43

A Wicked Thing to Do

Icover my mouth in shock. Candles adorn the marble floor, and the same patterned stone blends from the ground to ceiling, a beautiful light-blue mixed with black.

Jerrick stands a few steps away, his mask removed, and his features illuminating the room more than the hundreds of candles scattered around us. He steps to the side, and my knees almost buckle.

At the center of the room is a grand piano.

Music echoes in my mind at the beautiful notes this stunning instrument will chime. Compositions I haven't had time to think on rush to the surface of my mind. Harmonies and melodies sprinkle together as I imagine my fingertips touching the piano keys, reveling in the acoustics of this room that will highlight each note, each song played.

I remain breathless as I approach the onyx piano, Jerrick leaning against it with his arms crossed, analyzing my every move with his gentle smile. Touching the instrument, I confirm this is not a dream.

I meet his gaze. "How? How did you—"

My husband steps close, his cologne drowning my senses as it always has. Power oozes from his stance as I take him in and all I can feel is this overwhelming confoundment.

Jerrick takes my hand, holding it to his chest as he smiles. "When you had agreed to help me, even against your will, you were kind to me. When you came down to the library every day with a scowl on your face, furious with how I left you with no options, you still showed up and were nice when I gave you no reason to be."

My eyes dart back and forth to his as he hesitates.

"I was mean and cruel to you. And when you came down with that food tray?" He huffs a laugh.

"I knew." He pauses. "I knew I didn't deserve you or your kindness."

Heat presses against my chest at the memories, reflecting on how far he and I have come. I cup his cheek, and he leans into it, kissing it.

His eyes hold mine captive as he says, "The day you did that, I knew I needed to pay you back. But then the more time I spent with you, the greater the list became."

I smirk, understanding and feeling the same with him.

He gestures to the piano. "So, I thought this was a fair compromise."

I look from him to the piano and my face crinkles, the kindness overwhelming and swallowing me whole. My heart is so full, but it is breaking at the same time.

I don't deserve this man.

I don't deserve any of this.

I've lied to him all these months, and now that I have the key to freeing him from his curse, he goes and does this for me?

The beauty and magnitude of the piano is one thing but Jerrick?

He is the exponential gift I never expected to receive.

The festering guilt and stress reaches its breaking point, reminding me of how wrong I was when coming here and how desperate I am to not ruin everything I have built with this man.

I can't stop the tears from forming.

I cover my face, sinking to the floor, everything too much to bear.

The man I knew in Axidoria and the King of Palaena are masks Jerrick wears to protect himself. But here he is now, fully unmasked, and it is absolutely breathtaking.

It is inspiring to witness, to see there is more to life than grief and being everyone's monster. I've barely missed my family since arriving in Palaena because I've found a new one with Dorit, Ophelia, Cordelia, Jonas, and—him.

There is more to my life than fear and trauma.

There is more to my life with Jerrick in it.

My gratitude and awe of him is unfathomable.

It reverberates through me, plummeting down to my core as my lungs deflate of all air. A smoldering inferno erupts, dousing every morsel of frost and ice inside of me. The heavy and abounding adoration I have for the man before me dominates everything.

I gasp, struggling to breathe as my feelings for Jerrick boil over.

My affection for Niko is minuscule compared to this all-consuming force.

It encircles me, sadness and sorrow distancing themselves, letting me feel a deeper, more meaningful, and more intense emotion.

A composition ignites in my soul, enduring and thrilling, and the symphony of chords ring everlasting and true.

The tears free-fall as the unyielding, magnifying emotion clutches the center of my chest, permanently finding its home by ingraining itself deep into my heart.

I—love Jerrick.

You don't deserve him, Tove.

I have to tell him how to break his curse. I have to tell him we need to divorce to allow him to fall in love with someone worthy of him and send me home.

Home to Niko, the man I am supposed to be with.

My heart breaks because I've wasted everyone's time.

Guilt, shame, and stupidity attack every positive memory I try to replay in my mind, a reminder of how stupid I am for believing no one would get hurt.

Stupid, stupid, stupid.

The weight of my crown is heavy, tipping forward, as if to remind me how close I am to losing everything and everyone when I confess my sins to Jerrick. I've wanted to tell him for so long. And when I do, he will demand proof and then I'll have to tell him about Betina, about my mother's mirror, and about Niko.

I reach up to unpin my crown, placing it next to me as I cry harder, hating how it feels like the only person who ever gets hurt in situations is me.

I can't do this.

Jerrick lowers to the ground beside me, removing his own crown and placing it next to mine. Through my blurry vision, our crowns lay next to each other. How perfect they are.

My lip trembles.

