“I just wanted to say that I love you, Alpha,” I whispered, and his finger traced my cheek.
“I know, beautiful. I love you too, Ariana. More than you’ll ever know,” he answered, and my heart swelled. “Now be a good girl and open your mouth so your alpha can finish feeding you breakfast.”
He fed me every last bite off that plate. I ate it all. To be honest, I wasn’t sure when I had eaten last and I was starving. When I finished off the meats and cheese, he fed me some deliciously ripe berries one by one. After I was through, I gently grasped his wrist and brought his fingers to my lips. I licked them hesitantly at first and he smirked knowingly before I started to suck them clean.
He groaned.
“Ariana,” he warned. “Careful. Keep teasing me and I’m going to have to put you over my knee,” he added with a purr.
I smirked, making a popping noise with my lips as I pulled back and released his finger from my mouth. He chuckled and plucked me out of the bed, squeezing me a bit tighter than usual. He carried me in his arms into the bathroom and prepared a hot bath for me, slowly lowering me down into the warm water when he was ready. I knew that he wouldn’t take no for an answer and I didn’t even try to fight him as he began to wash me himself. In an effort to make it easier for him, I reached for the shampoo and he gently batted my hands away.
“I’m going to give you a bath, my sweet sigma. You will be obedient and let me wash every inch of you without a fuss, do you understand me?”
“Yes, Alpha,” I whimpered, feeling a rush of desire and bliss settle deep in my core. I knew what would happen if I didn’t. I chewed my lip imagining it, but the feeling of his hands running along my skin was too intoxicating to ignore.
His hands massaged my scalp and I moaned, feeling the warmth of his touch deep in my soul. It was as if his fingers had been made for me and I sighed with happiness. My alpha was alive and once again, the world felt right. In that moment, I found myself at peace. I slipped away from the worries of the Cult and what might happen in the future. I lived in this single moment, my body encompassed by warm water and my alpha’s fingers on my skin.
His lips pressed softly against the top of my head and a fuzzy warmth floated through me. There was truly nothing better than this.
“You’re a very special little thing,” he murmured.
I blushed, not knowing what to say.
“Thank you, Ariana,” he added softly. I turned my head and gazed back into his loving eyes.
“I didn’t want to lose you,” I whispered, unable to hide the shake of emotion from my voice as I thought about what could have happened. Almost by force, I focused on the fact that I hadn’t lost him, that he was right here in front of me and the two of us were whole once more.
He traced his forefinger along my cheek until he cupped it just beneath my chin. Slowly, he drew me closer until his lips pressed against mine in a tender kiss that made my toes cu
rl. In its gentleness, it was incredibly possessive, and I was surrounded in its warmth. When he eventually pulled away, I found myself breathless and wanting. I didn’t push him to go any further though. He was in control, not me right now and that was comforting in its own way.
Without pause, he lifted me out of the bathtub, dried me in a fluffy towel, and brought me into our closet. He dressed me, choosing my gown and a pair of sandals with leather straps that went all the way up to my knees.
He gazed back at me with a certain consuming hunger and just as he was reaching for me, a knock sounded loudly at the door. With a reluctant sigh, he turned toward it and with several large strides, he opened it to reveal a male servant. The man looked nervous and it was clear to me that he hadn’t wanted to interrupt the two of us. It was likely that he hadn’t had a choice though.
“What is it?” he asked. There was a very slight hint of annoyance in Magnar’s tone as he crossed his arms over his chest and leaned against the wall. I didn’t know what he had planned for me, but it appeared it likely wasn’t going to happen anytime soon.
“My king, the visiting ruler Erik seeks an audience with you,” the man said.
“I thought he’d left yesterday,” Magnar grumbled.
“The hand of the king invited him to stay a few days longer. I was not informed as to the reasoning, Your Majesty,” he answered.
“I expect that Neegan has planned out the next few days’ full itinerary,” Magnar groaned. He dragged his palm over his face, sighing quietly with frustration.
“I’m not sure, my king,” the servant replied anxiously and Magnar shook his head.
“I know. Thank you for informing me. I will be right down,” he answered. The look of relief on the servant’s face was more than apparent. He bowed his head and Magnar closed the door.
With several large steps, he strode back to me. He swept me up in his arms and captured me in another kiss that made my heart race and my core ache with need. My clit throbbed and I pouted petulantly knowing that there would be no time for the two of us to spend together for some time to come.
My needy little pussy was going to have to wait because we had to focus on the dangers at hand. We needed to deal with the Cult.
“We have to find out who the Acolyte is and deal with him,” I whispered.
“I know we do,” he answered. “We’ll do it together.”
“I’ll keep watch from within the walls,” I said softly.