Page 22 of Caroline the Cruel
Caroline patted his chest, like she’d done to Hastings, and he bristled not wanting to be lumped into the same category as that man. “Good,” she said. “You don’t have to approve of every choice I make. You only must abide by them, uphold my rulings, and of course keep me safe.” Her fingers had traveled to the leather ties which hung loose from the top of his tunic, and she was twisting one around a dainty finger. So not like Hastings, then? No, he remembered her hand raking through the man’s hair.
Still, unable to find the words, Johnneth nodded. She was standing too near him, as if drawn by the electricity sparking between them. That was real. And he felt so tall, so male hovering over her and couldn’t step away. Didn’t want to.
The corridor where she’d stopped them was a windowless section, with torches sporadically placed, dimly illuminating it. The nearest flame’s flickering reflection danced across her bright silver eyes, and, for a moment, she was only a woman standing before him and he only a man. The glowing light softened her sharp contrasts, and as he stood towering over her, he sensed how young the queen truly was. If he didn’t know better, he could almost see earnestness in her stare, like she wanted something she could never have, but couldn’t stop the dreaming.
Johnneth’s eyes tracked to her fidgeting hands, and his own reached out curving around her waist. Her breath caught, parting her lips. And like a doomed moth, he glided into her flame.
He sensed the exact moment she became the queen again. Dropping her hands, she spun on her heel and continued her path toward her awaiting guests. Johnneth trailed after her admonishing himself for his momentary lapse. He should really learn to keep his mouth closed and his hands to himself.
Caroline shut out the drifting thoughts of her looming guard, the way his mouth opened slightly like he had something to say, but couldn’t find the words. The way his strong hand had slid around her waist. The spot still burned warm from the touch. It was moments like that which made her consider abandoning this mission to punish Felix and veer in an entirely different direction. She glanced back at Johnneth, letting her eyes linger, and he stood a little more erect under the scrutiny of her gaze. Then his eyes flicked to her for the briefest second, and her heart skipped.
Giving into this momentary craving would be easy. But she never did what was easy. She did what was necessary.
Shaking off the vision of the man behind her, she focused her full attention on her guests. She found their affection sickening, but she permitted it. Encouraged it, even. For a fool, Felix did seem somewhat committed to his wife, who was looking like she was ready to burst. He flirted with Caroline occasionally when he thought no one was looking, but she was struggling to get him alone, which was why her plan was taking much longer than she’d anticipated.
Jaine had even confessed to Caroline that Felix had been pushing her for sex, but she was so uncomfortable as her size swelled that she was never in the mood. Did Jaine even know what she was doing, confiding in the vengeful queen? She learned the woman was naïve, but this was beyond being overly trusting. And of course, Caroline had encouraged the other woman to deny him, citing she should be taking care of herself and the baby. Felix could use his hand, she suggested.
It had been a month since that conversation, and she cherished every new line of tension that appeared on Felix’s thick jaw. Any day now.
“I have a surprise for you,” she said, twirling her fork between her fingers. “Can you guess what it is?”
Jaine’s eyes brightened as she looked at the queen. “Gosh, I don’t know. You’ve already done so much for us.” She reached over and squeezed Felix’s hand.
“I’ve had a cradle crafted for the baby. I’ve designed it myself. There are a few last details I didn’t feel comfortable finalizing without your consent. You’ll meet me in the Rose Room to meet the artist tomorrow before lunch?” She waited for the other woman’s response.
Jaine clapped her hands in front of her chest and squealed. “Yes, Your Majesty. That is so wonderful!”
Caroline reached over and patted her hand. She almost felt guilty. The woman was living in a fairytale. She hoped Jaine enjoyed it while it lasted because it was all about to come crashing down.
Felix’s eyes skimmed across the Rose Room as he walked in the next afternoon, sighing as they snagged on Caroline. “Aren’t you supposed to be meeting with Jaine?” he asked, tone grumpy.
Being the husband of a near birth pregnant woman didn’t seem to be something the man was too fond of, as it turned out. Caroline gave him a sympathetic pout. “We met before lunch. She went with the designer to your room to see how the colors would go with some bedding she’d gotten. They’ll be occupied for hours.”
A platter of food was laid out on the oval table in the informal space Caroline preferred for her lunch meal. The way the sun came in through the balcony and reflected off the mirrors and the red stones gave the room a warm, seductive feel. Perfect for what she had planned. Other than the table, there were two hutches on each side of the room, normally filled with porcelain dishes, linens, and serving ware. She flicked her eyes toward one, then back to the spread before her. Picking up an orange slice, she put it between her lips, sucking the juice from it before she plopped it in her mouth.
“Have lunch with me?” she asked sweetly. “I know you must be starved.” Caroline licked the sweet liquid from the orange off her bottom lip, then took it in her mouth, biting.
Felix’s eyes followed the motion, and his mouth fell open. She caught his neck muscles flex as he swallowed, his gaze trailing down the length of her form.
“What are you wearing?” he asked, his dark eyes lingering on the black fabric cinched around her hips, which splayed open right in the center below the highest point of her thighs.
“Oh, only a fresh style I wanted to try. Do you like it?” She plucked another orange slice and leaned against the table. The motion caused the fabric to fall away, exposing her long creamy legs.
It was like she’d compelled him, the way he walked toward her. They were a hand’s length apart and his pupils had dilated. She wanted to check his other anatomy to see if it was responding as well, but she refrained. Slow down, Caroline, she reprimanded herself, but anticipatory jitters fluttered in her belly. She had waited months for this moment, the spring coiling tighter and tighter.
“What are you doing, Caroline?” he asked her, his voice a low growl that once would have sent shivers down her spine.
“I thought I’d been giving you little hints, but you don’t seem to have recognized them.” She batted her lashes for effect and ran a manicured nail down the length of her neck. “You remember what it was like, don’t you, Felix?”
Felix gripped the table on either side of her and leaned down so they were at eye level. His desire for her was palpable. Perfect.
She gently pressed her hands into his chest, running them up around his neck, burying them in his hair the way he liked. He groaned. “I would have allowed you to have her if you’d asked. A mother for your child. I still would if you wanted me. You didn’t have to choose,” she said, making her voice breathy as she played to his ego.
He gave a deep, throaty chuckle. “You think I stopped wanting you?”
She nodded, widening her eyes.
“Caroline, a man could never stop wanting you.”
