The heated dance floor slowly quieted as the couple made their way back to their table, hand in hand, their cheeks still flushed from
the passionate display.
"That was intense," Arabelle said, her eyes wide with amusement as they all sat down again.
"It was a great show!" Velzra added with a hearty laugh, raising her glass. "You two nearly stole the entire night!"
They continued drinking and chatting, the atmosphere now mellow with satisfaction and laughter, until some of the guests began to take their leave.
"I will talk to the Archbishop," Craige said with a firm tone, standing from his seat and giving Luren a reassuring glance before
heading off.
"We've prepared rooms for all of you, should you wish to stay the night," Craige offered politely to the temple delegates before
departing fully.
"Thank you, Your Grace, but we must return to the capital by morning," one of the old priests replied curtly. His voice was tight,
disapproving. "We've seen enough here."
"I will accept your generosity, Your Grace," Archbishop Desmond spoke with calm dignity. "There are matters I wish to discuss with both you and Luren."
Craige nodded respectfully. "I'll have the servants assist you to your room later."
He paused, offering a courteous smile. "I hope you enjoyed the ball tonight."
As Craige walked away, his cape brushing behind him with purpose, a few of the priests exchanged looks and scoffed quietly, their eyes filled with veiled contempt.
As the night reached its peak, the grand Northern Ball finally came to an end. The nobles began returning to their estates, while
those staying at the manor had already retired to their assigned rooms.
The three children were fast asleep in Claren's room, with lone staying behind to watch over them like a quiet guardian in the night.
Meanwhile, in one of the guest rooms, Cassian suddenly pushed Gab against the door as soon as they entered.
"Cassian?!" Gab gasped, startled by the sudden aggression, but deep down, he knew what Cassian wanted. "W-We can't… Not here, not in Duke Craige's manor," he whispered nervously.
Cassian's smirk was wicked, eyes burning with desire. "Craige won't mind," he said, voice low and husky. "He's probably doing the same right now."
Before Gab could reply, Cassian silenced him with a rough, hungry kiss that stole his breath away.
Gab moaned softly between the kisses, overwhelmed. Cassian always liked it rough, his touch was fierce, urgent. Their clothes were already scattered across the floor, forgotten in the heat of the moment, as the night deepened with passion.
---
Karin entered his room, expecting solitude, but to his surprise, Cleven followed him inside.
"What are you doing here?" Karin asked, his cheeks burning as the memory of their kiss on the dance floor flooded back.
Cleven's eyes locked onto his, intense and smoldering with desire. "How about we continue what we started?" he said, his voice deep and unwavering.
"Are you crazy, Cleven?" Karin gasped, shocked, yet his voice trembled, and his face turned crimson. Before he could step back, Cleven closed the distance between them, one hand sliding to Karin's waist while the
other gently tilted his chin upward.
"I like you, Karin. Please… accept me," Cleven whispered desperately, his breath brushing against Karin's lips, making his heart pound wildly. "I'm going crazy without you."
Karin's heart clenched. He still liked Cleven, maybe even loved him, but the hurt still lingered. Was it foolish to forgive?
"Please don't push me away," Cleven pleaded.
Before Karin could respond, Cleven leaned in and kissed him, firm, needy, full of longing. The faint scent of wine clung to Cleven's breath, and instead of pushing him away, Karin felt his resistance melt. He had no
strength to fight it, perhaps he didn't want to.
He wanted this man, had always wanted him. Maybe it was time to let go of the pain.
As Karin responded to the kiss, opening up to him, Cleven deepened it with a low, yearning sound. Karin wrapped his arms around him, pulling him closer. The passion between them reignited, raw, real, and
impossible to deny.
Cleven's hands trembled slightly as he pulled Karin even closer, his fingers tracing the curve of his waist as if afraid this moment
might slip away. Their breaths mingled, fast and shallow, as if the air around them had thickened with everything they'd left unsaid.
Karin's heart pounded in his chest. He felt warm, too warm, as if Cleven's touch had lit something inside him. When their lips finally parted, just for a breath, Karin looked into his eyes. He saw not just desire, but longing... regret... and love. Real, aching love.
"You hurt me," Karin whispered, his voice cracking, barely audible.
"I know," Cleven said, forehead resting gently against his. "I was a coward. I was scared of what I felt for you… scared of what others would think. But tonight, seeing you, dancing with you, I realized I'd rather face the whole damn world than live another day pretending I don't love you."
Karin's eyes shimmered with unshed tears. That word love echoed in his head like a vow. He wanted to believe it. Needed to.
Cleven cupped his cheek. "Let me make it right," he whispered, his voice trembling with sincerity.
For a moment, silence fell between them, thick and heavy with emotion. Then Karin nodded, just once. Slowly. "Then stop talking," he said softly, "and show me."
With that, Cleven kissed him again, gentler this time, more reverent, as if Karin was something precious. Their clothes rustled faintly as Cleven guided them back toward the bed, every movement careful, seeking
permission in every glance, every touch.
Karin's fingers clutched at his shirt, his heart thundering with nervous anticipation. But he didn't pull away. This time, he let himself
fall, not into recklessness, but into something real.
The night grew quieter outside the window, the sounds of the manor fading as the two of them finally gave in, to each other, to forgiveness, and to a love they could no longer deny.
---
"Craige—ahhh... wait… slow down," Luren gasped, his voice trembling as Craige thrust into him with raw need. His back arched from the pressure, and a cry escaped his lips when Craige bit down on his collarbone.
"Why were you meeting him at the crack of dawn?" Craige growled, his voice low and possessive, eyes dark as he kept pounding into him without mercy. "You're so tight, baby... and you're asking me to stop now?"
"I wasn't meeting him… I-I got hungry and ran into him by accident," Luren whimpered through his moans, passion clouding his words. His fingernails raked down Craige's back, leaving red marks. "Our babies—ahh—might get hurt, you're so deep inside me," he moaned, biting his lip as his legs trembled over Craige's shoulders. But Craige only moved harder, deeper, relentless in his rhythm.
"Our babies are fine," Craige murmured between kisses. "Don't bite your lip, baby... bite me instead." He claimed Luren's lips with fierce hunger, tasting him, devouring him. His mouth trailed down his jaw, then
to his neck, licking and biting every inch, leaving heat in his wake.
"Why the hell did you go outside wearing only your nightclothes?" he hissed against Luren's throat. "You know how he looks at you, like he's starving for you. And there you were… nipples hard, showing through
your thin shirt… and that bastard savoring every damn inch of the view."
"Hmmm… ahhh," Luren moaned softly, his back arching as Craige suckled on his sensitive nipple, like a starving baby desperate for milk. His other breast was being gently massaged by Craige's hand, sending waves of tingling pleasure through him. His chest, now fuller due to the pregnancy, ached with heightened sensitivity.
"Craige… stop being jealous," Luren whispered, cupping his face tenderly. "You know how much I love you." He pulled him into a deep, passionate kiss, trying to calm the storm of emotions between them.
How did it come to this?
Just moments ago, they had been sleeping peacefully in each other's arms, warm, content. But something shifted. Craige's temper flared without warning. The jealousy. The possessiveness. What exactly happened a while ago that stirred such sudden passion.