Arun

  As I walk through the hallway of the manor, I see that the door to Alexios’s study is open so I knock lightly against the door before stepping inside. He’s at his desk, eyes focused on the contracts before him, but the moment he looks up at me, the frustrated look on his face changes to something much more polite.

  “My love,” he says, rising from his desk before I can reply. He circles over to me into his arms, pressing a delicate kiss to a horn. “What would you like to do today?”

  I can hear by his tone that he’s already imagining multiple ways to spoil me.

  “I don’t think I have time for anything today,” I admit. “A few servants are waiting for treatments and I need to catch up.”

  He leans back and I see a quick glance of disappointment, but it’s gone just as quickly.

  “Then allow me to walk you there,” he says simply.

  He makes it so easy for me to do the things I need so I nod as his thumb brushes along my cheek before letting go. We walk side by side, his hands finding mine as we move back into the hallway and into the healing room.

  I catch him staring at me more than once too.

  I expect him to leave me once I step inside, but thankfully he doesn’t. He follows me inside as his eyes sweep over the neatly organized shelves of herbs before eventually settling on me again.

  “You know you don’t have to stay,” I mention as I gather supplies for the first servant’s arrival.

  “I know,” he replies, moving closer until he can lean against the wall closest to me. “But I like watching you work. It’s… comforting to get the opportunity to experience your world even for a moment.”

  When he first used to do this, it almost made me feel self-conscious, but as we’ve spent more time together, I realize his presence makes the room feel somewhat… whole.

  As I grind up some dried willow bark for a tincture, Alexios reaches out and brushes his fingers over my upper arm.

  “Do you ever get tired of healing people even when you’re exhausted beyond belief?”

  I smile, shaking my head softly as I continue grinding the ingredient down.

  “Not at all. Ilmater encourages his followers to endure and help take away the pain of others. Although I don’t…. follow his teachings nearly as much as I once did, I know that this is my true purpose.”

  He watches for a moment longer, taking in my words, before leaning down to place a kiss at my temple.

  “I suppose I’ll leave you to your work then,” he answers.

  Before he reached the door, I place the mortar on the table and call to him softly.

  “Alexios?”

  “Yes, my love?”

  “I’m… sorry for what happened with the violin lesson,” I mutter. “I didn’t mean to make you relive any painful memories.”

  He steps back into the room slowly and sighs softly.

  “You have nothing to apologize for. I know you didn’t mean it. Please don’t trouble yourself with it, hmm?”

  Alexios sits down in the chair next to the center table as he bites his lip softly before continuing.

  “Memories are like that, I suppose. Sometimes, they choose to invade our minds whether we like it or not. It truly is not your fault.”

  He stays seated for a while longer and I find that I don’t mind his company right now, even with such a sensitive topic filling the air between us.

  Eventually he stands, leaning in to kiss my lips before straightening back up.

  “I’ll see you later then?” I ask.

  “Of course,” he says. “I’ll join you for your bath later, yes?”

  I roll my eyes and scoff, but I can’t help the laugh that leaves me.

  “Well, I don’t really think I’d have it any other way.”

  As he stands at the doorway again, he turns back around to face me and I see… hesitation in his eyes.

  “Arun?”

  “Yes?”

  “I…”

  Say it. Tell me you love me. Just say it once, please.

  Alexios nervously shifts onto his other leg.

  “Is everything okay?” I ask. I don’t want to push him to say what I know he wants to admit, but I can’t lie that I would really love to hear it now, rather than when he assumes I’m asleep.

  “I… I’ll make sure to have a bar of that lavender soap you like so much,” he answers finally.

  What? That’s what you wanted to tell me?

  My shoulders drop and I turn back to the mortar so he can’t see as the disappointment floods my face.

  “Oh… thank you. That is very thoughtful of you.”

  And then he’s gone, leaving me all alone but completely craving to hear those words fall from his lips.

  --

  A gentle creak of the door pulls me out of my meditative state. I open my eyes and see Alexios standing in the doorway, framed by the golden glow from the hallway and the steam rising from the bath.

