Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 81261 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 406(@200wpm)___ 325(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81261 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 406(@200wpm)___ 325(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
“Thank you for the lesson, Your Majesty.” Rhynda says. “I’ll send a plate to your room when it’s done.”
Nyssa smiles and pats Rhynda’s arm, and it’s a testament to her charm that the ravager actually smiles back at her.
As she walks my way, I push off the table and shake my head. “You’ve got everyone under your thumb. You know that, right?”
“Hardly,” she drawls and walks into my embrace.
I wrap my arms around her waist and dip my head to nuzzle at her ear. “Want to get naked with me?”
“Always,” she whispers, and that’s all I need to bend distance to our suite.
But rather than deposit her at the bed, I stop before the fireplace mantle in the living area. The furniture has all been replaced with plush couches that invite lounging and a Persian rug to cover the cold marble floor.
“Let’s check in on Nick,” I say, turning her toward the large silver mirror above the hearth.
A wedding gift from me.
A magical camera, so to speak, where Nyssa can drop in to see how he’s doing. We’ve used it a few times to check in on her friend Will, too, who, by all accounts, has reacclimated to his life in the First Dimension.
The mirror’s surface undulates, goes opaque so our reflections disappear, and then focuses on what appears to be a diner. Nick is sitting in a booth sharing a banana split with a pretty girl about his age.
I don’t know that I’ve ever seen anything more fucking wholesome in my life.
“Oh, look,” Nyssa croons, her hand pressing to her chest. “He finally asked her out.”
I move behind her, wrap my arms around her waist, and draw her back into my body. We watch silently as Nick and his love interest talk about a new movie coming out they both want to see.
“I love this. Thank you again,” she says for the hundredth time.
“It was my pleasure.” And it was. Anything to help ease her conscience over choosing to come to the Underworld with me.
It was never really a serious consideration, her staying there. Even though I offered, she didn’t want it. She was at peace knowing Nick was happy and well cared for, and while the people of Edenton were nice and welcoming, she didn’t fit in.
Or as Nyssa told me that night when we stepped through the veil, “I don’t fit in anywhere in the First Dimension. It was nothing but pain for me.”
I can’t say I wasn’t relieved with her choice. I was pretty sure my request to stay with her there wasn’t going to be granted. Besides, I wanted more than an average mortal life with her.
“That’s enough,” Nyssa murmurs, turning into me. The mirror settles back to its normal reflection. “I believe you said something about getting naked? Why don’t you do your magic mojo, get these clothes off me, and let’s get it on.”
I laugh, squeezing her tight. Dipping my head, I brush my lips against hers. “How about we do it the old-fashioned way? Let me strip you naked slowly while I taste every inch of skin that’s revealed.”
Nyssa shudders in my arms, telling me she likes that idea very much.
Gliding my lips along her jaw, over to her ear, I whisper, “Then… I’ll bury my face between your legs and feast.”
“Amell,” she groans, her fingers pressing into my lower back. “Please say you’re not joking.”
Chuckling, I sweep her into my arms and carry her into our bedroom. “Not joking. But first you have to tell me how much you love me.”
Sliding her hand along my neck, she regards me with amusement. “I tell you that every day, several times a day.”
“Not enough,” I declare.
Nyssa presses her mouth to mine, not to kiss me but to offer the words I want. “I love you, my king. More than anything in all the dimensions.”
I nip her lower lip before dropping her on the bed, her eyes dark with anticipation.
Nyssa goes to her elbows, cocks an eyebrow. “Are you not going to give me the words back?”
I crawl onto the bed and hover over her body. Fingering the top button of her shirt, I murmur, “Oh, my queen… I’m going to show you rather than tell you. You’re going to be very happy with how I’m about to express myself.”
Laughing, Nyssa wraps her arms around my neck and pulls me down for a kiss.