In hindsight, it was laughable that Aveline thought the wedding ceremony was the toughest part of getting married.
I can’t believe father didn’t tell me…
Much less insisted on this.
“Do you trust me?” King Magnus’s serious expression told her that he shared the sentiment.
Judging from Lark’s response earlier, this was not common practice in Paxmouth.
It’s not common practice anywhere.
“Can I trust you?” Aveline stood so that they were face-to-face.
The man’s larger form hid her from the watchful eyes of the voyeurs.
They say that you’re a threat, dangerous and bloodthirsty.
But why are you so compassionate to me?
As if he didn’t believe what he was hearing, King Magnus shook his head.
He leaned closer as if the observers could hear their conversation.
“I have a plan.” It was Aveline’s turn to not believe his words.
“I know that you feel the same about this… let’s put on a show for them.”
We’re going to fake it?
“Are you good at deception?” She raised an unconvinced brow.
The man was good at concealing his true emotions, but what about openly expressing it?
King Magnus looked weary as he replied, “I’ve been incognito before.”
How convincing.
Not!
Aveline leaned closer.
“Show me.”
“What?”
“Show me your best…noise.” She blushed as she looked away.
As if it wasn’t awkward enough to be locked up and expected to perform for heaven-knows who.
For the first time since she met him, Aveline was sure that what she saw was dread on the king’s face.
The fearsome King Magnus was at the mercy of some fake copulation noises.
“Um – well, I just…” He ran his hand through his hair as he tried to gather himself.
Aveline could only raise an unimpressed brow as if to say: really?
“Like this,” Clearing his throat, the man blinked a couple of times before letting out a, “Huphf!” that was a cross between a sigh and a croak.
“Don’t look too impressed!”
Aveline’s face must have exposed her disappointment.
Surely, he’s not a…?
The king shook his head, his golden locks shining in the firelight, as he made his way to draw the canopy on the bed.
There was a subtle noise from the hole in the wall at his action, but the couple ignored it.
When he was happy that the fabric covered all sides of the bed, he returned to Aveline.
“Show me your noise.” He crossed his arms in challenge.
I must have bruised his ego.
Let me bruise it more.
Aveline mimicked his stance as she drew closer.
“I never agreed to the idea.” She tilted her head to the side with a knowing smile.
“So, why should I do it?”
Refusing to yield, King Magnus nodded his head in acknowledgement before retorting, “Do you have a better idea?”
Aveline’s smile dropped.
No.
I don’t…
Her eyes narrowed while his face wore a triumphant smile.
Unable to contain herself and eager to wipe that grin off King Magnus’s face, Aveline poked the man on the side of his ribs.
“Angh!” King Magnus all but jumped in his skin.
“Wha – why?”
Despite the look of betrayal on his face, Aveline couldn’t help the plan in her head.
❀
“So… this is your plan?” King Magnus quirked a brow as he ran his hand through his hair again.
The pair sat opposite each other on the bed.
Their silhouettes could be seen from the fire and the white canopy.
“This is step one!” Aveline explained as she got on her knees and shuffled closer.
However, she took one hobble before landing face first into King Magnus’s thigh.
“Ah!”
That’s one solid thigh…
“Are you alright?” The man acted swiftly and helped her up.
“You should be more careful.” His brows were knitted once again as he focused on inspecting the injury.
His hands were gentle as they carefully checked all angles of her face.
King Magnus seemed so engrossed in his task that he failed to notice that the woman was perched on his lap.
But Aveline noticed.
They were close.
Even closer than during the dance.
“Hard.” She mumbled under her breath.
King Magnus went still. The source of this chapter is novelping.com.
He pulled back so that they were facing each other.
He glanced down.
Then back up to Aveline.
His eyes are darkening again…
“Your thighs are hard.” She clarified.
“I’m lucky there was no blood.” She patted her nose to check for any liquid.
Luckily, there was none.
What would he have done if there was blood?
She looked back at him to find the man in a frozen state.
His gaze remained steady despite her rapidly beating heart.
“And step two?”
“Hm?”
“Your plan.” He clarified with a raised brow.
“I don’t think step one was you hurting yourself.”
“Step two is simple.” Aveline glanced away bashfully.
“It’s not my turn to get hurt, is it?” King Magnus huffed blithely as he brushed his hand through his hair again.
I see why he ties it back.
But he looks better like this.
Rolling her eyes, Aveline moved to demonstrate her idea.
A simple tap at the knees had the man stretch them along the length of the bed and Aveline knelt between them.
“I told you it was hard.” She whispered as her hands rested just on top of his knees.
Her hands looked tiny compared to the man’s thighs.
King Magnus glanced down again.
Even in the dimmer lighting, there was a flush on his cheeks.
It made him look younger than how he carried himself.
Slowly, Aveline trailed her hands up his legs then down towards the inner thigh.
The man gulped.
