Dragon's Challenge - D. R. Rosier Page 0,19

he wasn’t sure he’d ever understand women. She was also quite mesmerizing, and he felt the weight of her answer in his soul.

“I do so swear.”

The cleric smiled in benediction, “By my goddess’s power and under her auspices, I declare you are now wed before man and the gods. You may kiss the bride.”

He’d planned a somewhat chaste kiss at that point, not wanting to embarrass his princess, but she clearly had other ideas. Her lips were sweet as she sighed breathlessly into his mouth and he had to admit he lost himself a little in the kiss, forgetting where they were for a moment.

Her smile was radiant as they broke the kiss, and the crowd cheered as they left the back entrance with the king and cleric.

She kissed him again, to her father’s amusement, before heading off to the stairs.

He knew she was going to change for the feast, and he’d be going to put on his armor as well before they both rejoined their guests.

The king said, “You make my daughter very happy, that more than anything else that is the reason I allowed this to proceed. Welcome to the family.”

Sara smiled, and echoed his last four words.

He nodded, “Thank you, both. She means the world to me, and I’ll keep her safe.”

They split up then. The king to greet his guests and nobles in the dining hall, while he went to take off the ridiculous clothes and get back in his armor.

The feast had gone well enough, in truth he didn’t remember much of it except his bride as they danced, drank, and enjoyed the celebration. He’d kept his guard up of course, in the moment around the Prince and his retinue including his sister, but those details faded in his mind as he and the princess headed upstairs.

The halls were as resplendently carved in the royal apartments as in the rest of the castle, but the surroundings at the same time, were much humbler. There were no suits of armor, tapestries, and the artwork they did have was more personal in nature, rather than dynastic.

The princess’s suite was mostly of reds, from the cherry oak wood furniture to the couches and even the bedspread on the vast four poster bed. He wouldn’t see his own suite until the next day, and he was more than fine with that.

She gave him a sweet loving smile and displayed a breathless excitement, but now that the moment of consummation was near, she also displayed an obvious anxiety for what was coming next. Which explained why she’d been so quiet on the walk up to her suite, their suite, whatever.

He smiled as he pulled her firmly into his arms, and she looked up at him and bit her lip nervously, even as he saw surrender and trust in her eyes.

“I won’t hurt you, never hurt you, my love.”

Her gaze softened, and she melted against him, “I know that, Muranth. I feel so safe with you, I always have, even that first night under your raptor’s gaze.”

He caressed her cheek, and then kissed her lingeringly before he searched her eyes. He believed her, that she had no fear of pain in her duties to their wedding bed.

She was so breathlessly beautiful and compliant in his arms. The level of desire and need for him was shocking and rivalled the looks of lust on his nymphomaniac monsters. She wanted him just as badly as he wanted to love her.

“Then why are you so nervous?”

She blushed, “I never… what if…”

His eyes widened as the truth occurred to him. She wasn’t nervous that he’d hurt her in their marriage bed, she was nervous that she was inexperienced, that she wouldn’t please him. That she wouldn’t measure up to his other lovers. He’d never seen her insecure before, even as she obviously longed to be claimed by him she feared to disappoint him.

He said, “That is impossible. I love you, and my body already sings for you.”

At the look of continued doubt which lingered in her eyes, he realized the only way to reassure her was to actually make her his. His princess was a young, beautiful, and passionate woman, he had no doubts she’d be more than pleasing in his arms.

He smiled, and then stole another long sweet kiss as he reached for her dress’s ties, and slowly undid them.

She kissed him with a sweet and desperate passion that sent heat and need through his body. She was so soft and supple against him,