Page 116 of Reckless Royalty

I roll my eyes, a small smile tugging at my lips. “Maybe I’m just plotting my revenge.”

He chuckles. “Good luck with that, just no pouncing on me in the morning again, okay?”

“Oh, my god, you’re never going to let me live that down, are you?’ I grumble.

“Not a chance,” he continues the massage, his hands gliding down my spine, over the curves of my hips, and back up again. Each stroke is careful, reverent, like he’s memorizing every inch of me.

By the time he finishes, my body feels like it’s floating, every muscle loose and pliant and I feel like I could melt into the bed.

“Okay, you’re too quiet,” he remarks again. “What’s going on in that beautiful head of yours?”

“Just… processing,” I admit softly, my voice barely above a whisper. “This. You. Everything.”

He smirks, leaning down to brush his lips against my shoulder. “Am I overwhelming you, Maddy?”

“A bit,” I say honestly, my lips curving into a small smile. “But in a good way.”

His chuckle is low and warm, vibrating against my skin. “Good. I like keeping you on your toes.”

When he’s finished, he turns me on my back and sits back on his heels, his gaze sweeping over me.

“There,” he says softly. “All done. How do you feel?”

I take a deep breath, letting it out slowly. “I feel… lighter,” I admit, the words coming out more honestly than I intended. “Like I’ve let go of something I didn’t even know I was holding onto.”

His eyes soften, and he leans down to press a lingering kiss to my forehead. “Good,” he murmurs. “That’s exactly what I wanted for you.”

I reach up, my fingers brushing against his curls, and he leans into my touch like it’s the most natural thing in the world.

“Thank you,” I whisper, my voice filled with a gratitude I can’t fully express.

He smiles, his thumb brushing over my cheek. “Always, baby.”

For a moment, we just stay there, wrapped in the quiet intimacy of the moment. Then he shifts, pulling the blanket over us as he settles beside me. His arm drapes over my waist, pulling me close, and I can feel the steady rhythm of his heartbeat against my back.

“Sleep,” he murmurs, his lips brushing against my temple. “You’ve earned it.”

As I lay there, my body buzzing with a mix of emotions and sensations, I realize just how deeply I trust him.

Mihai isn’t just my protector—he’s my sanctuary.

MADDY

The first thing I notice when I wake up is Mihai’s warmth, his arms wrapped tightly around me, his chest rising and falling steadily against my back. The faint light of dawn filters through the curtains, bathing the bedroom in a soft glow.

His scent—heady and comforting, with a hint of his cologne—surrounds me, and for a moment, I let myself relax completely.

Last night was… unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. Mihai had pushed me, not in a way that hurt, but one that forced me to trust him completely. And I had. Every nerve in my body still feels electrified, hypersensitive to even the lightest touch, a lingering reminder of how thoroughly he unraveled me.

I shift slightly, careful not to wake him, and slip out of bed. My legs feel unsteady, every step making me hyper aware of the aftershocks of last night. My silk robe brushes against my skin as I make my way to the bathroom, and even that small sensation makes me shiver.

Staring at my reflection in the mirror, I see someone different—someone Mihai has started to pull out of the wreckage I thought I’d become.

And I’m scared. Terrified, actually, of how easily I could lose myself in him, how much I want to.

I splash some water on my face, hoping it’ll cool me down, but it does little to stop the rush of thoughts in my head.

How did this happen?How did we happen?

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