Storm’s Edge alone. As if I’m not a military commander. As if I’m not perfectly capable of protecting both him and myself. I just can’t believe the nerve of him. Father would have never spoken to you like that.”
Blaine’s mother remained silent. Her lips pressed tightly together, but still her cheeks rose as she struggled not to smile.
“What is it?”
“You love him!” Her body relaxed the moment the words passed her lips.
“Have you been listening to a word I’ve said? He infuriates me!”
“Exactly!” His mother sat down the shirt she was folding and walked over to him. “For so long, I’ve watched you do as you were told with little care what your orders were. I fought harder against your marriage to the Kalsen girl than you did. You just accepted it like every ugly thing your Father has expected you to do. But look at you. All the prince did was tell you not to follow him and you’re furious. For him, you fight. I can’t remember the last time I’ve seen you stand up for yourself against your father. Don’t get me wrong, I love your father, but his obsessions will destroy you if you let them. You’re finally listening to your heart. And I am overjoyed.”
What if she’s right? What if this overwhelming desire to strangle him is love?
Chapter Thirteen
Elliot slouched in his seat, staring out the window as the scenery crawled by at a languid pace. He could feel Blaine’s eyes boring into the back of his neck, just as they had been for the past hour and the hour before that.
He braced himself for that stupidly satisfied smile the knight would be wearing and turned to ask him, “What?”
Blaine’s smile grew, becoming even more irritating than before. “You’re sulking.”
“I am not!” Elliot snapped.
“Yes you are. I’ve never seen anyone sulk before. I thought it was one of those things that only happened in books. But you’re really doing it. You’re sulking. It’s adorable.”
“Stop saying that.”
“Then stop sulking, and I won’t be able to say it anymore.”
“All I wanted was a little space. How hard is that to understand?”
“I understood you perfectly. But a fort under attack and in need of reinforcements isn’t exactly a place to clear your mind.”
“Why couldn’t you have just waited in at the palace for me to return?”
“You already know the answer to that.”
Even while refusing to consummate the marriage, Blaine seemed to be latched onto him like a rabid dog. The more Elliot tried to push him away, the harder Blaine fought to close the gap. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
“It’s just that your bottom lip pokes out when you’re sulking. And it’s very cute.”
Elliot grinned unable to hide his amusement at Blaine adoration. “You know, legally, you have the same rights as a wife, and I can whip you for the way you speak to me.”
“Hmmmm, I hadn’t really thought of that. Shall we use your belt or mine?” Blaine asked as he fumbled with his buckle.
Elliot stilled his hand. “You’re incorrigible,” he said smiling.
“So I’ve been told.”
The carriage stopped. Nightfall was approaching, and the convoy had to make camp. Blaine and Elliot shared evening meal in their tent, and soon after, it was time for sleep. A pile of furs served as their bed while they traveled. Blaine was already naked beneath them as Elliot undressed to join him.
After taking off his shirt, Elliot grabbed his arm and rotated his shoulder.
“Is something wrong?” Blaine asked.
“I’m just sore from the ride. It’s been awhile since I’ve traveled.”
“I understand. Come here.”
Elliot laid down between the furs on his stomach, and Blaine got up and sat on the back of Elliot’s thighs. He grabbed the prince’s shoulders and began to knead them with his thick, strong hands. Elliot couldn’t help but purr under his ministrations.
“You’re very good with your hands.”
“Thank you, Your Highness.” Blaine’s hands
Blaine’s mother remained silent. Her lips pressed tightly together, but still her cheeks rose as she struggled not to smile.
“What is it?”
“You love him!” Her body relaxed the moment the words passed her lips.
“Have you been listening to a word I’ve said? He infuriates me!”
“Exactly!” His mother sat down the shirt she was folding and walked over to him. “For so long, I’ve watched you do as you were told with little care what your orders were. I fought harder against your marriage to the Kalsen girl than you did. You just accepted it like every ugly thing your Father has expected you to do. But look at you. All the prince did was tell you not to follow him and you’re furious. For him, you fight. I can’t remember the last time I’ve seen you stand up for yourself against your father. Don’t get me wrong, I love your father, but his obsessions will destroy you if you let them. You’re finally listening to your heart. And I am overjoyed.”
What if she’s right? What if this overwhelming desire to strangle him is love?
Chapter Thirteen
Elliot slouched in his seat, staring out the window as the scenery crawled by at a languid pace. He could feel Blaine’s eyes boring into the back of his neck, just as they had been for the past hour and the hour before that.
He braced himself for that stupidly satisfied smile the knight would be wearing and turned to ask him, “What?”
Blaine’s smile grew, becoming even more irritating than before. “You’re sulking.”
“I am not!” Elliot snapped.
“Yes you are. I’ve never seen anyone sulk before. I thought it was one of those things that only happened in books. But you’re really doing it. You’re sulking. It’s adorable.”
“Stop saying that.”
“Then stop sulking, and I won’t be able to say it anymore.”
“All I wanted was a little space. How hard is that to understand?”
“I understood you perfectly. But a fort under attack and in need of reinforcements isn’t exactly a place to clear your mind.”
“Why couldn’t you have just waited in at the palace for me to return?”
“You already know the answer to that.”
Even while refusing to consummate the marriage, Blaine seemed to be latched onto him like a rabid dog. The more Elliot tried to push him away, the harder Blaine fought to close the gap. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
“It’s just that your bottom lip pokes out when you’re sulking. And it’s very cute.”
Elliot grinned unable to hide his amusement at Blaine adoration. “You know, legally, you have the same rights as a wife, and I can whip you for the way you speak to me.”
“Hmmmm, I hadn’t really thought of that. Shall we use your belt or mine?” Blaine asked as he fumbled with his buckle.
Elliot stilled his hand. “You’re incorrigible,” he said smiling.
“So I’ve been told.”
The carriage stopped. Nightfall was approaching, and the convoy had to make camp. Blaine and Elliot shared evening meal in their tent, and soon after, it was time for sleep. A pile of furs served as their bed while they traveled. Blaine was already naked beneath them as Elliot undressed to join him.
After taking off his shirt, Elliot grabbed his arm and rotated his shoulder.
“Is something wrong?” Blaine asked.
“I’m just sore from the ride. It’s been awhile since I’ve traveled.”
“I understand. Come here.”
Elliot laid down between the furs on his stomach, and Blaine got up and sat on the back of Elliot’s thighs. He grabbed the prince’s shoulders and began to knead them with his thick, strong hands. Elliot couldn’t help but purr under his ministrations.
“You’re very good with your hands.”
“Thank you, Your Highness.” Blaine’s hands
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