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~Katrina~
He carried me to his bed in his arms. My heart was pounding so loud, I thought he could hear it too. I didn't understand why I hadn't run away. I told myself I didn't want to be here. But now that I had the chance to leave... I stayed.
Maybe it was because something inside me didn't want to go.
Maybe it was because my body wanted him—wanted Karl.
He laid me down gently, my head sinking into the softness of his pillow. Our eyes met, and then his lips touched mine. It was slow and deep, then he kissed my neck, making my breath hitch.
Karl's mouth moved lower, his lips brushing my skin like he was starved. He kissed my chest, then took one breast into his mouth. It felt like he needed me—like I was the only thing that could ease whatever fire he carried inside.
He sucked gently, then harder, and I gasped as the ache spread through me. One hand massaged the other breast while his mouth kept working the first. I didn't know what to do or how to react. My body felt hot and cold all at once.
It hurt in the most beautiful way.
I didn't want him to stop. But after a while, he did.
My eyes were still shut, and I wondered if I had done something wrong. Was I too quiet? Too still?
But before I could open my eyes, I felt something wet and warm between my legs. My heart skipped a beat—I knew it was him.
His tongue.
He had done this before, at the oak tree. And just like then, I liked it.
No—I loved it.
He didn't stop. The more he moved, the more I lost control. My hands found his head, unsure if I was trying to pull him closer or push him away. My hips lifted on their own, chasing every sensation he gave me.
It was too much. My mind spun, my body trembled, and I moaned his name.
"Karl…"
That was when he stopped. He came up to me, and I kissed him like I'd been starving for him, like I couldn't get enough.
His finger moved slowly inside me while our lips stayed locked. I couldn't keep my hands still. I held onto him, pulling him closer. His chest was warm and firm against mine, and I could feel his weight settle over me.
Then I felt it—right there, even though the cloth around his waist still covered it. It pressed against me, hard and restless, like it hated being hidden.
"What's that?" I asked suddenly, my voice barely a whisper.
Karl paused, lifting his head. Then he chuckled. "You don't know?"
"I do… I mean, I know what it is," I said quickly, embarrassed. "I just didn't know it moved like that."
He stared at me for a second. "Are you a virgin?"
I nodded slowly. "If that means I've never been with anyone, then yes. I haven't… done anything like this before."
His eyes widened. He shifted slightly, giving me space, and I could tell he hadn't expected that. "I—I should have known."
"But you didn't," I replied, a little bolder than I meant to.
"You think so?" he teased, his smile warm. "Listen to you… getting a little mouthy tonight."
He touched his nose to mine and whispered, "The night's going to be long, princess. You can still go back to your room if you want. The choice is yours."
I looked into his eyes and spoke without hesitation. "I choose to be here."
Karl's expression softened. He cupped my cheek and kissed my forehead gently.
"Thank you," he whispered. "Thank you for loving me."
I wanted to ask him how he knew I loved him, but the words didn't come out. It was too late.
Karl knelt between my legs on the bed and slowly removed the cloth around his waist. My breath caught when I saw him. He was big—bigger than I expected. My throat tightened, and I swallowed without meaning to. I wanted to look away, but I couldn't. He saw me staring, but he didn't say a word.
He leaned forward and kissed me softly again. Then he whispered, "It's going to hurt for a few minutes, but it'll stop. Just be patient."
"I will be," I whispered back, trying to sound brave.
Then I felt him entering me, and the pain started almost immediately. I shut my eyes tight, holding onto him like it would make it hurt less. He moved slowly, gently. I could feel he wasn't all the way in, like he was trying not to hurt me more than necessary.
But the pain spread—deep and sharp, reaching up into my stomach. Still, I didn't want him to stop. I wanted us to finish… to feel what it truly meant to be one.
Suddenly, he pushed in deeper, all the way, and I couldn't stop the scream that came out.
He froze. "Do you want me to stop?"
I shook my head. "No."
He continued, but the pain wouldn't ease. After a while, he pulled away and stopped completely.
I knew I was bleeding. A part of me feared he would be upset or disgusted… but he wasn't.
Instead, he lay beside me, gently pulled me into his arms, and rested my head against his chest. His warmth wrapped around me, calming my trembling body.
"I'm sorry, my beloved," he whispered, kissing my forehead tenderly.
Beloved. Did he mean it? Or was he just trying to comfort me?
The pain slowly faded, and only then did I realize there had been a hint of pleasure hiding underneath it all. My body relaxed. His heartbeat thudded softly under my ear.
I fell asleep like that—in his arms—while he stayed awake, holding me close.
I looked at the face of the woman who had given me everything—her heart, her trust, her body. She had fallen in love with me.
Lord Rowland had been right all along. Katrina was in love with me.
But could I ever love her back the same way?
I didn't believe in love. I never had. I've never felt it—not truly. Whatever I had with Fortuna… it was something else. Something broken.
What I felt for Katrina was different too, but I kept telling myself maybe it was only because I hadn't touched her before tonight. Maybe that was the reason I couldn't stop thinking about her.
And now, after what happened between us, I was afraid. Afraid that I might wake up tomorrow and not want her anymore… like it had happened with the others.
She was fast asleep beside me, her face soft and calm. A single tear slipped from the corner of her eye. I wiped it gently with my thumb.
I hated that I made her cry tonight. But I knew the pain was something she had to go through. There was no way around it.
I looked at her again. To me, she was the most beautiful woman who had ever been in my arms.
What surprised me most was the way I had tried to please her… how I had taken my time, how I had cared about how she felt. I never did that. I usually only thought about myself. But tonight wasn't about me. It was about her.
I lay back on the bed, still wearing my mask. There was no way I could take it off.
Even Fortuna couldn't bear to look at my face. I didn't think Katrina could either. I had seen the way she stared at me today in the arena. The fear in her eyes. She wasn't ready for the truth.
"Your Highness," she stirred, slowly opening her eyes.
"How do you feel?" I asked as I reached out to remove a rose petal tangled in her hair.
"Better," she said with a soft smile.
That smile… it melted something inside me. How could she do that so easily?
"You didn't sleep?" Katrina asked, sitting up and rubbing her eyes.
I tried not to look, but her bare chest moved with her breath, and it stirred something deep in me. After what happened earlier, I was already burning inside. If this went on, I didn't know if I could hold back.
"No, I couldn't," I said truthfully. How could I sleep with a woman like her lying beside me?
She tied her hair up into a ponytail, the simple act pulling my eyes to her neck, her shoulders, everything about her.
"Does it still hurt?" I asked gently.
She nodded.
"I'm sorry," I said, meaning it more than she could ever know.
She leaned forward and kissed me. This time, she started it.
But I stopped her.
"You should rest. I don't want to hurt you again."
"But I want you," she said softly.
That was all it took.
No man could stay sane after hearing those words from a woman like her—and I was no better than the rest.
I kissed her deeply, my hands moving over her body like I was trying to remember every inch of her. I gently pushed her legs apart and slowly entered her again. She gasped and arched toward me, her body eager and warm.
I moved with care at first, then deeper, stronger—drawn in by the sound of her moans and the way she clung to me. My hands gripped her thighs, guiding her into the rhythm. Every part of me ached for her.
Her hands slid down my back, pulling me closer. I pressed my lips to her neck, tasting the soft skin I'd dreamed of. Her body welcomed me completely.
A low growl escaped my throat. I couldn't hold it in. Everything about her—her touch, her sounds, her scent—drove me over the edge.