The Dragon King's Substitute Bride

Chapter 23

CH23

Tsuneo

The reports were all over the place, but they were useful. Knowing what the staff was gossiping about and exactly what they said was useful, but I didn't care about it. My mind was focused on what could be happening at dinner right now.

Based on the hour, they definitely started the Empty and Harmonious Cups ceremony. I wondered what kind of questions he would ask. My father had always had a strange sense of humor, but he seemed positively gleeful at imagining the questions he would ask and the debates he would engage in with my future wife. I wish more than anything I had the strength to use my connection to the palace to listen in, but perhaps he would just have her play again when it was revealed that I was awake.

My mind conjured the image of Morgan and the way she'd looked dressed in my crimson silk robe. She was so beautiful. My cock stirred, and I let my head fall back against the headboard with a soft groan.

It had been years since I'd enjoyed the touch of a woman. I honestly wasn't sure how much longer I could manage. It was easier when she wasn't here, and I didn't have time to think about

1. it. Having Ari sneak into my room so often and be absolutely creepy about it really dulled my libido. Now, it was roaring to life.

The door creaked open. I went still. She closed it, and I felt her barrier go up. Then, she stumbled into sight of the doorway, revealing a sight that sent a jolt through me. Morgan, her face flushed. and a mischievous glint in her normally serious eyes, stood swaying slightly in the doorway. My robe slipped halfway off her shoulder, revealing the slightly sheer black layer beneath the outer

robe.

"Yourdad's a jerk." she pouted. "And I'm pretty sure the red-eyed lady is evil. Is that Keiji's

mom?" 2

"Yes... I'm impressed that you managed to walk all the way here."

hands. "Maya helped

cocked an eyebrow at her. "You managed to keep up with

outer room, pulled at the gold cord, and let it drop to the floor. I gulped as the sheer black layer fell off,

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CH23

the footboard. The strap of

eyes or ears. Her laughter echoed in

you

-- a shiver, a barely audible whimper. Confusion washed through me. Then, as she curled closer, her body seeking warmth against mine, I felt it - the unmistakable chill emanating from

face in my chest. "You're

touched mine. Getting cold was an odd reaction to the wine used for the ceremony, but she was human,

me in bed: being used as a giant pillow. The situation was torturous yet somehow...endearing. I held her close, the weight of my investigation. forgotten. Tonight, it seemed, all I could offer was warmth in the face of

pulsed through my veins. I tried to push it down as her scent filled my nose. A low, rumbling growl rattled through my

into my arms, her cold feet seeking warmth against mine. A shiver rippled through me, not from the temperature but from the conflicting emotions churning within

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I set the

bedside table and settled into sleep

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off when I heard a choked sob from her. I opened my eyes. Her body tensed, and she whimpered

thick with sleep and