Total pages in book: 53
Estimated words: 49027 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 245(@200wpm)___ 196(@250wpm)___ 163(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 49027 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 245(@200wpm)___ 196(@250wpm)___ 163(@300wpm)
“I want you to enjoy the restored peace of the world you’ve sacrificed everything for. You deserve your moment of glory.” Theodor caught him staring at his lips and licked them. “Maybe you can show me some of your favorite sights here, perhaps some of the places that are near to your heart. We can celebrate with your people and eat lots of seafood.”
If Boraleashe had been the kind of man who smiled, he’d be beaming from ear to ear. Instead, he had another way to thank his lord. Boraleashe caressed the back of Theodor’s neck and pulled a sliver of cool wind toward them. Without allowing the breeze to be felt by others, he maneuvered it up Theodor’s chest to his throat. His king inhaled the coolness, his lids fluttering closed.
“Boraleashe… I feel you.”
He wrapped his lust-infused wind around the back of Theodor’s neck and caressed him there, waiting for him to slant his head and inch closer. Phantom kisses teased his lips, making Boraleashe moan deep in his—
“Lords,” Mozraath and Adresin hissed at the same time.
Adresin leaned toward them, his voice a stern whisper. “The guests are waiting to start the main course.”
Boraleashe straightened in his chair, flushing when he saw how many were staring at him while their plates of baked trout sat untouched. Their behavior was far too brazen for a formal occasion, and borderline disrespectful, but he would not apologize or be ashamed.
The ones not looking uncomfortable were his brother, Notalus, and his daughters, who hid their wide smiles behind their wineglasses.
Boraleashe took a drink of his water to quench the irritation stirring inside at being interrupted. Theodor struck up a conversation with a lady a few seats down, commenting on the blue sapphire jewels around her neck.
“Hang in there, lord,” Adresin whispered. “A mere four courses left, then the reception.”
That did not bring me an ounce of relief, Adresin. So thank you. Most appreciated.
“Lord Theodor. Tell us what it was like to fight the Snow Trolls with Gold Reaper,” the grand master of Enosabe’s knights asked, resting his big hairy arm on the table.
All side conversations came to a halt, as if the guests had been waiting for someone to bring up the now infamous battle. Leave it to a knight to do it. Boraleashe wasn’t interested in reliving one of the worst moments of his life, but it appeared he’d have no choice.
Theodor rubbed Boraleashe’s thigh again, then squeezed gently.
“Well. It all went so fast, and it was Reaper doing all the challenging work.” Theodor shrugged, then took a casual sip of his wine. “I’m just glad Lord Boraleashe had already caused sufficient damage to them before I arrived.”
And modest too. How many of his damn qualities will I admire in him?
“But I will tell you…” Theodor chuckled, raising his deep voice. “They sure weren’t the trolls our parents told us lived under bridges and demanded riddles.”
The guests laughed, and Theodor took the opportunity to change the subject to the beauty of Amárach, asking the various noblemen to tell him about their provinces. Boraleashe loved that Theodor always seemed to know just what he needed and when.
By the time dinner was over, Boraleashe was seconds away from leaping through the nearest window and bolting into the sky. He was relieved when Adresin rushed the guests to finish their dessert of candied arctic apricots and frozen custard before he was ushering them into the grand hall for the reception.
Adresin extended his arm in the direction of the west wing. He spoke over the hushed chatter and heavy chairs scraping the marble floor. “My lords and ladies! Your future titanesses and rulers of Amárach will host you in the grand hall for spirits and entertainment. Please enjoy.”
The next thing Boraleashe knew, their hands were ushering him and Theodor in the opposite direction.
Theodor
It Was Love All Along
Theodor walked close beside Boraleashe down several long corridors… toward what? He didn’t know. Their men followed behind them. After the smooth marble floor turned into worn cobblestones and the intricate murals painted up to the ceiling were now bare clay walls, he couldn’t hold his tongue any longer.
Theodor stopped short, gripping Boraleashe’s hand. “Love. Where are we going?”
Boraleashe’s hair swung over his right shoulder when he turned toward him. He’d done a beautiful job on it tonight. Theodor loved the thick braids that wove down both sides of Boraleashe’s head, each one adorned with white diamonds. The top half had been pulled back Viking-style in a complex pattern that went into a long, sexy ponytail ending below the swell of his ass. Theodor slid his arms inside Boraleashe’s robe and around his waist, tugging until their chests were pressed together.
“What’s all the way over here, Boraleashe?” Theodor nodded in the direction they were going.
Their noses brushed against each other they were so damn close.