Page 16 of Mated to the Crown

Not only was that the best sex of my life, I did feel the bond too.

Something in my chest bloomed in the middle of what we had just done.

Something opened, connecting me to him. I could feel his emotions.

I could feel his aura. It spurred me on in the most erotic ways.

I felt his lust, his love, his happiness with what we had just done. I could feel his pleasure.

“I feel the bond now.” I whisper. He looks down at me, running his nose against my cheek.

“Really? What does it feel like?” His voice is low and husky.

I pull my shirt down, covering up my body, suddenly feeling self conscious. I smile when I feel his frustration through the bond.

“You are frustrated I would cover myself.” I give him a half smile.

“I can feel what you feel. I could feel your pleasure and it… I don’t know.

It turned me on so much.” I admit. The pulse through the bond of how much I turned him on, of how much pleasure he got from the things he was doing to me and the way I was making noises was such a new kink I didn’t realize I had.

“I don’t want you to ever feel self conscious around me. I love your body, but we will get there.” He smiles, brushing some hair from my face. “We should probably check on the soup though.” He peeks his head up from the couch. “Actually, shit.”

He hops up and runs over, turning the burner down just as I hear it bubbling over.

I sit up and look at him standing in the kitchen in just a shirt.

I could definitely get used to this. To us.

His body is even defined from behind. His calves curve with his muscles, his ass tight with a slight curve.

He turns and strides back to the couch, laying down on me and giving me the softest kiss.

“Do you want to shower and I’ll finish up dinner?” The way his body pressed against mine sends so many sparks through me and I let out a whimper.

“If I stay here we will fuck again.” I whisper.

“Nothing wrong with that, Princess.” He smirks and kisses me again before standing up and holding out a hand. “But we need to eat first.”

I reach out, pulling myself up. He pulls me into his chest, tilting my head up with a finger on my chin. I feel the emotions down the bond. The security he is sending, the comfort and acceptance. He tilts his head slightly before pressing his forehead against mine.

“You are worth happiness. I will prove that to you. Now go shower so I can fill you up again.” He spins me and smacks my ass before pushing me away. I roll my eyes but find my way to the shower as my lips turn into a smile.

I could get used to this. I quickly shower, stepping out of the small bathroom wrapped in a towel.

I go into the bedroom where he threw our bags earlier and change into a t-shirt and loose fitting pants.

When I return he has our food in bowls, the smell filling the room is so heavenly.

I pull my wet hair up into a messy bun and walk over to him, wrapping my arms around his waist. My front is against his back but I kiss below his shoulder blades anyway.

“Feel better?” He asks. I nod and we head to the table to eat.

The rest of the night passes quickly. We eat our dinner and I compliment him on his cooking skills. Seriously, it was so delicious I don’t know how I have never heard of it before. The fluffy, pillowy biscuits mixed with the creamy soup. Chef’s kiss.

He tells me about what he knows about shifters, which isn’t too much in terms of mating.

Most of the time they continue on in a Royal family, living their life in the confines of a palace or castle to hide the secret.

I scrunch up my nose, still confused why they would want to hide it in the first place.

Then I remember how I reacted. Maybe chaos was better hidden.

“Wait. Come here?” I ask, reaching out for him.

He had put clothes back on but I pull up the sleeve of his shirt and gasp.

“The tattoo.” Now it is complete except for a small portion.

It swirls around his arm, accenting the muscles in his bicep.

Small dots and marks travel in between the lines until it ends just above his elbow.

The end fades, almost like it was forgotten.

I pull up my sleeve and look at the similar tattoo before turning to look at him.

“What does that mean?” I ask, my voice low. Was this a problem that it was so public that we were mates now? He reaches out, tracing his fingers down my tattoo before cocking his head to the side.

“Honestly, I don’t know much about the tattoos. It seemed to only complete when we did things. Maybe that was part of connecting the bond? I wonder what the last part is though.” His fingers stop at the bottom, his thumb rubbing the spot gently. “Hmm.”

I focus on the thread of the bond, trying to figure out if he is upset with this. He seems content, not mad or angry but not necessarily happy either. He pulls his hand from my shoulder and tips my chin up with his fingers.

“What are you looking for? I feel you digging around in there.” He smirks.

“Are you sure this is what you want?” I whisper. My mind is already overthinking though and as much as I try to stomp it down I can tell he feels it.

“Of course. I told you, the Goddess blessed us and I believe her.” His voice is deep and husky again, making me clench my thighs together. He raises an eyebrow. “Or is that what you are thinking of?”

“Oh stop.” I laugh, playfully pushing at him. Which of course leads to us fucking again, but this time we make it to the bed. After I lay in his arms, curled up against his side. I close my eyes and soon let the bliss of earlier fall over me like a blanket. I slip into sleep.

◆◆◆

Sunlight streams in from the windows, the birds singing breaks me out of my sleep.

I grumble, burying my face into the chest next to me.

Wait, what? I open my eyes slowly, picking my head up from the warm chest to see Malik sleeping next to me.

He is sprawled on his back, his arm around me while I am curled up against his side, my leg draped over his.

I take a moment to look at him while he sleeps.

His lips are slightly parted, his breath blowing the strands of black hair in front of his face.

His jaw is chiseled and the stubble is starting to peek through.

My gaze follows down his chin to his neck.

I bite my lip, remembering how much I licked and kissed that part of him last night. He moves, tightening his arm around me.

“What are you looking at, Princess?” He growls.

“Don’t talk.” I put my hand over his mouth. “Don’t even think about it or I’ll come right here.”

