★ELOWEN★
I could tell King Azreal was pushing me for his own amusement, but I had no proof of it. Saying he would go to a mistress on the way from his wedding was the last straw.
That was… scandalous!
"And, pray tell, why would I listen to you?" he asked. I could feel his amusement radiating off his body.
"You have no reason to. I am only telling you what is right, as your wife." I gulped. I did not want to push too far.
King Azreal laughed, then shook his head. "I am not going to a mistress, little rabbit. Do not get your sexy panties in a twist."
My eyes widened, and I could feel my ears flushing.
King Azreal leaned away from the door and opened it. "Get inside. You must be tired after the events of the day."
I truly was.
"Are we sharing the same bedroom?" I asked hesitantly. It was what it looked like, but I needed to be sure.
"That is exactly what we are doing," he answered, not turning to look at me as he walked into the room. I followed. "You do not expect me to sleep in a different room from my wife."
"I… what if I need my privacy?"
"You will have your privacy." He spoke, then yanked off his tie. My eyes widened as he handled himself rather roughly, a far cry from the composed man at the wedding.
"Damned elders. Damned grandmother, and all these fucking celebrations." He growled, but I only stood rooted to my spot, laughing at his outburst. "You find my predicament funny, do you?"
"A bit." I smiled, then walked toward him. Why live a sad and lonely life when I could simply live it to the fullest, knowing I would die soon?
I pulled the black suit from his shoulder, leaving it to drop softly to the ground. I loosened his tie, careful not to touch his skin.
"Should I take off your shirt too?" I asked, staring up at him. A look flashed through his gaze, but it disappeared just as quickly as it appeared.
"Yes," there was a rasp to his tone, "but try not to touch my bare skin." He added it softly, and though I was curious as to why, I merely nodded.
I unbuttoned his dress shirt without touching his skin. When I pulled it down, I could not help but ogle his well-built body. He was every bit the Alpha his name proclaimed. I tore my eyes away from his body quickly before he began to get ideas. When I pulled back and stared up at him, he looked at me with a gaze so intense it made my breath hitch.
"I… uh. You can handle your pants, right?"
"I can, yes."
We held each other's gaze for a while before I turned away. "I… uh. I will change in the bathroom."
"No. I will give you a moment outside. Use the room as you see fit, wife."
It was not supposed to, but hearing the term wife made my heart thump a little. Azrael nodded, then left the room. I breathed out and fell onto the bed. It was large and occupied most of the centre of the room. My dress suddenly felt too tight, and I took it off, leaving me bare in my camisole and panties. I walked toward the wardrobe on the right side of the bed.
The room had two wardrobes, one on each side. King Azrael was truly intent on us sharing a room. I opened the wardrobe, and my mouth fell open at the atrocities hung within.
"What are these?" I whispered to myself as I touched one and pulled it from the hanger. The material was far too soft and silky, and not only that—it was short too! I searched inside for robes or anything that could provide some cover, and luckily I found them. But they were not truly cover-ups; they were open robes.
I sighed and walked to the bathroom. I could not wear my evening dress to bed, nor could I drag Azrael to a boutique to get me a new batch of nightgowns.
After rinsing my body and putting on the nightgown, I sat upon the bed awaiting my husband. He had promised not to touch me tonight, and so I did not worry.
A few minutes later, Azrael stepped into the room. He looked a different, more rugged kind of breathtaking with his tousled shoulder-length hair and the robe which bared his drool-worthy torso.
I sighed inaudibly and turned away from him. I was the one who had told him that I did not want to consummate our marriage; I should not be ogling him as though I needed him.
"Will you take the left or right side?" I was seated at the edge while he merely stepped forward and laid down upon the bed.
"Why choose sides when we can cuddle?" Azrael rasped from behind me.
"I… uh." I was not yet comfortable with him. He frightened me, a little.
"If you do not wish to cuddle, it is alright," he said. There was tiredness evident in his tone. "I do not think I could hold myself either. I might just decide to take you right now." He chuckled mischievously at the end of his words, and I was not even sure whether he meant them or not.
"Ah, thank you," I whispered. I moved further into the bed—Azrael had taken the left side—and laid on my back, staring at the cream-coloured ceiling. I could hear Azrael's breathing beside me. I was not sure if he was asleep or not, and I did not want to turn either.
"Are you scared?"
Lost in thought, his words startled me, and I almost jumped out of my skin, my heart thumping loudly.
"You are far too skittish." I could not see his face, but I could tell there was a scowl there. I turned my head.
"I am not usually like this," I said.
"So, it is partly my fault?"
"Partly," I sighed. "Not completely."
"Who completes it then?"
My mouth opened. I was going to say, My family, but it only just occurred to me that I was Mira, and not Elowen, so I shut my mouth. "Goodnight."
He did not respond, and I did not wait for one. Instead, I turned to the other side and let sleep take over.