The Dragon King's Hated Bride
Chapter 96: Make Amends

Chapter 96: Make Amends

>>Aelin

I didn’t answer.

He moved closer.

I turned my body ever so slightly away, presenting my shoulder to him, my posture cool. Guarded.

But then I felt it—his hand. Large, warm, gentle at my waist. I flinched.

"I do not wish for you to misunderstand me," he said quietly.

"..." I didn’t turn to look at him and gave him no answer.

"I know you were there a few hours ago, outside my study."

!!!

He did? But he didn’t say anything then

"I know what you saw and I want to say that whatever went through your mind or is going through your mind is wrong."

"...." I slightly turned my head a little, the gesture so small it was barely noticeable, "Why would you meet them?"

"The succubus. The incubus. I... I met with the two so I could understand you better."

I turned my head, frowning. "Me?"

His hand didn’t move, just rested there, solid and quiet. "I have a promise to keep."

I narrowed my eyes, my voice low. "By doing things with sexual demons?"

His purple gaze didn’t waver. "I did no such thing."

"Then?" I turned toward him more fully now, anger flaring through confusion.

His hand slid down, almost by accident, grazing the curve of my buttocks. I sucked in a breath but didn’t pull away.

"They were there to help me understand how to please a human woman," he said.

!?!?!?

I stared at him, stunned.

"Yes?" I asked, my voice softer than I intended.

And before I realized it, I had turned completely to face him. Our knees brushed under the water.

"There were things I needed to understand before we spent an intimate night again."

His body was close—too close. The heat radiated off of him like a second fire, and I felt it—the hardness of him brushing between my thighs beneath the surface. My breath hitched. My cheeks flushed.

"W-why would you need those demons for that?" I stammered a little, still trying to wrap my head around it

"Because these demons feed off sexual energy from humans. And thus know what’s the best way to bring a human to ecstasy."

I blinked at him in confusion

"I wasn’t aware human females required more prep time," he said, voice low and full of intent. He watched me. Closely. As if studying every reaction. "Demons are different. All demons, regardless of gender, get fully prepared in a matter of seconds." My heart thundered in my chest, loud enough I was sure he could hear it.

"But I assure you, the sex demons were simply there for guidance," he said. "Not the act."

His other hand came around my back, slowly, as though offering me time to retreat. I didn’t move.

When his hand met the small of my back and pulled me against him, I felt my last shred of distance slip away.

His mouth was only inches from mine now.

"Does that clear up the misunderstanding?" He asked

I stared at him, but the look in his eyes was making me feel weird... or should I say it was making my body hotter. He would look at my face, and then his gaze would drop at my body.

I gulped.

"Yes," I replied meekly, "Thank you..."

The water steamed around us, the warm place made the trickles of water run down our skin.

"Then," His gaze came up to "If you are ready..." he murmured, voice like smoke, "...can we continue?"

!!!

His words lingered in the air between us.

If you are ready... can we continue?

The steam wrapped around us like a veil, softening the edges of the moment, but nothing could dull the sharp ache blooming in my chest.

"Continue... what?"

His lips softly curled into a subtle smile when he saw my confusion, "The promise I made to you."

I stared at him, this beautiful, dangerous, impossibly powerful creature before me... who had gone to sexual demons not for himself—but to learn how to touch me right.

My throat tightened.

"You..." I began, my voice trembling, "you really did all that—for me?"

His eyes softened. "I like to keep my promises."

I wonder what will happen if I say yes. I didn’t think about him pleasing me would be on his mind. The only thing on my mind was how I wasn’t performing my duty as a wife. And maybe he wasn’t satisfied with me.

So for him to be taking his time for me... It was such a weird thing...

I gulped again.

A small, broken sound escaped me. I reached up and touched his face softly with my hand, and whispered, "Yes."

He blinked. "Yes?" Only asking to confirm my answer, not because he was confused.

"Yes," I repeated, steadier this time. "I’m ready."

His smile widened a little. His hands that rested on my skin dug in deeper, pulling me closer as he leaned down to bring his face closer to mine.

My hands came and rested on his firm arms and I closed my eyes as I felt his mouth come near mine. I felt his breath before I felt his lips.

Then his mouth was on mine.

Hot. Slow. Unhurried.

His kiss didn’t demand. He moved his lips slowly, letting me settle in, but I responded.

My fingers curled into his wet skin pulling him closer. The tension between us melted like wax in flame. Every inch of me responded to him—finally, finally—without fear.

His hands moved over me with a reverence that stole my breath after he moved his lips away from mine. He kissed my neck, my collarbone, my shoulder, each one a vow.

"You’re so warm," he murmured against my skin.

I pursed my lips shyly. I had been in the bath for quite some while.

He chuckled low, the sound vibrating against me. When his hands slid down, exploring every curve of my body with the care of someone unwrapping something precious, I let him. I wanted him to. I had never felt more seen—more wanted—than I did right then.

He lifted me easily, guiding me to the edge of the bath, my back pressed against the cool stone, his body settling between my legs with a gentleness that belied his strength.

There was no rush.

No fumbling.

Only breath and skin, the soft gasp of water lapping around us, and the slow build of something sacred.

His lips returned to mine as his hands moved around to touch the sensitive parts of my body.

It felt strange.

I had never felt this sensation in my body and I felt myself get wet.

When he moved to enter, I got scared for a moment, remembering he had two instead of one but he noticed how my body stiffened.

He paused, coming close to whisper in my ear, "I won’t do anything to hurt you." His voice was soft, making my heart skip a beat.

I turned my head slightly to look at him and saw his eyes were already on me.

"Okay," I whispered softly

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