Page 9 of The Princess and The Warrior

I held out my arms. “I’m always warm. If you’d like to use me, feel free. I’m always at your service to make you comfortable, your highness.”

I laid on my back as she snuggled against my side, tucking under my arm to lay her head on my chest. “You’ll have to remember to call me Althea,” she said. “Honestly, Trax, we’re equals now.”

“I’ll never be your equal, my beautiful lady,” I murmured, kissing the top of her hair.

Holding her close as she fell asleep was one of the most magical moments of my entire thirty-one years.

As a lowly farm boy, my biggest dream had been to become a soldier one day. When that happened, I dreamed of working my way higher in the ranks, and becoming a great warrior.

After accomplishing that this morning, I didn’t even have a chance to think of my next dream. Yet here she was, her warm breath skimming across my hard chest.

This lovely girl, so sweet and open and full of light, was now mine. I had no idea how we would figure out how to be together, but I was absolutely certain that we could be the sort of royal couple who made each other happy, and never miserable.

7

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Althea

At first I didn’t recognize the humming sound coming from under my ear. As I slowly opened my eyes, I realized with a start that I was being held tightly against a man’s bare chest, and he was snoring. Then I remembered that he was my new husband, who was impossibly gentle with me.

Slowly reaching across the muscled expanse of his chest, my fingers trailed down his bicep, stopping short of a large bruise that I was sure had been much darker last night. I couldn’t imagine the pain he must have been in yesterday, yet his every thought seemed to be centered purely on my comfort at all times.

In the golden morning light, Trax was even more handsome. His rugged features were completely relaxed, and he wasn’t holding himself stiffly.

Rolling slowly, my knee caressed his thigh, needing to feel every single inch of his skin against mine. Sliding my hand down his rippled stomach, I gasped as I felt his massive erection sticking straight out of his underthings.

My nipples instantly tightened against my thin nightdress. He had every right to take me last night, but he didn’t. The poor man must be incredibly frustrated.

Lightly stroking his stomach, I pretended not to notice the side of my hand brushing against the thick, round tip of his arousal. I was dying to look under the blankets and take a peek, but didn’t want to wake him.

His hand gripped my wrist. “You tease me enough just by existing, your highness,” he murmured. “Please don’t make this even more difficult for me.”

I opened my mouth to speak, but there was a soft tap at the door.

“Come in,” Trax said, kissing me gently so that he could tear his lips from mine just as my ladies tiptoed in. “Good morning,” he said brightly.

“So sorry to disturb you, your highnesses,” Lani said. “Your breakfast shall be arriving in a few minutes, and we must dress the Princess. Officials will be arriving soon to help you organize your move to Seaside this afternoon.”

I sat up, turning to laugh at Trax’s confused expression, which doubled as Faresha set a stack of fine men’s clothing on the chair near him.

“Does the royal family already have a residence in Seaside?” he asked, running a hand through his thick, shaggy hair. As he awoke, he began holding himself more stiffly.

“No. They probably sent some of our staff there last night as soon as you announced that we were moving. They would have checked out the entire area, and purchased the most suitable house for us.”

I went to the other side of the room divider, where my ladies had arranged a selection of dresses for me. Since it was a traveling day, and we would be busy organizing, there was no official protocol for what I was to wear.

“Trax?” I called over the partition. “What’s your favorite color?”

“That depends what for.”

“For a lady’s dress, silly,” I laughed. Faresha and Lani tried to stifle their giggles.

“Oh. Er, I suppose I like pink and purple. Flower colors. But honestly, just be comfortable. It sounds like we’re going to have a busy day.”

“Do you prefer lace, frills, shiny details?”

I heard him shuffling. He must have been getting dressed. “Your highness, I honestly have no idea about ladies’ clothing, or why everything is so finicky. “

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