  He steps inside, softly closing the door behind him. I watch his eyes move over the room and then my body.

  “I hope you haven’t been waiting too long?” he asks.

  “Not long at all,” I mutter as I let my head rest back again. “I think I really needed this after today.”

  He walks closer until he’s standing beside the tub.

  “I can see that. I’m still quite impressed that your healing abilities don’t take too much out of you.”

  Alexios reaches out and brushes a damp curl away from my forehead.

  “I didn’t mean to interrupt,” he admits.

  “I don’t you could ever really interrupt me,” I answer. “I like having you here.”

  Every word I say in this moment is completely true.

  Then he kneels beside the tub and dips his fingers into the water, the heat making him exhale softly. He doesn’t pull away.

  “Is it too hot?” I ask.

  “No,” he says, laughing softly as he twirls his fingers in the water. “Just right.”

  His hand continues to run over the surface, sending little ripples across the tub.

  “Would you… like to come in too?” I ask quietly.

  “I was hoping you’d ask that.”

  He rises to his feet, already working at the buttons of his shirt. When the last item of clothing drops to the floor, he steps into the water right across from me, softly groaning has the heat of the bathwater touches his skin.

  Our knees brush underneath the water momentarily before he motions for me to move into his arms. I do so without even having a second thought about it and my head eventually comes to rest against his chest. Then his fingers move to my jaw to tilt my face up toward his.

  The warm water laps against our bodies as Alexios kisses me slowly. The softness of his lips always reminds me of how careful he is when it comes to me. My fingers curl lightly at the back of his neck, desperate to keep his lips pressed to mine.

  As we finally pull away from each other’s lips, his eyes stay fixed on me.

  “Do you remember what you said at your birthday dinner?”

  It takes me a moment to remember, but the tipsy thoughts of the wine, music and that warm haze that made everything feel easier to admit finally make their way into my mind.

  “Yes,” I shyly admit.

  I can feel the hesitation pulsing through him and I’m almost certain he’ll change the topic like he’s been known to do sometimes.

  The water laps against us again as he leans down to kiss me again.

  “I remember as well.”

  His thumb drifts slowly along my jaw and down my throat and now I’m sure he won’t say anything more about it.

  But to my surprise…

  “Did you mean it… or was it just the wine talking?”

  I realize he isn’t teasing me with this question. He wants the truth.

  I look up at him, letting the memory of my words fill the silence before I eventually have the guts to answer.

  “Yes, I meant it.”

  I feel his shoulders relax, as if maybe my words have finally helped him put down a heavy weight.

  “I…” his voice drifts off and I can tell he’s desperately trying to figure out where to go from here. “Thank you, Arun.”

  I nod softly as my fingertips run along his collarbones before moving lower down his chest. Again, I know I really shouldn’t push, but I can’t help myself.

  “Alexios?” I whisper.

  “Hmm?”

  “I… heard what you said. You thought I was asleep, didn’t you?”

  I feel the shift in his body immediately. I can’t tell if he’s confirming it or wanting to escape.

  “What exactly did you hear?” he questions.

  “Well… I don’t think it was the wine talking for you either, Alexios.”

  The silence that follows is absolutely anxiety inducing.

  Have I said too much?

  Too little?

  I can still feel the tension in his body and how his hands tighten ever so slightly where they rest against my hips.

  “Perhaps you did.”

  Well… it’s not exactly denial, but I don’t believe it to be confirmation either. His thumb comes back up to run along my jaw again, adding nothing else to the conversation. I realize then that this is his way of saying that this is as much as he’s going to give me right now.

  As much as I desperately want to pull more from him, I know it’s truly no use. He’s carefully guarded up now.

  “Come,” he whispers as he runs his fingers through my damp hair. “Let’s get you dry before the water gets too cold.”

  As we rise from the tub, the cold air prickles against my skin as Alexios helps me dry off. He hands me fresh clothes before dressing himself and while I take a seat over at the small vanity to brush and dry my hair, he stays just behind me.

