Page 50 of Raven's Rise
“I promise.” He watched her carefully. “You look unconvinced.”
She took an unsteady breath. “Words and promises are worthless,” she said, finally addressing the central obstacle. “You’re stronger than I am, you’re bigger, you’re…”
He took another step toward her. “Angelet. Think about it. I’ve had every opportunity to take you, had I wanted to. These last few nights, or on the ridge, by the pond, even the first night at Dryton.” He stepped closer still, his eyes locked on hers. “Yes, you’ve got grounds for suspicion. I did steal you, after all. I warn you that I’m selfish and—”
“Hush,” she said.
He stopped talking the instant she put a finger to his lips.
Angelet smiled a little. “So you do know how to take an order from a woman.”
“The right woman.” He caught her wrist in his hand and kissed her fingers. She nearly fainted when his tongue grazed her skin of her palm. “I wanted you the very first moment I saw you leaning out of the window, high above everything, just watching your world like a queen.”
“Hardly a queen,” she said. “I was a prisoner, with no say over my life or my destiny.”
“Then be a queen tonight. You’ll have all the say. I promise.”
She inhaled, dreaming of it. Queen Angelet, with a single subject.
“Let me go,” she whispered. He did.
She took a step back, partly to get a moment to build up her courage, and to take another look at him. “You’re always telling me you’re the handsomest man I’ll ever meet. Why not prove it once and for all?”
“Don’t I do that just by standing here?”
She crossed her arms, wondering if he was perhaps a little nervous as well, and just better at concealing it. Well, no more. “Your clothes. Take them off.”
Rafe laughed. “You don’t waste time. Very well, do you want to help?”
“No, I want to watch.” Queens weren’t maids, after all.
So Rafe stripped himself of his simple clothing, starting with his tunic, since he’d removed his armor earlier. When he was nearly naked, he hesitated, obviously not used to being on display. But the hose came off. And he stood in front of her, fully naked…and fully aroused.
Angelet experienced a thrill as she surveyed him. Hewantedher. He wanted her enough to literally strip bare and stand in front of her awaiting her command. Angelet never knew what it was to have any power. If it felt at all like this, she suddenly understood the appeal.
“Well?” he asked, not at all ashamed. “Am I the finest man you’ve ever seen, or not?”
Angelet laughed in delight. “You aresoarrogant.”
“But also correct…correct?”
She bit her lip against a laugh. “Yes! I admit it. You’re the very finest man I’ve ever seen naked, which is not saying much.”
“Of course it is. First place is first place. What now?” he asked, obviously eager to continue.
“Now you must stand therepatientlywhile I undress.”
“I can’t undress you?” He sounded disappointed.
“No! I don’t wish it.” She had almost agreed, due to the ingrained habit of acquiescing to whatever anyone asked of her. But she was afraid that she’d lose her tenuous control of the situation if she indulged Rafe’s very first request. She wanted one night where she ruled.
She turned away from him, shyness making her clumsy. She lifted the gown above her head, and let it fall to the floor next to her feet. She then gathered up the shift, slowly, from the hem, exposing her legs inch by inch. She could have pulled everything off at once, but she wanted to draw out the tension…and perhaps to hide under clothing a moment longer.
When the thin shift also lay discarded on the floor, she turned to face him again, and was rewarded with an intake of breath.
All that was left was the necklace. She started to remove it.
“Leave the moonstones on,” he said. He hadn’t taken his eyes from her, and the expression on his face was enough to make her flush. She wasn’t used to being admired like this.
