Page 122 of The Princess and Her Grand King

You are the only male I have ever wanted. In the past, present, and future. Always you.

He pulled away, quickly shedding his clothing until he was naked. Then, he came back, crawling over her body, enveloping her in his warmth.

“I have everything you can give, except one.” He brushed his lips tenderly across her forehead. “One day, I wish to have your heart again.”

You never stopped having it. Even through the hurt, the bitterness, the resentment, you never stopped having it. Not even when I lost our child…

A tear trailed down her cheek, glistening in the soft light.

He kissed it. “I’m sorry for everything you went through in your short life, Riel.” He caressed her sides, pressing a tender kiss to the tip of her nose. “The wounds I inflicted and the ones I didn’t. The pain I was aware of and the hurt I wasn’t…”

Oh gods.

“Please, don’t do this,” she whispered, her voice breaking as she fought to keep her tears at bay. “Not tonight.”

“…I’m sorry for the wounds that ran too deep, the ones that scarred over.” He dropped his weight, grinding his thick, hard erection against her.

She gasped, awareness reigniting in her body, desire coiling tight in her belly despite the mind-shattering release she’d experienced just moments ago.

“My pretty Riel.”

Unable to bear hearing any more of his heartbreaking, heart-healing words, Emeriel surged up, capturing his lips in a frantic kiss.

She poured all her pain, her longing, her love into the kiss, tasting his lips, his essence. Her eyes slid closed, surrendering to their passion.

For endless minutes, their lips battled together, his tongue exploring every inch of her mouth.

His kisses made Emeriel feel like she’d had ten gallons of ale. Her mind sluggish, her limbs heavy.

My Beloved. Mine.

How will I live without you?

When the kiss came to an end, his big body was taut with desire, hunger burning in his gaze.

She parted her legs in a silent invite. “Inside, please.”

“I still have one more thing to apologize for,” he said in the gentlest tone. “This is going to hurt.”

“It’s okay.” Emeriel blinked up at him. “I know your… um, size. We have done… uhm, this before.”

He shook his head, apologetic. “You were in heat, it’s not the same.”

Eyes searching hers, he pushed forward.

Or tried to.

Emeriel felt the pressure of his length nudged against her. Once. Twice.

But each attempt brought a growing burn. A building discomfort.

“You are… shit,” he groaned, dropping his forehead against her shoulder. “So fucking tight.”

He pressed again, and this time, she couldn’t hold back a cry.

“Did you get… bigger?” she gasped.

“No, Beloved, you got way smaller.” He kissed her shoulder. Lifting himself a bit, he bore down again. “It’s okay. We will make it fit. I want to be inside you so bad.”

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