  “May I?” he asks, taking the brush gently from my hand.

  I settle back against him as his fingers comb through my hair again before the bristles of the brush follow. Each stroke is careful enough not to tug and it feels like this is almost a meditative experience for him.

  When I look into the mirror, I see the focus in his eyes, but he seems so at peace doing this for me, especially for a man who can be sharp in other moments.

  Once he finishes, he places the brush aside and smooths a few strands around my horns to frame my face.

  “There,” he says quietly. “You look perfect, my love.”

  As we leave the bathing room together, I glance up at him.

  “Alexios,” I begin carefully. “May I ask something about… Nykolai?”

  His steps slow.

  “Yes, I suppose.”

  “Do you… still love him?”

  “Yes,” he admits. “I still think about him sometimes and I do still love him, of course. But it’s not the same as it was. After all, he’s been gone for quite some time now. I’ve had time to let the dust settle.”

  There’s weight to his words and I can tell that the shadows have never truly left him. I decide not to push my luck any further.

  Alexios looks forward again as we step into the dining hall together. The table is already set and the silverware shines in the chandelier’s light. The rich and inviting smell of roasted duck calls to me and I’m more than happy to change the subject as soon as my mouth starts watering.

  He pulls out my chair before taking his own across from me while a servant pours wine into both of our glasses. Neither of us speak for a long while, just the soft click of our forks and knives filling the slightly awkward silence.

  To my surprise, Alexios is the one who breaks the silence, but the stern look on his face tells me that he truly weighed whether or not to say something.

  “After Nykky died, I told myself I’d never fall in love again… and I didn’t for a very long time. But more than 150 years later…”

  I pause, my fork halfway to my place. I can see the moment he realizes what he’s just admitted. His jaw clenches and I know he’s trying desperately to pull the words back in his mouth.

  “But more than 150 years later, you…?”

  He takes a slow sip of mine and places his wine glass back down without breaking eye contact with me.

  “I think I’ve said enough for one night.”

  His tone doesn’t read as dismissive to me. I think he’s just shown more of himself than he ever meant to.

  We eat a little more and it feels like something truly has changed between us with that sly admission. Alexios refills my glass before his own and when our plates are finally cleared, he leans back in his chair slightly, but he still seems rather conflicted.

  “Come join me in my study after, please. I’d like to spend more time with you.”

  And with that, he stands and kisses my cheek gently before dismissing himself.

  --

  The walk from the dining hall to Alexios’s study feels… heavy. It seems like we’re both carrying the same thought, but neither of us has decided who want to put it down first.

  As I step inside, the fire is already lit and Alexios gestures politely toward the couch. I sit while he moves from his usual seat at his desk to the space beside me. He pours two small glasses of white wine, handing one to me before keeping his on the small table next to him.

  “You’ve been working hard,” he says quietly. It’s an awkward attempt to break the silence. “Not only with your healing, but also your classes. Everywhere, really.”

  I shrug.

  “It feels good to stay busy.”

  “I know, but I don’t want you to forget to live and enjoy things. Especially with me.”

  I lean my head against his arm as his hand makes its way to hold my thigh.

  “Is that why you’ve been taking me places?”

  “Partly, yes, but it’s also because I like seeing you happy.”

  It seems like such a simple thing to admit, but it’s the way he says it that makes my heart truly feel full.

  His thumb strokes my outer thigh and when he looks at me, I’m certain he is on the cusp of saying something more.

  But instead, he turns his face back towards the hearth.

  You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

  “I think if I say anything else tonight, I might start repeating myself.”

  I begin to wonder if “repeating” himself is just his way of circling back to the subtle confession over dinner, but he doesn’t elaborate.

  I gently run a streak of the black in his hair before letting it drop and reaching for a strand of white.

  “Why are you so scared to admit more?” I ask hesitantly.

  He turns to face me and for a heartbeat, there’s a flash of true vulnerability before it disappears.

