Chapter Twenty-Six
I whispered the storyinto Whist’s ear, my head pillowed on his shoulder. Once I finished, he was growling and cursing and his fingers flexed against me.
Sky pulled a key from around his neck and fit it into the door we stopped at. He pushed it open and he and Saber went inside while Whist and I waited outside.
“What’s going on?” I asked.
“They’re going to clear the prince’s rooms. Make sure no one’s inside.”
“Sky has a key to the prince’s quarters?” My brows rose.
“We all do. We’re friends, gorgeous. And were personal assassins to the king. We can get in anywhere.”
Sky stuck his head out of the doorway. “It’s clear.”
“I’ll get her in the bath. You two go collect some clothes and stuff for all of us.” Whist finally released me onto the floor.
I took in Aster’s home with wide eyes and a gaping mouth. It was nothing like I expected. The assassins had a nicer place than the prince. It wasn’t a hovel by any means, but it lacked the opulence of the rest of the palace. In the main room, there was a small sofa and a low table covered in books. Shelves lined the walls, bursting with even more books. In the corner stood a beautiful gleaming piano. I couldn’t stop staring at it with longing welling in my soul. Another instrument I’d never gotten the chance to try.
Saber and Sky kissed my cheeks before heading back to their quarters to grab our clothes. I followed Whist deeper through Aster’s home, taking in the art on his walls, familiar art. I was pretty sure Saber had painted them. The prince didn’t have a kitchen—all he had was his sitting room, two bathrooms, and a massive bedroom. His bed made Sky’s look positively tiny.
“How many people does he usually have sleeping in here with him?” I asked as Whist took me into the bathroom connected to the bedroom.
“It’s usually just him. Though I won’t lie to you, he’s no blushing virgin.” He turned on the hot water and sprinkled something delicious smelling from a small bottle into the tub.
Why was I jealous of the men and women who had slept with him before he knew I even existed? “As flirtatious as he is, I didn’t expect different.” Though he hadn’t flirted much with me. Not until tonight. What changed?
“He definitely has a pull. The fact that you’ve resisted him along with the bond so long is impressive. It normally only takes him an hour to charm someone into his bed.”
“I hope he’s washed the sheets recently. Where exactly are we all going to sleep?” I asked, stripping off my blood splattered dress, staring at the ruined fabric pooled at my feet rather mournfully.
He turned off the water and helped me into the tub. “Don’t worry about it, gorgeous. If he piles in bed with us, it won’t be beside you. Unless you want him to.”
“No. I’m good.” I sighed in relief as the steaming water soothed my aches and washed the blood and grit away. It wasn’t my blood thankfully. “Can I ask you something?”
“Always.”
“If the prince joined us, would the two of you be like Saber and Sky?” I couldn’t deny the thought turned me on and also made me feel even more guilty if it was something Whist wanted, needed.
Whist lathered up a sponge with soap. “I don’t know. We’d probably play around together when we’re all together, but I doubt we’d have much of our own relationship outside of you. So don’t make that decision for me. Make it for you.”
I hissed as Whist drew the sponge over a tender spot. “I’m starting to think the only way I’ll be able to make the decision is if I do it for the rest of you.”
Whist nudged me, trying to get me to lie back. “It’s nothing you need to worry about right now. Right now, you just need to let me take care of you.”
“I’m fine, Whistler. Just a little sore.”
“We almost lost you tonight, gorgeous. It’s our nightmare.”
“Then let me help you forget.” I rose from the bath, water sliding down my naked body, enjoying the way Whist’s eyes dilated.
Whist plucked me from the tub, my wet skin soaking into his beautiful suit, my hard nipples scraping against the fabric. I wrapped my legs around his waist, grinding into him. I so rarely had time alone with any of my kindreds. And most of the time, I preferred it when we were all together, but I liked having one-on-one time with them occasionally. Though I doubted we had long before Sky and Saber returned to join the fun.
“I don’t want to hurt you.”
“You won’t. I need you, Whistler.”