Rest came easy tonight, as I was a bit worn from training with Theo. It had been a week since any amount of my training had been aggressive like that. Not only that, but for once, Theo treated me like I was one of his guards. He was rough, and it didn’t seem to phase him one bit. Now, it did take me by surprise, but I shook that off real quick.

As darkness took hold, moonlight beamed as the white sands of South Haven spread across my feet. He stood at the edge of the shoreline, staring out, watching the waves crash against the rocks.

“It didn’t take you long to show up.” He turned and opened his arms as I ran to him at full speed, almost knocking him into the water.

“It’s been a week since we trained. And we never trained like that.”

“Point taken. You did impress me today. Those “training” sessions with Quinn must have paid off.”

“Glad I am surpassing your expectations.” I grinned up at him. He brushed his hand against my cheek and pulled me in for a kiss.

I stepped back and stared at him, studying him. Thanks to Quinn, he seemed fine, but I knew he was not one hundred percent yet. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

He sighed, “About the dizziness?”

“About the overall effects creating the layer would have on you.”

“The effects are temporary. I’m back to full strength already. And I have been for sometime.”

“You still should have told me about it from the beginning.”

He walked off to the log we usually sat at and patted the spot next to him. “If I need to explain. Sit.” I obeyed and waited for his explanation. “How things were a week ago; I don’t think you would have allowed me to go through with it. Knowing that it would drain some of my magic, even temporarily, I don’t think you would have let me go through with it.”

“Damn right, I wouldn’t have! You know I don’t like you risking your life like that.” I tried to stop my voice from rising but I failed terribly at that.

He laughed at my outburst, “Maria, it’s my job to serve and protect the people of this kingdom. Bending the rules slightly to make sure everyone was safe was worth it. Even if it did get me punched in the groin.”

“Damn you.” I grumbled as I crossed my arms. No matter how much I wanted to be mad at him, I couldn't find the strength to. As I knew he risked so much to protect myself and our kingdom.

He stared down at me, “Mi Amor, the love I have for you and this kingdom goes beyond what is physically possible. This kingdom is my home, my territory. And I will do whatever it takes to protect its residents—and that includes you.”

I averted my eyes from his. I was stopping myself from getting lost in those damn blue eyes of his. “I understand why you did what you did. It just hurt that you felt you couldn’t tell me about the side effects.”

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“I’m sorry for not being honest. I am, but I don’t regret it.”

I glared back at him and sighed. His eyes wore that of sympathy. And that, I knew he was right. I would not have allowed him to create his lair with him putting himself at risk. But the kingdom needed that extra layer of protection. He may be a dragon. May have power. But there was only so much he could do. “It’s okay.” I watched him sigh in relief. “I don’t approve of it, but I understand.”

“Thank you, Maria. It won’t happen again.”

“It better not.”

My gaze remained fixed on his, and he remained fixed on mine. The tension from our disagreement was still there, but something else was stirring as we held our gaze. “Is sex still on the table for tonight?” He questioned with a grin creeping on his face.

I thought about it and smiled, “Are you sure your groin can handle that after it meets my knee?”

He winced as I reminded him about the pain I had made him suffer earlier, “I think I can manage.”

His lips met mine, and they were hungry. It had been a week since we bedded down together. I had even refused sex in our dreams for fear it would hurt his recovery. He tried to protest, but I was firm.

He returned briefly, “I hope you are ready for this.” He pulled off his shirt, quickly unbuttoned his pants, and resumed kissing me before I even had a chance to answer.

I felt his hand slide under my dress, sending a wave up my spine. Which he was quick to pull off, exposing my body to the elements. My breathing quickened as I felt his fingers trail down my body as he started to pleasure me. I had no idea how badly I wanted him, how badly I craved him. Not until he began to use his lips and started using that damn tongue of his.

A week without sex. Some punishment. It wasn’t just a torment on his part; it was torment for both of us.

~Sexual Content, you may skip to next chapter if you do not want to read~

After a few minutes had passed, he moved his lips back up to mine. He was kissing me even more hungry than before. He was gently rubbing himself against my body before I gave him the initiative to insert himself into me. “Please…” One word. He needed one word as it was all I was giving him.

A soft moan slipped my lips as he inserted himself. It hurt a bit initially, but the pain remained and became enjoyable. He started gentle, but as time lapsed, he became more aggressive. Something we both had gotten used to over the years. It didn’t take him long to finish, but I could tell he was still hungry even though I wanted more.

He stared down at me with content in his eyes. He waited for my consent before he pressed further. I gave him a simple nod as my body still craved him. My body craved all of him.

The second time around, he wasn’t gentle about it at all. He used force. Not enough force to break me, of course, but enough force to give us ultimate pleasure.

After each time I let him finish, he pleasured me until I was finished. This was something we both needed. Something we both missed. And damn, was it enjoyable.

Once fully satisfied, we lay against each other, resting our bodies as our breathing steadied. “Damn, I missed this.” I breathed.

He laughed, “And yet that was a punishment you came up with.”

“And it was worth it.”

His lips curled into a smile, “Maybe I should be “punished” more often.”

I rolled my eyes, “Please, that will be torture for the both of us.”

“Lack of sex. Torture. Got it.”

My eyes widened a bit. “I didn’t give you any ideas, did I?”

“Nope.”

He fell silent after that. To which I was more than content. He needed rest, and so did I. Tomorrow, Marcel returned to Winterfall following the week-long events at Summer Crest. Tomorrow, our lives will turn back into a living nightmare.

“It won’t be that awful,” Theo mumbled.

I rolled my eyes. “He already sent word that he wants to touch base about the damn wedding.”

Theo tensed a bit. He hated talking about the wedding. And I got that. “Just a few more weeks until we don’t have to deal with that bastard.”

“That’s one way to look at it.”

“The only way I can look at it. Just remember to wear that necklace around him.”

“Yes, captain.”

“And one more thing, Maria.”

“What’s that?”

The dream began to shift and fade before he was able to tell me what he wanted. I sighed as I stretched awake in my covers. Today, the devil returns. Lovely.