Morning's Embrace

A faint rustling stirred me from my hazy slumber—not that I could even call it sleep. It felt more like a fleeting moment of unconsciousness, my body too exhausted to stay awake yet too overwhelmed to truly rest. The soreness settled deep into my limbs, a dull ache throbbing through every inch of me. But nothing compared to the heat pulsing between my legs.

I shifted slightly, and a sharp sting reminded me of just how much I had taken. My body had never endured anything like this before, and I could feel the evidence of our passion—my folds—swollen, tender, and utterly changed.

A warm, wet sensation dragged me fully into awareness.

My lashes fluttered open, and through the dim light, I found him. The man responsible for every ache, every lingering sensation that still coursed through me. My breath hitched as I felt it again—his tongue, slow and deliberate, tracing over my most sensitive place.

"Rollo…" My voice was hoarse, barely above a whisper. "Hnn… What are you—ah!"

A shock of pleasure surged through me, overriding the soreness for a moment, forcing a gasp past my lips. My thighs twitched, but his strong hands held them apart, keeping me exactly where he wanted me.

"I don't think… I can do it anymore," I murmured weakly, though even I wasn't convinced by my own words.

He didn't answer. Didn't even pause.

His tongue moved languidly, tasting me, coaxing more of those sinful sounds from my lips. Unlike before, when the aphrodisiac fogged my mind with delirium, I could feel everything now. The way his mouth worked me open. The way his fingers pressed into my thighs, keeping me spread for him. The way my exhausted body still responded to him despite the exhaustion and pain.

I reached down, threading my fingers through his hair, giving a weak tug in an attempt to make him stop.

He finally looked up, and when our gazes met, a shiver ran down my spine. His eyes were dark—desperate, wild with pleasure and hunger. He looked almost… deranged.

"Rollo…" I whispered.

My wetness glistened on his lips as he exhaled, his breath warm against my trembling skin. His hands slowly slid up my thighs, gripping them with possessive reverence.

"This should be the last," I pleaded, trying to convince both of us. "Please… promise me."

A slow smile tugged at his lips, one so dangerously seductive that my resolve wavered. He moved up, kissing my navel, trailing up my stomach, my ribs, my chest—every part of me he had claimed. My body trembled beneath him.

Then, as his lips brushed against mine, he whispered, "Yeah… I promise, Aerin."

But I already knew—he was lying.

His kiss was deep, unhurried, his tongue claiming mine in slow, sensual strokes. I tilted my head, letting him devour me. He hovered over me, pressing me into the sheets, his body flush against mine. His weight, his warmth—it consumed me.

I could feel him, hard and heavy against my stomach. My heart pounded and felt proud as the realization settled in. I am happy to know that he wasn't done with me yet.

The room was still cloaked in darkness, but I could see the faint sliver of sunlight seeping through the cracks of the bathroom door. Morning had long since arrived, and yet, here we were—still tangled together, still lost in this relentless need.

From being on top, he shifted effortlessly, adjusting our positions. He leaned back against the headboard, settling into a seated position, and with a firm grip on my waist, he pulled me along with him—keeping me on top.

His hands roamed my body, tracing over the marks he had left on my skin. Faint bruises, love bites—proof that I was his. He smirked as he admired them, his fingers trailing over my collarbone, my breasts, my waist, and down to my thighs.

"Take me in, Aerin," he murmured, his voice deep and raw. His eyes locked onto mine, filled with unspoken promises and wicked intent. "Take as much of me as you can."

A flush of heat rolled through me, pooling low in my stomach. The way he looked at me—like I was something to be worshipped, something to be devoured—made my breath hitch.

I swallowed hard, my fingers trembling as I reached between us, wrapping around his thick length. He groaned, his body tensing beneath my touch. Slowly, I lifted myself, positioning him at my entrance. The swollen ache between my thighs made me hesitate, but the moment his tip brushed against me, I knew—I wanted this.

I needed this.

A sharp gasp tore from my lips as I sank down, taking him inch by inch. The stretch was unbearable, yet intoxicating. My walls struggled to accommodate him, the lingering soreness from before making each movement more intense.

"Ah—!" I whimpered, my nails digging into his shoulders.

His hands gripped my waist, steadying me as I struggled to adjust.

"Fuck," he groaned, his head falling back against the pillows. His fingers flexed, his restraint evident in the way his muscles tensed beneath me. "You're so damn tight… so warm, Aerin."

I whimpered, my body trembling. He was too big, too deep, and yet, I couldn't stop.

"Go slow," he encouraged, his hands guiding me. "Take your time. Let yourself feel all of me."

I nodded weakly, biting my lip as I lifted myself slightly before sinking back down. My movements were clumsy, hesitant, but he didn't rush me. His grip was firm, his voice low and reassuring.

"That's it," he murmured, his breath ragged. "Just like that. Fuck… you feel so good."

A shudder ran through me. The way he spoke, the way he praised me, sent a new wave of heat coursing through my veins.

I continued to move, slowly at first, adjusting to the overwhelming sensation of having him inside me. His hands caressed my hips, guiding my rhythm, and again, teaching me how to ride him. Up and down. Forward and back. The pleasure built with each movement, coiling tightly inside me.

"You're so beautiful like this," he rasped, his eyes hooded with lust. "Taking me so well… fuck, Aerin, look at you."

I moaned at his words, my pace quickening as my confidence grew. The pain dulled, replaced by something far more intoxicating.

"Does it feel good?" he asked, his hands roaming my body, memorizing every curve, every tremor.

