Page 116 of The Princess and Her Grand King

He stared, he gawked… completely transfixed.

Every shred of rational thought took their leave, waving goodbye, and lust—heavy, blatant lust—came barreling in. His cock hardened painfully, pulsing against the confines of his sleep-pants.

“Fuck,” he swore, head spinning with desire.

“Your Grace…” Her soft voice drew his focus to her face. She looked visibly nervous. “I…”

Daemonikai rose from his bed and moved towards her. Slow and stalking, like a predator.

Emeriel's eyes flickered downward, landing on the unmistakable bulge in his pants and went wide. They darted back to his face, her cheeks tinting a deep, captivating red.

“You came here for something,” he murmured in a low voice. “What is it you want, my beauty?”

Moving closer, so close that the air between them disappeared and she had to tilt her head back to meet his eyes. A vulnerable look on her face.

Not even a week ago, she’d made it abundantly clear this wouldn’t be happening between them anytime soon.So what had changed?

Seeing her so fragile made him want to protect anddevourher all at once.

"Tell me what's wrong," Daemonikai coaxed, attempting to curb his predatory instincts.

“I…” She wavered for a heartbeat. "I could not sleep, and I m-missed your touch." She leaned in, andkissedhim.

A growl rose from his chest, the part of him waiting for this moment awakening.

His hands moved immediately, one curving around the back of her neck, the other gripping her waist as he pulled her flush against him. Their bodies collided, her softness molding perfectly to his erection pressed firmly against her belly.

The tentative kiss she’d offered—he took it over entirely, deepening the kiss. Devouring her lips without finesse, just the way his hunger demanded. He was starved for her, and held nothing back.

She tried to pull away, to catch her breath, but he didn’t let her. Instead, he breathed into her mouth as he lavished it, giving her the air she needed while claimingher very soul.

At last, when he pulled back, she was gasping, clutching at his shirt. Her lips pink, swollen, and glistening as she dragged air into her lungs.

“The things I will do to you tonight…” His own breathing was heavy as he looked down at her, letting her see his hunger in every line of his face.

“Since the moment I woke up and saw you naked beside me, I’ve fantasized about a thousand ways to touch you.” He brushed his lips against the shell of her ear, his voice a dark, husky whisper. “The things I want to do to you, Beloved…”

"Please don't call me that," she said shakily, squeezing her eyes shut.

“Tomorrow, I will adhere to this request.” He flicked his tongue against her ear, earning a tremor through her body. “But not tonight.”

Daemonikai walked her back, step by step, until her spine met the wall. Emeriel gasped at the contact.

“Tonight, you are mine. Oh, my dearest…" Leaning in, his eyes burned into hers possessively. "You have held the reins for so long and I let you have them. But tonight, in this room, I will take them back. Just for the night, you are mine to command. Mine to own. Mine towreck.”

Lust flashed in her eyes, but there was also panic. Her gaze darted past him to the door, looking for an escape.

“There’s none,” he informed her. “You walked in here on your own, Beloved.”

“Yes, but th-this is not—"

“I don’t know what you’re trying to prove to yourself, but I have something to prove to you.” His hand slid up to cradle her cheek as he captured those succulent lips again, sucking on them for a moment, before he pulled back. “That you are mine.”

“Calm down, Daemon—I mean, Your Grace,” she corrected quickly, pressing her hand against his chest.

“Daemon is just fine,” he purred with satisfaction.

She had been clinging to his title like a shield, using it to keep a formal distance between them. No more. “Say it again.”

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