Page 92 of The Assassin's Dancer
I shouldn’t, but I can’t resist her.
With a nod, I return to her bedside.
“Lie down,” I say softly, removing my shirt and tossing my dagger sheaths to the floor. “I might not be able to stay for the entire night, but I’ll at least be with you until you fall asleep.”
“Thank you,” she whispers, smiling in a way that makes my chest ache.
Damn, I’m an idiot. Anyone could walk in while we’re in bed together, and then I’d wake up to a dozen swords pointed at my throat. But I must be a lovesick idiot because for some reason, the risk of being thrown in the dungeon seems like nothing when I can spend another night with Amaryllis.
Lying down beside her, she nuzzles her face into my chest. She’s so warm. I’ll just stay for a few minutes. Just until I know for sure she’s asleep. But with my nose buried into her hair and my arm curled around her body, sleep drops over me like a heavy blanket.
A blanket that smells of roses, vanilla cake, and fresh strawberry juice spilled over cream bedsheets.
31
AMARYLLIS
The scent of strawberries hits me first. My eyes flutter open to see the familiar burgundy walls of my bedchamber and something very unfamiliar on my bedside table. A silver plate of fresh strawberries sits inches from my nose, along with a note.
Pushing myself up from the sheets, I reach for it.
My darling Ruby,
I’m sorry I couldn’t stay to wish you good morning in person. There’s something important I need to do. I borrowed this plate of strawberries from the kitchens and brought them here. I hope you enjoy them enough to forgive me.
I’ll see you again soon, my love.
Forever yours,
K
A smile pulls at my cheeks.His love.Forever mine. This has all happened so fast, and I’m not quite sure what it means, but the butterflies in my stomach certainly seem to like it. If they don’t calm down soon, I might start flying too.
Popping a strawberry into my mouth, I clutch the note to my chest and flop backwards onto my pillows. I’m still wearing my dance gown from last night, but I have little memory of putting it back on – only the way his hands felt on my hips, the tightness of the ribbons around my wrists, his cock deep in my…
I laugh as strawberry juice fizzles on my tongue. I’ll never be able to meet the eyes of any of the librarians ever again. Not that I regret it, though. The past few days have been like nothing I’ve ever experienced before, and I so desperately want it to happen again.
“Stars, what is he doing to me?” I breathe, but I barely have time to think of an answer before my door swings open.
“Ami!”
I bolt upright. I just about manage to shove the note under my pillow before Camellia waltzes inside and charges over to me. When she reaches my bedside, her eyes sweep over me, long and slow.
After a few moments, her lips fall open.
“Oh, Ami,” she sighs.
“What?” I glance down at my dress. It’s creased, but that’s nothing out of the ordinary, and this isn’t the first time I’ve woken up in my dance clothes. “What is it?”
Mel grins in a teasing sort of way. “You know I was just on my way to breakfast when I heard your two maids bickering. I went up to them, and they told me they didn’t know what to do,” she explains. “They said they came in here to wake you and found you fully clothed but covered in bruises! They weren’t sure whether to call for a healer or your father.”
My stomach dips.Oh no.
“So I told them not to panic,” Mel continues, still smiling. “I said that I’d take a look first because surely there’s been some kind of misunderstanding.” She cocks her head to one side. “But no, here you are, covered in bruises… although those aren’t just any type of bruise are they, Ami?” She eyes my neck and shoulders while a rosy blush creeps over me.
“Well, no, but?—”
“You dirty thing!” Mel laughs, swatting my shoulder. “You know I’ve treated love bites before. Many times. I have the perfect cream for it. It was supposed to be for Dahlia’s riding injuries, but after one of my handmaids ran into trouble, I let her use it, and it cleared up the mark right away. Since then, I’ve had servants coming to me, even a few guards, and I’ll always let them have some, but I never thought I’d see the day when perfect Amaryllis would need my help too!” She throws her head back, laughing. “Oh, Ami, what a night you must’ve had!”
