“I—I need you so much,” he snapped, violence tinging every part of him.
That was all she needed. The knowledge he needed her gave her the strength to brave the unknown future. Gave her the courage to keep loving this broken man.
Danika came with a loud wail. She unraveled and combusted all in one go. The orgasm wasn’t just in her wet sheath; it existed in every blood cell, in every breath she took, in every part of her. On and on the waves rolled, mimicking the crashing surf of the river down the palace. She cried his name repeatedly, bulking under him.
His mouth found hers then in a battle of lips. His mouth devoured hers, stealing her breath completely.
Danika felt complete. She hadn’t even known anything was missing until he gave her everything he was. Until he lost himself completely and had to find himself again in her arms. She’d never be free of him, just like he’d never be free of her. She knew this with every fiber of her being.
She cried out as the contractions of her release squeezed around his dick. He shivered and thrust harder. And again.
King Lucien came apart.
His thrusts lost uniformity, driving relentlessly, seeking pleasure, seeking a release.
His orgasm tore down his back, rippling like a powerful wave over his muscles. He spurted deep inside, splash after splash.
Her release kept going, intensifying as their lives mingled. She found, for one brief second, eternal happiness.
Gradually, he slowed before coming to a gentle rock. Then he collapsed on her, going completely still.
But Danika’s breath wouldn’t slow. No matter how much she tried to catch her breath, it wouldn’t slow down. She gulped in air in large quantities; her gasps filling the air. She panted heavily, her chest rising and falling rapidly. She panted and panted. Her head was spinning, and the world blurred around her. And tilted.
Yet she still held him.
The world closed in on her. She came dangerously close to passing out. And she still gulped in air.
She gripped her neck as if she was trying to loosen whatever was clenching her neck and cutting off her breath. Her other hand, she placed on his soft curls, unconsciously patting him soothingly.
King Lucien opened his eyes and took in his environment. He was in his chambers. He felt disoriented and exhausted.
He noticed the soft body beneath him and the quick rise and fall of her chest; the panting sounds as she tried to drag in breath.
Danika watched the king through blurry eyes as he looked down on her, his sweaty brows knitted and creased with concern.
“Are you alright, Danika?” he asked, his hand touching her forehead.
“Can’t… catch… my… breath!” she gasped.
“I will send for the medicine man---”
“No!” She grabbed hold of his arm, still panting. The medicine man would find out that she was pregnant before she could tell the king.
His eyes touched her body, examining it. Pain and regret flashed in his eyes, but he blinked, and it was gone. The warm glow and tiredness from what he had been through—and what they just did—remained in their wake. He lowered his head to hers and kissed her forehead. “You’re alright, Danika. It’s okay. Try to take a deep breath. Not short breaths. Try to take in a lot of breath, hold it for a second and breathe out.”
Danika closed her eyes and blindly followed his soft commands. She did as he instructed her.
“That’s it. That’s it,” he added, then he dipped his head and took her lips into his. He wasn’t kissing her. Instead, he gave her air. Breathing in deeply, he released it gently into her mouth. He did it repeatedly until she felt better.
Danika’s eyes watered at the intimacy. Somehow, this—what he did right then—felt more intimate than his kisses. And his kisses had always been intimate.
“I’m better now,” she whispered, at the same time wishing he wouldn’t stop, but she already felt better.
He pulled back and looked at her again to confirm. Danika began dreading that he’d get up and go back to doing one of his kingly activities. She wanted him lying down right here on the floor of his chambers. She wanted him to be with her, even for a few minutes.
He pulled away from her body completely, but he didn’t leave. Instead, he laid down on the floor beside her and placed his head in between her breasts. Her arms felt like water, but she could raise them and wrap them around his head. They cuddled that way. They listened to the sound of their breath. Allowing the silence between them to stretch, it was a comfortable silence where the king tried to remember the details of what had just happened, and Danika tried to suppress the feeling of worry for her child.
What was done was done. At least if she lost the baby, it would save her from all the stress and worry about the king finding out. She tried to console herself.
She concentrated on the feeling of the king’s head in between her breasts. His hand was caressing her skin the same way hers did to his head. They almost seem like a genuine couple, Danika thought with an inner sad smile. She closed her eyes and enjoyed the moment.
“Thank you, Danika.” His deep voice broke the silence at last.