Page 168 of Cruel Devotion

With every ounce of my soul.

I could give her the world, just to see her smile, just to know that she was all mine.

It was as if we were on the cusp of something profound, a journey not just of bodies, but of hearts and souls. On the surface, our time seemed like a series of passionate encounters but I was not too stupid to not know that our bond was deepening.

Love was blossoming.

Getting closer to the palace, I considered the energy that was surging between us, even in this very moment while we walked next to each other.

It was a powerful current that needed to be harnessed and cherished.

God. . .I want to be inside of her right now.

But I had to let Monique gather all her energy, so that she was ready for the intensity of what was to come later.

Meanwhile, the anticipation of our next sexual encounter filled me with excitement. I wanted to give her not just pleasure,but a connection that resonated on every level—emotional, physical, and spiritual.

The appetizer had been exquisite, but the entrées to come promised to be even more fulfilling, a feast of the heart that I intended to savor in every possible way.

We made it to the palace.

Monique’s chest rose and fell. Nervousness radiated from her curvy frame.

Then, the towering blue doors opened to reveal the grandeur within.

The hallway stretched out endlessly. From one end, the other seemed to merge together into a distant point, creating an illusion of infinite length.

Here we go.

My father had envisioned the grand hall as a reflection of the infinite sky. In fact, the ceiling was a magnificent canvas of wispy clouds swirling within various shades of blue—from the softest powder to the deepest midnight.

When one gazed upward, my father wanted them to be lost in the serene dreamscape, where the boundaries of the palace melded into the limitless expanse of the cosmos.

We entered.

“Oh my God.” Monique stopped us and lifted her gaze to the crystal sky blue chandeliers hanging from the cloud-painted ceiling. Their delicate light bathed the hall in a haunting, soft glow.

I tensed and stayed silent.

She didn’t step forward.

Instead, she drank in many of the massive paintings adorning the walls and telling the tales of the East.

What is she thinking?

Although the canvases were alive with vivid colors, it was the varying shades of blue that really dominated each one—from deep navy to cheerful cerulean.

Then, her gaze dropped to the large turquoise vases, strategically placed throughout the hall. An array of flowers stuffed them. However, while there was a kaleidoscope of colorful flowers—brilliant reds, stark whites, sunny yellows, and deep purples—it was the blue blooms that caught the eye and stood the tallest.

Therefore, a floral perfume drenched the space.

What does she think?

Finally, her view fell to the polished tiles under our feet. It was a flowing river of blues that stretched the entire length of the hall—robin’s egg blue, pale cornflower, and even morning glory’s bloom.

The whole time, I kept stealing glances at Monique repeatedly, trying to gauge her reaction.

This world was mine and yet one I had never truly shared with anyone else so intimately.

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