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August 14 - August 21, 2025
“I’m going to show you how a man pleasures a woman.”
Then he reaches around to press a hand against my abdomen and says, “Spread your legs, lovely.”
The king puts a hand against my cheek. “Easy, beautiful.”
“What did you do?” “Guess.”
They’re holding me so tenderly, and now it’s my head that falls against Ky’s shoulder. And then, suddenly, I begin to cry.
“Hush, lovely,” he says gently. “Hush.” “I don’t know why I’m crying,” I say, weeping. “You’re just a cryer.” “Is this going to happen every time?” “Maybe?” he says, and that doesn’t help stop the tears. “Enough of that,” says the king, and there’s a slightly amused note to his voice. “Your tears are an honor. Because you, Princess, are exquisite.”
“I think he wants to make sure you feel safe.” That makes me shiver a little—in a good way. “He’s very kind,” I whisper, like it’s a secret. Asher says nothing to that, but he presses a kiss to my neck through my hair. “Do you feel safe?” he says. I nod and give his hand a squeeze. “Is it . . . is it always like that?” He’s quiet for a moment, and then he shakes his head. “No.”
“There’s plenty more to discover,” he says, the words almost wicked. It makes me laugh and shiver again. Then he whispers, “I didn’t even get to use my mouth on you.”
The princess herself continues to stun me. So innocent, yet so . . . unflinching when it comes to things that matter.
There was a moment when he was lying with Jory that he allowed me to stroke his hair. They both seemed lazy and content, curled up like purring cats beside me. He’s not purring now, but he doesn’t look ready to claw up my arm, either.
He’s really so beautiful. They both are.
“Will you let me hold you?” I wait, and I’m rewarded when he responds, tucking his face in against my shoulder, aligning his body almost flush with mine.
When he relaxes, he’s as responsive as the princess, and I begin to let my hand drift. His back, his arm, his rib cage, his throat. I brush a thumb over his nipple, and his eyes flick open, his breath catching the tiniest bit. His skin is so warm, his pulse beginning to hum.
“You are not my prisoner, Asher. You are free to stay, just as you are free to leave. But no one will take you away from her. No one will take her away from you. Certainly not me.” I lean in, letting him hear the righteous conviction in my voice. “You are free. But if this is where you choose to remain, know this: no one will take you away from me.”
“Rest assured, I know how to go to war.” He’s simply staring, so I lean in and brush my mouth over his. It’s the first time I’ve kissed him, and he responds so softly, his lips barely brushing mine, his breath light and sweet as he withdraws. He whispers, “It must have been really good if you’re offering to go to war.”
Her innocence is likely the only armor he has.
“Take yourself in hand,” I whisper along his temple. “I’ll hold you.”
The princess is so guileless that I have to guard my words, because I don’t want to shock her or frighten her—at least not until she’s a bit more experienced. But this is one thing I don’t need to fear with Asher.
“When you’re ready, I’ll do that for you, Asher. Perhaps I could be the one to give the princess a lesson. You could tell me what you think of my mouth.”
“Maybe you wouldn’t want to finish in my mouth,” I say. “Maybe you’d like to push Jory down against the bed. I saw the way you pulled her apart. I know you want to fill her up.”
“Or maybe you’re the one who wants to be pushed down against a bed,” I whisper. “Maybe you don’t want my mouth. Maybe you just want me to fuck you.”
