Author's Note: Another frequently asked question I get is about writing tips, so I've made two videos of writing tips for you guys on plot, character, and writing technique.

This week's comment is by LithiaAarti1! Thank you for the kind words :)

***

Elon's chair screeched as he scooted it back and dashed to her side. "Carissa—"

Once they were out of the house, Carissa slammed the door shut behind them. Elon was, under no circumstances, going back into that seductress' house. The cool air met Carissa's hot skin, and she huffed. Perhaps that'd been a bit dramatic, but she wasn't going to sit by while Rosalind wooed her husband and stole his heart.

But perhaps Carissa would have had a stronger claim on his heart had she given all to him—not only in heart and soul but in body as well. Guilt tore at her. No wonder Elon had radiated such attraction towards Rosalind. She was willing to offer what Carissa had denied him.

"Carissa." Elon grabbed her by the shoulders. "Why—"

The door swung open behind her. Carissa whirled around to face Rosalind and placed herself squarely in front of Elon.

Rosalind nibbled at her full lower lip, and Carissa hoped she'd sufficiently blocked Elon's view of her and vice versa. "Is something wrong?"

Carissa clenched her jaw, but didn't dignify the question with an answer. Rosalind knew exactly what she was doing, and her feigned ignorance wouldn't work on Carissa.

Rosalind closed the door behind them. "Perhaps we could speak privately."

Carissa turned towards Elon and waited until he understood that private meant only her and Rosalind.

His jaw tightened. "We're going to speak of this."

Indeed they would.

Elon spun and walked down the steps, his shoulders stiff. She'd never seen him angry at her before, but she couldn't bring herself to care. So long as Elon was away from Rosalind...

Carissa turned towards Rosalind.

Rosalind kneaded her apron between her delicate hands like dough. "Carissa, I know we weren't close friends before, but would you tell me why you're so distraught?"

Carissa snorted. Distraught was an understatement. "Rosalind, in case you hadn't noticed, my husband is gone now. You needn't maintain your pretty, dumb girl act."

Rosalind's lush lips parted. "I–I beg your pardon. I was simply being friendly."

Carissa clamped her hands into fists. "And you were quite friendly with all the other men I admired."

Rosalind shrugged. "It was cruel and immature of me, but it wasn't as if you were going to wed any of them. Everyone in Hasita knew you were supposedly betrothed to the King, but now you're married to... this man."

Rosalind could fish for information all she desired, but Carissa wasn't going to reveal anymore about Elon. "And I love 'that' man. He saved me even when it cost him. He waited for me even as I threw myself away. He touched me even when I wasn't good enough for the men in the jailhouse. And I'm not good enough for him either. I'll never be good enough, and I hate that, because he deserves better."

Carissa's breath hiccupped as sobs tickled her throat, but she choked them back. "He deserves someone who is as capable of loving him as he loves her, someone whose beauty hasn't been marred by darkness, someone whose purity matches his. And even you, Rosalind, are more worthy of him than I am. I understand why he'd want you over me."

Rosalind reached out to touch Carissa's shoulder, her gaze soft, but Carissa stepped back.

"But regardless, he is mine, and I would sooner die than have him torn from my grasp." Carissa lifted her chin. "Stick to one husband, Rosalind, if you're capable of such loyalty."

Rosalind staggered, as if struck. "How dare you speak so about me?"

Carissa straightened, heartened to find she was still taller than Rosalind. "I could list several reasons."

Rosalind shook her head. "I've changed, Carissa. I love Nad. I wasn't trying to be coy with your husband; I was being friendly. Truly." Her lips trembled until she firmed them. "I know I've hurt you, Carissa, and I'm sorry. You weren't deserving of my resentment."

"Good. Then you'll understand when I say I don't believe you. I don't think you've changed, and no amount of apologies will bring my husband anywhere near you."

Her jaw slackened before she snapped her mouth closed. "It appears I'm not the only one who has changed." She offered Carissa a tremulous smile. "If you'll excuse me." She disappeared back into the house. Muffled sobs followed.

Carissa ignored the pinch in her chest and marched down the stone stairs. Now to have a talk with Elon.

As she passed a tree, an arm curved around her waist and pulled her back. She was drawing her elbow back to slam into the man's stomach when his breath whispered past her cheek. He smelled of leather, steel, and something else. Something subtler. Sweeter.

"Elon?"

Carissa glanced over her shoulder and found Elon's face a breath away from hers. Her body shuddered with relief. Only to stiffen with anger.

"Yes?"

She twisted away from his grasp to face him. "What part of a 'private conversation' did you not understand?"

He stepped away from the shade of the tree, revealing an amused twist to his lips. "The 'private' part, which I never agreed to, by the way."

If Elon thought he'd be spared her anger simply by making a cutesy remark, he was wrong. She plunked her hands onto her hips. "Good. Then you know that I refuse to share my husband's affections with another woman."

"Really?" He stepped forward, and she danced back a step.

"Yes. You'll simply have to overcome your attraction to her, and..." The beat of her heart hitched at the look of raw desire on Elon's expression.

"And what, Carissa?" He continued to close the distance between them.

