Page 22 of Taken By the Naga King

Azha’s hand caught his as it trailed down her chest. She guided it under the water, straight to her core. She would have him now, right here in this bath. Screw the dinner. They would spend the night here instead.

Just as his fingers touched her, Gravon seemed to snap out of it. He withdrew his hand, an apologetic look taking over his face.

“I’m sorry. I should not have…” He trailed off and shook his head. “We do not have time. And I want it to be right. I want us to wait until tonight.”

“Tonight? I can have you tonight?” She didn’t care about anything as long as she could have that. As long as it was really going to happen.

“Yes. I promise you, my beautiful mate.”

A soft moan escaped her as he caressed her face with a hand.

“Okay,” she managed to say. But all she was thinking about was that hand, those fingers, diving inside of her. That mouth tasting her the way it had on the Imperial Nirum.

“Azha…” he murmured, his tone a warning.

“Please,” she whispered. She felt like she could cry, she wanted him so badly.

He looked conflicted, but he ultimately stuck to his decision.

“Tonight. We can get through this dinner, and then we will have our fun.”

He looked around the bathroom.

“And tomorrow, you are moving into my room. Officially. No more of this separate quarters nonsense.”

“I’ll get to wake up with you every morning?”

He nodded.

To say things had changed with them since he confessed that they were mates would be an understatement. Azha had wasted no time letting herself fall for him, and she was so deep into it that she couldn’t even remember what it was like to not love him.

And she would tell him all of that tonight.

Gravon began backing away from the tub. “I brought you a dress to wear tonight. I will meet you in the hall in a couple of hours when you are prepared.”

She nodded, unable to say anything else. If she opened her mouth, she would probably beg him to stay and blow off this dinner.

When he left the room, she blew out a sigh of relief.

“Holy fucking shit,” she murmured to herself before letting her head fall back against the tub.

How the hell was she going to get through this dinner?

Azha and Gravon entered the massive dining hall, and the entire room fell silent. Everyone bowed before them and waited until she and the king sat before being seated as well.

“Thank you all for joining my mate and me for dinner tonight,” Gravon addressed the room. “And please use this night to give Azha, your future queen, a warm welcome.”

Cheers rang out, though she could tell they only came from about half the room.

“You may begin eating.” Gravon started the feast with his announcement.

Noise filled the room as guests began talking and clinking glasses. She looked around at all the tables filled with Niri. A lot of them met her eyes, some smiling. Others simply looked away, avoiding her gaze.

“Azha, I’d like to introduce you to Indigon, Azurite, Corallo, and Neptus. They are my closest friends of many years.”

“Nice to meet you,” she said, and they all bowed their heads to her.

She looked at Vespira and Xenia, who were sitting right next to her. She was grateful that Gravon had allowed them to attend as guests at the last minute.

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