Page 151 of The Wild Prince’s Favorite (The Dragon Empire Saga #3)
Moreover, he knew he was going to need to move the entire army north.
From what he’d seen in that cave, the battle was going to be far more significant than he’d anticipated.
It wouldn’t be about chasing one tribe after another from their mountains anymore; he could sense a real fight looming, and the movements he had spotted from the skies seemed to confirm so too.
His sister’s wish would be fulfilled soon.
“We need to catch some sleep,” he said, wrapping an arm around Alezya’s shoulders. “Tomorrow might bring the biggest battle of all.”
“One can dream,” Kiera snickered. “Fine, I’ll pick up Tiev, but I’ll expect you guys before dawn tomorrow. This is your army, Brother, not mine.”
“I know.”
For once, Kassein felt more attached to his role than ever; having a purpose had changed everything. His sister let out a long sigh, and then turned around just as her dragon came close, preparing to depart.
“See you, Brother. Good luck explaining it all to Tiev tomorrow!”
Kassein grimaced as his sister took off; he definitely didn’t want to be the one to deliver the news to his Intendant, but he’d have no choice. Tievin’s extensive knowledge would more than likely be crucial in the upcoming battles...
“Let’s go,” he whispered to Alezya as his sister’s dragon flew away. “Let’s go sleep.”
Alezya glanced toward Kein and Niiru, still hiding under its wing, but as both dragons looked peaceful and sleepy, she followed him inside. As promised, Lorey had prepared a hot bath for them, and when he led Alezya there, her lips parted slightly, and the envious look in her eyes made him smile.
This bathing room was one of the most captivating spaces in the Onyx Castle.
A single arched stained-glass window pierced the darkness, casting pale moonlight that shimmered faintly against the shadowy surfaces.
At the center of the room, a round bath was hewn directly into the stone floor, about thirty inches deep and spacious enough to fit half a dozen people, brimmed with steaming water that carried a faint, earthy aroma of herbs.
A handful of delicate flowers floated lazily on the surface, their pale hues illuminated by the dim light.
Along one wall, simple baskets held bars of soap of various colors, while neatly folded towels rested beside them.
Lorey smiled and gently took Lumie from her mom’s hands while Alezya was still in silent awe.
“I’ll watch her while you two bathe,” she told her.
Her wink and little head movement toward the bath were probably enough for Alezya to understand, and though she stared longingly at Lumie, she let Lorey take her.
Alezya stared at the empty doorway after Lorey was gone, and although she knew Lumie was safe, Kassein could understand how hard it was to let her go minutes after they’d finally reunited.
“She’s with Lorey,” he whispered against her hair, gently taking off her first layer of clothes. “Lumie is fine, my moonlight.”
Alezya only gave him a little nod, a bittersweet mixture of relief and sadness in her eyes. Kassein was longing to see her smile again; the smile she’d given her child had been the most beautiful of all, and he couldn’t wait to see her smile like that again.
But for now, Alezya deserved some time for herself; he wasn’t sure what she’d gone through in the time they’d been apart, but he wanted her fed, warm, and happy by any means.
The clothes had to go first; all of it was too wet and dirty, and Alezya deserved nothing but the finest. He knew he could count on Lorey and probably Nebora to have some clothes ready for her when they got out of the bath.
Gently, he finished undressing her, quite happy with how she blushed but didn’t shy away from his touch.
His fingers lingered everywhere they could on her skin, delighted to caress the tawny beige shade, angry at each cut and bruise he found, even as snow-white scales covered each injury.
Alezya shivered as she finally shed her last piece of clothing, red with shyness, and he delicately held her hand while she stepped into the bath.
He trusted Lorey to have made it warm but not too hot for her, and Alezya did seem to find it to her taste as she sat in the large bath.
Kassein didn’t hesitate for a second before he quickly undressed and stepped into the water with her, watching Alezya’s reaction before deciding to sit behind her, and to his pleasure, she leaned back to rest against his torso with a contented exhale.
“I missed you,” he whispered against her shoulder.
She hummed softly, and his hands caressed her body gently, pouring water over her shoulders, washing every speck of dirt off her skin.
