The Dragon Prince's Bride
Chapter 142. Did you miss me?

Chapter 142: 142. Did you miss me?

When all the guests had presented their gifts, the members of the royal family one after the other also gave their gifts. Queen Rakavi told him her gift was special and she would give it to him when they were alone, much to the King’s excitement. Raknar offered his presence as a gift, which was no shock to anyone as he said it with pride and much audacity, "Father, I believe you would require no greater gift than the sight of my marvelous self." He had said and Bashan just scoffed and stared at his son with no words for the man. Others laughed.

Rakima presented a pair of shoes made from rare beast skin, which shockingly enough, she had designed herself and her father loved the gift. He praised her work and would have even tried them on that very instant if not that it was a taboo in Trago to take off the shoes of the king in front of others.

The twins acting together again gave him a new scabbard, for his magnanimous sword and Barni, his last child, offered his father some books much to the amusement of everyone present.

Barak was sorry he could not prepare a gift beforehand and no one could hold it against him. When Neriah presented her gift, even Barak was marveled by her embroidery skills. Bashan praised her work in front of everyone just like he had done about the handiwork of his daughter. He even took off his current coat as there was no taboo against that and tried on the one Neriah gave him.

That was what he had on till the end of the ball. Neriah was filled with pride as she saw the man wearing her gift with much appreciation. He even praised her further, telling everyone that she had been the one who took charge of the decorations. And the young woman had never been more proud in her life. It was such a good feeling, that sense of fulfillment and achievement. It was a nice feeling.

However, she still anticipated something... what exactly that was, she did not know. But there was this small hole in her heart that needed to be filled. She just wasn’t sure what or how to fill it.

After eating and drinking, the ball was coming to a close and Rakavi was chasing Barak and Neriah back to their palace, repeating over and over that Barak had given himself to the public enough, and that he spent some time with his wife who had missed him all this while.

Even though Neriah had denied those words vehemently, Bashan had backed his wife and stated that indeed she had missed her husband. Much to her embarrassment.

They both greeted some people together, before finally heading back to their palace. But just as they were about to leave, Rakavi called Neriah aside and spoke with her. Barak could only wonder what his mother had said to her to make her blush all the way back to the Kadan-Rana palace.

Their little journey back to their palace was a silent one, it had been a long night and instead of taking a carriage, they had walked silently side-by-side till they reached their destination.

Barak was the first one to use the bathroom. Some maids were there to help him too. However, the night turned a new and much more pleasant shade of colors when his dear wife walked into the bathroom and sent the maids out.

"I heard it is customary that the wife bathes her husband personally after his return from battle." She said as she took off the robe that covered her form, revealing a short, titillating and poor excuse for a night dress. Just a drop of water and that fabric would cling to her like a second skin and to think she would wear something like that to come to him.

Seriously, what was wrong with his wife?

"Not that this can be considered a serious battle, but since when did you become one to follow customs?" He asked as she knelt down beside the bathtub and took the soap and body scrub in her hands.

"I am not doing this for you." She said and his eyes raked her form that was visible to him, before resting on her flushed cheeks. There was something slightly different about her. Maybe it was because he had been away for a while, but apart from the fact that she was talking and acting weird, she had some physical changes too.

Her cheeks looked rounder, and her neck seemed a little thicker. Even her nose seemed somewhat thicker. Or maybe he just really missed her now he was making up things in his head.

"I am just following the teachings of mother." She gently cleaned him with the soap and scrub. This was the first time... The first time she was touching his body on her own. Without him taking her hand to feel him, this was the first time she was touching him. And although she was just helping him bathe, it felt like she was doing more. So much more.

"You seem to be fond of my mother." He said and allowed her lift his arm to wash it.

"Well she is the only logical and reasonable person in this castle. And she does not have your barbaric characters."

"Was this attire a part of mother’s teachings too?" He teased as his eyes once again went to the outrageously low neck of the dress.

"That is not your concern." She said and he chuckled pleasantly. "T_the weather has gotten hotter recently, so I prefer lighter fabrics to wear to bed."

He suddenly grabbed her hand that wiped him and the scrub fell out of her hands. "What are you—" before she could say the words completely, he pulled her entire body into the bathtub, sitting her atop him with her hands upon his chest.

The extra body in the tub caused the waters to rise.

Her eyes held shock and his were filled with seriousness. "W_what is wrong with you?" Her voice didn’t hold its usual firmness. It trembled slightly. She pushed gently on his chest and tried to rise up, but he held her steady.

Her nightdress that was but a mere linen was now drenched and clung to her body beautifully, just as he knew it would. Accentuating every curve and contour of her figure, from her hips to her pointy pink nipples. Everything was clear and visible now.

"Earlier, mother said you had missed me." He said, his hand held her waist and her back, stopping her from running away from him. "Did you miss me?" He asked and her eyes shook and she tried to run again, but he held her steady. "Did you miss me, Riah? Did you pray for my safe return?" He asked again with a soft smile upon his lips and Neriah could see that he was going to torment her till he got an answer from her.

So she spoke, "I do not know if this counts as a prayer, but I asked that the goddess not grant you death there and that she send you back here in one piece so I could hate you more. If you die early, it would be too merciful to you after all you have done to me."

His smile grew into a very broad grin. So broad that his dimples were extremely deep and the light in his eyes were bright. She could tell her words had made him happy.

"I missed you too, my spitfire." He said and without any further hesitation, his lips took a hold of hers and her response to his kiss was instantaneous. Her arms that were upon his chest slid round his neck and held him firmly as her head swayed in the direction his was going.

The heat in her that was already high now seemed like it would overwhelm her. She wanted more. She wanted so much more. It wasn’t enough... She had been away from him for too long. The lonely nights were longer. She had not thought she would be that affected but she had realized how much she had become addicted to him making hate to her.

"I missed you." He whispered onto her neck as he kissed and bit her there. His hands had quickly pushed her dress up to her breasts and she voluntarily lifted her hands up so he could slide the unwanted piece of cloth from her body.

His hands landed on her hip and she worked with him, wrapping her hands around his neck as she lifted her hips and he brought her core to descend upon his pintle.

"Hah!" They both breathed with much satisfaction as they were finally joined together at their hips and before he could even help her move, she began to move on her own.

Her hips swayed atop him as his kisses continued. "Hah, Barak!" It felt like ages since she had last breathed out his name in such ecstacy. So she called him. She called his name again and again without restraint. The higher her height of pleasure, the louder she screamed his name.