The Forsaken King

She didn’t ask about the conversation with the queen, like that was the last thing on her mind.

It was certainly the last thing on mine.

I unclasped my cloak, unbuttoned my tunic, and at the foot of the bed, I undressed until a pile of clothes was on the hardwood floor.

Her eyes looked me over—hungry.

My knees hit the mattress and made her body turn slightly in my direction. Farther I went until I held myself over her, my head dipping to hers for a kiss. The landing was soft, our lips coming together like white clouds against a blue sky. My eyes opened and looked at her underneath me, her eyes on my lips, wanting more.

I tugged the sheets from her body and hooked her leg over my hip as I pressed into her, our warm bodies coming together like two logs in a fire. My mouth sealed over hers again in a passionate kiss with hungry moves, a little bit of tongue, and lots of heavy breaths. I ground our bodies together at the same time, my shaft growing wet just from pressing against her entrance.

I hadn’t showered in three days, but she didn’t give a damn.

Her nails dug into my back as she dragged her hands down, slicing into my skin like I was fully inside her and making the bed shake. One hand went to my ass, and she tugged on me, too anxious to continue this unnecessary foreplay.

I directed myself inside her and felt her gasp against my mouth.

A moan came next, a quiet and drawn-out one.

With slow and steady thrusts, I rocked into her, my eyes on hers. “Welcome home, baby.”

TWENTY-FIVE

Ivory

As if we’d never left, he woke me up the next morning just the way I liked, his lips on my neck, his hips between my thighs. It was all business, getting right to the point so he could start his day.

I loved morning sex.

I’d never had it before because my lovers had to sneak out in the middle of the night.

He bathed then left, and I went right back to sleep the second the door shut.

When I woke up hours later, I bathed even though I had bathed last night, because it was a pleasure I would never take for granted again. I took the money from his nightstand and bought myself a big lunch then returned to the house to sit in front of the fireplace in the bedroom and read one of the books I’d found on the sloop. I felt like a wife waiting for my husband to come home from his long day at work.

The door opened and closed downstairs, and I knew I was no longer alone.

I closed my book and listened to his heavy footsteps on the stairs. I’d heard them enough times to recognize them, for it to become habitual.

He entered the room in his royal garments, broad shoulders, muscular arms, with the height of a tree. His bright eyes locked on me, but his hands didn’t reach for his clothes to undo them and leave them on the floor.

He approached my armchair then took a knee, making himself eye level with me, his hand moving to my bare thigh then underneath the bottom of my sweater, which covered me to my thighs. I wore his socks too, which came up to my knees. His fingers reached until he found the fabric of my underwear and lightly played with it.

My eyes savored his strong jawline, the shadow it produced underneath his chin, the way his eyes were so pretty but also so hard at the same time. This wasn’t what I’d imagined for a husband, but it could be worse, far worse.

“You still want to do this?” His deep voice came out quiet, barely louder than the fire that burned behind him.

My eyes searched his face for an explanation.

“Because we need to do it now.”

The realization came a moment later. “What’s happened?”

His eyes remained steady, and his fingertips continued to play with my underwear beneath my sweater. “She intends to deliver you to Klaus tomorrow. Doesn’t trust you enough to let you return to Delacroix—which is what I expected.”

I guess that wasn’t surprising.

“This is our only option.”

“You really think our marriage will be enough to protect me?”

“You’d be family—so, yes.”

A long stare ensued, and my heart beat so hard that tiny vibrations rushed to my extremities. I only had one soul to give, and this was the man I would give it to. There would never be anyone else. Forever. “Do you still want to do this…?”

His hand went to my neck, his thumb brushing over my bottom lip. “You’re my baby, right?”

And just like that, all the fear disappeared. I realized I didn’t want to do this just to save myself—but because he would be mine forever.

“We’re loyal to each other first. Everyone else—second.”