  “Because once I say it, I can’t take it back. Because if I say those three words to you, the universe will hear it and I guarantee… it will decide that I’m no longer worthy of being with you. It always takes what I care for most.”

  The confession hits something deep in me and there’s an old bitter grief in it that confirms that this isn’t just an assumption.

  He’s lived it.

  “Maybe this time it won’t,” I say softly.

  His eyes search mine for a long moment and as clear as day, I can see the fear in them. Then he pulls me into his chest, wrapping his strong arms around me.

  He tilts my head up and kisses me slowly with a need to memorize every detail of this moment. I kiss him back, letting the rest of the world fade around me.

  We don’t speak after that. The look in his eyes says enough.

  --

  Morning comes quickly and by the time I wake up and come downstairs from my bedroom, Je Suis is already walking through the front door, speaking with one of the servants. At the sound of my steps, she turns and smiles warmly.

  “There you are,” she says as she comes forward to greet me. She kisses my cheek and then does the same to Alexios as he steps out from his study into the main hallway. “It’s so nice to see you two again. I owe you both an apology for not being around as much as I’d like to.”

  Alexios gestures towards his study.

  “There is no need to apologize,” he says smoothly. “We understand completely. Besides, I’m sure you’ve had your own matters to tend to.”

  As the three of us walk into Alexios’s study, he takes a seat beside me on the couch while Je Suis sits in the chair perpendicular to us. Her green eyes glance between us before she folds her hands into her lap.

  “Still, I’ve missed seeing how things are going here. You know, the plantation, your progress…”

  Her eyes move between the two of us again. She knows the dynamic between us has changed completely.

  As the conversation flows naturally, I realize Alexios’s hand is resting lightly at my thigh again. I lean toward him without thinking when he speaks like it’s exactly where I’m supposed to be.

  We discuss the plantation’s most recent sales and even gossip with one another about some local rumors we’ve heard. Je Suis listens attentively, but I notice her eyes drift towards me whenever Alexios’s voice softens when he mentions me in conversation.

  By the time lunch is served, we’ve fallen into that comfortable quiet that always happens when Je Suis visits. Alexios pours a cup of tea for me without asking. When I thank him, there’s a smile on his face that makes Je Suis’s eyes narrow.

  As the day goes on, I realize she’s trying to figure out what we are to one another now by asking subtle questions and watching how we respond. No matter if it’s Alexios moving my cup further on the table to avoid a spill or me smoothing a wrinkle in his sleeve without realizing it, her smile grows more knowing.

  When we step out to take a stroll through the gardens by late afternoon, I notice she’s fallen a few paces behind us. I look over my shoulder to see her watching us with a pleased look on her face. She seems as if she’s quietly relieved to see whatever it is she sees between us.

  Alexios steps away to speak with a few field workers and I choose to keep roaming the gardens. The sun is warm on my skin and the scent of blooming roses is carried by the breeze. I’m crouched down near a bed of them as Je Suis comes to stand beside me.

  “My dear Arun… when’s the wedding?”

  I look up quickly.

  “What?”

  Her hand rises to her mouth as she lets out a small laugh.

  “Don’t look so started. I’ve seen the way you two have been looking at each other all day. He sits closer than he needs to and your eyes follow him when he leaves the room. It’s… sweeter now. I approve.”

  I shake my head, feeling heat blaze up to my cheeks.

  “It’s not like that.”

  “No?”

  She’s clearly unconvinced and the admission slips out before I can stop it.

  “I told him I’m in love with him.”

  She smiles warmly and kneels until she’s at eye level with me.

  “I see. Did he say it back?”

  I glance away quickly as I run my fingers down the stem of one of the roses.

  “Not… exactly? He has in his own little… Alexios way, but I think he’s afraid to actually admit it to me directly.”

  “Hmm. Well, some men are more frightened of love than others. Especially men who have lost it before.”

  The truth of her words sits heavy between us and I know she’s referencing the loss of Nykolai.

