Lienna.
After a few moments of basking in peaceful silence, Caspian pulled away from me, turning me around so I was facing him. I let out a breath as my gaze locked with his in this intimate spot. His eye color was back to normal now, and some of the harsh lines that were present when I first arrived had already smoothed out. He looked almost normal, like he always was, definitely not the beast that had ravaged me moments before.
“How are you?” He asked, his voice surprisingly gentle. I responded, my voice hoarse from all the screaming, “Fine, I think.” A corner of his lip turned up, but didn’t quite form a smile, as he stared at me, his gaze tender.
He picked up a bedsheet, throwing it over my body, and then raised himself to a seated position. Then, without caring about his own nakedness, he called out for a soldier. The door to the bedroom opened, and a guard walked in, greeting Caspian with a bow. He instructed him to bring in food and water before dismissing him with a nod.
As the guard left, Caspian turned his attention back to me, his eyes never leaving mine. I felt a sense of comfort in his gaze, a sense of safety that I hadn’t felt in a long time. Maybe it was the aftermath of what we had just done, or maybe it was something more, I couldn’t tell. We just kept staring at each other, neither of us speaking.
A knock came on the door, breaking our little spell, and when the door opened, maids trooped in, some carrying food while others brought a bunch of towels and fresh water in a bowl. They deftly arranged it onto the table in the room before taking their leave, leaving us alone once more.
Caspian stood to his feet, walking towards the set table and poured me a glass of fruit nectar, before returning to the table and stretching the glass to me. “Drink,” He ordered, his voice gentle yet firm. I managed to get myself into a seating position, accepting the glass from him and drinking the juice, the fruity taste bursting in my mouth.
Caspian stood, watching me drink the nectar till the glass was empty. He accepted it from me and went to drop it, before joining me back on the bed. “What was that for?” I asked, blurting out the question before I had the chance to stop myself.
“I wouldn’t want you to be dehydrated,” He said easily, his gaze never wavering from mine. My eyes widened, a deep flush staining my cheeks as I looked away, fiddling with my fingers. “Thank you…” I whispered, my voice soft.
“Thank me for what?” He asked, his voice laced with amusement.
“For being so thoughtful,” I muttered, glancing back at him. He scoffed, resting his head on his hands. “Oh… This is nothing. It’s just necessary since you’re going to be a while.”
I felt a surge of confusion. “Yeah, what did you mean by that anyway?” I asked, my brows furrowed. He raised an eyebrow, a hint of a smile playing on his lips but his gaze turning serious.
“You know I’m in a rut, right?” He asked, his eyes locked on mine, and I nodded, my heart racing.
“Well, it has a cycle and it could last for hours or days depending on its intensity,” He began to explain, his voice low and husky, and I listened with rapt attention, my mind trying to process what he was saying.
“During that period, everything is heightened and intense,” He continued, his gaze burning with desire as he stared at me. “This is only a short break I’m taking advantage of.” He said, and I nodded, feeling my heart skip a beat as I understood him now.
“But… are you really alright?” His voice tinged with concern, and I nodded, smiling at him, trying to reassure him. I was okay, if anything, my own desire was buzzing beneath my skin, despite the palpable soreness in my body. “I’m fine, your Majesty. But thank you for asking.” I said, smiling warmly at him.
Caspian reached out to touch my hair, his fingers combing through it, an intense expression on his face, and I held my breath, unable to look away, my gaze falling to his lips before moving back up. As if he was reading my mind, he leaned in and kissed me, capturing my lips in a gentle kiss that stole my breath away.
It would be the first time I would be kissed by anybody, especially with any of the Shifter Kings. I was wholly inexperienced, as I had no idea what to do, and the meager memories I had weren’t particularly great. But this kiss with Caspian was different. It was beautiful, sweet, intense and sexual, and I found myself falling for him even more.
His tongue slipped into my mouth, forcing me to open wider as he began to taste me, a hand going behind my neck as he pulled me closer, angling his face. A soft moan escaped my mouth, and I found myself pulling closer to him, my body responding to his touch.
He pulled away slightly, his thumb caressing my cheeks before he leaned in and kissed me again, this time with a lot more intensity. I felt myself being consumed by him, my insides melting and turning into molten lava. All thoughts vacated my head as he plundered my mouth, stealing my breath and claiming it as his, except one: Dragon King Caspian is kissing me. He really is kissing me.
I moaned as his tongue plunged into my mouth, coercing me into a dance I had never learned but now found myself desperate to master. His lips suckled at mine greedily, every pull drawing a deeper, more shameless sound from my throat. I threw my hands around his neck, smashing my body against his, eager for more. It was the most exciting kiss I had ever had.
He pulled away, his breath slightly heavy, an intense expression on his face. “I don’t know why I did that,” He groaned, his voice low and husky, dark pools swirling in his eyes. “It’s alright… I liked it,” I whispered, staring at him, my heart racing with excitement.
His hands cupped my cheeks, and I held my breath, waiting, waiting, and waiting. His eyes searched mine, as if looking for something, and then, with a growl, he smashed his lips on top of mine once more, pushing me down to the bed. I felt the world spin around me as he deepened the kiss, his body covering mine, his weight crushing me into the mattress.
I wrapped my arms around him, holding him close, as he devoured me, his lips and tongue claiming me as his own. I was lost in the sensation, my body burning with desire, my heart pounding in my chest. I knew I was in trouble, but I didn’t care. I was willing to risk everything for this feeling, for this kiss, for Caspian.