Page 33 of Their Crowned Mate
"Virtually none on our side," Aurelius answered. "A hell of a lot fewer than there could have been, at least, thanks to Joram's strategy. He's quite the leader."
"Yeah, he is," I murmured, "I'm just glad I won't have to be taking up the mantle of queen anytime soon."
"I don't know," Aurelius said, leaning in the doorway. "I could see you in a crown."
I just laughed, bypassing the bed since as tired as I was, the shower was calling my name. Cole was definitely right about the dust. It felt like it was caked into my every pore, and while a shower wasn't going to do anything about the emperor's energy still merging with mine, it would help me feel a little less skeeved out. Hopefully.
"I think I'm going to take a shower," I told him. I was still pleasantly surprised that as rustic as Joram's cabin was, it had the modern conveniences. At least most of them. The palace was definitely going to be an upgrade, though. Assuming he wasn't put off by having been kept prisoner beneath it for so long.
Yeah, on second thought, if I were him, I'd want to consider moving the royal base of operations.
When I realized Aurelius wasn't behind me, I paused to glance back over my shoulder with a smile. "You coming?"
His face lit up in surprise, and he looked undoubtedly flustered as he hurried after me. "Yeah," he said with a nervous laugh.
It was easy to forget how cute he was. As smooth as he was with everyone else, he'd always been kind of bashful around me at times. Especially as we got older. And I couldn't help but find it flattering.
I slipped out of my clothes and turned the water on, turning around to find Aurelius staring at me with a hungry look in his eyes. A look I knew all too well, and I felt just as much desire for him.
When I turned to face him, I walked over and started unbuttoning the shirt of the uniform he had changed into. "You know, you look good in vampire armor."
He snorted. "Maybe I'll keep it, then. Just for you."
I smiled, leaning in to kiss him as his shirt hit the floor. "I'll make it worth your while."
"You could just wear nothing," he said, pointedly looking down over my body, taking his time as his gaze traveled from my face to my breasts and down to the swell of my hips like he was imagining touching me everywhere he looked. "Ever."
I laughed, taking his hands to place them on my hips. "I'll keep that in mind. I don't think the others would complain." When I saw the hesitation in his eyes, I asked, "Are you sure it doesn't bother you? Sharing, I mean. Because I wouldn't blame you if you changed your mind. I know how alpha male shifters are. Cole has a hard enough time, and he and Marcus are used to sharing a lover."
"It's not that," he said, shaking his head. "I'm just... not sure what I can offer you that they can't already. And considering our past..."
My heart warmed a bit at his words as I realized what he was getting at and I reached up, taking his face in my hands. He had such an intense, masculine beauty he looked like a painting sometimes. It was hard to believe he was real, and here with me. Here of all places.
"Aurelius... I'm willing to let go of the past if you are," I told him. "As for what you have to offer? Yourself. That's all I wanted back then, and that's all I want now."
He smiled, and it touched his eyes even if it didn't displace the guilt there. I had a feeling he was going to have a harder time forgiving himself than I had forgiving him. "As long as you're sure."
"I am," I told him. "And I'm not going to pretend like it's going to be easy trusting you completely. Not right away. I think there's going to be a part of me that still thinks you're going to disappear for a while at least, but I'm willing to work through it."
"I'll just have to prove you wrong," he said, taking my hand to kiss the back of it. "However long it takes."
I smiled. "Sounds like a promise."
"It is," he assured me, taking my hand and leading me into the water.
I sighed deeply as the hot water cascaded over my aching muscles, washing off the blood, dust, and traces of fae magic clinging to my skin. I hadn't expected magic to leave a residue, but that was one side effect I was going to have to figure out a way to cure if I was going to keep using it.
Aurelius stepped in behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist and pulling me against his body. His breath was warm on my neck as he leaned down and kissed the side of my jaw. I shivered at the sensation and let out a contented sigh as we settled into the water together.
The heat of the shower gradually began to melt away the tension from the day, leaving me feeling relaxed and content. Aurelius moved his hands slowly along my body, tracing patterns on my skin with gentle fingers as he caressed me. His touch was so tender and loving that it made me feel cherished in a way I'd always longed for with him.
We moved together as one, allowing our bodies to become acquainted with each other's curves and planes, exploring each other fully until we were both lost in pleasure. We moved languidly under the cascade of hot water, letting it wash away all traces of weariness while it kept us close together. It was slow and sensual, gradually building to something more intense as we both allowed ourselves to explore each other's bodies the way we'd always longed to.
Touching like this before mating had always been forbidden, and Aurelius was nothing but a gentleman, but there was nothing holding either of us back now.
I moaned as his caresses grew more forceful, and he kneaded my breasts in his strong hands. As elegant as he was, there was still a huge size and strength difference between us, and it was hot as hell. I let my fingers dig into his hair the way I'd always wanted to, running them through the silky strands in the water.
He lifted me up and pinned me against the shower wall, my legs wrapped around his sturdy torso. I broke our kiss to look down at him as his hand traveled around to cup my ass, giving it a hard squeeze.
