The Reluctant Wife: Chapter 42

His words send a flush of pleasure up my spine. A throbbing pulse flares to life between my thighs. He sounds so sure, so confident, so protective. It’s over the top, but it makes me feel safe in a way I’ve never felt before. I run my thumb over his thick wrist and sense the jolt that runs through him. I love that he’s so affected by my presence. So, why has he ignored me for so many days?

Grace’s eyes take in the gesture, and her eyebrows arch. Nothing gets by that woman. Zoey looks pleased, like she’s been let in on a secret. As for Harper, she has a beaming smile on her face, and those damned hearts are back in her eyes. Jeez, I need to tell her not to get her hopes up. Not that her romantic outlook on life isn’t infectious. But when you live a life most girls dream of and realize becoming a princess isn’t the stuff of Disney movies, the scales are lifted from your eyes pretty quickly.

With a final squeeze on my shoulder, Ryot straightens. ‘I’ll leave you’ll to enjoy your tea.’

He bends and whispers in my ear, ‘Later, Empress.’ He presses a kiss to my cheek. And it’s very chaste, but the touch of his lips against my skin sparks off another trail of quivers in my stomach. He straightens and steps away, and I miss him so much already.

I’m not sure when I’ll see him again. And I don’t want the next time to be at the wedding. Before I can stop myself, I rise to my feet. ‘Uh, I need to talk to Ryot about something urgent.’

Ignoring the smirk on Zoey’s face, I walk around the couch, only making sure I hurry when I reach the doors of the conservatory. He’s already walked through the living room and into the adjoining study.

‘Ryot!’ I hasten my steps. When I burst into the study, I can’t see him. Huh? I glance around, when suddenly, I’m grabbed around the waist and pulled to the side and away from the doorway.

My heart somersaults into my throat, and I gasp. OMG! Someone got in! What are they going to do to me? Then, my back connects with a wide, hard chest, and his big arms wrap around me. One around my chest, the other around my waist, holding me immovable. It’s him. The fear that twisted my belly fades away, leaving me shaking with relief. The heat from his body surrounds me, and his scent is so intense, when I draw it into my lungs, I feel like I’m going to combust.

‘You called?’ His dark voice plucks at my nerve-endings. Anticipation squeezes my lower belly.

Then he bites the tip of my ear, and I whimper, ‘Oh, God.’

‘Oh, Ryot.’

‘Hmm, what?’ I’m too focused on how he’s sucking on the fleshy part of my ear. My pussy clenches. My clit throbs. My panties are embarrassingly damp. Something rigid stabs into my lower back, and I gasp. He’s so big, so thick, so everything. My breasts hurt, and my thighs tremble. I try to turn, but he doesn’t let me.

“Have you been a good girl? Have you kept your orgasms for me, Empress?”

“Yes,” I pant. “Yes. I haven’t come, just as you ordered. I’ve been needy and come close to getting myself off, but I haven’t.”

“Good Girl.”

His approval lights a fire in my belly. My thighs strain. My clit begins to hurt. I grind into him, not caring about how it might seem to him. He has me in the throes of such need, and the fact that he can hold me immobile with such little effort turns me on even more.

He drags his chin down the curve where my throat meets my shoulder, and I pant. I let my head fall back against his shoulder to give him better access.

“So impatient.” He chuckles.

It’s such a male sound, and he sounds so pleased with himself. It should make me scoff, but I’m too focused on how it feels to have the bristles of his five o’clock shadow graze my already sensitized skin.

I feel surrounded by him, consumed by him. The fact I can’t see him means, when he bites down on the curve of my neck, I cry out. A trembling grips me. A climax threatens. That’s when he releases me. Eh?

Before I can blink, he turns me to face him. He pats down my hair, tucks a few errant strands behind my ear, then sets me away from him. I stare into his face, taking in his gorgeous features, admiring those angular cheekbones, the defined jawline, the hooked nose, and those beautiful lips which have given me so much pleasure.

He cups my cheek. ‘You should head back,’ he whispers.

‘You didn’t let me come,’ I bite out. ‘Again.’

‘Trust me, it’s only going to increase the pleasure when you finally do.’

“I’ve been needy for weeks.” I scowl.

“So am I.” He smirks.

‘You’re leaving me like this?’ I cry.

‘You’re leaving me like this.’ He takes my palm and places it on the tent at his crotch.

‘Oh.’ Instantly, I squeeze and have the satisfaction of hearing him growl.

‘Fucking hell, Empress.’ He places his hand over mine, stopping me from massaging him.

‘But I wanna.’ I pout.

Tenderness flits across his face. With his free hand he cups my cheek, then bends and presses a hard kiss to my mouth. ‘And you will, I promise. But not until we’re married.’

‘But—’ My words are swallowed by his deepening kiss. Under my palm, his cock jumps. He swears against my lips, pries my hand off of him and twines my fingers with his, then moves my hand to my side. ‘Behave.’

I huff. ‘I don’t understand why we can’t be together every night.’

‘Because I need every bit of my focus on tracking down these people. I can’t let myself slip up, not when more than a billion eyes around the planet will be tuned into the wedding. If anything were to happen to you—’ He sets his jaw. ‘I can’t take that risk. I need to make sure we get through this ceremony safely.’

The expression on his face brooks no argument.

I blow out a breath. “I… I’m not sure I can last like this until the wedding.”