it was a betrayal. It was not. I—”
I cut him off because I don’t want to hear excuses. “You didn’t have the courage to tell me you were a prince and that you placed a bid for my hand in marriage.” What a dick. “Youwere upset withJonbecausehedid not ask me directly, but what’syourexcuse?”
“What?” He looks genuinely surprised, probably that I found out. He lets out a laugh, and it’s my turn to look surprised.
