Masked Prince - Nikolai Andrew Page 0,37

regained her composure.

“Of course, my lord.”

“And make it for two.”

Now she looked really surprised. Never, not once, had I had a woman in my bed for breakfast. But Melinda was, as always, respectful about everything.

“Of course, sir.”

“And I mean it. The freshest fruit. Tea and coffee. Eggs, bacon,” I said, thinking back to the meals we’d shared at her farm. She loved sweets, I knew that for sure.

“As many jams and marmalades as we’ve got. Berries. Chocolate croissants.” I drew in a sharp breath. “Melinda, don’t let anyone else in the household find out about this. Go to the kitchens yourself, find the food and bring it back here. If anyone asks why you need so much, tell them I’ll be busy making preparations all day and don’t wish to be disturbed for lunch.”

“Yes, sir,” Melinda said, with an embarrassed blush coloring her wrinkled cheeks. “I get the idea. Discretion.”

I didn’t have to tell her to be quick about it, because she always was. So I was surprised that she hesitated before she turned to go.

“Might I just say, my lord. If…you’ll pardon my saying…” Melinda glanced up at me. I gave her a flick of my chin to tell her to go ahead. She smiled. “It does me good to see you so happy.” Then she gave me a quick curtsy and rushed off.

Happy. Happy. It was true. I felt happy and I must look it. It was a strange feeling, but a damned good one. It did me pretty fucking good to feel happy, too.

Melinda’s quick footsteps returned, and she peeked around the corner of the hallway.

“What about flowers, sir?”

“Shit, yes. Definitely flowers,” I said. I knew just the ones. “Make it a bouquet of the irises from my courtyard.” She gave me a sheepish smile and I added, “Thank you, Melinda.”

“I’ll be sure to keep them hidden until I deliver them here.” She nodded on a bow, turned and practically skipped down the stone hall.

When Iris woke up, the full spread was ready for her. There was a silver cart with four trays of food at the end of the bed, and one more tray on the comforter, with the bouquet of irises. There were coconut-rolled dates, fresh apricots with dew still on the outside, eggs, coffee and tea. As soon as she opened her eyes, I held out a bunch of grapes to her and said, “Eat.”

She rolled over, still looking fuck-dazed and satisfied, and smiled up at me with her cheek on the pillow. She did that cute thing with the sheet again, pulling it up to her throat. There was something innocent about it, almost wholesome. That was all the hotter knowing I’d ravaged her into total unwholesomeness the night before. And was about to again.

“Good morning.” I leaned in and kissed the top of her head.

I fed her a few grapes and then got her tea squared away. I made sure she ate well, especially the eggs and milk. When we got to the toast and butter, though, I knew I was in for a couple of questions. Because since the moment I’d first seen her, I’d ensured that every single ounce of butter that was consumed in the castle came from her farm.

She stared at the butter crock, blinking and smiling in surprise.

“This is from Millstone. I made this.”

“The obsession runs deep,” I said, buttering her toast for her, and then feeding it to her, bite by bite. Once she made her way through the toast, I made sure she finished all the fruit I gave her and drank plenty of water. She was going to need all her strength for what I had planned for her next.

Once I was satisfied that she’d had enough to eat, I took the food away and then turned to her across the bedroom. She was still tangled up in the sheets. Way the fuck too much fabric and not nearly enough skin.

“Let me see you. All of you.”

She sensed my change in tone and obeyed without question. Hooking the sheet with her toes, she slid her feet down the bed, until she lay naked in front of me. She looked fucking delicious there. Part of me wanted to take her exactly like she was. But it was time to get back to serious business. The things I wanted to do to her the most were way too filthy to do in a featherbed. To work on her properly, I needed restraints.

I leaned over her, pressing