Page 83 of To Wake a Kingdom

“The hag holes didn’t work,” I whispered.

“Ay. My mum was a wonderful woman. Loving and kind and brilliant, but she was also full of shit.”

I snorted and wiped a tear that had escaped down my cheek. “Thanks for trying anyway. Both of you. For all of your help.”

“It was my pleasure. I’d have made a thousand more if I thought it would have made any difference.”

He wrapped an arm around my shoulders, giving me a one-armed hug as Ronan made his way over.

After we’d all caught up for a few more minutes, Ronan escorted me back to my room.

“So how bad was that?” he asked after we arrived.

“He’s plotting something,” I replied, biting my bottom lip. “What? Why are you looking at me like that?” Ronan’s heavy-lidded gaze set my heart galloping.

“You’re beautiful when you do that,” he said, brushing my mouth with his thumb. He drew me in, kissing me, and thoughts of Erick washed away like footprints at high tide.

“Come inside. I think you had some very specific plans you told me about,” I said with a wink as I dragged Ronan into my room.

After a glance behind him, he turned to me with a wolfish grin, kicking the door closed with his heel. We made quick work of our layers of clothing, not even making it to the bed before we fell to the floor and lost ourselves in each other.

Chapter Thirty-Two

Sunlightstreamedintotheroom as I awoke to Luella and her helpers holding a silver tray bearing a pot of tea and a plate of toast, eggs, and strips of bacon.

“Rise and shine,” she trilled, placing the tray on the table and opening the heavy curtains.

Ronan was still asleep, and it was at that moment the women all noticed him. They stopped their chatter instantly, wide-eyed glances shifting between them.

“Luella,” I said, willing authority and calm into my voice. This was fine. I was a grown woman. I was allowed a man in my bed. “Could you give me a moment? And perhaps knock next time.”

“Yes, of course, Your Highness. I apologize.” Eyes on her feet, she dipped into a hasty curtsy. Then she shoved the other three women out the door, their feet tangling beneath them. None of them took their eyes off Ronan, who had woken and was sitting up, the golden expanse of his muscled chest filling the room with masculine energy. The door slammed shut, and I flopped down on the bed.

“Well, that was mortifying.” I covered my eyes with my hand, and Ronan leaned down and kissed me. Luella and her flock became a memory as his tongue slipped against mine. Lips trailing down my body, he kissed my stomach and the skin below my navel, spreading my legs and trailing more kisses along the inside of my thigh.

“They’re waiting outside,” I said, breathless and squirming with need.

“Do you want me to stop?” He asked in a dangerous voice and then did something with his tongue that drove every thought from my head. All I could do was whimper as he chuckled quietly and moaned, “Fuck, you taste like strawberries dipped in chocolate. I want this every day for the rest of my life.”

His words were like stars woven from satin, and it took only a few minutes for Ronan to turn me into a panting mess, hands fisted in bedsheets, his name a benediction on my lips. After I’d stopped shuddering, he crushed me in a long kiss and then groaned as he pulled away.

“While I want to spend the entire day here doing this,”—his eyes roved up and down—“I have to go to a council meeting.”

As he slid out of bed, I made a sound of disappointment and rolled to my stomach, hands propped under my chin. “Does that mean I owe you another favor?”

“Oh, I definitely think it does.”

“I think you gave those young ladies quite the thrill this morning, Commander,” I teased, fluttering my eyelashes.

I admired the view of his body as he hunted down his pants and tunic, our clothing scattered all over the room. After putting himself back together, he kissed me, touching his forehead to mine. “I love you, and I’ll find you later to continue where we left off,” he promised with smoke in his voice.

More than a little drunk on his affection, I gave him a half-grin. Four women toppled into the room as he opened the door. I covered my face as I held in a burst of giggles behind my hands. Luella had turned bright red after being caught in the throes of eavesdropping.

Ronan offered them a quick bow, pretending he hadn’t noticed a thing.“Ladies,” he said, before turning to me with a wink and making his exit.

One woman watched him leave, her eyes following him out the door.

“Marie!” Luella snapped. “Put your eyes back in your head and come here.” The girl jumped, scurrying over with her gaze pasted to the ground. Luella barked orders, and her birds rushed to obey.

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