Page 77 of Onyx Cage: Volume II
She turned her scrutinizing gaze on me. “A smile or two today wouldn’t go amiss, Lord Stenvall.”
I shot a glance at Davin, who was playfully scooping up a small village child while he winked at a matronly woman selling flower crowns. How much of that was natural and how muchhad been instilled by the fearsome, tiny blonde standing before me?
In any case, I hoped she didn’t expect that of me. I raised my eyebrows to convey my feelings on the matter, and Rowan let out a light laugh. “Let’s not get too ridiculous.”
Jocelyn sighed. “At least the Games should help. Which one did you sign up for?”
I had heard the games mentioned in passing, but there had been no mention of me participating in any of them. Which was clearly intentional, if the mischief that glinted in Rowan’s eyes was anything to go by.
“Don’t worry, Aunt Jocelyn. I signed us both up,” she said sweetly.
She never said anything sweetly with any degree of sincerity. I narrowed my eyes. “For what?”
She beamed at me. “You’ll see.”
Jocelyn left with another efficient nod, and I turned to scrutinize my betrothed. I knew for a fact there were perfectly normal tournaments like sparring and archery, but I was willing to bet she hadn’t signed us up for any of those.
I didn’t bother questioning her further when there were so many sets of eyes on us. She glanced around as though sensing the same thing.
Letting out a slow breath, she leaned in closer to me, close enough that I could smell the faint scent of amber that always clung to her hair, even over the myriad of conflicting smells permeating the air from the booths around us.
“Well, then, Lord Stenvall.” She trailed her hands along my jacket, thumbs skimming my abdomen in twin paths of liquid fire. “Where do you think we should display our joyous union for the entire kingdom to gawk upon first?”
She said the words sarcastically, even as her entire body pulled subconsciously toward my own.
“Is it joyous?” I challenged, only half teasing her.
If we were playing this game, she could damned well feel as off kilter as I did. I put my hands on her shoulders, sliding them downward while my gaze never left her face. I waited for the telltale blush, the parting of her plush lips that always gave her away.
It wasn’t a long wait. When my fingers brushed along her ribcage, her skin ignited. Once I reached her waist, I pulled her gently toward my chest.
She didn’t resist, but neither did she entirely cave.
Instead, a humorless smirk tugged at her mouth as she peeked up at me through long, kohl-lined lashes.
“That’s an excellent question. I suppose, at least if I am to return to Lochlann, there will be plenty of stableboys to fill my time with. That could be joyous.”
It took every ounce of self-control I had ever possessed not to give her an outward reaction, especially when she tacked on in an undertone, “I’d be discreet, of course.”
She was baiting me for a reaction. She was not the type of woman who would skirt around her marriage vows, no matter where we lived.
Of course, I knew that—rationally.
But there was no rationality in me when I pictured herentertaining herselfwith another man. Icy rage swept through my veins.
The things I had done to the man in the dungeons would pale in comparison to what I would do to anyone stupid enough to touchmy wife. It was almost laughable, though the chuckle that escaped me was cold and utterly devoid of humor.
I leaned down in an outward gesture of intimacy, hovering my lips along the skin of her neck so that I could feel her reaction to me, taste it. Amber and citrus assailed my senses, along with a scent that was intrinsically Rowan.
Intrinsicallymine.
“The moment you wish to forfeit a man’s life, Lemmikki, all you need to do is invite him to your bed.” The words left me in a growl, each syllable ringing with the conviction I felt down to my soul.
I pressed my lips against her neck to seal the promise I had just made her, and she let out a strangled gasp, a sound I would make damned sure she never made for anyone else.
Satisfied that I had made my point, I stood straight once more, taking a moment to relish in the pure, unguarded desire on her perfect features.
I placed a hand on her back, gesturing for her to lead us through the festival like I wasn’t drowning in the same need that she was. She didn’t move for several long moments, until finally she cut her eyes to me.