Later that night, Fabio summoned Giselle to his room.
The maids had thoroughly bathed her in a fragrant mixture of milk and rosewater, scrubbing her skin until it couldn't get any softer. After that, they laid out a pair of night gowns; one was a red chiffon and lace that seemed more seductive than she was used to and another was plain white silk that she loved instantly. Giselle slipped into the transparent silk gown that felt like butter on her skin. Her noble family had clothes made from the richest materials at home but it all seemed like rags compared to all the fabrics at the palace.
After she was done, she made her way to the room across from hers in the hallway.
The room was vast, clearly made for a king and twice the size of hers with the bed being even larger. Dozens of candles lined the walls, throwing soft golden light across the silk sheets. Giselle stood there in a pale satin nightgown, heart pounding. To say she was nervous was an understatement; every muscle in her body was strained with fear and anticipation.
Fabio entered in silence and she gulped down her feelings, trying to look just as unreadable and unconcerned. He looked at her, jaw tight with some unknown emotion. Probably hate. They had only been married for about 48 hours or less, but her heart still bled with the knowledge that her mate despised her.
"Well, what are you waiting for? Get on the bed.."
Giselle flinched but something rooted her on the spot.
He walked toward her slowly, each step measured, deliberate. "This isn't about you," he said, voice barely above a whisper. "This is for the court. For the bloodline. I'll be gentle with you, don't worry, but don't mistake my gentleness for anything more."
His lips brushed her collarbone. His hands were steady, his touch precise. A part of her wanted to push him away, but another part—the bond—ached at his nearness. Her skin prickled, her pulse surging.
He took two steps forward and Giselle mirrored him by moving back on instinct. When his strong, calloused fingers trailed down her thighs, she threw her head back with a quiet moan. He stopped suddenly and she bit back a whimper, trembling nervously.
Fabio traced her skin, his touch feather-light yet it felt like fire lit up within her. He pulled her thighs apart and she trembled, a tinge of fear dousing her arousal.
"Have you done this before?" He asked plainly.
Their eyes met and she shook her head. Surprise danced across his eyes but his expressionless face hid it well.
He proceeded to slip his fingers where it ached the most, drawing a sharp gasp from her.
"Your Majesty, I-"
"Just relax," He said, not lovingly or anything but enough that Giselle's body seemed to follow his instructions, "Breathe and let go."
He pushed his fingers into her in one full stride and this time she couldn't contain her moans. That intense bubble of pleasure bloomed within her, pulling tighter and tighter the more he pumped inside her. To his credit, he seemed concentrated on the job at hand, the muscles on his forearm working faster. Then, still inside her, he curved his middle fingers, hitting a spot she didn't even know existed. Giselle came apart.
"Oo-ooh, oh my-" her thighs shook and she almost sobbed at the feeling.
Fabio withdrew his fingers and it took everything not to chase after it. He shrugged off his shirt and tie, unbuckling his belt with an urgency that made that telltale pressure well up in her lower regions again.
With long, black hair falling over his face, it was no surprise that she found him handsome, because he was. The bond sparked, pulling Giselle toward him like a string and she was on her knees before she knew what she was doing, her hands in his.
"W-what are you doing?" she hesitated and Fabio grabbed her by the wrists, hoisting her up to face him. "Don't fucking do that, I don't need anything from you. Just let me fuck you and leave."
He released her and she fell back on the bed, stunned silent.
His hands made quick work of unbuckling his belt and removing his briefs and she swallowed, now face to face with everything that was completely him, veiny and long, it's bulbous head shiny with precum.
Lying back on instinct, Giselle's wolf preened within her at the thought that her soul mate was going to be her first but a logical part knew the reality. Fabio traced his hands on her thighs down to her center once again, hastily taking off her lace panties with a low growl but leaving her in her silk night gown. The thought of him making her explode with his fingers again made a rush of wetness run down her legs and she looked up to see his eyes glossed over at her scent.
With one fluid motion, he pumped his member and pulled her thighs closer to his. Giselle whimpered in anticipation, parting her legs. Fabio rubbed her calves with his calloused hand, blue eyes staring intently at hers.
