Page 162 of The Princess and Her Grand King

And occasionally, when she walked past him, he’d cup her butt or touch her breasts so unexpectedly, making her jerk. But it all ended there.

Despite the nights when his manhood poked her all through the dark hours, or the mornings when he woke with clear arousal, he hadn’t tried to take her body again.

She tried not to let it trouble her, but it did.

Emeriel missed him in that way. She wanted to feel him again. She couldn’t believe how often she thought about it.

It worried her, how much she longed to open her legs for him… to let him inside her body again.Such unladylike hunger.

Emeriel never imagined herself this way.

Just three years ago, the idea of sexual intimacy had filled her with dread. Her heart cut out of her chest and handed to her each time she had to save her sister from yet another aristocrat.

What she shared with her Beloved was nothing like the sickening, demeaning act those ministers had forced upon her sister, Emeriel knew that. What they had was different, it was special andoh so beautiful.

But still… she shouldn’t want it this bad. She shouldn’t think about it as much as she did,like some harlot in a whorehouse.

So she kept silent, suppressing her desires even as they left her in a constant state of hunger she couldn’t shake.

Thankfully, though, his nightmares hadn’t returned in days. There were moments when he stared off into the distance with a look of sorrow, but whenever he saw her, the look cleared, and his stance relaxed. Always fully present and attentive. As though nothing else in the world mattered but her.

Emeriel basked in it. Relished the feeling of being the center of his universe. She almost wished they could stay here forever, untouched by the outside world.

But she knew the reprieve was temporary. Duty called.

They would be leaving this haven in a few days.

***

After finishing in the kitchen, Emeriel went looking for him.

Their bedroom was empty, the bed undisturbed.

Stepping outside, the cool evening breeze brushed against her skin as she made her way to the archery range, one of his favorite places to spend his time, but it was silent, her Beloved nowhere in sight.

She checked the garden, spotting the gardener tending to the plants.

The gardener gave a respectful bow. “Your Highness,”

“Have you seen His Majesty?” she asked, brushing her hair away from her face as the evening breeze toyed with it.

“Yes, my princess. He went in this direction.” He pointed behind him, toward the woods.

“Thank you.” She gave him a slight nod. “You may return to your work.”

Emeriel turned toward the dense tree line. Shadows stretched long in the fading light, birdsong greeting her as she stepped under the canopy. The wind moved through the trees, rustling the leaves, sending her long hair swirling around her shoulders, her garments flowing like water.

“My King…?”

No answer.

The deeper she ventured into the forest, the more different the atmosphere felt. The hairs on her arms stood, and she stopped.

Something was watching her.

But it wasn’t fear she felt, it was something else entirely.Awareness.

My mate.

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