Page 4 of Omission: Part 2

“My apologies, my king. I came to ask Maman a question.”

“A question?” His tone to someone unaware of his cruelty is pleasant, but I hear the tinge of a threat. “What question?”

“Woman issues.” The lie slips from me easily, and it helps that his mate remains at ease beside me. It’s also convenient that hecan’thandle something as simple as a menstrual cycle.

“Which ones?”

“Pain and heaviness during my time of?—”

“Enough.” End of. He doesn’t want to hear anymore.

It works for me. Keeps his mate safe for the time being.

Because Father can never find out about our private conversations or her warnings.

He’d take her from me, otherwise.

1

ANAYA

PRESENT…

For the first time in my life, I understand the true meaning of the wordpeace.

It’s a deep sense of nothingness while being overwhelmingly everything all in the same breath. It’s a comforting silence that stretches and fills every inch of the space surrounding us while a blanket of warmth protects my heart and soothes my soul. While my lungs expand on a quiet sigh, the scent of chocolate and cloves settles inside me.

I’ve never felt so safe. So free.

With my king, I’m weightless and full of hope. There are no background noises or interruptions. No threats looming close—no need to fear my present or future—because everything outside of lying in my male’s arms has lost all meaning.

He is all I hear. All I see.

He’s the overwhelming essence—the truest definition of love—filling my being while simultaneously erasing all my worries. Knitting together all those open wounds, the proof of my prior subjugation and life filled with pain, that now no longer registers.

Then, there’s the rhythmic rise and fall of his chest while the thumping of his resting heart lulls me into a plane of pure satisfaction that pulls a low purr from me. It’s a sound I’ve never made before him; a tiny little mewl that expresses the unadulterated happiness currently flowing through every molecule of my fae DNA.

Especially when he tightens his hold on me every few minutes. When his bare, semi-hard cock twitches against my thigh.

“No night clothes for either of us, precious one.”

“But what about when?—”

Leo places a warm fingertip over my lips, his smile so sweet. All for me. “I want to feel you, Anaya. All of you. There will be no clothing worn inside our private chambers—nothing to keep me away—it’s the king’s decree. An order. One I’ll test more than once, even while we’re out in public because I’ll always simply need you.”

Leonardo’s asleep beside me, but that doesn’t diminish our connection as he’s placed my naked body half-strewn high across his broad chest while one of his hands palms my right asscheek possessively. Grip strong, his fingers dig into my flesh every few minutes as he pets me and then returns to his slumber.

Over and over again.

It’s the sweetest torture.

An unconscious act, I know this, but I also can’t help but preen under his open need for me.

To feel me. To have me close. To own me.

“My precious one.” It’s a deep, yet sleep-filled rumble from his chest. The sound’s low and a bit garbled, yet I understand each word clearly. Accept them as the gift they are and tilt my head up, finding his face pinched and brows furrowed. It shows his frustration over something—the bond between us clamoring with an unfulfilled need—before two thick fingers dig deeper and I whimper.

Not from pain, but from desire.

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