Page 23 of Kingdoms of Tides and Twilight

“Oh my!” a voice came from inside the room.

Grayden tore his mouth away from Renya’s and saw Doria standing in the room with a pile of linens in her hands.

“Oh my!” she squealed again, taking them in. “Renya! You’re back! And Prince Grayden! How can this be? What is going on?”

Grayden looked at Doria and then back at Renya, debating within himself whether he wanted to explain to Doria or ravish Renya.

“It’s a long story. Doria, can you please tell no one that I’ve returned? I promise to fill you in as soon as I can, but Renya and I need some time alone before I’m ambushed by Tumwalt and Selenia.”

“Of course,” she said, looking at Grayden as he reached out for Renya, pulling her back into his embrace. Doria gasped as she put together what was happening before her eyes.

“How is this possible?” she asked, the delight shining in her eyes. “You’re both well past the age!”

“How did you know?” Renya asked incredulously.

“I’ve been with the Snowden family a long time. I was there when King Efferon brought Elowyn home. You are the splitting image of your father,” she said, looking at Grayden with affection. “He looked just the same when he found his mate.”

Grayden grinned. “Then you understand I need to be alone with my mate, uninterrupted?”

Renya elbowed him in the ribs. “Grayden! Rude!”

Doria didn’t look offended but gave Renya a knowing look. “I’ll see to it that no one comes this way and I’ll personally bring up your meals and anything else you need. I’ll also bring Mistress Renya’s items over here to your bedchamber. I’m guessing this is now her room as well?”

“Yes,” Grayden answered, not even looking at Renya for confirmation. Doria just smiled and headed towards the door.

“I’ll bring in some extra soaps and things too. I’m guessing you’ll want to wash after your travels.” She turned and closed the door behind her.

The second the door shut, Grayden started undressing Renya. Her borrowed cloak was unclasped and thrown on the floor near the fire. He pulled off his boots and they landed on the ground with a loud thud. Grayden deliberately backed Renya into the room off to the side with his bed and bathroom. He kept moving her backwards until her knees bent and she perched on the bed. Renya sat on the edge of the large mattress, wondering what she should do next when he suddenly kneeled before her, pulling his shirt over his head and looking up at her. She placed her hands on his shoulders, mesmerized by his muscular chest. She traced several scars with her fingers, not noticing just how many he had before. Heat blossomed between them, and Renya knew things would never be the same once they finished this dance they started.

Grayden lifted her foot in his hand and began unlacing the ties fastening her boot to her leg. For every lace he removed, he kissed higher up her calf. Once one boot was off, he placed a gentle kiss on her arch, careful to avoid the blistering and peeling areas from her long walk to the Tidal Kingdom.

He repeated the same process with the other foot until she was barefoot before him. Grayden stood to remove his belt, but was interrupted by a quiet knock on the door. He suppressed a growl, knowing it was just Doria, but he could hardly think straight right now.

“I’ll go help her,” Renya said, rising to her feet. “I’m more dressed than you are, anyways,” she teased.

Renya moved toward the door and quickly let Doria in. She was holding a tray in her hands and a basket full of fruit. She dropped them on Grayden’s desk, carefully finding a spot that wasn’t covered in parchment, and then went back into the hall, gathering more items. Grayden paced impatiently in his inner chamber.

After a couple of more trips into the bedroom, Renya’s clothing was stuffed in the wardrobe with Grayden’s and the bathroom was stocked with soaps and Renya’s belongings from her room. Doria left without saying another word.

Alone again, Grayden stalked towards Renya, and a jolt of excitement went through her. Ever since she saw him shirtless, sprawled before the fireplace in the inn, she had wanted to trace the planes of his chest. Renya reached out and stroked his upper chest, feeling his pectoral muscles clench under his warm skin. His chest was mostly bare, except for a tiny patch of dark hair on his breastbone. She noticed another scar that ran right underneath his strong chest muscles. He was entirely masculine, testosterone practically seeping from his pores. The wound she stitched up hadn’t fully healed, and she took a few seconds to inspect it.

“Either Almory or I will need to remove those stitches,” she said absentmindedly.

“That’s what you’re thinking about right now?” he asked. “All I can think of is how bad I want to feel you surrounding me.”

The sound of her own laughter bubbling up in her throat helped to relax her. This was her Grayden. She felt like she had such an insight into his soul, but the physicality of their relationship made her uncertain. After denying themselves before, the rush to consummate their bond was an adjustment. But deep down, she knew she wanted him just as much as he did her.

Rather than racing to remove the rest of her clothing, Grayden turned her around to face the bed and began delicately unbraiding her hair. Renya steadied herself and held on to one of the carved posts at the corner of his bed. His fingers combed through her tresses, and it amazed her at how his large hands could be so gentle. He picked up a section of her hair and brought it to his nose, inhaling deeply.

“You smell so intoxicating,” Grayden said, closing his eyes as if to commit the smell to memory, letting her hair fall around her shoulders when he released it.

“So do you. When I woke up in your tent, that was the first thing I noticed. You smelled of pine and the forest after a rainstorm.” Renya would normally have blushed at her declaration, but after all he said in praise of her, this small revelation seemed trivial. This man was going to have her, know her intimately. They would have no secrets between them.

Grayden began undoing the pearl buttons at the back of her borrowed gown. His nimble fingers made quick work of them, and then he pulled each strap down her arms, watching the garment fall to the ground. As in the fashion of the Tidal Kingdom, she wore nothing underneath the dress except for the pair of white lace panties he saw earlier. The gown pooled at her feet, and her bare back was right in front of him. Renya self-consciously moved to cover her chest as Grayden turned her on the spot.

“So beautiful,” he whispered, his hand cradling the back of her head and pulling her in for a kiss. “You never have to hide from me, Renya.” He motioned to her arms, crossed shyly in front of her chest.

Self-doubt crossed her mind as she stood there in nothing but her panties. She took a deep breath, and brought her arms down to her sides, exposing herself to the cold room and Grayden’s penetrating stare. He stepped back, admiring her entire figure.

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