He laughs, licking the palm of my hand which causes me to pull away.

“You are so tempting, but we need to go into the valley today. I am a bad planner and didn’t bring much food.”

I can’t help but let out a little laugh, getting up from the bed and getting ready.

“How many times have you been to the valley?” I ask, pulling a shirt on.

I look through my bag, frowning. I didn’t really bring much.

I honestly didn’t really have much so I should have known I might run into this issue.

I hadn’t seen a washer here but maybe there was one hidden.

Something sizzles down the bond and I let out a little gasp, clutching the pants in my hand tighter.

Damn bond. I grumble. I had gotten good about hiding emotions but now there was no way to do that.

“I have been a few times but it has been a while. My uncle will be there.”

“Uncle? Who?” I turn, meeting his look.

“Nicholas.” He acts like it’s nothing but I give him a quizzical look.

“Nicholas has been gone for years?” I say, my mind running with this new information.

“No.” He laughs. “He has been in the valley. It’s a story, let’s get driving and I will tell you.”

I pull the pants on and slip on my shoes before following after him.

Outside I get a good look around, seeing the beautiful scenery we are in.

It is like another world. Lazy pines hang above us, dripping pine needles.

Smaller trees filter the spaces in between, their leaves reaching out to catch the sunlight in between the pines.

A mixture of moss and grass cover the ground around the cottage.

The scent of flowers and fresh rain surrounds us and I can’t help the smile tugging at my lips as I get into the car.

“So. Tell me what you know about Nicholas.” Malik says, turning on the jeep and pulling down the dirt road we entered the day before.

“That he and Queen Isla fought over the crown. Queen Isla had the Goddess mark, which I don’t even know what that means, but she eventually took over. He left.” I glance over at Malik, his face neutral as he drives. His hand slides over to my thigh, squeezing it.

“She doesn’t have the mark. It was a fake, she had it tattooed but at that time Nicholas didn’t care anymore. He was like me, he didn’t want to be in the family. He moved down to the Valley, only told my grandmother, and that was that.” He shrugs as he speaks.

“Well then.” I whisper. I always wondered about Nicholas. There wasn’t much information about him, it seemed like once he had left they destroyed most evidence of it. I placed my hand on Malik’s as I looked out the window.

The only life I knew was the palace. I had never left and never needed to.

Now that we are driving to the valley I feel a knot of worry fill my stomach as we leave the dirt path to enter onto the pavement once more.

The ride is silent, my own worries rising the closer we get to the valley.

Malik constantly sends soothing pulses down the bond but it doesn’t help the worry.

We pull down to the bottom of the hill and the valley arises.

Buildings rise up above us, different shapes and sizes.

Some are so high I need to lean forward to see the tops of them.

They are a mixture of wood, metal and cement.

They come in every color, blacks, blues and even browns.

Each of them are so different. We pull into the main road and it winds around the buildings but we pull into a parking spot near the entrance.

“Come on.” Malik smiles, something in his face shows his excitement but it’s the feeling that fills my chest that makes me know he is excited.

I get out and look around, in awe about the whole situation.

Scents fill my nose, coffee, tea, the steaming of chicken, sweet scents of fresh bread and oranges float on the wind. He grabs my hand and pulls me forward.

I stumble beside him, trying to take in all the sights but also I realize that as we walk nobody looks at us like he is a Royal.

They don’t bend their head as he walks by, if anything they just keep walking like nothing is different.

Nobody balks at the fact he is holding my hand.

Nobody gives us judgemental looks that even though he is dressed casually, he still looks way out of my league. Nothing.

We walk by all the different stores, bakeries, coffee places, restaurants and grocery stores fill my vision.

A man and a woman come around the corner and immediately have smiles on their faces.

The excitement grows on the tread, filling my own chest as Malik speeds up our walk.

I look at the man who looks so much like Charlotte.

The way his nose curves, his almond shaped eyes and even the way his eyebrows tilt down ever so slightly. This must be Nicholas.

“Hey nephew!” His voice booms and he pulls Malik into a hug. Malik’s hand is pulled from mine and I stand there, not sure what to do. The woman smiles and steps toward me, holding out her arms for a hug. I give her a shy smile as she pulls me into an embrace.

“Welcome!” She smells of lavender and lemons. She gives me a quick hug but for that moment I feel the most sense of family that I have ever felt. I hug her back before she pulls away and smiles at me. “I’m Daisy, Nicholas’ wife. Nice to meet you.”

“Nice to meet you. I’m Celeste.” She raises an eyebrow and I shrug.

“I’m Malik’s mate?” I watch as her light brown eyes widen, her blonde eyebrows raise and she reaches her hand out to Nicholas.

She grabs his shirt and pulls him close, whispering in his ear.

I look between the two of them, feeling my cheeks redden. Should I not have said that?

Malik steps over to me and wraps his arm around my waist.

“Celeste, this is my Uncle Nicholas. Uncle, this is my mate.” He beams and I give Nicholas a nod, bending at the knees slightly like in the palace. Nicholas tsks and I glance up at him.

“I am no Royal, don’t do that. I am just Uncle Nicholas.

Hug?” He holds his arms out and I step into his embrace.

He is huge, much bigger than Malik so my head presses against his chest and my arms wrap around his waist. He laughs, his chest rumbling as he hugs me back.

When we finish I step back and look at Malik, his face so happy and his smile spreads so proud.

“Ready to eat?” Nicholas asks, holding Daisy’s hand and heading to a small cafe nearby. I trail after them, Malik’s hand pulling mine into his.