  “I don’t think it’s that he doesn’t feel it,” I admit quietly. “I just don’t believe he wants to give it a voice right now.”

  “I think you’re right,” she says softly as she rests her hand on my shoulder. “If I were you, I wouldn’t worry about the words right now. Watch what he does instead. The words will come later.”

  We both turn to the other side of the garden where Alexios is still speaking to a field worker. He looks… relaxed in a way he never used to look when I first arrived here. When our eyes lock with each other, I catch the heat in his as he bites his lip softly.

  “Oh yeah,” she says, giggling. “Definitely sooner rather than later. Trust me.”

  Alexios finishes speaking with the worker and makes his way back to us with his hands clasped behind his back. Je Suis and I stand back up and I realize that she’s watching him approach with a mischievous smile.

  “You know, Alexios, I was just telling Arun he should start thinking about a wedding date.”

  I feel my eyes widen and I gasp quickly. Alexios pauses mid-step, one brow lifting to assess what she’s just said. Then, a naughty smile paints his face too.

  “Oh, were you now?” he asks playfully.

  “Of course,” Je Suis says lightly. She’s clearly enjoying herself too much. “I like to be prepared for such events. A woman like me simply must have time to choose the right gown, Alexios.”

  Thankfully, Alexios is smart enough not to take the bait outright, but he does step closer to me and he lifts my hand to his lips as a gentle kiss is placed on my knuckles.

  “I’ll keep that in mind,” he answers, voice smooth as that silk robe he always wears around the manor at night.

  Je Suis’s eyes light up even more, properly satisfied.

  “Good. I’d really hate for either of you to keep me waiting for too long.”

  She turns away with a laugh and starts walking back to the manor, leaving the two of us standing in the garden together.

  I look up at him, trying to figure out if I should deflect or just laugh it off.

  “Shall we?” he says finally, pointing to the manor.

  When we walk back inside, Alexios slows in the hallway and I hear a soft chuckle.

  “So… when is the wedding?”

  I shoot him a pointed look.

  “Oh, not you too.”

  “I’m only asking because apparently everyone else has already decided and if I’m to be married, I think it’s only right to know the date.”

  His hand finds my hip, pushing me back until I’m resting against the wall.

  Before I can think of something pointed to throw back at him, he leans down and captures my mouth with his. His hands corner me against the wall as he kisses me over and over again, barely giving me the chance to breathe between them.

  “Alexios…” I try, but he swallows the rest of my words with another kiss and then…

  “Ahem.”

  He pulls away from me just enough for both of us to see Je Suis standing at the end of the hallway with a smug look on her face.

  “Alexios, please attempt to leave his lips unbruised for dinner, yes?” she asks sweetly.

  “I’ll consider it,” he says smoothly, hand never leaving my waist as he stays completely unbothered by her seeing more than I had anticipated.

  --

  The servants clear the table after dinner and Alexios decides to step away to speak to the cook. Something about the bread not being made to his usual standards, but I think it’s just an excuse to give Je Suis and I more time to gossip.

  He knows how much I love those moments with her.

  I feel a light touch on my elbow.

  “Is that how you two greet each other every afternoon now or was I simply blessed by Sune to witness a special occasion?”

  My ears burn and I want nothing more than to change the subject right about now.

  “It wasn’t…”

  “Oh, please. He would have undressed you had I not interrupted. Actually… he probably would have done it regardless. Judging by the look in his eyes, I’d say he’s definitely in love with you too.”

  I look away shyly as I fiddle with the edge of my sleeve.

  “Maybe…”

  Je Suis lets out a playful scoff.

  “Maybe? Arun, if he’s kissing you like that in broad daylight where anyone could see, I’m wondering what he’s doing when the doors are closed.”

  I groan in frustration and bury my face in my palm.

  “Je Suis!”

  She laughs loudly, clearly getting a kick out of how flustered I am right now.

  “Okay, okay. Look, my advice here is to not let him run from it. Men like Alexios are always going to try and protect their hearts the exact same way they do with everything else, right? They are going to lock them away. Keep knocking on that silly little ‘door’ until he lets you in.”

