Danika let out a startled cry when she suddenly found herself pressed against the wardrobe and caged by the king.
One moment, she was on her way to the door, and the next, she was caged to the wall. He crowded her personal space, standing so close that all she saw and smelled was him.
Then he was kissing her.
His lips landed on hers, and his hand slid from her chin to graze her hair. His fingers clenched, fisting her hair as electricity arced between them.
"Danika!" Her lips were forced apart with the motion, and his tongue shot inside. She was mildly scared at his intensity, but at the same time, she felt a great wave of relief as if she'd finally come home.
His torso pressing against hers, his arm came off the wardrobe from behind her and wrapped around her waist in a merciless hold. His tongue swirled around hers, and with lights dancing in her head, she vaguely realized that this kiss wasn't anything like the kisses he'd given her in the last few months.
It was...more. This kiss held possession, a dominant force, unquestionable ownership—pure sexual intent.
She had no idea what had him twisted in such a tight, inflexible knot, but she projected all her concern and feelings through the primal kiss he began. Heady delight pulsing through her veins, she lifted her chin a notch and kissed him back with everything she had.
At the sound of his low growl, she wrapped her arms around his neck and stood on her tiptoes, dying to feel every inch of him against her. His lips devoured hers, his hand in her hair tightened, craning her neck backwards to give him better access to her mouth. He took and took and took. And yet, he demanded more.
She gave and gave and gave until they shared one breath, and she feared that she was tasting his soul through their kiss. And yet, he still demanded more.
"Lu--Lucien!" She tore her lips away, panting heavily as she dragged in breaths to her deprived lungs.
He let her take a few breaths before he lunged for her again and captured her lips back with his. The kiss was dominant. Feverish. Unending.
Her tongue whirled and danced with his. Hunger, immediate and sharp, slid down her spine and coalesced into a fever pitch of burning need between her thighs. Her breasts ached where they pressed against him, her nipples becoming sharp little points of arousal.
Then he tore his mouth away from her and stepped back. His chest vibrated with a snarl as he released her with quick, impatient movements.
"Go, Danika." At this rate, he'd shred her to pieces if he didn't let go. Now.
She whimpered and reached for him blindly, the fires he started in her burning hotly. The kiss ended as quickly as it started, leaving her so bereft, and now he was snapping at her like he wasn't the man that plundered her mouth and caged her so consumingly seconds ago.
He was blowing cold and hot with her, and it had her thrown off-balance.
"No. Go out," he gritted out, stepping back.
"But—"
"Now!" he shouted.
She gasped, shocked and heartbroken. Tears filled her eyes.
He closed his eyes. "Please."
One word that held everything. One word he rarely lets go of, and now he's saying it to her because he wants her away from him that badly.
Her tears overflowed. She had so many words to say, but she bit them all back. Instead, she turned and hurried out of his bedroom.
Hours passed. It was well past midnight.
The king tossed and turned in bed. He was agitated. Restless. Anxious. Everything.
Danika filled his thoughts. The urge to go to her was so strong; it was frighteningly intense. But he can't go to her, he told himself sternly.
He'd chased her off. Tomorrow, she will no longer be his. He had to make peace with that notion.
Baski's words drifted through his mind over and over again.
***" Tomorrow, she will be the queen of Mombana, with so much power and strength resting on her pregnant shoulders," she whispered. "But that is tomorrow. Tonight, she is still yours. She is still yours." ***
Yet, he fought it. Throwing the covers, he got up and walked to his desk.
If he couldn't sleep, he could work.
Danika was positively miserable.
She'd cried until she wasn't able to anymore, then she closed her eyes repeatedly to sleep. But it was so impossible. Her mind wasn't at rest. It was hurting and completely confused.
Why was he being so strange tonight? Blowing cold and hot and in-between?
He'd kissed her like she was the very breath he needed, and the next, he was pushing her away so coldly, saying such painful words to her.
She caressed her belly. “I don't know what is wrong with your father. He has a lot going on at that head of his. It's difficult to make out what is wrong...” There was no movement or response, but she really wasn't expecting any. Smiling sadly, she closed her eyes again.
But sleep remained elusive. The bed was so cold. So empty.
Then she felt his presence behind her.
She knew the exact moment when she wasn’t alone anymore, even though she didn't hear him open the door and enter. His scent filled her bedroom.
Her eyes opened. Slowly, she pulled up and looked at him.
The king was leaning against the wall, his arms crossed. He closed his eyes, looking angry and pained at the same time.
“What have you done to me, Danika?”
She had no idea what he was talking about, but all her hurt, confusion and mild anger at his treatment of her earlier melted away like the wind.
Silence descended on them. They stared at each other for several long seconds.
Then she raised her hand. Outstretched...reaching out to him.
His eyes remained closed. Time stretched.
“I fear. I fear,” he said at last.
“What do you fear?” she asked, baffled. The King Lucien she knew was never afraid of anything or anyone.
Deep blue eyes opened at last and found hers. “I fear that if I touch you this night, I will take all you have to give and it will not be enough. And I will demand for more...so much more...” His throat worked in a tight swallow. “I fear that if I take you the way I crave to do all day, I will not be able to let you go.”