thereof.”
Dropping her hand, she lets her head fall back, relaxed, eyes closed. I pick up my discarded shirt, slipping it on before I succumb to my own ideas while Dante is out of the apartment. “For the record, you are not crazy. At least not regarding this particular matter.” I can’t resist leaving Cait curious as to what I may mean, just as she leaves me at each turn. Swallowing with great difficulty, I tell her what she wants to know, needs to know. “He is genuine in his affections, Cait.”
No one dares accuse Dante of insincerity, disrespects him with such untruths.
Her jaw tightens, teeth grinding together, tension and anxiety distressing her beautiful face. “As genuine as you, Theo?” she asks at last, voice quiet and pained, though not pained to the depths my heart sinks, knowing I must answer.
I turn away, eyes closed, unwilling to look at her face, fearing to do so would draw out the words I desire to speak rather than those that are necessary. “Must you ask?”
“If you know, is it really unfair for me to ask—as your ward—if this is safe?” Sarcasm thickens her tone, aware I choose to be difficult.
“He can and will love you the way you want, the way you deserve. And as a deity, a son of the High Realm, Dante holds a position appropriate for your chosen husband given your… status, Cait.” I do not wish to discuss this matter now and I refuse to compare myself to him, not aloud, and certainly not for her to hear.
“So, you’re giving up and passing the buck, or in this case, passing me on to the man you think is right for me?” I hear her hand smack the door. “Look at me,” she demands. “Was your promise a lie?”
By Cait’s next breath I’m on her, hands in her hair, pressing my body to hers. “A Pendragon does not forsake a promise. We abide by honor.” My lips brush hers as I speak. “You smell of red wine and of him . Is this what you wish for? To tease me, taunt me, and see my reaction?”
She breathes heavily, chest rising and falling in sync with mine. “I’m not playing games, and I’m not teasing you, Theo.” By no accident, her lips touch mine one lingering moment. “I need to know I’m not wrong.” I look down to meet her eyes, puzzled by those words. “You are trying. You want me to choose you. I’m not wrong to be afraid of falling in love with someone else, of losing what I could have with you, Theo.”
I want to hold her in my arms, take her to my bed, show her every way I could and would love her, adore her, worship her body like a goddess. “Do not refuse to consider what a life with Dante offers, or hold onto hope that I can give as much. As your guardian, my protection I swear eternally. But love—true, romantic love… I promise to try for this, Cait, yet I cannot guarantee the outcome.”
The flickering electricity in the room warns of Dante’s return, and before either of us says more, he calls for her. I step back, giving her space to move. Without a word, she meets my eyes once more then slips out. Watching the door close, I stand wishing Cait would change her mind and come back to me, but I hear her greeting him as if nothing transpired between us and sit on the side of my bed, GoSky in hand to call Oliver again.
“What happened? Is everything alright?” he asks the second the call connects.
I ask myself the same, unsure if the wine or her heart spoke on Cait’s behalf. “Nothing. Everything. Yes. No. Oh, Goddess, brother, what am I doing?”
Oliver chuckles. “I haven’t the faintest. I’ve never been in your predicament, and given what you’re experiencing, I daresay I hope I never am.”
“You are ever so not helpful.” My brother is quite exasperating at times. “Does the king intend to see my Cait tonight?”
“Your Cait?” He questions the slight misspoken phrasing that tells the truth of it all. “Whatever you choose to call her, Corrin asks you bring her to him first thing in the morning, before he
Dropping her hand, she lets her head fall back, relaxed, eyes closed. I pick up my discarded shirt, slipping it on before I succumb to my own ideas while Dante is out of the apartment. “For the record, you are not crazy. At least not regarding this particular matter.” I can’t resist leaving Cait curious as to what I may mean, just as she leaves me at each turn. Swallowing with great difficulty, I tell her what she wants to know, needs to know. “He is genuine in his affections, Cait.”
No one dares accuse Dante of insincerity, disrespects him with such untruths.
Her jaw tightens, teeth grinding together, tension and anxiety distressing her beautiful face. “As genuine as you, Theo?” she asks at last, voice quiet and pained, though not pained to the depths my heart sinks, knowing I must answer.
I turn away, eyes closed, unwilling to look at her face, fearing to do so would draw out the words I desire to speak rather than those that are necessary. “Must you ask?”
“If you know, is it really unfair for me to ask—as your ward—if this is safe?” Sarcasm thickens her tone, aware I choose to be difficult.
“He can and will love you the way you want, the way you deserve. And as a deity, a son of the High Realm, Dante holds a position appropriate for your chosen husband given your… status, Cait.” I do not wish to discuss this matter now and I refuse to compare myself to him, not aloud, and certainly not for her to hear.
“So, you’re giving up and passing the buck, or in this case, passing me on to the man you think is right for me?” I hear her hand smack the door. “Look at me,” she demands. “Was your promise a lie?”
By Cait’s next breath I’m on her, hands in her hair, pressing my body to hers. “A Pendragon does not forsake a promise. We abide by honor.” My lips brush hers as I speak. “You smell of red wine and of him . Is this what you wish for? To tease me, taunt me, and see my reaction?”
She breathes heavily, chest rising and falling in sync with mine. “I’m not playing games, and I’m not teasing you, Theo.” By no accident, her lips touch mine one lingering moment. “I need to know I’m not wrong.” I look down to meet her eyes, puzzled by those words. “You are trying. You want me to choose you. I’m not wrong to be afraid of falling in love with someone else, of losing what I could have with you, Theo.”
I want to hold her in my arms, take her to my bed, show her every way I could and would love her, adore her, worship her body like a goddess. “Do not refuse to consider what a life with Dante offers, or hold onto hope that I can give as much. As your guardian, my protection I swear eternally. But love—true, romantic love… I promise to try for this, Cait, yet I cannot guarantee the outcome.”
The flickering electricity in the room warns of Dante’s return, and before either of us says more, he calls for her. I step back, giving her space to move. Without a word, she meets my eyes once more then slips out. Watching the door close, I stand wishing Cait would change her mind and come back to me, but I hear her greeting him as if nothing transpired between us and sit on the side of my bed, GoSky in hand to call Oliver again.
“What happened? Is everything alright?” he asks the second the call connects.
I ask myself the same, unsure if the wine or her heart spoke on Cait’s behalf. “Nothing. Everything. Yes. No. Oh, Goddess, brother, what am I doing?”
Oliver chuckles. “I haven’t the faintest. I’ve never been in your predicament, and given what you’re experiencing, I daresay I hope I never am.”
“You are ever so not helpful.” My brother is quite exasperating at times. “Does the king intend to see my Cait tonight?”
“Your Cait?” He questions the slight misspoken phrasing that tells the truth of it all. “Whatever you choose to call her, Corrin asks you bring her to him first thing in the morning, before he
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