Page 20 of The King's Bodyguard
He approached the table and offered me a deep bow. I noted how his unruly black hair was already unthreading from its green tie. Corrin rose. His green eyes met my own briefly. I couldn’t help but allow my gaze to wander freely over him, noting his relaxed posture despite his eight hours of standing guard. Corrin absently rubbed his chin, where a little bit of stubble had begun to show.
I hesitated, wanting to ask him to say, but recognizing the futility of such a request. I forced a smile and raised my chin.
“I suppose it is time for bed,” I said gravely.
“Perhaps,” Corrin replied easily. “I might need to get a shave first though.”
“Oh.” The words popped out before I could stop myself. “Must you?”
Corrin chuckled.
“You like it?”
“Well.” I stopped and then fought the blush that was rising to my cheeks. “I-It doesn’t look bad. I mean, it’s rather...”
“Rakish?” He finished my sentence and quirked an eyebrow at me while offering a wink.
My heart stopped in my chest. I wondered if Corrin could tell how flushed I felt, whether he noticed how throaty my voice had become. No matter how hard I fought it, my gaze inevitably drifted to those firm lips that were now curved in a boyish grin. I wet my lower lip and struggled to find an answer to his question.
“I mean-well,” I stammered. “Yes. Rakish. Like a pirate.”
“Providing my king with his heart’s desire is my primary duty,” Corrin said. He added with a sigh, “But I fear that the Commander would be less appreciative were I to report for duty looking like a pirate.”
“Oh.” I echoed his sigh. “You are right, I suppose.”
A pity. My ears wilted a little at the realization. Corrin really couldn’t afford to flout convention in a Sunna-dominated space. It would bring his Munni kin a bad name that they could ill afford to garner.
“Well,” I said. “I suppose I ought to let you get to your, er, ablutions.”
“Good fortune hunting, Your Majesty,” Corrin replied with another bow.
I watched him leave and sighed. Respect and care. Even now, Corrin tried his best to cheer me up. Whenever he told me that he wanted to make me happy, my heart couldn’t help but skip a beat. Unfortunately, Corrin was also married to his dutyas a Munni and as my bodyguard. Even if it meant that he couldn’t be himself or couldn’t do everything I wanted, he was always thinking about what was best for me, my reign, and my kingdom.
The other night Corrin had proved himself yet again to be a catkin of honor.If only he hadn’t been, though, I mentally groaned. The memory even now filled my mind—of his hard muscles braced against my back and thighs. I had taken the liberty of feigning deeper sleep, burying my head in his shoulder, inhaling the scent of oiled leather, citrus soap, and smoke.
Then he had laid me down, and my body had cried out for his touch once more. As usual, he had divested me of shoes, stockings, jacket, and vest. Beneath, my white cotton shirt had been carefully unbuttoned. That was when he went completely still. I could smell it then, the scent of his desire—pine and winter mint and cold snow, the mountains of Sumarene. It drove me wild, and my body reacted of its own volition.
From beneath my eyelashes, I noticed then that Corrin had not been unaffected. I caught a glimpse of his arousal tenting his breeches. Yet, he made no advances. When he moved, I caught his hand, and I could tell that he was a little amused at my ploy. But he did not stay. He had left me there with a twin ache between my thighs.
When I touched myself, I pretended that my hand was his. I imagined how warm and calloused his palms might be, unlike my own. He would use oils, I was certain, and touch me just so. As my fingers stroked up my cock and flicked the head, my heels ground into the mattress.
With a curse, I flipped over and stroked harder, imagining Corrin’s weight on my back, whispering in my ear. The thought had me coming with a hissed breath. I sobbed his name into my goose-down pillow as I spent myself.
In the end, though, he wasn’t there. Feeling already fatigued and not a little lonely, I rose from the silent breakfast table and made my way to the stateroom where Lord Elthorne, Lord Berran, and the others waited. Whether I liked it or not, I had a full day ahead of me. I just had to survive it.
I just barely made it through dinner. After a long annoying day of debates, arguments, and discussions, I was finally able to see an end in sight. Behind me, Ser Andersen waited patiently for the guard who would relieve him.Corrin. Corrin. Corrin.I repeated to myself over and over. There was no sign of Corrin, though.
Eventually, I managed to work my way through dinner. Ser Andersen escorted me to my bedchamber. Outside the door, a troupe of maids was leaving in the wake of my valet, Karl. They had no doubt been preparing my evening bath. Corrin and another Munni tomkin, Rolf, were also standing guard already. At the sight of Corrin, my heart skipped a beat.
While Rolf, Ser Andersen, and Corrin discussed the events of the day, I slipped in and began to prepare for my bath. Karl knew that I preferred to spend these moments alone. After a long day of being with people, I needed quiet time. However, this evening, I felt even more lonely than ever. If only I could rest a little with Corrin...
As I contemplated the dark, steaming waters of my bath, an idea hit me. Grinning to myself, I carefully stripped down and then threw my clothes over my washcloth and scrub brush. I slipped into the water and waited for the talking to die down outside. When the clomp of Ser Andersen’s boots faded, I allowed myself to relax in the warm water.
Attempting to release the tension that had been building, I imagined the weight of the day slowly easing its way off my shoulders. Still, there was an ache in my shoulders that would not fade. I cracked open an eye and stared up at the wooden beams overhead. Would my plan work? Before I could start second-guessing my sanity, I called out softly.
“Corrin?”
It was almost miraculous how Corrin could hear my voice through the thick wooden door, but within moments, he had rounded the wooden screen about my bath and was hovering at my side. I drew my knees up and shifted a little. The now thin layer of soap suds parted a little, but despite rising shyness, I somehow managed to meet his concerned gaze.
