“I’m sorry I was late, but I also know you won’t admit when something bothers you. What is it about that sitting room? You hate it. I can tell.” He cocked his head to the side. “Tell me, and I can fix it. Don’t tell me, and I can’t. It’s that simple.”
“You can’t fix this,” she muttered. She wanted to yank that sheet over her head and hide from the King in his own bed. There was no fixing her.
“Try me,” he challenged, his eyes blazing. “Do we need to bring the game back? I’m happy to play with you.” His tone insinuated dark promises.
“Why don’t you explain why you can’t possibly be on time? And I’ll consider telling you why I hate the sitting room.”
Unease churned her stomach as he tapped his steepled forefingers in contemplation.
“What did youthinkI was doing?” he asked, his voice cautious.
Emmery narrowed her eyes on the King and noticed he didn’t have his chest slathered in ointment, and he’d suffered similar injuries. Worse, actually. In fact, that V of skin he always had exposed was healed. Was that part of the curse? That the thornscouldn’t kill him? She shook the questions loose. “I don’t have any idea what you were doing and, honestly, I don’t want to know about your sex parties.” The last two words came out in a breathless uncertainty, and the moment she said it, regret flooded her.
Destonne stared at her for a long moment, blinked maybe in shock or awe or something in between, then he threw his head back andlaughed.
Not restrained. Not a chuckle. This was genuine and she couldn’t help but stare, feeling it in her chest as if it were her own. Blood trickled from his temples as the laugh died to a deep rumble in his throat. When he finally composed himself enough to speak, he said, “Did you saysex parties?”
Emmery’s face turned about twenty shades of scarlet.
“While that does sound like a splendid time, I can assure you there are none of those here. At least none that I’ve personally attended. Unless Brennen is hiding them under my nose.”
Emmery clutched the blanket so hard her fingers ached. “But the Scarlets. There aresomany of them in the castle. And why else—”
“You think they’re all tending tome?” He blinked incredulously. “How much stamina do you think I have? Don’t get me wrong, I’m flattered, but I’m one man.”
Every thread of her existence wanted to disappear, sink through this bed into the floor, and never emerge again. “I—well, I assumed that … and, then why else would they be here?”
Destonne leaned forward again and propped his chin on his fist. “Have you ever thought maybe I was trying to save them from a life of selling their bodies by giving them a safe place to stay? And what better way to do that than to offer them alternative work in my own home.”
“N-no,” Emmery stammered. He had to be manipulating her. Or lying. “Vesper said you did, and that’s something you wouldn’t do.”
“Because Vesper has always had such a keen eye on my life and character, right?” He ran his thumb along his bottom lip. “And why wouldn’t I?”
She stretched for an answer, but couldn’t find one. Because shehadassumed these things, or rather Vesper planted them in her head. Her brows pulled together and resigned, she said, “I’m not sure.”
Destonne stood from the chair, the book still in his hand as he strolled to the bed. Emmery’s heart thumped as he set the novel facedown on the nightstand and gestured to the spot beside her. “May I?”
“It’s your bed,” she mumbled. She pressed her hot cheeks into the sheets, more embarrassed than she’d been in her entire life.
The mattress dipped under his weight. Emmery became hyper aware of the little space between them and how little clothing she wore. How buttery the silk felt against her skin.
He searched the room as if it held the answer. “It’s complicated, but I’ll put it simply. Keeping them here is a loophole. So I can order them as I please and pay for their services, whether I use them or not.”
“And you don’t?”
Destonne lifted a brow. “Is that a hint of jealousy I hear?”
“Of course not,” Emmery snapped, but the answer came too quickly and the corners of his mouth twitched in response. “It’s wrong to take advantage of people. To own them. Use their bodies against their will.”
“And you feel strongly about this?”
“Of course I do!” A flush crept up her neck, her ears hot and red, too.
Destonne nodded. “That’s why I don’t use their services and none of my castle staff are permitted to, either. I have other work for them. More appropriate jobs.” He was quiet for a beat and drew his bottom lip between his teeth before he spoke. “And if yesterday was any indication, you should know I’m essentially abstinent.”
Her brows furrowed. That seemed unnecessary. “Why?”
“That’s an incredibly personal question you casually asked.” He lifted his legs onto the bed and stretched out, then let his head fall back against the wall.