"We have to get ready," Emily whispered softly against Niklaus's chest, her voice reluctant but laced with a sense of duty. She raised her eyes to meet his, only to find his dark, intense gaze already fixed on her. His eyes seemed to pierce through her, studying her every move with that predatory focus that always left her feeling exposed.
She sighed, gently pushing his hands off her waist, though she could still feel the warmth of his touch lingering on her skin. Moving away from him felt like a small victory, though a part of her immediately missed the closeness. "We'll be reaching in another hour and a half," he said, getting up from the bed with the effortless grace of a panther, his movements fluid and controlled, as though every muscle in his body was in perfect sync.
Niklaus dressed swiftly, his powerful form catching the light as he pulled on his shirt, and without another word, he left the room to give her some privacy. Emily took a deep breath, trying to steady herself, though the warmth of their earlier intimacy still clung to her. She could feel her heart fluttering in her chest as she made her way to the bath.
Once she was finished with her bath, Marianne, her personal maid, came to assist her. Emily stood still as Marianne brushed out her blonde hair, her thoughts drifting to the encounter with Niklaus. His touch, his gaze, the way he spoke to her as if he could see right through her walls—it all left her feeling more vulnerable than she cared to admit.
"Milady, I heard that red is an attractive color. King Niklaus is going to fall for you all over again," Marianne commented with a playful smile as she tied up Emily's hair, securing the last strand into an elegant twist.
Emily glanced down at the scarlet gown she wore, its luxurious fabric hugging her figure perfectly, with intricate golden designs accentuating her petite waist. She tilted her head, genuinely puzzled. "I've never worn red in the past two months, have I?" she asked, her voice curious as her fingers grazed the soft material.
"No, Your Highness," Marianne replied with a grin. "This is the first time. And I must say, it suits you perfectly. You look stunning."
Emily glanced at herself in the mirror, taking in the striking image before her. The gown was bold, passionate, and undeniably sensual—a stark contrast to the more subtle colors she had worn before. It was a color that demanded attention, a color that made a statement.
"Red is such a powerful color, isn't it?" she said, her voice soft but filled with a sense of curiosity.
Marianne, busy securing the last delicate pin into Emily's hair, nodded with a knowing smile. "Indeed, Milady. It's the color of desire, of passion. You'll be impossible to ignore."
"The breakfast is here, Your Highness," a maid announced as she entered the cabin, placing the tray of food on the table. Emily nodded absentmindedly, her thoughts still lingering on the strange energy that always seemed to buzz between her and Niklaus. She took a seat at the table, smoothing the scarlet fabric of her gown over her lap.
As Emily sat at the table, her attention barely on the breakfast laid before her, the atmosphere shifted when Niklaus entered the room. He moved with a quiet, predatory grace, adjusting his cufflinks as his dark, heated gaze fell upon her. The moment his eyes landed on her, she could feel the intensity of his attention, almost like a caress that made her skin tingle with awareness.
As his gaze fell on her, she felt it like a physical touch, burning a slow trail over her skin. His darkened eyes lingered on her longer than usual, taking in the way the scarlet gown clung to her figure, accentuating every curve. The dress, with its intricate gold designs, cinched at her petite waist, but it was the way the neckline dipped lower than her usual attire that caught his attention, revealing the gentle swell of her breasts.
Niklaus had always admired her beauty, but today, in the scarlet gown that hugged her figure so perfectly, she looked different—more daring, more untouchable, yet somehow closer to him than ever. The dress revealed just enough of the curve of her breasts, teasing him in ways no other attire she had worn had ever managed to. The golden designs at her waist only accentuated her delicate form, and his eyes darkened as desire stirred inside him, deep and undeniable.
For a moment, Emily pretended not to notice his stare, but she could feel the heat of his gaze like a tangible force, drawing her in. She nervously toyed with her fork, trying to maintain her composure, but the air between them was thick with something far more potent than she had anticipated.
Niklaus approached her slowly, his movements deliberate, the soft sounds of his boots against the wooden floor echoing in the charged silence. He stopped just in front of her, his towering form casting a shadow over her as he leaned slightly forward, his eyes never leaving hers.
"This dress," he murmured, his voice low and dangerously soft, like a purr on the verge of a growl. "You've never worn red before."
Emily's heart fluttered in her chest, the pulse in her throat quickening as she met his gaze. The way he looked at her made her feel both exposed and powerful, as though he was seeing her in a way no one else ever had.
