you just not ready?”
She pinched her eyes closed, not knowing the answer.
He pressed his lips to her forehead. “I love you, Reid Winston. Let me show you—my wife—how much.” He kissed her right cheek, then her left cheek.
She could feel his body heat next to her. “I have a better idea,” she said, opening her eyes. “How about I show you how much I love you?” Her voice shook slightly.
“Why don’t we show each other?”
She rolled onto her side, facing him. “Okay.”
He blinked. “Okay?”
She nodded, ready to spend the night with her husband.
His lips devoured hers.
The following morning, Reid woke up in Dexter’s arms, the sheets tangled around their twined legs. Stretching, she was surprised she’d slept at all. They’d spent most the night kissing and being together.
Someone knocked gently on their door.
Since Dexter was still asleep, Reid slipped out of bed. Grabbing a discarded blanket from the floor, she pulled it around her naked body before going over to the door, opening it an inch.
Nara stood in the hallway. “I need to speak with you two immediately. Lord Victor and Lord Robert are here.”
Reid blinked. “My second cousin Victor and Lord Robert from Axian?” While she understood how Victor had caught up to them, she had no idea what he was doing with Lord Robert.
“Yes. They’re both in the castle’s private sitting room.” Forehead creased with worry, she tightened her eyes.
“We’ll be right there, Mum,” Dexter said groggily.
Reid glanced over her shoulder at Dexter. He sat up in bed, rubbing his eyes. Even in the morning with his hair tousled, he was still handsome.
“We’ll get dressed and meet you there,” Reid said to Nara.
Nara’s face softened as she gave Reid a knowing smile before leaving.
Reid closed the door. Dexter waved her over to him. When she neared the bed, he yanked her closer. After tugging the blanket off her body, he leaned back on the bed, pulling her on top of him. His lips found hers.
“Your mother is expecting us,” Reid said around kisses. If they didn’t stop this soon, the likelihood of making it to the sitting room this morning diminished greatly.
“Minor details.” He flipped her so his body was now on top of hers. “But we do need to go and see why those two are here. We’ll have to finish this later.” He playfully bit her shoulder before getting up and pulling on his pants.
Sighing, Reid did the same. One of these days, they’d be able to be lazy and lounge around their room all day. Today was not that day.
Reid and Dexter entered the private sitting room. Lord Victor and Lord Robert sat on one of the sofas, each with a teacup in hand. Nara and Leigh sat across from them. Since Leigh was present, she must think the lords’ presence had something to do with Idina.
Taking one of the chairs, Reid sat and addressed them. “Where is she?”
“If you’re referring to Princess Idina,” Lord Robert said, setting his cup down, “word is the Melenia army has captured her as a prisoner of war.”
Leigh’s face paled. Nara reached over, rubbing her back.
“Why are you two here?” Dexter asked, coming up behind Reid and placing his hands protectively on the back of her chair.
Robert chuckled. “Are you two playing king and queen?”
Reid was about to inform him that they were married, but she kept that to herself. Dexter knew Robert and what kind of man he was. She needed to let him deal with the lord.
Instead of responding, Dexter waited for Robert to answer.
He rolled his shoulders back. “King Eldon sent Marsden soldiers to eliminate the Axian ruling families.”
Reid’s heart pounded—did that include her grandparents?
“Clearly he wasn’t successful in his endeavor since you’re here,” Dexter murmured.
“The Marsden soldiers encountered Axian soldiers at every manor they visited.” Robert leaned back against the sofa, crossing his legs. “It seems you managed to organize and control your men even from so far away.”
Relief washed through Reid. Her grandparents were unharmed.
Since Dexter and Colbert had several plans in place before Eldon arrived at the palace, they were able to organize their soldiers quickly and prevent the attacks on the ruling families.
Instead of acknowledging his own military genius, Dexter asked again, “What are you doing here?”
Robert cleared his throat, shifting on the sofa. “You know what my position has been all these years.”
“Yes,” Dexter replied. “You want Axian to be its own independent kingdom. You’ve made yourself perfectly clear on the matter.”
“I’ve changed my mind.”
Although Reid couldn’t see Dexter, she felt