"Now that I think about it," Dimitri murmured, his voice low and rough, "there’s only one way to stop this pain in my chest."
Sorayah’s lips parted, about to ask what he ant, but before she could get the words out, Dimitri closed the space between them. His lips captured hers in a kiss...fierce, passionate, and overwhelming. It sent waves of shock and disbelief cascading down her spine.
Instead of pushing him away, Sorayah found herself lting into the kiss like butter over an open fla. She responded, hesitant at first, then deeper....kissing him back. Her heart thudded violently against her chest, her breath caught in her throat.
Dimitri didn’t stop. He scooped her into his arms without breaking the kiss and laid her gently on the bed, positioning himself above her. Only then did he pull away, his eyes boring into hers, intense and unreadable.
"Your Highness?" Sorayah whispered, swallowing hard, her voice barely audible. Her gaze locked with his, heart racing.
Dimitri didn’t answer. Instead, he leaned down again, capturing her lips with his in another searing kiss. The air between them grew hotter, thick with tension and sothing far more dangerous....desire.
As he broke the kiss once more, his lips trailed toward her neck.
"Your Highness..." Sorayah’s voice trembled as she placed both hands on his chest in a futile attempt to push him back. "Wait..."
But he ignored her, kissing the soft skin of her neck, his breath hot against her flesh.
"Dimitri!" she gasped, startled by her own boldness. She quickly covered her mouth, horrified that she had called him by na.
Dimitri stilled.
He lifted his head, his erald eyes narrowing in amusent. "You called by my na," he said softly, a smirk tugging at his lips. "Interesting."
A beat passed, then he scoffed lightly and rose to his feet. "Anyway, I think I feel better now. The pain in my heart is gone."
Sorayah remained frozen, lying on the bed, too stunned to speak.
"Get so rest," Dimitri added with a faint smile. "We’ll see each other again tonight." With that, he turned and exited the room, leaving her breathless and bewildered.
***
Later...
As soon as Dimitri returned to his chamber, Liam....his loyal bodyguard....was already waiting.
"You’re here early," Dimitri said as he walked toward his chair and sank into it with an exhale that hinted at restrained satisfaction. "Finished with the tasks already? Is that why you ca this early to report? You could have just wait till dawn though."
"Yes, Your Highness," Liam replied with a respectful bow. "I completed everything as instructed. But... did it work? Judging by your expression, I’d say it did but then it might also be thanks to your drug. I actually gave this early to see you because of that."
"Don’t ask that Liam. And yeah it’s thanks to my drug so now get out. I want to be alone." Dimitri replied with a grin on his face as he licked his lips.
"Are you sure it’s the drug though? What’s with all the grinning this early morning? Sothing is telling it’s not the drug work this ti around so tell your highness." Liam replied with a smirk plastered on his face.
Dimitri allowed a smile to spread across his face. "You’re right you fool. Anyways it worked perfectly. Her blood...it healed the curse chest pain. Or maybe it only works on , I don’t know. But the mont I tasted it, the ache in my chest vanished."
He leaned back, letting his thoughts drift. "Her lips... they were so soft. I might’ve marked her if she hadn’t snapped out of it by calling my na."
Liam blinked, startled. "Wait...what? Did I hear that correctly? You didn’t fall for her because of a kiss, is it your highness?"
Dimitri cleared his throat, suddenly guarded. "I an... she’s good. And if I can heal myself by healing her, I see no reason to stop." He brushed his fingers over his lips thoughtfully. "Anyway, brief on the day’s tasks."
"Yes, Your Highness," Liam responded, regaining his composure.
****
Dawn broke over the kingdom, bathing the world in a golden glow. Sorayah, now dressed in her palace attire, moved through the halls with practiced grace until she reached Lupien’s quarters.
Inside, she stood close to the Alpha Emperor, gently massaging his face with fragrant lotion. Her hands moved automatically, but her thoughts were elsewhere...trapped in the mory of Dimitri’s kiss.
