I didn’t say anything, just stared at him. Then a small, private smile tugged at the edge of my lips. The kind that belonged only to him.“I feel safe with you,” I whispered, almost like a confession.He brushed my thumb along my cheek. “Good. Because you are.”The silence that followed wasn’t awkwa
I felt the burn behind my eyes and immediately blinked it away.He walked off the platform. Walked straight to me. Right through the crowd, parting like the damn Red Sea.“I never thought I would be standing here like this,” he said, approaching. “Not just as the head of an empire. Not as a guard. B
2 years later:Kieran's POV: The sky was painted in shades of gold and lavender, the kind of dusk that seemed too perfect to be real. Below it, the royal gardens buzzed with quiet excitement and a charity gala held on palace grounds, complete with string lights, live music, and champagne towers. Ca
Adrien's POV: He grabbed my shirt, dragging me toward the bed with a grin that was far too self-assured. He pushed me, not hard, but enough to get his point across. I landed on the mattress with a laugh. “Alright then,” I said, folding my hands behind my head, amused. “Impress me, prince.” He climbed over me, straddling my hips. “I plan to.” The next few minutes were a blur of heat. His hands roamed like he had been fantasizing about this all night. His kisses were possessive, deep as it left no room to breathe. He pressed me into the mattress, his thigh pushing between mine, grinding and coaxing sounds out of me I didn’t mean to give. But then he started really testing his limits. Kieran slid a hand down my chest, nails scratching slightly, and muttered against my neck, “You look better beneath me than I imagined.” I laughed hard. “Bold words, your highness.” “I am not done,” he warned, dragging his teeth across my jaw. “You better stay still.” “Or what?” He nipped my collar
Adrien’s POV:The moment the car doors shut behind us, I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I had been holding all damn night. The leather seats were cold against my back, but my blood was running hot. In fact, it was too hot and it was not from the wine. But from him. He noticed my feelings when h
Kieran's POV:“You speak with great faith in him,” my mother finally said, the edges of her mouth twitching upward. “I do,” Adrien replied, sliding his hand behind my back with a warmth I hadn’t realized I needed. “Because I have seen him in rooms where men have begged. But he doesn’t fold. He leads.” My father gave a grunt that might’ve been approval. And my mother, to her credit, only nodded. “That’s good to hear.” I swallowed. My jaw clenched tighter than I wanted to admit, and I looked away for a beat before clearing my throat. “We are not in a hurry for that,” I said quietly. “The future will come when it does.” She placed a hand on my shoulder as we stepped out of the dining room. “I know, sweetheart. But the world is watching. And you are both leaders now. They will always ask whether it’s fair or not.” “I have been asked worse,” I muttered. “Like when the press wanted to know if I cried at the coronation because of ‘emotional growth’ or just the humidity.” Adrien snorted