Chapter 25 He trailed my toes with his lips, kissing them tenderly as if he worshiped them.
Amarien's POV
My heart pounded in my chest as I was escorted from the courts by a troop of guards.
This is it. It's happening! I've hidden from it for so long, and now it's here.
I must fulfill my duties to the emperor.
I wish Daevir had let me go. I wish he had let the emperor swing his sword at me. But who am I kidding?
Death is a privilege for me at this point. It's a luxury I can't even afford.
The door slammed behind us, and I heard his boot grind the floor with eerie intensity. Daevir stormed up to me, snatched my hands from the guards that held me, and pulled me out of the scene.
Some of the guards managed a weak protest, but Daevir merely shot them a glance that made them freeze and look away.
He pulled me faster and harder than I could ever catch up with.
“Your highness! Wait!” I tried to slow him down, but Daevir seemed more determined to get me out of the reach of anyone around.
When I stumbled on my feet, he stopped, threw my arms around his shoulder, and picked me up into his arms.
“Your highness…” I muttered. I watched his gaze fixed as he raced through the palace walls, not caring who turned to look at us.
I watched him. His determined amber eyes ached with worry, his long dark hair whipped in the breeze, his cutting jawline fixed and strong. His lips. Those delicate lips that trembled when they cried in my arms.
For a moment I thought…
I thought…what if he…
No.
I shut my eyes.
I can't think such forbidden thoughts. The prince will never consider me his equal. He will never stoop so low to press his tender, soft lips on mine. He wouldn't want to touch me in ways that soothe the aching between my legs.
He won't!
Though…though sometimes I wish….
I shut my eyes again.
Grandma Chichi had warned me not to have forbidden thoughts, else they might just come to pass.
I buried my head in his strong arms, praying, wishing the thoughts would go away.
We got to my quarter, and Corvin was waiting at the door. He looked both terrified and surprised to see me in Prince Daevir's arms.
“Leave us alone.” Daevir sneered at Corvin, startling him and making him run off like a scared child.
Daevir entered, slammed the door behind us, and lowered me to my soft bed. He buried his head into my neck, and we stayed there, lying on each other in the silence.
I wanted this.
Though…I shouldn't.
I wanted him to stay longer.
My hand found his hair, and I brushed it tenderly, making him give out a soft moan. His hair was so soft and tender to touch, and I dug my hand into it, ruffling it a bit too hard.
Daevir raised his head, and my breath tangled in my throat.
His curls spilled forward, brushing the edges of his eyes, those molten ember eyes that burned through me like a force of nature I had no defenses against. His brows framed them perfectly, giving him the look of a dangerous god carved from shadow and fire.
But it was his lips that betrayed me.
Those lips, soft, wicked, hungry-looking, made heat bloom beneath my skirt. It spread through me in a rush so warm it turned my knees weak.
What is this feeling?
Daevir leaned in, so close I felt his breath on my face. “Tonight's going to be a big night.”
Oh no. There it is.
Not that. Not the thought of the emperor when all I want in my head is Daevir.
How did I totally forget the ordeal I'll be facing tonight?!
I shut my eyes, and tears streamed down.
“I can't…” I muttered, breaking down into tears.
“Shhh…shhh.” Daevir crossed his lips. “None of that will happen while I'm here.”
I blinked. He did save me from his father's sword. But how could he possibly save me from his father's lustful desires?
“Amarien…” he called out and buried his face into my hair. I heard sounds of sniffling. Like he was taking in my scent. It was strange and unsettling, but I stayed still.
And then, his hands began to wander. First into my hair, lower to my heart, holding in a chokehold.
I shut my eyes. The brush of his strong arms against my skin scratched an itch I never thought I had.
And then, he got lower, to my chest, pulling off the ribbons and ties that held my bosom. His hands hungrily grabbed my bosom before I could blink.
He grabbed my breast so tightly and hard that I struggled to breathe.
“I won't let him touch…you…like…this,” Daevir murmured in my ears. His lips trail my ears to my neck. He nibbled my neck carefully over and over again.
And soon, he lowered his head to my cleavage, burying his head between my breasts. He grabbed both my tits with his hand and fondled.
I bit my lips. Hard. Wanting more.
Is this what the first night is like? Is this what the forbidden apple is like?
No one told me I'd want it. No one told me I'd feel a hungry hotness between my legs. No one told me my tits would harden and swell at the touch of a man. No one told me I'd want him to press into me harder and harder that I can't breathe.
I gasped when Daevir let go and went even lower, patting my legs so my skirt fell to my stomach.
He carefully trailed my toes with his lips, kissing them tenderly as if he worshiped them. He slid carefully right up to my ankles, and then he began climbing right up to that steamy part of me that craved a strong itch.
“Your highness…” I murmured. My eyes shut, hair tangled over the bed, arms spread wide, sweat dripping down my pores. My heart was beating wildly, like it would burst out at any moment, and then…
A knock.
“The emperor is here.” The call rang from outside.
I froze for a second, then pushed myself up.
“Ready your quarter, Concubine Amarien. And let the Emperor in.”
Silence.
Daevir looked at me like he couldn't fathom why we stopped.
“Y…your highness…” I managed a whisper, but Daevir suddenly shoved his palm over my mouth and pushed me to the bed. He pressed his weight over me and began kissing me so hard and violently that I felt my head spin.
“Your high…” I tried to push him off, but he grabbed both my hands and pinned them to the bed.
Daevir! What are you doing?!
He lowered himself to my neck and resumed sniffling again, this time even harder. I felt his hand in my skin,holding me so tight I began to bleed, his claws were protruding!
Was he…shifting?!
No!
I fought! I tried to get out of his grip!
This can't happen now! Not when the emperor is right at my doorstep.
I could hear murmurs outside. The emperor and his entourage were waiting for me to open the door.
“What's going on?!”
“What's taking so long?!”
“Is she in there?!”
I couldn't cry for help, couldn't scream if I wanted, not when it's Daevir here, not when I could get him in big trouble if I muttered his name louder than the door could conceal my words.
One more wrong move and I'm screwed.