30 - I’m in Love with You

30 - I’m in Love with You
30 - I’m in Love with You
Meridian Water

When his gaze met mine, it felt like everything around us was ablaze. But instead of continuing with what I thought he intended to do, his hands left my waist, tracing the scars scattered across my body. There was something in his eyes—admiration, maybe? I couldn’t quite decipher it. For a moment, I felt vulnerable under his touch, and my mind screamed at me to leave.

Put your clothes back on and walk away.
Don’t let him in.
You’ll get hurt.

But when his fingers brushed my skin, and I saw the fascination in his eyes, it was as if every scar I bore had been worth it. As if they existed solely for him to touch. I felt revered, as if he were worshiping the darkest, most hidden parts of me with each touch and each kiss on those marks. And suddenly, the fiery lust between us transformed into something entirely different.

The prince’s expression softened, his features growing tender—an expression I never thought a dark mage could wear. He rose slowly, following the path of my scars, until he reached my face. Then he embraced me. I returned the gesture, and for the first time in my life, I felt safe, protected, and cherished. For the first time since becoming a renegade, I felt... loved.

His lips pressed gentle kisses to my neck, and his hands gripped me as if I were his entire world. In the blink of an eye, we were no longer in the library. We were in his room. In his bed.

I took a moment to take in my surroundings. I’d never been in the prince’s quarters before.

The walls were paneled with polished dark wood, accented by intricate gold details that gleamed faintly in the dim light. It was a room that mirrored him perfectly—rich, imposing, and mysterious.

At the center of the room was a grand canopy bed draped in flowing black velvet curtains that pooled onto the floor. We lay atop silky black sheets embroidered with golden patterns.

A reading table sat beside the bed, laden with leather-bound books, dark wax candles, and a carved crystal emitting a faint, soothing glow. Everything was meticulously arranged. Nearby stood a leather armchair, inviting yet commanding. The walls were adorned with golden tapestries depicting ethereal, abstract landscapes.

A dense wool rug with dark, arabesque patterns covered the floor, while a small marble-topped balcony near the window overlooked a breathtaking view of the kingdom. Exotic plants in marble pots glimmered faintly in the moonlight.

In one corner, an ornate golden-framed mirror stood tall, its surface etched with ancient runes, reflecting the prince's shadowed figure. This place was him, in every sense—powerful, enigmatic, captivating.

He looked at me with an unusual softness, his face relaxed, as though he were memorizing every detail of mine.

“What are you thinking about, Prince?” I asked.

“Darlon,” he whispered. “I want you to call me Darlon.”

Time froze. My breath hitched. No one but his family could call him by his name. And yet, here he was, offering it to me. At that moment, I realized this was no longer a game. He was yielding, telling me what I didn’t want to hear.

“I want you,” he murmured, his fingers tracing the contours of my face.

“I’m here,” I replied automatically, his touch reigniting a fire within me.

“No...” He swallowed hard. “I’m in love with you.”

“Demons don’t fall in love,” I whispered.

“I’m not a demon,” he replied.

I wanted to argue, to tell him he was indeed a demon—dark mages were practically that. But in that instant, something surreal happened. For the briefest moment, the surrounding shadows dissipated. His black eyes turned oceanic green, as if baring his soul to me.

Before I could respond, he kissed me. Desire and urgency blended together, invading every part of me. His hands explored my body, and his lips devoured mine with an intensity I couldn’t resist. And when he found his way to the core of me, I realized I’d never wanted anything more than I wanted him inside me. In mere seconds, he was.

With every thrust, I felt like I was burning in a pleasure I’d never known. He groaned with me, biting my lips and licking the blood that dripped, while I clawed at his back with unrelenting ferocity. He moved faster, rougher, pulling me closer as he flipped me onto all fours. His hand smacked my ass, silently telling me who was in control. But that wasn’t how it ended. It ended with me straddling him, my breath ragged as I moaned into his ear, grinding down on him with wild abandon.

“Meridian...” he whispered, his voice hoarse as we reached the peak together.

“Darlon...” I whispered back. And with that, we both came undone, collapsing onto his bed.

The shadows crept back in, reminding me of whom he truly was.

He was the prince of Umbra, a dark mage cloaked in shadow.

Yet something inside me told me that wasn’t the whole truth—that I’d walked into a trap I couldn’t escape.

But even so, I was inside him now—inside his head, his room, his heart. And the words he spoke, carried by those ocean-green eyes, kept swirling in my mind, telling me things weren’t as they seemed.

I was playing a dangerous game. And the cost would be steep for both of us.