"No, I haven't," she whispered, her voice catching in her throat as her eyes darted to his lips, then back to his smoldering gaze.
Niklaus's eyes flicked down, tracing the line of her neckline where the fabric dipped, revealing just enough of her skin to make him hungry for more. His gaze was a touch, a brush of heat against her bare skin, making her breath quicken as an unfamiliar warmth spread through her body.
"It suits you," he said, his voice deeper now, roughened with barely restrained desire. He leaned in closer, his breath warm against her neck as his lips hovered near her ear. "Perhaps too well."
Emily's breath hitched as a shiver ran down her spine, the nearness of him overwhelming her senses. She could feel the raw power of his presence, the magnetism that pulled her toward him, despite the rational part of her mind telling her to be careful.
Without warning, his hand moved, his fingers brushing her bare shoulder lightly, tracing the delicate line of her collarbone. The simple touch sent a wave of heat coursing through her, and her breath came in shallow, uneven pulls. His hand traveled lower, fingers grazing the fabric of her gown, dangerously close to the swell of her breast. The pressure of his touch was gentle, teasing, but the promise behind it was undeniable.
"Your Highness," she breathed, her voice barely audible, a mix of anticipation and nervousness threading her words. Her body betrayed her, leaning subtly into his touch as if seeking more.
He paused for a moment, letting the silence stretch between them, his lips hovering near her neck. "You make it impossible to focus on anything else, princess," he murmured, his voice like velvet, thick with desire.
His fingers slid down her arm slowly, leaving a trail of fire in their wake before they rested on her waist. He pulled her closer, his grip firm but not forceful, as if daring her to resist but knowing she wouldn't. His touch was possessive, and it sent a thrill of excitement through her.
Her breath came in short gasps now, the heat between them nearly unbearable. She glanced at the table, her mind scrambling for a distraction. "We should eat... before the food gets cold," she managed to say, though her voice wavered, betraying her inner turmoil.
Niklaus's lips curved into a wicked smile, his gaze dark with intent. He leaned in closer, his breath fanning across her cheek as his lips brushed the shell of her ear. "Food can wait," he whispered, his voice sending a shiver of anticipation down her spine.
His fingers tightened slightly on her waist, pulling her even closer until she could feel the heat of his body pressing against hers. His lips hovered just above hers, teasing her, tempting her, the space between them crackling with electricity. "Right now," he murmured, his voice like a sensual caress, "I only want to taste you."
Before Emily could respond, Niklaus closed the remaining distance between them. His lips captured hers in a slow, deliberate kiss that was both fierce and tender, stealing the breath from her lungs and leaving her momentarily stunned. His touch was commanding, as though he wanted to savor every second, every flicker of passion that ignited between them.
Niklaus's lips were on hers with a fervor that was almost primal, an urgent claim that spoke of the intense desire simmering beneath the surface. Before Emily could fully grasp the magnitude of his touch, he pushed her gently but firmly backward, guiding her toward the bed with an assertive but sensual force. His kiss deepened, becoming more demanding, as though he sought to consume her with his need.
His hand slipped from her jaw to the small of her back, pressing her down onto the bed with a possessive, deliberate pressure. The soft, luxurious fabric of the bedding beneath her contrasted sharply with the heated intensity of his touch. Niklaus's other hand roamed over her body with a predatory grace, his fingers tracing the curve of her waist and the rise of her hips, mapping out every inch of her in a way that was both tender and commanding.
As his lips explored hers with a fervent urgency, his body hovered over her, their forms intimately aligned. The sheer weight of him, combined with the primal force of his kiss, made her feel utterly helpless and yet deeply desired. His kiss was not just a meeting of lips but an exploration of boundaries, a raw and unfiltered exchange of need and longing.
He pulled back slightly, his breath hot against her lips as he gazed into her eyes with an intensity that made her shiver. His gaze was filled with a fierce hunger, a desire that seemed to radiate from him and envelop her. Then, with a growl of frustration and need, he pressed his lips back to hers with a fierceness that left her gasping for air.
Niklaus's hands were insistent as they roamed over her body, his fingers brushing against the exposed skin of her décolletage, sending tingles of electricity through her. The kiss was a blend of rough and tender, his lips alternating between fierce pressure and soft, lingering caresses. Each touch was a claim, each kiss a declaration of the raw, primal connection that bound them in this moment.
As he continued to kiss her with a burning passion, he shifted his weight, ensuring his body pressed fully against hers. The heat of his body radiated onto her, making her acutely aware of the primal intensity of their embrace.