"Shhh."
He pushed in, brows furrowed in concentration and gleaming with sweat.
"Ahh..." she breathed, trying to relax, gripping his arm. It was everything all at once, too much even; she wanted to pull back at the impossible fullness but yet she wanted to push forward and let him sink deeper.
"F-fuck you feel so fucking tight." Fabio growled, pausing for one second. Then he thrusted back in one fluid motion and she gasped, spine arching at how sudden and deep it was. Her first instinct was to cry and pull away even though the stretch felt incredibly good but Fabio held her down, one arm caging both wrists and the other hoisting her legs up.
"W-wait…slower please…" It was too much with a sting of pain that made her want to recoil.
Fabio didn't move further, his broad body looming over her as he waited for her to get accustomed to the feeling. After a beat passed, he moved slightly—once, then twice—until the pain was replaced with complete pleasure.
"Feel okay?" He asked, his thrusts increasing gradually, strong hands holding up her legs firmly.
"Y-yes.." Giselle's eyes fluttered short and she basked in the euphoric feeling.
He thrusted at a steady pace, nudging her legs even wider apart to give himself more room, his strong fingers digging into her thighs in the process.
The only sound that filled the room was the sound of the bed squeaking on its hinges and her own whimpers echoing back at her; Fabio was almost expressionless on top of her except for how tightly knit his brows were as he pounded into her perfunctorily.
Unexpectedly, Fabio changed the pace, leaning over and reducing his speed, thrusting deep and slow until Giselle was sure she could feel him in my belly. It was too much, too wet. The obscene squelch of his balls against her wetness did little to stop climbing pressure that crashed in waves.
She threw her head back and wailed.
"Ohh—mmph—nng p-please… I'm…"
Her legs kicked involuntarily, trying to get away from the incoming and inevitable peak but Fabio's grip tightened, holding her down. Forcing her to take it.
Gone was the feverish thrusts of before, now it was all slow and deep and maddening. She dug her nails into his back, barely satisfied when all she got was a low growl from him but that seemed to be all it took to galvanise him to action.
With one hand firmly pressing her arms above her head and an unforgiving grip on her unruly hair, Fabio's languid pace changed to crazed, almost brutal thrusts with his face only inches from hers. They didn't kiss; not once has he even looked at her lips since the ceremony but both their lips were open as they shared the same desperate breath.
Harder and harder until Giselle could barely breathe.
"I'm…ohh my…p-please.."
With one well-aimed thrust at the right spot, she was arching off the bed sobbing uncontrollably with her head tossed back. The feeling was nothing close to whatever she had felt before; this time it was all encompassing with her orgasm pulsing like unforgiving waves until she forgot where she was, her body curled upwards, hands fisted in the bedsheets and still, Fabio fucked her through it all.
"F-fucking hell.." Fabio swore as she clenched around his cock, trapping him in her delicious wetness. "S-shit" He hissed, his last few thrusts erratic as he slams into Giselle, grinding into her with low vibrating growls. Then she feels it, something warm spilling inside her as Fabio drapes his body forward, rocking into her.
Then, for the first time, she felt it.
A stir deep within her. Not another orgasm—something else. Something primal. A warmth coiled low in her belly, rising slowly until she felt it behind her ribs, in her breath, behind her eyes.
Her wolf.
She was there, pressing against my mind. Not fully awake, but aware. The bond was present as well, reaching out, eager for its mate.
Fabio must have felt it too, because his hands froze.
He pulled back suddenly, staring at her like he had seen a ghost. His mouth parted like he wanted to say something, but instead, he stood, pulling on his trousers and a shirt.
"It's done," he said coldly.
"You didn't… mark me," She whispered.
He didn't look at her. "No. I didn't." came the curt reply, "You may go back to your room, the maids will take care of the mess."
And just like that, he left, the door shutting loudly behind him.
Giselle curled into the sheets, the ache of rejection heavier than the silence.
Somewhere inside, her wolf whimpered.