Page 96 of Regally Binding

“I don’t know,” Bear conceded. “But it’s not up to us to decide.”

The King was in the care of world-class toxicologists flown in within hours of the revelations. He was receiving the best treatment, but no one was willing to make a prognosis until they saw how he responded.

“So that’s it. All sorted and with a big red bow,” she said, sagging against the bed as Bear took away her tray before scooting back under the duvet.

Liss rested her head against his chest. His warmth and the regular pound of his heart comforted her. The next time the sun set, she’d be alone, scared, and desperate for his care. They sat like this in silence, safe together. Liss closed her eyes andbreathed slowly. A happiness that she’d never felt before swelled in her heart at just being close to this guy who made her think she could conquer anything.

Time passed, and the quiet of the house lingered. His breathing was slower, as if he was sleeping. She languished in his safety and let him rest. He hadn’t had enough recently. After a while, maybe even hours, he stirred.

His words echoed in his chest. “I was just thinking about you. Are you doing okay about your decision and announcement?”

“Kind of. It’s my duty and my way to honour Mum. I need to live the life and take the opportunity she didn’t have. But then there’s you.”

“Me?” Bear’s voice cracked.

Liss closed her eyes and willed herself to be honest. “I don’t want to say goodbye to you. I’m not good at goodbyes, but after only two weeks with you, I can’t imagine a life without you by my side. We can’t have a future, you don’t do relationships, and I have a duty, but we’ll never spend time together again.”

Bear leant back and lifted her face to his. “I don’t do goodbyes either. We can stay up to watch the sunrise and then nap, and then I’ll slip out so we don’t have to say goodbye.”

He made it sound so easy. Maybe it was for him.

Liss nodded as tears brimmed her eyes. She was stupid to hope he’d tell her they’d make it work.

“Don’t cry, Liss. You’ll be a fantastic princess and an epic queen. People will write songs about you and perform shows in your honour.” He didn’t understand the real reason for her tears. “And whenever you see the sunrise, you can remember our time together.”

Liss smiled half-heartedly as he brushed the tears away from her cheeks. He kissed her softly, but as his hands cupped her cheeks, she deepened it, easing his lips open. Her fingers danced across his stubbled chin, but nothing was gentle about how hismouth opened to hers. Liss pulled his bottom lip between her teeth before meeting his tongue with hers. Warmth fused with need, and his hands fisted in her hair. His tongue massaged hers as she climbed on top of him. He stroked her skin beneath her T-shirt as she ground herself against him. He reached for the hem and pulled it over her head. She was naked and ready for him.

Turmoil unravelled in her stomach at her acceptance that it was their last time together. But she pushed the pain down as he stared at her in awe. Arousal scorched them as they quickly pushed his joggers down and off. They became a mess of limbs and lips in the frenzy of their lust. Liss cried out as he kissed and sucked at her neck. Heat controlled them. Her pussy burnt with desire, and she panted loudly as Bear’s thumb grazed and rubbed circles across her clit. His cock was hard between her thighs, and the sensations made her cry out for more.

“I want you good and wet for me.” His voice was low and thrummed through her body. She writhed against him.

“I want you inside of me.”

She was frantic as he attempted to increase foreplay. But as much as she should have made it last, she needed him deep inside her. She bit his skin and whispered the dirtiest words into his ear before licking and sucking the lobe. Her nails scratched his nipples, making him hiss. She was desperate for their bodies to fuse as they owned each other one last time.

“I wanted this to be slow and dirty, but you’re fucking impossible. I need you riding me, baby,” he groaned. Bear reached for a condom, and she ripped the wrapper open and slid it onto him. His eyes rolled in the back of his head. He made everything sexy.

She lined him up against her and gritted her teeth as she pressed down onto him. His cock filled her easily as if their bodies were designed for each other. Liss flattened her palms against his chest, running her fingers through his chest hair andrevelling in how he tightened his pecs even as he hissed and clenched his thighs.

Back at the palace party, he’d said she wouldn’t have a problem straddling him, and he was right. He was hard in all the right places.

Liss threw her head back as she rode him. Their lovemaking was intimate yet fed her cravings. She desperately tried to clutch the moment forever. Her hands slipped to either side of his head, gripping the pillow as she rode him. He stared at her with something more than awe. She glowed under his stare. She bucked her hips and stretched her thighs as he lifted his pelvis to thrust inside her. Bear’s nostrils flared as she forced him deeper. Her heart thudded as they fucked.

Her fingers slid to her clit to send her pleasure higher, but he slapped her hand away and thumbed it for it himself. It was swollen from the coarseness of his fingers, and she leant down to kiss him hard as he continued to rub and stroke her. She kissed and sucked his searing skin before biting his shoulder. His body jumped beneath her.

“Fucking hell,” he grunted and gripped her butt with one hand to force her into riding him quicker. Her moans were wicked as his hands caressed and squeezed while they fought for pleasure.

“Fuck me harder,” she growled, and he flipped her to her back and thrust inside her.

The lovemaking lasted for hours as they changed positions, and both climaxed several times. As the sun rose, Bear held her tightly and whispered how much she meant to him and that she’d changed his life in ways he never expected. She’d taught him that he wasn’t truly alone and that he would have endless memories of her no matter what happened.

“In our parallel universe, we’re living by the lake in that picture,” he said, pointing at the painting on the wall. “And we’re fighting and making love in our beautiful cabin.”

“Don’t forget Jeff, Roy, and Zorro. We need our dogs and feral cat.” She drew her bottom lip between her teeth as tiredness swept over her.

“I’ll never forget them, and I will never forget you, beautiful Liss.”

She fell asleep to her name on his lips.

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