Page 106 of The Demon Prince

She held the reins to the most dangerous creature in this kingdom, after all.

Him.

Once they got back to his castle, he made quick work of bringing her to her room. He set her down on her feet only once they’d crossed the threshold, and even then he was loath to no longer have her in his arms.

She giggled at him, then pretended to get angry. “What, you’re making me stay in my own room still? After everything we’ve done?”

He backed her into the bathroom, forcing her to move or be trampled by the wall of his massive chest. “Pet, I moved all the most comfortable furniture into this room for you. Unless you want to go back to sleeping on straw, we’re staying in this room. Together.”

“You’ve been sleeping on a straw bed?”

“I would sleep on a dirt covered floor if that would ensure you more comfort.” He held onto her wrist so she wouldn’t trip and then turned on the faucet to fill the tub with steaming hot water. “Besides, this room has the best view.”

And then he was given another one of her soft looks. The one where he knew she was thinking how much she loved him, and now that he had a name for it, it made everything so much better.

Tucking his finger underneath her chin, he tilted her face up to look at him. “Now you’re going to spend a good long while in this bath. Do you understand? Soak those muscles that I overused.”

“Or what?”

Baring his teeth in a snarl, he made sure she stared at his fangs before answering, “Do I need to remind you that I have use for a body that is healed and comfortable, but less use for a body that is hurting? I will make you stay in that bed until you heal yourself, pet.”

“Are you threatening to withhold sex from me if I don’t get in that tub?” Katherine crossed her arms over her chest, eyeing him up and down before snorting. “I’m willing to accept that challenge.”

Bracing his arm on the wall behind her head, he caged her in between the tile and his body. He gave her another growl that he hoped was intimidating, but thought it was a little more suggestive than he had planned. “I have waited a thousand years for you, Katherine. A thousand years. And I won’t claim that I didn’t touch anyone else during that time. I won’t even suggest that I didn’t enjoy myself before you. But now that I have you, there is no one else. There will never be anyone else. So if I have to dunk you into that water and hold you underneath it so that you are well, I will do so. You are mine, pet, and I will keep you happy and healthy. There is no other way.”

Her mouth fell open at his words before she licked her lips and nodded. Eyes darting to his mouth and then back up, he already knew what she was thinking before she even said it. “And if I wish for you to join me?”

Gluttony coiled one of her curls around his finger and gave her hair a little tug. “As tempting as that is, I do not know how to behave myself around you. This is about healing. Your body needs rest, Kat, and your mind likely needs time to process what happened. I’m not giving you an excuse to hide.”

At that, she seemed to wilt in front of his eyes. All the memories came rushing back, and he knew it had to be a lot to think about.

Excluding what they had done, her people had betrayed her in a fashion that would be difficult to forget. She was, without a doubt, needing time to think about this. Time to herself.

And he... Well, he didn’t want to leave. He didn’t want to take any more time away from her because he wanted her. In any way he could get. He wanted to bask in her presence, even if it became more of a torment.

Gluttony had to stand back and keep his hands by his sides as she stripped. He’d seen her like this before, of course. Bare to his hungry eyes was how he preferred her. But this time, he had no intention to touch.

Although he held out his hand to help her into the bath. She was strong and capable, but he knew the slippery surface of the tub was dangerous for her hip. Especially when he noticed the strange hitch in her step that wasn’t normal. Even for her.

Usually, she would cast aside his help and give him a glare for even offering. But right now, in this soft bubble they had created, she allowed him to help. She sank underneath the water, a quiet sigh on her lips, and he watched the blush rise up from her chest and burn into her cheeks.

He crouched on the other side of the tub, one of his arms braced on the side and his fingers toying with the steam. “Comfortable?”

“Yes.” She rolled her head to the side to look at him, a soft smile on her lips. “Why are you doing all this for me?”

“Taking care of you?”

She shrugged, but he knew that was her real question. What kind of a life must she have lived before him that she couldn’t understand why he’d want to do this?

Gluttony swirled his fingers in the water, waiting for her response. But she didn’t give him one. Instead, she just watched his movements with a faint hint of amusement in her gaze.

Finally, he relented. “You have been so kind to me, Katherine. More so than anyone else in my life. You have a heart of gold, even for people who wish nothing more than to harm you. You’ve met my brothers with bravery and a thoughtful nature that made my heart beat in my chest. And you have returned to me. Every time you left. Every dark secret I’ve told you hasn’t scared you away, and I must be honest, that still startles me. You should run.”

“And yet, I have no plan to.” Her hand lifted out of the water, wet and glistening as she traced her finger over his lips. “I would miss you if I was gone.”

Oh, she had no idea how much he would miss her.

Gluttony pillowed his head on his forearm and spent the next hour with her. Not inside the tub, just listening to her tell stories. Watching the expression on her face as she grew more animated and splashed water on the wall with each of her movements.

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