"Y-yes," I gasped, my fingers tightening in his hair.

"Then keep going," he urged, his voice thick with need. "Show me how much you want it."

I did. I rode him with everything I had, surrendering to the pleasure, to the way he filled me so perfectly. Our bodies moved together, the sounds of our moans and the rhythmic creaking of the bed filling the room.

The pressure inside me built, spiraling higher and higher.

"Fuck, Aerin," he groaned, his grip tightening on my hips. "I'm close—come with me, love."

"S-something is coming—hnn..." I couldn't hold back any longer.

And with a final cry, my body shattered around him, pleasure crashing over me in waves. My walls clenched around him, dragging him into his own release.

He cursed, his body tensing beneath me as he spilled inside me, his grip bruising as he held me in place. Our bodies trembling from the aftermath.

Slowly, I collapsed against his chest, utterly spent. His arms wrapped around me, holding me close, his lips pressing lazy kisses against my temple.

"You were perfect," he murmured against my skin.

I sighed, my fingers tracing lazy patterns on his chest. "You… are insatiable."

He chuckled, the sound deep and satisfied. "Only when it comes to you."

I smiled widely, basking in the warmth of his embrace. After some time, as we lay there catching our breath, I slowly lifted my hips, releasing him from between my swollen folds. A soft sigh left me at the loss of him, my body still pulsing with the remnants of our passion.

I shifted, adjusting myself comfortably before finally lying down beside him. His arms wrapped around me, pulling me close, and I rested my head against his chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat.

It was comforting, the silence between us, but then a sudden thought struck me, and I furrowed my brows.

"Hey… I just remembered something." I tilted my head up to look at him. "I saw you leave last night. You weren't supposed to be staying here, so why do you have a room? How come you're still here?"

"Because I saw you." His fingers absentmindedly traced circles on my back as he responded. "And tell me, why were you even attending a party like this?"

I hesitated, unsure how to answer. "I just wanted to see what it was like. And my friends invited me."

A faint smile crossed his lips, though his eyes carried something deeper—something unreadable. "I'm proud of you, you know. It makes me happy to see you making friends. Before… you were like a rose covered in thorns. No one could get close to you. But now that you have friends…" He sighed. "It worries me to the point that I don't want you to have them anymore."

I blinked, surprised by his words. "The way you're talking… it's like you know me too well. Were we friends before?"

His gaze softened, a quiet understanding in his expression. "Everyone knows you lost your memories," he started. "I won't lie and say I'm happy about it… but seeing how much you've changed, I can't bring myself to regret it either."

Well… that made sense. Aerin definitely changed. Because she wasn't Aerin anymore. She was me.

I smiled. "Well, I found myself some good friends."

He scoffed. "Yeah, the four troublemakers, you mean? I was right to stay here last night. I had a feeling something would happen if they were around. And I was right." His grip on me tightened slightly. "If I hadn't been here, you would've been in deep trouble."

I hummed, half-teasing, "Well… I think I'm in trouble now. For banging the empire's crown prince."

His expression darkened slightly, and he sighed. "I was planning to find you after I changed into something more fitting for the party's theme. But before I was even done bathing, you suddenly appeared last night."

"Yeah, good thing it was you in here," I murmured, my voice light but sincere.

His eyes flickered with something unreadable. "Why?" he asked. "Would you have done it if another man had been here instead?"

That made me pause. I frowned, thinking. "I… I don't know," I admitted honestly. If it had been someone else, and the drug was still in my system, would I have stopped myself?

The thought unsettled me.

I saw his eyes darken, a trace of sadness there.

"Let's not dwell on that," I said quickly, reaching up to cup his cheek. "Aren't you relieved it was you? Because I am. And I don't regret it. If anything, I'm happy that my first was with you."

He exhaled slowly, then gave me a small, crooked smile. "It was my first too, you know."

I froze.

"What?!" I shot up slightly, staring at him in disbelief. "Are you serious?"

He nodded.

"But the way you handled everything—you were so… good at it! You didn't seem like it was your first time at all."

He pouted. "And how would you even know it was done well? You don't have any experience to compare it to."

I pursed my lips. "Still! You knew exactly what to do. It didn't seem like you were clueless at all."

He sighed dramatically. "Well, I did my best. But I'm still lacking."

I huffed, lying back down and poking his chest. "You're not lacking. You did great. Really great." My voice softened. "And I'm happy we were each other's first."

He smiled, his fingers trailing lazily along my arm. "Me too."

A comfortable silence settled between us. His hand slowly moved to my hair, playing with the strands absentmindedly.

"Hey," he murmured after a moment, his fingers tracing idle patterns on my skin. "You're staying here for a while, right?"

I tilted my head, considering. With how sore my body was, I didn't think I'd be going anywhere anytime soon. Besides, morning had long since arrived, and just in case something unexpected happened—like me being unable to return home—I had already prepared a letter. By now, Maya must have seen it, and the people at the manor were probably looking for me.

But I had made sure to cover my tracks. I'd told them to find me at the Romans' estate—the twins' home—so for now, I should be safe.

"Yeah," I finally said, meeting his gaze. "Why?"

"Good." He smirked. "That means I get to keep you in bed all day."

I rolled my eyes, laughing. "You really have no shame, do you?"

"Not when it comes to you," he murmured, his lips brushing my forehead.

I let out a soft sigh, curling closer to him. "You're impossible."

"And you love it," he teased.

I smiled against his skin, my fingers drawing lazy patterns over his chest. Maybe I did.