Page 65 of Forbidden Desire
“Fine,” she spat between gritted teeth and rolled her eyes. “I was planning to escape and came here to talk Desiree into coming with me.”
Silence bloomed.
“Thank you for speaking the truth,” I soothed, moving toward her. She dodged my advance, jaw tightening as her eyes danced with defiance.
“Eventually,” Rasmie added.
“Aye, eventually,” I ceded. “Yet, in the end, it still counts, Maighstir.”
“This is unacceptable, Jeemie.” Rasmie glared at all three of us. “I cannot have my wife embroiled in this behavior.”
“She has nothing to do with this.” Elodie stepped forward. “She actually refused my suggestion.”
“Is this true, nighean bheag?” Rasmie arched a brow at Desiree. “Or is your sister merely protecting you?”
“It’s true,” Elodie insisted.
“Doe nighean.” I reached for her again. “We should leave and let them alone.”
Elodie’s gaze fell to Desiree, her expression sad.
“Yes, they have things to discuss.”
“First, there is the matter of your punishment.” Rasmie straightened. “An incident like this cannot go with impunity.”
“Rasmie.” Desiree clutched the covers to her chest. “Please, it’s not her fault. She isn’t like me. She doesn’t want this.”
He held out his palm in a gesture to silence her.
“Your sister’s will is irrelevant, and since she tried to flee, her sentence is now absolute. She will marry my brother, Jeemie, when the sun rises tomorrow, stay here, and bear his children.”
“You swine.” Venom dripped from Elodie’s voice. “Is captivity your answer to everything?”
“In the meantime,”—Rasmie stepped toward her—“she shall be publicly spanked and paraded for my people to see.” He paused, turning to me. “Brother, you shall expedite the penance and ensure she is draped with your wedding bloom.”
I nodded at him, doing my best to assuage the swell of arousal his sentence inspired. Elodie would not take kindly to his verdict, but she would look fabulous on display, adorned in preparation for our nuptials.
“You can’t be serious?” Elodie’s eyes were wild. “Jeemie, there’s no way you can go along with this madness.”
“Aye.” I smiled at her crimson face, knowing soon enough, her ass would match the hue. “I shall. Our maighstir has every right to penalize you for this fray, and I shall enjoy my part in it. I already know which bloom I shall ask Audra to collect.”
She panted in front of me, shaking her head as if unwilling to accept anything about the decision.
“And you, my love.” Rasmie stepped toward the bed. “You too deserve to be punished.”
“No.” Elodie flew in his direction. “Don’t you touch her... not in her condition!”
“What?” My brow rose, my attention darting from Elodie to Desiree.
“Her condition?” Rasmie pulled in a breath.
“I did not want to tell you this way.” Desiree’s reply was only a whisper. “I didn’t know if you heard El and me talking.”
“Not about this.” Rasmie perched on the edge of the bed, reaching for her hand. “Can it be true? Are you with child?”
“I’m not one hundred percent sure.” Tears brimmed in her beige eyes. “But I think so.”
“Nighean bheag.” Rasmie pulled her closer, and I had the distinct impression Elodie and I should leave, that we were intruding on a deeply personal moment.