Jerrick tugs my chin toward him. A question lingers in his gaze, and I find myself not ready to tell him, not ready to ruin everything.

If I am going to be the one ruined from this, I am going to do what I want for once, selfishly and recklessly.

All the consequences can be damned.

I need him more than I need life itself.

Before Jerrick can speak, I finally make my move, yanking him close to lock his lips with mine. I cling to him, but he pushes away, bewilderment flashing across his features.

I study him through my own panting breaths.

Jerrick rebounds with hunger in his wake.

Holding the sides of his face, I deepen the kiss, a low rumble escaping Jerrick's mouth. I moan in response, letting him in more.

Our bodies shift, needing to be closer.

Jerrick pulls me onto his lap as I rake a hand through his hair and bite his lip as if I am starving for him. His hard length presses against my center, and I whimper.

Jerrick slips his hand up the side of my slit skirt to grip my backside.

I shudder at his warmth on my cold ass. It thrums my magic awake, and cold air drifts.

He breaks our kiss slightly, watching the air between us before he tugs me closer, his hot breath and power pouring life into me and warming away the sensation.

I tremble at the hot and cold of our joining, arousal growing in my core. I tug his hair, keeping him centered with my mouth, and nip at him senselessly.

Jerrick props me up on his lap. Our tongues thrash in the other's mouths, taking moments to nibble, pinch, and suck, earning collective moans and shudders that send my hips rolling.

My first roll earns a light graze on my ass, and I hiss in luxurious pleasure. Between our mouths and Jerrick's hand cupping my backside, his hips grind back in approval.

A low moan comes from the base of his throat as he spanks my ass again, harder. My hips move of their own accord, my hands frantically touching his body, seeking his skin.

I need to feel him.

My gown shifts, exposing my breasts. I don't care about my own body, only his.

Deities, I need him so much it hurts.

I rub my hands up and down the front of his tunic, fumbling with the buttons. When it is free, I rip it off with no regret for the damage I cause, moving to unfasten his silken shirt from his pants and unlace the section around his chest.

Jerrick's hands drift with mine, his fingertips tracing lines up and down my ass.

A dark thought has me wanting to explore everywhere. But when his chest is exposed, I run my cold hands over his body, shifting closer to have the skin-to-skin contact.

My hand finds shelter once again on the base of his throat, and I yank his head back, leaving a trail of kisses down the side of his face and neck.

He moans so low and guttural when my lips suck on the skin at the base of his neck.

Frenzied lust has my eyes rolling to the back of my head.

"Fuuuck," he grunts softly.

He grabs my face, guiding it back to him. He kisses me deeply before pulling away and stopping.

My gaze meets his, the two of us scanning the other half undressed. I lick my lips in anticipation as his eyes flare at my exposed breasts.

But he doesn't move. Instead, Jerrick clicks his tongue as we gasp for air.

"Don't start something you can't finish," he pants, a teasing smirk etched across his features.

My eyes darken with lust and desire. I shamelessly reach between us, grabbing his hardened cock through his pants, stroking it, giving him just enough friction to earn a groaned response.

His eyes roll as his head falls back.

I take advantage and kiss his exposed neck, needing to know every place he likes to be touched. Moving my hand from his cock, I seek my own wetness running down my thighs. I swipe a small amount, bringing it up to his lips for him to taste.

He sucks on my fingers, the two of us moaning from the act. His eyes are hooded, filled with need.

I pull my fingers out of his mouth. "I can finish this. Can you?" I challenge, committing myself to him for one night before losing him forever.

One night of everything I want and then damage control.

I peel away from his lap to stand, silently pleading he will give me what I want.

Jerrick watches me pull my dress to cover my breasts, and my upper thighs are exposed from the slit in my skirt.

I take my time adjusting, wanting him to see—needing him to see how much I want this.

How much I want him and what he does to me.

Jerrick reaches for me. "Tove."

My chest swells as he uses my given name. It is so foreign yet so perfect. It only expands my love and need for him more.

I rock my head back to the ceiling, grinning.

I release a long breath before gazing at him, my soul calling to his. "Say my name again," I beg.

Jerrick breathes, a small smirk gracing his features as he stands. He comes up to me, craning my neck up to meet him.

"Tove," he murmurs, pulling me in for another kiss.

I melt into Jerrick, holding him tight. He picks me up, and I lock my legs around his waist and fasten my arms around his neck, our mouths clashing against each other.

He kisses me deeply and he carries me away from the piano room.

I can't hide the cheeky grin plastered along my face as he takes me up a set of stairs. "Where are you taking me?" I try to ask seductively.

"Somewhere private where only I can enjoy the sound of you," he purrs, and cold sweat trickles down my spine as I bite my lip at the thrill of that promise.