  She pats my cheek lightly, leaves a kiss against it and then rises to leave the dining room.

  Later on, I find Je Suis and Alexios in his study together. He’s seated in his usual chair at his desk with a ledger open in front of him. Je Suis sits beside him, one leg crossed elegantly over the other as she holds a glass of wine in her hand.

  I can tell they’ve been at this for a while by how they’re speaking to one another in low tones. Words like “numbers”, “profits” and “upcoming shipments” are being tossed around when Alexios finally looks up to see me step inside.

  “Is it alright if I visit?” I ask.

  “Please do,” Alexios answers, waving for me to come closer.

  Je Suis raises her glass with a smirk.

  “I hope you don’t mind our dreadfully boring conversations,” she mentions.

  I lower myself onto the couch, stretching my legs out just enough to be comfortable, but I find myself wishing Alexios was over here with me instead.

  The conversation continues and it’s one that I find myself halfway understanding. After a while, he looks over at me to make sure I’m still content before focusing back in on the ledger in front of him.

  Alexios finishes checking a column before putting his quill down on the desk.

  “Je Suis, would you pour him a glass as well?” he asks without looking away from the numbers in front of him.

  I watch her eyes narrow at the request, but to my surprise, she does follow through with it as she rises gracefully to the small table and pours another glass of wine. She passes it to me with a sly smirk before returning to her chair.

  Alexios finally looks up at me again as he leans back in his chair and motions for me.

  “Come here, my darling.”

  I cross the room instantly and stop at the side of his chair, but he catches my wrist, pulling me over just enough that I’m standing between him and the desk. He slides his arm around waist and resumes looking over the ledger.

  He tilts his glass slightly towards mine until they meet with a soft chime before taking a small sip.

  Je Suis tries her very best to hide her smile behind her own glass, clearly enjoying our quiet affection. She flips a page in her own journal, but I’m more than aware that she is enjoying this just as much as Alexios is.

  Perhaps even more.

  Alexios’s thumb rubs slow circles on my hip as he continues to check shipping dates. To anyone else, it probably seems that he’s doing this absentminded, but to me it feels like he’s reminding me that I belong right here with him.

  When Je Suis turns another page in her journal, Alexios sifts in his chair and looks up at me.

  “Sit,” he says simply.

  I look around the narrow space in between him and the desk.

  “Um… where?”

  He smirks.

  “Right here.”

  His hand pats his thigh once.

  I can’t help the deep blush that rises to my cheeks, but I still nod shyly and settle into his lap. His arm wraps around my waist immediately to steady me like it’s the most natural thing in the world. Then, he’s immediately drawn back to the numbers. His quill scratches as his eyes move over various columns, deep in thought.

  Je Suis looks up from her own notes and lets out a soft laugh at the sight, but it surprisingly doesn’t bother me. Here in his lap, I realize maybe this is where I was meant to be all along.

  “Well… you’ve certainly trained him well, Arun.”

  Her words drip with mischief, but Alexios doesn’t even look up from the ledger.

  “If you’re implying that I’m at his mercy, you’d be absolutely correct.”

  I bite my bottom lip softly, not able to stop the small smile that makes its way to my lips.

  Je Suis finishes jotting a note and leans back in her chair, swirling the red wine in her glass.

  “I see it’s getting harder and harder to get between the two of you these days,” she amuses.

  “That’s by design,” Alexios answers back, still not looking up at her as his quill keeps moving.

  I duck my head in a weak attempt to hide the smile on my face, but Je Suis catches it anyway.

  Alexios’s arm tightens slightly around me and even though his focus stays on the numbers in front of him, I can see him smiling back.

  --

  “This doesn’t make any sense,” Alexios says as he taps a line with his quill. “We’ve invested heavily in those sections of the field, but we aren’t making nearly as much on them as we should be.”

  I lean forward a little, seeing the plant names listed.

  “Those are the Adgana and the Agrimony, right?”

