Chapter 2: Like Fire

He had made the right choice, though his mother was seething.

"You can't pick her!" she snapped, her blue eyes storming with disapproval. "She's… she's…"

"Not fair enough?" he interrupted, a mocking smirk playing on his lips. He threw a casual glance her way.

"You've already chosen my first ten women. Am I not entitled to one I actually desire?"

His vulgar retort sent ripples of discomfort through the room.

Courtiers shifted uncomfortably, their faces burning with embarrassment, all except for the woman who had captured his attention.

She stood still, unflinching, a stark contrast to the others who wilted under the tension.

"You think the women you've chosen can satisfy me?" His voice dripped with disdain as he gestured toward the quivering line of would-be concubines.

"Do you see this, Mother? Virgins. One hundred bloody virgins. Am I supposed to enjoy teaching all of them how to please me?"

Gasps rippled through the hall, and their faces turned as red as the blush creeping up their necks.

"Everyone," he commanded, his voice low and dangerous, "strip."

The room froze in stunned silence.

"I said strip," he repeated, his tone sharp as steel. "The next woman who doesn't obey will be beheaded."

Hesitation melted into fear, and slowly, trembling hands moved to undo their elaborate dresses.

Layers of brocade and silk slid to the floor, revealing corsets, chemises, and petticoats, clothing meant to conceal but now exposed under his penetrating gaze.

All obeyed. All except her.

"What is your name, stubborn one?" he asked, his tone a mixture of curiosity and amusement.

Her voice was steady as she met his gaze, unyielding. "Princess Rae Lancelot."

The name tugged at his memory. Her kingdom hadn't been defeated; her parents had sold her off as part of a peace treaty.

She had been sent here to bow her head, to submit, and yet she defied him with every fiber of her being.

"You didn't strip," he said, his smile darkening with challenge.

Her frown deepened, and her striking face hardened with resolve. "I'd rather die than subject myself to this humiliation."

Her defiance sent a jolt through him, thrilling him in a way he hadn't anticipated.

She would rather die?

The thought both enraged and excited him, and for the first time, he rose from his bored, languid position.

He crossed the space between them, his movements deliberate, predatory.

When he stopped before her, he realized just how small she was compared to him.

Her fiery eyes burned with contempt, her lips, a rich, petal-soft red, trembled with restrained fury.

She was exquisite.

Slowly, he reached out and lifted her defiant chin with his finger, forcing her to meet his gaze.

Her skin was warm beneath his touch, and the fire in her eyes only intensified.

Without warning, he dipped both hands into the neckline of her bodice.

Before she could react, he tore the fabric in two, the sound of ripping silk echoing in the room.

Her audible gasp sent a shiver of satisfaction through him.

Her ample breasts, now barely contained by the thin layer of her chemise, were more breathtaking than he had imagined.

She lifted her hand to slap him, but he caught her wrist mid-air, trapping her with an effortless grip.

He seized her other hand as well, pulling her body flush against his in one swift motion.

She was soft, warm, and trembling with outrage, her eyes blazing with fury as he held her gaze.

Unable to resist, he leaned in, pressing a slow, deliberate kiss to the curve of her exposed cleavage.

Her breath hitched, and her defiance flickered for the briefest of moments, replaced by something unreadable.

The heat between them was electric, dangerous.

When he finally pulled away, he leaned closer, his lips grazing her earlobe. His voice was low, rough with restrained desire.

"You will submit," he murmured, his breath hot against her skin. "Or I will make you submit."

Her body stiffened, her fury palpable, but he could feel the undercurrent of tension that hung between them, a dangerous dance of power and control.

And he couldn't wait to see how long she would resist.