“Very telling,” he replied in a melodic tone. “Although, I’m disappointed that we didn’t stay to watch them all interact. I would have enjoyed observing the seduction games between the Hell Fae and their potential mates.”
“Hmm, that’s exactly why we left.” Well, that and I had no interest in the festivities that followed my opening ceremony.
The girls weren’t mine to court or to fuck. Nor did I have any interest in learning more about them. They were here to appease my men, not me. Which was why I’d left a few generals behind to supervise the interactions. They’d keep the girls and my men in line. And my Commander would ensure that everything ran smoothly as well.
Meanwhile, I’d handle my errant mate.
I moved toward Melek with purpose, my palm wrapping around the back of his neck to pull him into a kiss. His lips were soft beneath mine, yielding, and yet deviously curled at the same time.
Mmm, Melek adored pushing boundaries, and he’d done exactly that when he’d given the captive that talisman.
“I think you would have been bored within minutes,” I whispered against his mouth. “Which is why you’re already mostly naked and trying to entice me to fuck you in the shower.”
“Is that what I’m doing?” he asked just as softly.
“You’re playing.”
“Am I?”
“You are,” I promised, my mouth gliding across his cheek to his ear. “Check my pocket.”
“Which one?”
“You know which one,” I replied, nibbling his earlobe. He’d be able to sense the charm’s energy because it was riddled with his signature as the item’s creator.
His palm skimmed my groin, the touch knowing and purposeful. “I’d much rather…” He trailed off as he drew the zipper of my dress pants down, his fingers tracking along the seam to find me bare beneath the fabric of my slacks.
“You can’t distract me,” I warned him.
“I think I can,” he countered, grazing my skin on his way back up to unfasten my belt.
I grinned, allowing him to tease. It would make pushing him to his knees so much more fun in a few minutes. “Why did you give her the talisman?” I asked him softly.
“What talisman?” he asked, his tone so angelically innocent that I almost couldn’t detect his fall from grace. My Virtuous Prince still possessed all the powers of his birthright, hence the charm he’d created for the bride candidate.
“Why her?” I pressed as he finished removing my belt.
“She’s pretty,” he murmured. “And feisty, too. Did you know she actually presented somewhat of a challenge for your Warden to capture?”
I considered the question and recalled all the reports Ajax had provided during the recruitment phase of our project. “She’s the one he had to go after himself.”
“Yes.”
“I see.” I supposed that did make her somewhat unique since all the others were caught successfully on one visit. I pulled my lips away from his ear, curious to read his expression. “What makes her different?”
Melek’s gaze glittered as he popped open the button on my pants. “I have no idea.”
“Liar,” I accused, the word leaving my mouth on a sensual taunt more than a harsh tone.
“Not entirely a lie,” he promised, pushing the fabric from my hips and gently down my thighs. “I have yet to discover exactly what makes her unique. But I want her.”
“Do you?” I cocked my head to the side, causing my long hair to fall like a dark curtain around my face.
“I do.” He went to his knees to finish removing the fabric from my legs. He also pulled off my shoes and socks in the process, giving him a false glow of servitude from my angle above him.
“As a bride or a pet?” I wondered aloud.
“Oh, definitely a pet.” He leaned forward to place a kiss on the crown of my cock, my shaft swelling both at the sight of him on his knees and the sensuality of his movements.