Chapter 148 M'lady
"If you win" a daring smile eased it's way into her lips and in that moment it was all worth it; informing Faye beforehand that he would escort Anaise to the crownsmith, making sure to pack the chess board because he knew how much she loved to play, even though he knew not more than a beginner.
In this very moment he let himself unravel, he let his admiration seep through his stoic expression, he let his feelings breath through his emotional expressions, he let his lips stretch in smiles, he let himself show interest. Many times before he had denied her touch, shied away from it even though all he wanted to do was bathe in her warmth, feel the soft caress of her skin against his, the soft murmur of her giggles amidst sweet kisses.
Only the goddess knew how much he craved the woman that sar beside him, oblivious to the deep river of passion and desire he felt for her coursing through his very being, how even the slight brush of her hand against his brought dopamine pumping through his veins.
He let himself forget everything else existed, forget anything outside the carriage that rocked and rolled. But he could not forget how his blood boiled when he saw Lord Caesar close to his beautiful mate, the rage that covered his gaze when he saw how the bachelor gazed at her, he knew that look of desire anywhere because he himself felt it everyday he saw her. Even though he could not claim her as his he did not want anyone else to have her for he was selfish, greedy. He also knew that if he danced with her at the Royal Wedding ball it would look like they were courting and that would turn away any interested suitors.
Ryker was no idiot, he knew he would not win but spending time with the radiant beauty that sat beside him was worth learning as much as he could for the past week. He hoped her bet would be something that would bring them both together, whatever it would be. He wanted her but he knew he could not have her, at least not yet. There were far too many demons in his past that would come for him, he was to settle them before they would reappear to destroy everything he had built. Everyone he had come to love.
As he watched her, his eyes gliding gently across her face, memorising the curve of her pink lips, the bend of her nose, the flutter of her lashes against her plum cheeks, the distant color that tainted her cheeks- the one she tried to hide when he had called her " m'lady ". The way her brows bunched together in thought as she scrutinized the board, he could see the gears in her head turning, thinking of what piece to move next. He admired how her eyes glowed with commitment and passion, her adorable she looked concentrating on the game more than anything else. She was all his, she would be all his but first he had to be worthy of her.
And as he looked down at his leather gloves clad hands a wave of nausea and bitterness slammed into him and hot bike roared at the back of his throat. He had to rip his thoughts away from the nightmares that haunted and plagued his mind every night, depriving him of peace and sleep.
The nightmares that constantly picked at his sanity, reminding him he was unworthy of anything good but here she was in front of him, all that was good, all he was unworthy of. His mate, his everything. For the first time he actually let himself absorb his emotions and he realised that even with everything he loved her, more than anything, more than life itself and he was unsure of what destiny held but he knew she had to be in his no matter what.
BRAILER
Demeter quietly crept down the hallway, goosebumps rising beneath her skin. She felt hot with both excitement and arousal, she couldn't believe Lord Anthony had invited her to his bed chambers.
She could already feel herself dripping with want, her husband had been neglecting her for the new nursing maid. He thought she knew not of it but she found out the first night she saw the maid's cheap hair ornaments on his bed. At least he had the decency to be discreet about it. Upon finding out that her husband had left her, as beautiful and as attractive as she was for a lowly maid she knew it best he did not try to come close to her. It was an insult to her standing as a woman of title, but now she was paying the price.
Luckily for her he was not her mate and she did not love him, otherwise the heartbreak would have been unbearable. He had also made the decision not to make her his chosen mate, then she was devastated, cursing her luck but now it was a blessing in disguise.
As she knocked softly on the door, looking around to see if anyone was watching she thanked the goddess for granting her such a release. Non of the other women knew what it felt like to not be touched for weeks, they all had successful romantic lives because they were yet to deliver heirs. Even the future empress glowed with renewed, constant and devoted love making. The rumors would do nothing to scare her away, she knew they were not true, if they were surely her majesty Audrey would have heard or seen something.
The door was pulled open, rattling in the dead silence of the night. A cool breeze washes over Demeter and she resists a shiver as her eyes shamelessly roam Lord Anthony's naked chest, his form only clothed with dark jeans that hung loosely around his waist.
In that moment all the things she had heard from the maid's swarmed her mind- how they heard the women screaming and gasping with pleasure. It sent excitement bubbling through her, her heart raced and she smiled widely
"Get in" he hissed, grabbing onto her forearm and roughly pulling her into the room.