After a few seconds, he felt Alezya relax, and she put her hand on his forearm, pulling him to wrap his arm around her stomach.
She wanted to be held, and it made him happy.
Kassein smiled and brought her other hand to his lips, kissing the back of it.
He witnessed the tip of Alezya’s ears flushing a bit.
After a second, he moved the hand that was around her stomach, gently caressing her belly.
Thinking she was growing a child they’d conceived together was an indescribable feeling, a tangle of too many emotions to label.
It had to be very small, yet knowing it was there, he couldn’t stop touching her belly, thinking about how it would soon grow full.
His hand moved gently, but as Alezya released a faint exhale, the air subtly changed around them.
A heated tension was slowly rising, and after a hesitation, she pressed on his wrist, and guided his hand down.
Sure enough, her legs slowly parted, and he kept going until his fingers reached the hairy mound.
“You’re so beautiful,” he whispered in her hair, and he felt Alezya relax a bit more.
Her hands moved, one covering his and the other rising to hook his nape, caressing the tiny hairs on his neck.
“Kassein,” she said in an exhale, her voice raspier than usual.
“I want you,” he breathed in her ear.
She nodded and kept guiding his hand down, allowing him to caress her slit, letting out a little satisfied gasp when his fingertips finally parted the lips.
“Kassein,” she whimpered.
“I know,” he smiled. “I got you. I’m right here. Show me. Show me how you want me. Anything you want, I’ll do it. Show me.”
Whether she understood some of his words or the heat in his voice, Alezya blushed and breathed louder, arching her back a bit and tightening her grip around his nape.
He loved how she could be honest about her desire now that they could catch a break, away from all that could have worried her.
It was like he’d only gotten glimpses of her before, and now, he was getting to see the woman who had been pushing her desires coming to him, all her needs and wants unleashed.
Her hand was firm on his, guiding him into what she liked, her breathing growing louder as he breached her, and she began grinding her hips against his fingers, egging him on.
Kassein bit her shoulder, finding her painfully beautiful with dim moonlight on her skin, the melody her voice let out, and the shy yet needy movements of her body.
It was like playing a unique instrument that only responded to his touch, and the sounds she made were the most beautiful.
Her back arched some more, and Kassein pressed his fingers deeper in, his thumb roughing up her button and making Alezya’s gasps and moans echo in the room.
Her wriggling body was making small waves in the water, but Alezya didn’t care; her desire had taken hold of her movements, and right then, she was focused on her burgeoning pleasure.
Her grip was getting tighter on his skin, and Kassein loved that; he swallowed hard, pressing firmer into her, noting how she loved his rough movements, closing her eyes as tiny erratic moans escaped her lips.
He moved his other hand to her chest, and just as he started playing with the soft, supple breast, Alezya let out a louder cry, her back arching some more.
“I love the way you shiver when I touch you,” he whispered in her hair, loving how she quivered even more at his hot breath against her ear.
“Your body is so beautiful, my moonlight. I want to know what you love, I want to make you feel good. You need to teach me. I want to know everything. I want to know what feels good to you, what makes you moan, what makes you ache for more. I need to know, Alezya. Please. You have no idea how much I want you. I desire you more than I’ve ever wanted anything in my life.
I want to touch you all night, my moonlight.
I want to hear your voice and make you moan with pleasure until dawn comes.
I want to do so many things to you... You might be scared if you knew how much I desire you, Alezya.
I want to mark you everywhere as mine, even if you already carry my child. I want my seed deep inside you again.”
She moaned, and Kassein smiled, feeling almost guilty for spilling his darkest secret to her unsuspecting ears.
And yet, as if she’d caught some of that, Alezya’s hand moved from covering his between her legs to slither behind her back, suddenly looking for something between his lower body and hers, and when she touched his length, Kassein let out a groan.
“Kassein,” she whined. “You. I want you.”
“No,” he groaned, increasing the movement of his fingers on her clit, ignoring how his self-control was reaching its breaking point.
“You,” Alezya insisted, squirming in his arms. “Kassein. Kassein.”
She fought his embrace enough to turn herself around and suddenly assaulted his lips, taking him by surprise.