Chapter 2 #2
“Hey back. And no, you weren’t. Your eyes were half glazed over.
” Pulling one of the two chairs over until it was opposite hers, he sat.
Then he grabbed her hands, holding them on either side of the tray until she met his gaze.
The friction of the rough callouses on his thumbs as they circled her palms sent pleasant tingles up her arms. “If you won’t take care of yourself, someone has to. Seriously, you’ll make yourself sick.”
She opened her mouth to argue, but the rich aroma of spiced meat tickled her nose. Her stomach growled, spasming with surprising violence.
Two plates stared at her, piled high with generous servings of chopped venison, mashed potatoes and apple pudding mixed with cranberries. Her tastebuds watered.
She squeezed his hands. “You’re right. I’m sorry.”
He released her, and she reached for the fork to dig in.
“Patrick wanted to make you something special when he found out who I was asking for, but I told him you were too hungry and didn’t want to wait.”
Patrick had owned a small restaurant in the main square of Lions Grove when she’d first come to town with the intention of overthrowing Malkov.
Just yesterday, she’d managed to convince him to come work at the castle, and had promoted him to head chef.
It had been the best decision she’d made so far as queen.
Curry, nutmeg and something else exploded in her mouth as she chewed the first bite of meat. The older man was a flavor master.
“By the mages.”
Amusement sparkled in Elessan’s eyes as he cleared his own plate. He gestured to the glasses. “I thought about getting some ale to help you relax, but decided since you hadn’t had anything to eat or drink, you were probably dehydrated and water would be the better option.”
The memory of him bringing her a glass of alcohol when they’d first met popped into her mind with a matching twinge in her stomach.
Those had been simpler times. Part of her ached to be in the little backwater inn with him again, when she’d had no pressing demands on her schedule or her future, and she was seeing the world with fresh eyes.
But everyone had to grow up at some point, and it was far past her turn.
The water was crisp, and it perfectly complemented the hearty meal. Too soon, her plate was empty. She sat back with a satisfied sigh. The faint pressure lingering behind her eyes vanished. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” His eyes flicked to the door on her left. “Now, bath, or bed?”
She tightened the corners of her lips, ready to argue but the stern expression on his face made her think better of it. Drawing in a deep breath, she sighed. “Bed.”
“Good choice.” He put the tray and dirty dishes in the hallway before returning to the desk and scooping her up from the chair, fancy dress and all.
“Hey!”
He chuckled as she threw her arms around his neck.
By the mages, his laugh. It sent a flurry of warmth careening through her blood, leaving her feeling like she was wrapped in a fluffy fur blanket that blocked out the rest of the world. It was too bad he did it so rarely.
The scent of sun-baked pine needles flooded her senses. She inhaled and pulled him close.
As they approached the bed, he set her on her feet. Turning her until her back faced him, his deft fingers worked their way up her spine as they released each of the intricate buttons with a snap, exposing the laces for her corset.
A heartbeat later, the constricting garment fell away and she took what felt like her first full breath since her new lady-in-waiting, Brielle, had cinched her into the thing this morning.
Her ribs ached, but it would pass. “I really need to do something about court fashion,” she muttered as the brocade and velvet cloth pooled at her feet.
Stepping out from the puddle of fabric, she kicked her shoes off.
The linen shift stuck to her skin, so she pulled it away, fluffing the material so it left at least a little to the imagination as she turned to face him.
Wrapping her arms around his waist, she tucked her head against his chest, enjoying the sensation of being held.
His heart beat steadily in her ear as he pressed a kiss to the top of her head. Burying his face in her hair, he asked, “Do you think you’ll be able to sleep?”
She sucked on her inner cheek, her thoughts turning back to the pile of work sitting on her desk and the weight of everything waiting for her tomorrow. “I don’t know,” she said. “I’ll try.”
With a frown that clearly indicated he was not satisfied with her answer, he flipped the covers back.
Running one hand down her side until it settled at her waist, he nudged her toward the bed.
“Go on, get in.” He pitched his voice lower, until it raised goosebumps on her skin and caused warmth to pool low in her stomach. “I can be a very effective sleep aid.”
Shivering at the heat in his words, she crawled onto the down-filled mattress as he pulled the blankets up to her chin.
With a snap, the lamp went dark.
In the blackness, her eyes tracked the sound of his footsteps as he walked to the opposite side.
The soft swish of cloth against skin met her ears as the image of him tugging his shirt over his head flooded her thoughts.
Two thuds followed as his boots hit the floor then he was on the other side of the bed, pulling the sheets down so he could join her.
His hand found her waist, fingers spreading across her ribcage. His thumb brushed the underside of her breast.
Her breath hitched as pressure unfurled below her navel. Not that she was complaining, but… “I suspect this will not help me fall asleep.”
He chuckled deep in his throat, the sound raising the fine hairs on her arms and causing heat to pool in her core. Shifting his weight, he pressed a series of light kisses down the column of her neck. “Do you trust me?”
She tangled her fingers through the silken strands of his hair. “Always.” It was so hard to concentrate with the council meeting looming over her just like Elessan’s sword had hovered over Malkov’s head during his execution.
Elessan’s hand dropped lower until it settled on her hip, his fingers moving in slow circles that sent flutters of awareness across her skin. Each movement brought him closer to the crease between her thigh and stomach.
Once she had the trade agreement with the dwarves signed, they would depart.
The elves would most likely follow in short order, as neither race had a reason to stick around after the contracts were finalized.
That would leave her on her own to manage the crowd of human nobles who were circling like a school of the carnivorous fishes from the warmer rivers to the south of the realm. Piranhas.
Elessan palmed her breast, squeezing.
She gasped, his action forcing her attention back to him as his other hand stilled.
“What’s wrong, sweetheart?” He kissed the junction of her collarbones.
“I’m sorry.” She wiped her hand down her face, grateful for the darkness that hid the betraying flush. “Everything you’re doing feels amazing, I just can’t turn my brain off.”
“Hmmm.” He grabbed her knee, lifting it until he could work his leg between hers, pulling her close. The gentle fingers he ran up and down her arm were now designed to relax rather than arouse. Shifting his weight on the mattress, he settled her in the nook between his chest and arm.
She rested her hand on his sternum, feeling his ribs rise with each breath and luxuriating in his scent and the texture of his torso beneath her cheek.
“I’m sorry,” she mumbled. A slight twinge jolted through her gut as she added this to the list of things she should’ve accomplished today but wasn’t able to.
His hand stilled for a heartbeat before resuming its motion. “Shh. It’s okay. I only wish I knew how to help.”
“You are,” she whispered. “Just by being here.” She couldn’t bring herself to voice the question that weighed most heavily. Would he stay with her or leave with the rest of the elves?
Pulling him tight, she burrowed into his warmth, his scent, treasuring the moment. There likely wouldn’t be many more of them.
His face settled near hers, his breath tickling the fine hairs in her ears. “Tell me what’s going through that beautiful head of yours.” He stroked her hair. “Maybe we can come up with a solution.”