But she was a princess and would be his future queen. She didn’t deserve such treatment from him. So, he forced himself to pull away from his desk. He strode towards her, coming up to her from behind. He placed a hand on her shoulder, and she jumped slightly.
“It’s okay. Relax,” he whispered.
She jerked her head into a hesitant nod and waited, her hand clutched in her undergarments. He placed a kiss on her shoulder, and it left a sour taste in his mouth. King Lucien turned her around to face him. She was doing her best to hide it, but the fear in her eyes was apparent.
His eyes fluttered to her face, and he saw Danika. He blinked hard and looked again. But it was Kamara. Why would he think about Danika at such a time as this? Putting the thoughts away, he dreaded what would come next, but it did not stop him from trying to get it done. The sooner, the better.
He lowered his head and took her lips with his. Swallowing her whimper, he coaxed her lips with his, while his hand hung loosely on her shoulder. Kamara squeezed her eyes shut and tried not to let her uncertainty show. Her hands felt useless by her side, so she placed them on his clothed shoulder. He stiffened instantly. Every part of him froze like a stone in front of her, and he pulled back, breaking the kiss.
Her chaotic mind refused to process and reminded her that this man did not like to be touched. Her nerves were shot.
“Kamara,” he breathed her name.
“Yes, Your Highness.” Her voice shook.
“You aren’t ready for this, are you?”
It surprised her he asked. She knew they never asked or cared. During the princess’s meetings, they talked and confided in each other, and the married ones told them some secrets of the marriage bed. The kings don’t care if you want it or not, and it was never pleasant. You just lie there and take it so you could make a baby.
“No. I’m not ready.” She almost added that he should get on with it because she might never be ready, but she didn’t want to push her luck. She wasn’t brave enough.
He stepped back, causing her hand to fall away from his shoulder. Kamara could have sworn that it was relief she saw in his eyes before he blinked it away and gave her that blank stare that had become perfectly his. “Get on the bed and lie down,” he ordered her suddenly.
Her eyes widened at the command; her own relief crumbled to dust and was replaced by dread. She nodded jerkily and walked to the bed. She laid down on it and curled into a ball, a protective move she couldn’t help, and peeked at him beneath her long eyelashes. But he didn’t follow her. Instead, he turned away from her and walked back to his desk. He sat down there and unrolled a new scroll.
Kamara watched him warily. That must be his way of getting her relaxed and ready for him. The bed was very comfortable, but her ravaged nerves wouldn’t allow her to feel it. She watched him like a trapped mouse would watch a cat.
He began writing. Time dragged by.
So much time passed, Kamara began feeling sleepy, but she did her best to keep her eyes open. If he saw she was sleepy, he might abandon his scroll and come over to get it over with. She forced her eyes to remain open, even as all the courage drained out of her gradually. She lay there, pliant and sleepy.
King Lucien knew the moment she fell asleep. He paused and stared at her.
She’d put her hands on him, and the touch had felt so strange and uncomfortable, it made his skin crawl. It was not a new feeling, because everyone’s touch made him feel that way.
Except Danika’s.
Danika, whose touch he almost… anticipated. Craved. Who made his dick harden and thicken with just her presence. Whose lips he could spend a good amount of time kissing. Danika was who he wanted in his bed—who he wanted to lose himself in.
He picked up the parchmentand folded it. He could only admit this to himself.
He knew that if he tried hard enough, he could get hard for his skittish future bride and perform his duties. But.
He did not want to try. At least, not for tonight.
Tonight, he did not want her hands on him, and he did not want to touch her.
They could try again another time.
.
.
.
The king summoned Sally two days later.
Sally’s heart was in her throat when she got word that the king was summoning her. It was the first time she’d be standing before him that way, and as she stood in front of his door, her legs were shaking.
She knocked, and his deep voice ordered her in. Sally entered an empty room, but sounds coming from the inner bedroom showed he must be in there. She squeezed her hands together nervously as she waited for him.
The door opened, and the king came out of the inner room. She bowed her head to him. “You summoned me, Your Highness.”
He walked towards her and stood in front of her. He said nothing, but his eyes scrutinized her thoroughly. Those eyes that revealed nothing made her squirm. She kept her head lowered and waited anxiously.
“You have been Danika’s personal maid for a long time, right?” he asked finally.
“Y-yes, my king.”
“And you’re getting married to the chief of my security guards in a few days, right?”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Why?”
“Um?” The question, so unexpected, took Sally by surprise.
He crossed his arm to his chest and pinned her with blue eyes that revealed nothing. “Why are you marrying to him?”
Sally thought about that and swallowed tightly. “I love him.”
He turned away from her and strode towards his desk. Without turning towards her, he continued. “Do you know Chad is more to me than just my chief of security, personal bodyguard, and assistant?”
“Yes, Your Highness.” She had heard much about the king from her betrothed to know that the king favored him.
“Even before we were enslaved, Chad had always meant more to me. And then, once we were enslaved, he made many sacrifices for me.” He paused and turned around. “Will you treat him right, Sally?”
“I will do my best, Your Highness.” She loved Sire Chad, and she knew he loved her too.