Why did he do that? she wondered, her heart clenching. Why does he keep kissing every chance he gets? What is he thinking?
Her fingers paused in their motion, her eyes unfocused, lips lightly parted as she recalled the intensity in his gaze.
"Why did you stop?" Lupien’s voice broke into her thoughts. "And you’re being unusually gentle this morning. What’s wrong? Has your heart softened for , or are you just distracted, thinking about soone else you’d rather hit?"
His teasing tone didn’t reach her. Still lost in her thoughts, Sorayah stared blankly at Lupien’s forehead, her eyes narrowed, burning with confusion and frustration.
The room fell into awkward silence. The palace maids and Lupien’s eunuch noticed the strange tension, but none dared comnt especially after Lupien’s strict orders to treat Sorayah with respect.
Lupien narrowed his eyes. "She’s daydreaming. About a lover, perhaps?" he muttered to himself, watching her lips as Sorayah kept licking it. "She keeps licking them. Is she trying to seduce ...?"
The idea flustered him enough that he licked his lips back before realizing how ridiculous he looked. He cleared his throat and suddenly grabbed Sorayah by the wrist, pulling her forward and causing her to stumble into his lap.
She gasped. "Your Highness?" Panic filled her eyes as she tried to rise, but Lupien held her firmly in place.
"No. That’s not the right question," he said smoothly, his gaze sharp. "I should be asking you what you’re doing. Lost in thought, staring into space... Are you thinking about soone?"
"Huh?" Sorayah raised an eyebrow, confusion flickering across her face. Then she swallowed hard, trying to steady her voice. "Let go of , Your Highness," she said quietly, her tone a gentle plea as her gaze stayed locked with his.
"Oh, I will," Lupien replied smoothly, his smirk growing wider. "But first, tell ...who were you thinking about? I saw you licking your lips. Or were you perhaps hoping to be kissed?"
"Licking my lips?!" Sorayah snapped, her voice rising with a mixture of shock and horror. "When did I do that?"
"Oh, you did," Lupien said with an amused chuckle, clearly enjoying himself. "But don’t worry. I get it. It must be quite the challenge for you, attending to a man as handso as I am...washing my face, applying lotion, dressing ... Your face always so close to mine. I suppose your lips must get dry from all the restraint."
He licked his own lips dramatically. The sight sent a wave of irritation across Sorayah’s features.
"Oh, don’t look at like that," he added with mock innocence. "My lips are dry too, you see..."
"Please let go of , Your Highness," Sorayah repeated, her voice firr now. She tried to stand, but Lupien suddenly pulled her back down, pinning her to the bed. Her back hit the mattress, and her hands were pushed above her head, restrained beneath his grip.
"What are you trying to do, Your Highness?!" she cried out, panic flashing in her eyes.
Inside the bedchamber, Lupien’s male and female attendants had respectfully turned their backs, granting their emperor the privacy he had commanded silently.
"Trying to wet your lips, of course," he replied with a smirk, his tone thick with flirtation. "You don’t want that, huh? Just be a good girl, Sorayah."
As his face moved closer, Sorayah, in a desperate panic, jerked her head forward...accidentally knocking it against his.
"Ouch!" Lupien winced, though he didn’t release her. His eyes narrowed slightly, but the mischief didn’t vanish. "You’re fierce I must say but then tell who were you thinking about that got you so lost in thought? A lover? Who is he? I’m sure it’s not or is it?"
"I have no lover, Your Highness," Sorayah replied tightly, swallowing her nerves. "Palace maids aren’t supposed to have one anyways or they’ll have to die as well as their lover."
"Oh?" Lupien tilted his head, a crooked smile playing on his lips. "Then I suppose soone needs to kiss those lips of yours... they do look awfully dry, Sorayah. I an every palace maids belong to and sohow I chose you among the thousands of maids in my palace. Aren’t you a lucky one to be kissed by ?"
His words stirred a hot wave of fury within her, but just as she opened her mouth to fire back...
Bang!
The door to Lupien’s chambers swung open.
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