He was trying to make her forget why she was upset at him. Well, it wouldn't work. She took another step back, and her back hit the rugged trunk of a tree.

Before she could move, Elon planted his palms on either side of her. "Are you at a loss for words, love?"

She tightened her lips and shoved at his chest. "Stop it, Elon. You might find this entertaining, but I don't find my husband being attracted to another woman remotely amusing." To her shame, her lower lip began to tremble.

The sparkle in his eyes melted into sympathy. "It seems we have a problem, then."

She nodded and settled her gaze on his. Her husband was attracted to another woman, and she could think of only one way to coax his affections her way. "Perhaps you should make love to me tonight."

Color shot across his face, reddening his expression from his neck to the tips of his ears. "P–Pardon? I fail to see how we've arrived at this... particular topic." He cleared his throat. "Not that I'm necessarily opposed, but..."

Carissa cupped his shoulder. "You're a man, Elon."

"Why, yes. Thank you for noticing."

She suppressed an eye roll. "And as much as I'd like to be angry with you, I know I'm at fault for this as well. As a man, you have certain needs, and if I'd pushed myself to be your wife in full before now and not denied you—"

He pressed his finger to her lips. "No, Carissa. When I said we had a problem, I wasn't referring to me being attracted to another woman. The problem is that you think I'm attracted to another woman. I obviously haven't made you feel desirable enough." He swept up her hand and pressed a slow kiss to her knuckles, the feel of his lips against her skin leaving her mouth dry. "A problem I'd gladly remedy, if you'll allow me."

She waited—for a splash of fear to cool her desire, for images of other men to darken her vision, for phantom sensations of pain to make her cringe. None came. Only desire caused her heart to beat so hard beneath her breasts. Her nod was nearly imperceptible, but it was all the encouragement Elon needed.

He lowered his mouth to hers, and she closed her eyes. When his lips didn't meet hers and instead settled beneath the soft skin of her jaw, she startled, only to melt when his mouth moved in a caress against her skin. She tilted her head to better expose her neck, and he obliged her, his lips skimming across its length.

A moan fluttered past her lips, and Elon's chuckle warmed her skin.

She opened her eyes, not quite recalling when she'd closed them. At the sight of Elon's smirk, she lifted her eyebrows. "What?"

"Nothing." But his grin belied his words. "I simply think I'm doing an excellent job, that's all."

"Oh, really? Says who?"

"You did." He bent closer, as if to impart a secret. "Did you hear that moan?"

She slapped his shoulder, a smile breaking free. "Oh, stop it."

His eyes glittered, and she thought their warm brown color more beautiful than any sapphire blue or emerald green. "Think I could get you to moan again?"

A blush heated her cheeks. "First of all, that was hardly a moan—"

"Was too."

"And secondly, no. I don't think you could."

"No?" His eyes widened in mock surprise before darkening in a way that made her chest tighten. "We'll have to see about that, won't we?"

When he nipped her ear, she couldn't stop a giggle from escaping.

He drew back, pressed his forehead to hers. "Laughing? Do you mock me, love?" But judging from the sparkle in his gaze, that was exactly what he'd wanted her to do.

Though she bit her lip, her mouth persisted in stretching into a smile so wide her cheeks ached. It felt strange for her to be laughing and smiling—wasn't kissing supposed to be a more serious affair than this?

Before she could mold her mouth into a more solemn shape, Elon pressed his smile to hers. Her lips softened instantly beneath his. As he moved to deepen the kiss, a burst of pleasure pierced her heart, the sensation so sharp it nearly hurt.

His arms loosened around her, and he withdrew just far enough to tuck her head beneath his chin. "Who do I love, Carissa?"

She pressed her hand to his chest, and his heart thrummed beneath her palm, its beat fast and hard. "Me."

He nodded. "Desire can be fickle thing, but my love for you will never wane. And so long as you have my love, my desire will follow in its wake. Just as you are ever mine, I am ever yours."

Carissa nestled closer to him, closing what little distance separated them.

His body flexed beneath her touch before he stepped away. "I hope I've made my point?"

She clasped her hands behind her back, smiling as innocently as she could manage. "Actually, I don't think I caught it the first time. Would you mind repeating it?"

His eyebrows arched. "Which part? The kiss or what I just said?"

Her deepening grin was answer enough.

Elon laughed and shook his head. "Regrettably, we can't do this all day."

"Why not?"

He nodded towards the cottage. "Before we leave, you need to speak to Rosalind."

She stiffened. "Why? I have nothing left to say to her."

Elon's lips seamed in disapproval. "Last night you said you wanted to be a loving person. Did you mean it or not?"

She folded her arms. "Fine, but you aren't coming."

"I'd like you to consider giving her a second chance."

"You're suggesting you go back in with me? Starting over like this morning never happened?"

He nodded. "I want you to be confident in my love for you. After all, this isn't the first time our relationship will be tested."

The thought of Elon even looking at Rosalind made her uneasy, but she nodded. "So long as you stay close to me."

Mirth filled his gaze, but instead of laughing at her, he wove their fingers together and tugged her closer. "Always."

***

Author's Note: The sneak peek can be found here as an external link or at the top of my profile.