“Oh…” Her face fell. She wished that, just like yesterday, he would forget what was proper and what was not.
Danika’s mind wasn’t the only mind troubled. The king was also battling his innermost self.
It was not proper to be there with her, but when he returned to his bedroom, he would not sleep either. And when he managed to, nightmares would plague his subconscious—memories of his dear little brother.
Would it be so wrong to lie down with her and escape… just for a little while? His body wanted hers so much. His dick had thickened since he helped her use the bathroom, and it only made him scowl at himself. Wanting to bury himself deep into a woman who was badly beaten and trying to recover made little sense. It was unlike him.
Danika wondered what was running through his mind that brought such a deep frown to his face. She bit her lips. She should never have asked him to come and hold her. It was ridiculous and so unlike her. She opened her mouth to apologize, but then his words about apologizing stopped her. He would not accept it. She looked away, staring at the empty space ahead of her.
When the bed dipped, her breath caught. She swiveled her head to see the king climbing onto the bed beside her.
“I will not be here when you wake in the morning, Danika.” His deep voice resonated in the silent room.
Happiness spread through her bruised body. On the outside, she nodded her head. “I will never request that of you, my king.”
For the first time, Danika was forced to wonder if the king really hated her—if he still hated her as much as he did all those months ago. In her hazy mind, she could only think of a few things he had done that she had never expected. She slid her eyes closed and tried to remember the last time he’d punished her like a master would punish his slave…
It’s been such a long time, her mind whispered as he lay beside her. She turned herself into his arms, ignoring her protesting body. His large hands wrapped around her body, drawing her closer to him. She bit back a wince. Instead, she melted into him completely.
She felt him on her lower body. He was hard for her.
Raising her head, she stared up at him.
“Get some sleep, Danika. I will not make any demands on you. Not in your condition,” he stated flatly.
Her heart raced, and her mind whirled. He would be with her until she fell asleep, and then he’d return to his chambers. What if he summoned his mistress to satisfy him? Or Princess Kamara…?
Danika’s heart tightened in her chest, the thought of leaving left a foul taste in her mouth. She wanted to be the one who satisfied him. He’s this way because of her. The thought of him drawing pleasures from the body of another woman—or another woman bringing him to sexual release—did not settle well with her.
As Danika nuzzled her head to his wide, comforting shoulder, she acknowledged she had no right to feel this way. She was merely his slave, while the other women were his mistress and his future queen. She should not be feeling possessive of him in this way, but she couldn’t help herself.
Acting on impulse, she lifted her face and pressed her mouth to his. Wherever her courage came from, she did not know. But she didn’t cower or falter, not even when he stiffened against her.
Her eyes slipped closed, and she did the things his lips had taught hers, whirling her tongue softly to the contours of his lips. She kissed him wholeheartedly.
Time passed, and he wasn’t kissing her back. That was when she self-consciously began pulling back. Then he muttered some explicit but inaudible curses before snaking his hand to the back of her head, pulling her closer to meet his descending lips. He kissed her thoroughly, holding her close. His tongue tangled with hers, and their breaths became one. He suckled on her lower lip, and she moaned.
She felt the fierce crush of his mouth with awed pleasure. He tasted of masculinity, and his lips were devastatingly expert. Her arms went under his and around him; her hands savored the taut muscles of his broad shoulders.
Danika clung to him, her body trembling with a kind of pleasure that terrified her while his hard mouth took everything it wanted from hers.
Then her hand reached out and she pulled apart his robe and began untying his underthings.
Princess Kamara gave up on sleeping when it kept eluding her. She put on her robes and headed out of her bedroom on a night walk. She needed company.
She’d check on the king to see if he was awake, too. Maybe they’d go on a walk together.
Baski mentally blamed herself for getting so carried away while making herbs she forgot to check on Danika for such a long time.
She was on her way to Danika’s bedroom when she heard soft cries and a male grunt. The king was with Danika.
The king’s chambers were soundproofed—they could hear only a scream or a roar from his bedroom. But the other quarters weren’t—including Danika’s bedroom.
Her ears flushed, and Baski suddenly felt like she was in the wrong place. Worry filled her. What if the king was making demands on Danika? She wasn’t physically capable of being intimate with a man like him. Apart from her bruises, there was still her uncertain but vulnerable condition.
Just then, Baski heard footsteps coming towards her. She turned and saw Princess Kamara approaching the king’s chambers, and her eyes widened. If she came any further, she’d hear the King and Danika, and if she went to his bedroom, she’d find out he wasn’t there!
Baski hurried towards her. Her steps were quick and purposeful to cover more ground. “My Princess?”
Princess Kamara stopped and confided, “I couldn’t sleep. I’m going to take a walk---”
“I’ll give you something to help you sleep, Princess. Do not worry, you’re in the right hands. Come on, come on,” she urged as she led the princess away from her destination. “I make the best of herbs; you can ask anyone in this kingdom. I’ll give you something to help you sleep like a baby.”
“Oh. Okay.” Princess Kamara allowed the older woman to lead her away.