Page 115 of Reckless Royalty

“You were perfect,” he growls as he cups my face. “Look at you. You’re a masterpiece, pet. I could spend forever exploring every inch of you.”

And for the first time… I actually believe I am.

His hands move with careful precision, his fingers warm and sure as he unties the silk restraints from my wrists, my body hypersensitive to every brush of his fingers

“You did so well,” he murmurs, his voice low and soothing. His hands move to my wrists, rubbing gentle circles into the skinand then kissing them. I hadn’t even realized how tight I’d been holding them until now, the warmth of his touch coaxing me to relax.

“Does anything feel too tight? Any pain?” he asks, his voice softer than I’ve ever heard it. His brows knit with concern as he kneads the stiff muscles in my wrists.

I shake my head, unable to speak just yet, but he’s not satisfied with that. He leans in closer, his dark eyes locking onto mine.

“Madison,” he says. “I need words, baby. Did anything hurt? Are you sore?”

I swallow, my voice coming out a little hoarse. “No… I mean, yes, but not in a bad way. It’s… I feel good. Just… sensitive.”

His lips twitch into the faintest smile, relief softening the tension in his shoulders. “Sensitive is good,” he murmurs, his fingers trailing down my forearms to my elbows, massaging out any lingering tightness. “I’m going to take care of you now, okay?”

I nod and look down at my body, then I frown. “You didn’t use wax?”

He shakes his head and chuckles. “No, baby. I used a massage oil candle. I didn’t think it would be wise to start off with wax right off the bat.”

My heart flutters at the care in his tone, and I nod, letting myself sink further into the mattress. He reaches for a damp lukewarm cloth and begins wiping away the remnants of the oil.

“You don’t have to do all this,” I whisper, though my voice barely holds conviction. The sensation of his hands on me, the way he’s looking at me—it’s grounding me in a way I didn’t know I needed.

“Of course I do,” he says, his dark eyes meeting mine briefly. “You trusted me. That’s not something I take lightly, Madison.”

My breath hitches at the way he says my name, and I watch as he reaches for a small bottle of aloe vera. He warms it between his hands before pressing it into my skin, his fingers firm but tender as they massage the balm into the areas the oil had touched.

Each stroke of his hands feels like an apology and a promise. He treats every part of me like I’m something precious, something worth cherishing.

“So… Madison, hey?” I ask, my cheeks warming.

Mihai grins. “Did me using your name do something to you, baby?”

“Shut up,” I pout and he laughs. “You’re way too good at this. Should I be jealous?”

He chuckles, low and rich, the sound vibrating through me. “Gotta take care of my girl, don’t I?” The words are casual, but the way he saysmy girlmakes my cheeks heat. “And no, you have no reason to feel jealous. I’ve only ever done this with you.”

My heart warms at that, and I’m not sure how to respond to it, so I just watch as he works his way up my arms. His touch is firm enough to ease the tension but soft enough to feel intimate. When he gets to my shoulders, he pauses, his hands resting there for a moment.

“You’re incredible, you know that?”

I blink up at him, caught off guard. “I’m not sure that’s the right word.”

He smirks, leaning down until his face is just inches from mine. “It’s the only word that fits. You were perfect tonight, Maddy. Brave, beautiful, and so fucking strong.”

My lips part to respond, but nothing comes out. How do you argue with someone when they look at you like you hung the damn moon?

Mihai doesn’t give me a chance to overthink it. He shifts me gently, his hands sliding down to my hips as he turns me onto my stomach.

“Relax for me,” he says, his voice low and commanding. “I’m going to make sure you’re completely taken care of.”

I do as he says, resting my head on my folded arms. The bed dips as he moves, straddling the back of my thighs. His weight is grounding, his presence a comfort I didn’t realize I needed until now.

When he finishes with my arms, he moves to my shoulders, kneading the tension out of the muscles there before pressing a kiss to the top of my head.

“You’re quiet,” he says, his tone teasing but soft. “Not like my usual chatterbox. Did I break you, Maddy?”

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