  Alexios nods without looking up from the ledger.

  “Yes. As far as I’m concerned, those are supposed to be in high demand.”

  “They are,” I say quickly. “But from what I’ve been studying lately, those plants are incredibly sensitive after they are harvested. If the workers are leaving them out in the sun for too long, the potency will drop significantly. Plus, if they’re dried improperly, the oils from the root lose their strength entirely.”

  Both Alexios and Je Suis are staring at me. It should make me self-conscious, but I keep going anyway.

  “Could you have the workers move the plants into the curing area immediately and maybe even adjust the drying racks to use cooler airflow…? That could likely preserve all the healing properties so that the apothecaries who buy from us will get stronger medicine… and they’ll pay more for it.”

  Alexios leans back in his chair and I catch Je Suis glances over at him with a sly smirk.

  “That’s actually a really great suggestion,” she says slowly. “I don’t think his idea would be too difficult to implement, Alexios.”

  He agrees immediately.

  Je Suis’s smirk deepens as she looks back over at me again.

  “Has Alexios ever brought you to a business meeting, Arun?”

  When I look at Alexios, I realize he’s already considering the idea.

  “You should bring him to the apothecary guild meeting next week,” Je Suis mentions to Alexios. “If they hear suggestions from someone who actually works with the plants in the way that he does, they’ll probably take it seriously.”

  “You think it would make an impression?” Alexios asks.

  “I think that it already has. I’m more than impressed. These people are used to talking with merchants and investors. He understands the healing work itself. He’s an asset there.”

  I see the concentration in Alexios’s face and I’m certain he’s already picturing how I’d look seated across from a table of aristocrats and guild representatives.

  “Well, we’d have to get you proper business attire.”

  “What’s wrong with what I wear now?”

  “Nothing,” he says, laughing softly. “But you’re not just representing me. You’re representing Blackwood Plantation. You know I like to make an impression, my love.”

  Je Suis laughs softly into her wine, clearly entertained.

  “Guess it’s time to send word to your tailor, Alexios. Both of you might as well make a statement.”

  I roll my eyes, but I can’t stop the small smile creeping in. Alexios’s hand is still comfortably at my waist, his thumb brushing idly against my side. I think he’s already claimed me for the role.

  --

  I know exactly where we are heading as soon as the carriage slows in front of a tailor’s shop just a few days later. From what I know of this shop, this is where nobles commission garments for court appearances and formal dealings.

  The smell of pressed linen, herbal polish and cedar shelves tickles my sense as Alexios and I make our way inside. Bolts of rich fabric line the wall and I even see velvets imported all the way from Waterdeep.

  A silver-haired half-elf with a measuring ribbon draped around his neck steps forward and warmly greets Alexios like an old friend. They speak quietly for a few moments before tailor turns to look at me.

  “Ah, a formal commission, my lord?”

  “Business attire,” Alexios mentions smoothly. “It should be cut specifically for him and it needs to hold the attention of an entire room… mine included.”

  I see Alexios’s eyes drift seductively up and down my body and the half-elf chuckles knowingly before disappearing into the back. A few moments later, he returns with an armful of midnight blues, deep greens and even a garnet red. That one is so dark that it almost looks nearly black in certain light.

  I end up choosing a layered robe for my look.

  It’s a long outer layer of deep green silk that’s been embroidered with silver knotwork along the sleeves, belted at the waist with a dark leather tie that instantly draws the eye to the shape of my body. Beneath it lies a sleeveless pale cream under-robe that’s fitted close to the chest before falling loose around my knees for movement.

  Alexios circles me slowly as I stand on the fitting platform.

  “Yes… I do believe this is the one, my love.”

  His eyes move over my body, admiring the way the robe’s tie pulls the silk in just enough at my waist for it to make him softly groan.

  “Isn’t this just for a guild meeting?” I ask.

  He steps up behind me now, watching me in the mirror.

  “Yes,” he answers quietly. “But I’ll be there which means I get to see every second of you wearing it.”

