The Dragon King's Substitute Bride

Chapter 54

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Morgan

Relief washed over me, momentarily pushing aside the flurry of emotions Tsuneo's words and gaze had evoked. Thank goodness for Maya's timely interruption. The intimacy of the moment had escalated quickly, and I wasn't sure I was entirely ready for where it might have led.

"Thank you, Maya," I called back, projecting my voice through the outer chamber door. My voice was slightly breathless. "I'll get ready quickly."

I glanced at Tsuneo, a hint of apology in my eyes. His expression was unreadable, but a flicker of something akin to disappointment crossed his features.

"Of course," Maya replied.

Taking a deep breath, I rose from the bed, smoothing out the wrinkles in my robe. The playful fight from earlier seemed a lifetime ago, overshadowed by the unexpected turn of events.

"It seems like... the day has to start."

Tsuneo's lips twitched. "It seems like."

"Shall we?" I asked Tsuneo, offering him my hand.

He took it, his touch sending a familiar warmth through me.

"We shall," he replied, his voice low and enigmatic Tsuneo

potent current that had me leaning in, my gaze locked on Morgan's flushed cheeks and parted lips. Her scent a heady mix of florals and something uniquely hers filled my senses. I was burning up with need, seeing her wield

certainly more than I had to date. Part of me knew that Maya was going to enjoy this I opened the door and welcomed Maya in, ignoring the way Ari was still screaming and fighting the barrier Morgan had erected far enough from the

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relief nonetheless. Morgan wasn't ready, not yet. The thought sent a pang of disappointment through me, a physical ache that surprised me with its intensity. I

Morgan leaned in, surprising me with a soft kiss on the cheek.

she suggested, her voice barely a whisper. We should find a

of stealing a moment alone with her, away from prying eyes and

rumbled, the words tumbling out before I could stop them. "After your

smile spread across her face, a radiant sunrise that

breathed, and then she was gone, disappearing into

of joining her in the cool sanctuary of the bathroom, sparked a delicious heat in my

than to Maya. "We're

until I took Morgan far, far away from them. The retreat to the

sound light and

Your Highness," she said. "The coronation will be here before you know it, and then you'll have plenty

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constantly swirl around us. I went to get dressed and by the time I was done, the bathroom door creaked open, and Morgan emerged, a vision in emerald. The robe, one of my own that I had never worn, pooled around

my voice thick with

offered, a playful smile dancing on

low rumble. Heat flared in my cheeks, mirroring the blush that crept up hers under my intense gaze. "And anything of mine is

I wanted to tell my father he would have to wait. I wanted to taste the dampness on her neck and everywhere else, smell the fresh clean scent of her, and tangle my fingers in her curls. I licked my lips. She jumped. I supposed I made a sound. Quickly, I

moment."