THE CALM BEFORE THE STORMD
anika felt someone watching her. She stirred, and her eyes opened to see the king standing a few feet away. He was leaning against the wall, and his eyes were on her.
At first glance, he looked deep in thought. He looked troubled; she wondered what the matter could be. What was the message that the courier came with? Seconds later, the troubled expression cleared his face when he saw her wake and was replaced by his unreadable countenance.
“My king,” she whispered. Then she bit her lips. Was it time for her to call him master yet? She peeked a glance at him, but thankfully, he didn’t call her out on it or reprimand her.
“Were you able to write two scrolls?” he asked, still leaning against the wall.
“I wrote four,” she whispered.
“You did well.”
She basked under the praise. Then the silence descended, and she found her nervousness enfolding her—anxious about what would come next. If she made any movement, she could still feel the soreness from the demands he made on her the previous night. Her thighs still ached where she gripped and rode him. Her cheeks heated, and she lowered her head, picking nervously at the seam of her corset.
“Did you sleep well?” his deep voice came again.
“Yes, my king.”
“Good.” He finally pulled away from the wall. “Because you’ll be needing it for tonight.”
His duties heavily burdened his shoulders, but in these chambers, he could at least set them aside. He didn’t have to think of getting married. He didn’t have to think of his inability to produce an heir to his throne. He didn’t have to think at all. At least for the night. With the woman whose very touch could make him lose himself. Whose touch brought him peace and calm. He could forget everything and lose himself in the warmth of her body, of her arms. He could let himself have her and sleep well.
Even if it was just for the moment. Even if it was just for tonight.
“Get up and undress for me, Danika,” he ordered at last.
Danika’s heart skipped three beats and then raced in her chest. He wasn’t ordering her to strip like he usually did. Instead, he was requesting her to undress for him. “Yes, Your Majesty.” She stood on shaky legs and began pulling off clothes while he watched her like a hawk, his face revealing nothing.
Danika wished a day would come when he’d undress her himself. But then again, if wishes were horses, beggars would have been riding by now.
The room’s silence was only disturbed by the rustle of clothing as she disrobed. Finally, she stood naked before him. He’d never seen a body so beautiful. So smooth, soft, and flawless, such as the princess’s. Being a slave hadn’t done anything to erase that.
Danika didn’t want to risk being ordered to the table. She didn’t want to risk being shoved into with her hips pressing achingly on the cold hard table—not after the memorable evening they had.
Not after his sweet, unforgettable kiss.
So, without being ordered, she let her shaky legs carry her to the bed. She climbed onto the softness and silk covering it and laid down on her back. Her shy but loving eyes found his. Her legs pressed together.
Finally, the king pulled away from the wall he’d been leaning on and walked closer to the bed, but stopped short suddenly. Indecision crossed his eyes. Danika didn’t know what was going through his mind as he paused, his eyes staring blankly at her neck. She saw when he decided and his face took on its usual blank look. Then his eyes held hers as he began undressing.
She gasped softly. Just like last night, he was going to take her naked. He wasn’t going to blindfold her, and he wasn’t going to take her fully clothed. Only this time, he was undressing fully for her. She’d only seen bits and pieces of his skin, but now she would see him fully unclothed. Danika felt humbled that he trusted her that way, and her nervousness skyrocketed.
He stood naked in front of her, the moonlight glow of the night filling the bedroom. He looked like an avenging angel. He was big, and hard everywhere. The moonlight gave his scars a glow; they looked beautiful to her, like a second skin.
Was it the moonlight or her love for him shining through her eyes?
“Don’t you have anything to say?” he asked, challenging her.
“You’re beautiful,” she blurted out. Red marred her cheeks with the admission.
He frowned, his eyes searching her face. He must have seen what he was looking for when all the tension left his body and his face relaxed. “A man’s body is not beautiful, Danika. A woman’s is.”
“Your body is beautiful to me,” she whispered with courage. She allowed her eyes to stray past his waist. Her eyes flashed, embarrassed, and jumped back to his face.
“What am I going to do with you?” he seemed to ask himself.
She felt too exposed lying there, so she raised her hand and beckoned him to her. “Please.”
The bed dipped as he climbed onto it, and his body covered hers. His hands went to her thighs, and he parted them in the night’s silence to rest fully in between her legs. King Lucien didn’t want to have thoughts tonight, but he still wanted to keep a bit of himself. He wanted to lose himself in her, but didn’t want to lose himself to her. He wanted to hold on to control.
But when he came down on her, she paled instantly. All the blood drained from her face when it looked like he would take her without preamble. Without preparing her body. Without touching her. No, that bitter man wasn’t the one she wanted. She wanted the man that drew pleasure from her body last night. The man she went on a walk with. The man that kissed her senseless.