His eyes widened with each passing second.
“It was because I’ll have to use more force!” After finding a softer spot near the inner thigh, Aveline pinched the flesh there until the man jolted up.
“Ngh!”
Another pinch.
“Haa!” His hands fisted the sheets by his side.
What type of warrior can’t cope with pain?
Just before another attack, his hand stopped hers.
“This is your plan?”
“I think you sound quite convincing.” Aveline nodded her head to the wall.
The man remained mute as he stared at the same wall.
He looked back at his wife as if searching for a reply.
Aveline tilted her head in question.
What?
Then his shoulders loosened and he placed her hands back to their previous place.
“Warn me next time.”
“But then it won’t sound natural.” Aveline countered with a smile.
At that, his expression shifted.
He glanced back at the wall before nodding.
That was her cue.
However, as Aveline completed two more instances of pinching, she realised something.
King Magnus’s lips twitched at every touch in acknowledgement of their shared deception.
He’s sounding less genuine now that he knows…
This won’t do!
Impulsively, Aveline leaned down to his legs.
“Wai – nngh!” King Magnus barely had time to protest when a light scrape of teeth ran along his clothed skin.
Much better!
Aveline continued to bob her head, delicately grazing the man’s thighs with her teeth each time.
“Your mouth!” King Magnus gasped as if he were struggling to breathe.
Admittedly, Aveline enjoyed tormenting the king too much since she didn’t notice the effect it had on him until he suddenly hauled her up.
One hand grabbed her wrist, while the other circled her waist.
King Magnus was panting as he stared at his wife.
His grey eyes were dark and wild.
What have I done?
Neither moved.
Slowly, a mischievous smirk wiped away that darkness.
“My turn!” King Magnus winked before all but throwing Aveline onto her back.
Her eyes doubled in size as he ripped off his tunic and threw it off the bed.
As expected, his body was just like any other warrior.
Her breath caught.
His quickened.
Like a stalking predator, he crawled up her body until they were face-to-face.
He’s so warm.
Aveline gasped when she felt large hands pawing at her waist before trailing up to her ribs.
The lace collar slipped lower as the fingers gathered them in King Magnus’s palm.
What is he going to do?
Smirking, the man suddenly pressed and wiggled his fingers against her body.
Without meaning to, Aveline let out a series of gasps and moans at the action.
He can’t know I’m ticklish!
Her back arched and legs kicked in the air at each poke and prod.
“Haa! Ah! Angh!”
I need to get away!
It was hard to find her strength, but Aveline rolled onto her front and tried to crawl away.
That was the wrong move.
Now that King Magnus was looming over her back, his hands found their way to the soles of her feet.
Her head snapped back to face him.
“Don’t you – argh!” She practically screamed before finishing her threat.
“How could you?” Reaching back, she tried to pinch the man in return.
It only earned her a smug chuckle.
“If you knew, then it wouldn’t sound natural.”
Aveline narrowed her eyes at the words being thrown back at her.
Another plan formed in her head.
But before she could act on it, something caught their attention.
Clack.
The observation window closed and the person’s footstep could be heard over the fire as they took their leave.
The pair stared at the wall through the curtains.
Their hearts raced at the realisation.
That worked?
King Magnus moved first.
Stealthily, he brushed the fabric aside to peek through.
When he looked back, he nodded for Aveline to join.
A wave of relief washed over her.
“They’re gone!”
The maple-patterned wall was seamless again.
There was no random block missing from it.
Contentment filled her body as she beamed and instinctively leaped on the man.
Her arms and legs wrapped around his body like a bear.
“We did it!” She giggled.
“The plan worked!”
The man returned the smile as his arms supported Aveline and adjusted their position on the bed.
“Your plan worked.” One hand came up to gently pat her head.
“I had an excellent pair.” Naturally, Aveline leaned into the hand that trailed down to cup her face.
For a moment, neither of them moved.
The soft crackle of the fire filled the silence.
It was comfortable and relaxing.
The room was warm.
King Magnus’s body was warmer.
Aveline’s smile slowly faded.
Her arms were still wrapped around his bare shoulders while his own rested securely around her waist.
Her legs framed each side of his hips as she sat on his lap.
How did we end up like this?
She loosened her hold and pulled herself back.
“I suppose we can stop pretending now.” She avoided his gaze when he didn’t release his hold on her.
“Your Majesty?” Aveline’s skin flushed at his impassive face.
What is he thinking?
King Magnus was an enigma once again.
His grey eyes were hardened but his hold was soft.
“Yes, lets stop pretending.”
Aveline nodded in agreement as she tried to leave his hold again.
The man refused to relent.
What’s wrong with him?
He drew her closer until their faces were almost touching.
“Enough now.”
Why are you looking at me like that?
Aveline didn’t flinch when his fingers absentmindedly twirled a lock of hair near her ears.
“Aveline.”