  His hand brushes my hip lightly under the guise of just checking how the robe fits, but the pure lust in his red eyes says he’s checking something else out entirely.

  As the tailor finishes pinning the final adjustments later on and promising delivery within two days, Alexios looks like he’s already imagining the day I’ll be wearing those robes in front of the audience.

  The carriage ride home is quiet for the most part. I spend most of it thinking about the green silk as I look out the window and watch as the evening sun paints the hills with its golden rays.

  Alexios isn’t looking out the window though. I can feel his eyes on me.

  “You’re imagining me in the meeting, aren’t you?” I ask teasingly.

  He laughs softly.

  “I’m imagining… many things, but most of them have nothing to do with the meeting.”

  The leather seat creaks under his weight as he moves closer to me, his thumb brushing small circles on my knee.

  “They’re just robes,” I tell him.

  “It’s you in those robes,” he corrects. “You think these silly aristocrats will be focused on trade contracts when you walk in like that? I know I won’t be.”

  His fingers slip beneath the edge of my outer coat and he slowly brushes the inside of my thigh through the fabric of my trousers.

  “You’ve made me rather impatient,” he whispers in my ear. “And I still have to wait a few more days.”

  The gentle rocking of our carriage continues and with Alexios’s hand still caressing my thigh, this begins to feel rather hypnotic, but even then it’s hard to think of anything else but him.

  “Now you’re being quiet,” he expresses. “Lost somewhere in that beautiful mind of yours?”

  “Trying not to give you the satisfaction,” I answer, but it doesn’t sound too convincing, if I’m being honest. Especially not when he leans down to kiss my jaw.

  “Too late.”

  “What are you…”

  Before I can finish my sentence, his fingertips move up my thigh, making me lean closer into him. His lips continue to move against my jaw before finally claiming my lips in a kiss that’s both patience and hunger meshed together beautifully.

  He pulls me into his lap as his hands slide to my hips, holding me in place as his lips continue to ravage mine.

  I break the kiss for air and his mouth instantly moves to my throat.

  “When you walk into that meeting in those robes, I’ll be the only one in the room who will know exactly what you look like when they’re on the bedroom floor.”

  I let out a sharp gasp and he laughs, pleased with how his words have affected me.

  The rest of the journey home is nothing but stolen kisses. His hands stay on my hips, but I know it’s his way of promising something to me when we’re not in the back of a carriage.

  It wouldn’t be the first time though.

  By the time we make it back to the manor, my mind has been completely unraveled. Alexios steps out first before offering me his hand to take and his eyes tell me we’re not finished yet.

  Not even close.

  --

  Two mornings later, a servant brings up a polished box tied with a silk ribbon to my bedroom. The tailor’s insignia has been stamped in gold on the lid and I know exactly what it is before I even touch it.

  I undo the ribbon carefully and lift the lid to find those same beautiful robes folded with precision. The deep green almost gleams when the morning sun hits it and the silver embroidery looks almost like the starlight Alexios and I laid out in the gardens under just last night. The cream under-robe is tucked beneath it and it feels so creamy in my hands.

  Before I can take all the craftsmanship in, Alexios appears in the doorway.

  “Finally,” he breathes. He’s looking between me and the box like he’s the one unwrapping a gift.

  I run my fingers along the embroidery.

  “They are… gorgeous. Even better than I remember.”

  “They’ll look even more gorgeous on you,” he replies without hesitation. He walks over to me and takes the robe tie from the box, letting it run through his fingers before looping it lazily around my waist.

  “You’re going to look like you were born for this,” he says, but something in the way he says that makes me consider that he’s thinking about other things entirely.

  I shake my head and scoff playfully.

  “It’s just a meeting, Alexios.”

  His thumb brushes the edge of the robe’s tie.

  “Not to me, it’s not.”

  “Alexios…” I whisper.

  “I know,” he says gently. “I just want you to feel as astonishing as you really are.

  As he steps back, I realize I’m blushing like an absolute lovesick fool.