Elise's mind was in a mess. She had never been kissed before. For so long, she had imagined how it would be like to kiss this man. And now, finally, the time came and she didn't know how to act.

Should she kiss him back? How to do it?

Fortunately, Elise didn't need to think for too long as Loriel led their making out. He claimed her lips and devoured them passionately. His hand supported her head as he deepened his kiss.

Then, his eager tongue pushed through the small opening between her lips as Elise was in a daze. Elise was soon intoxicated by his sweet kiss. She felt like she was floating on the clouds.

The man slid his tongue inside her mouth and found her tongue. He twisted it and sucked her tongue and lips, to the point that she was almost out of breath.

This was surreal. Her mind soon stopped working. Slowly, her hands touched his shoulder, traced his exposed skin, and then went down to his chest. Ahh... it felt so hard to touch.

This man had a toned body and chiseled abs. It was beautiful to look at and mesmerizing to touch.

Loriel had a broad shoulder and a sturdy sculpted chest. Elise often admired his physique from afar when she happened to see him training his soldiers.

She knew his muscles were hard because she had touched his chest and arms before when she helped him with his migraine.

But it was never like this.

This was... so close and intimate.

She felt her heart pounding so hard. She could smell his masculine scent since they were so, so close. She always loved his smell and could never have enough of it. But somehow, tonight, he even smelled so much better than usual.

Elise had to stop herself from sniffing. Gosh.. she was not a dog!

"Elise..."

Elise's eyes widened when she heard Loriel call her name. His voice was husky and sounded heavy. The man had let go of her lips. He opened his eyes and looked at her straight in the eye.

Their eyes locked. Elise never saw Loriel's eyes looked this way. They were filled with lust. Was he engulfed by desire?

Was this desire to have her?

Elise bit her lip and her heart throbbed in anticipation.

"Loriel..." Elise whispered his name back.

"Are we husband and wife?" Loriel asked Elise with his husky voice.

Gosh.. it sounded so sexy!

Elise swallowed. Then she nodded shyly.

Her husband tugged her chin gently and she looked up to see him. Her cheeks flushed red and felt hot.

Of course, they were husband and wife. They were betrothed since before they were born and they got married six months ago.

Why was he asking this question?

It was a rhetorical question, right? One that didn't need an answer...

"So?" Loriel asked again.

Oh, apparently, he wanted an answer, Elise thought.

She nodded softly and replied with her small voice. "Yes, we are, Loriel."

"So, will you stay with me until we are both old and grey?" Loriel asked again.

Elise didn't understand why Loriel asked such a question.

Of course, she would. In her life, there was never another man. It had always been Loriel.

She grew up dreaming of becoming his bride. Now that they were married, she wanted to stay by his side for as long as they lived.

It was Elise who should be asking that question to Loriel. Did he consider them husband and wife? Would he want to stay with Elise until they were both old and grey?

The fact was, Loriel didn't want this marriage. He was betrothed to Elise without his knowledge before he was even born. He only married Elise to keep his promise to his mother.

The queen dowager made him promise to take care of Elise as her husband and protect the girl until his last breath.

Actually, Elise was torn by the situation.

On the one hand, she was happy that Loriel made such a promise and he was keeping his word. However, on the other hand, she was sad that the man didn't love her.

He married her out of obligation, not out of love.

"Yes, Loriel," Elise replied again.

She was wondering where was this conversation heading.

"So, you will not ask for a divorce to marry another man?" Loriel asked her again.

Elise actually wanted to ask the same question. 'So, you will not ask for a divorce to marry another woman?'

However, she knew it was not the right question to ask. The woman that Loriel loved was already married and she loved her husband.

Loriel was too honorable to steal someone else's wife, much less force the woman to marry him when she loved another man.

Elise laughed bitterly in her heart. She loved this man so much, but she couldn't get his heart.

Meanwhile, Loriel loved that woman so deeply, but he also couldn't get her heart. She only thought of him as a good friend. Nothing more.

Knowing how sad it was to feel unrequited love, Elise felt great empathy toward her husband. She knew, loving someone so deeply, one-sidedly, was heartbreaking. So, her heart ached for him.

He loved that other woman, but here he was, stuck with Elise for... probably the rest of his life.

Elise's question to Loriel should have been, 'So, you will stay with me until the day we die... even though you don't love me?'

Or, 'Will you... be able to love me back one day?'

But she didn't utter those questions. She only kept them to herself, like always.

Elise shook her head and replied, "I will not ask for a divorce to marry another man."

Loriel smiled. He touched her cheek and tilted his head to kiss her again. He was satisfied by Elise's responses.

He wanted to know if Elise really thought of him as her husband and that they would stay together as husband and wife until the day they died.

Since her responses were affirmative, Loriel decided to cross the point of no return.

He was stuck with her in this marriage anyway. So, why not made it official and claimed his right as her husband?

His hand free hand sneaked under her dress and caressed her inner thighs, so gently.

Elise was already intoxicated by his kiss and unknowingly let out a soft moan when his hand touched her skin under her dress.

.

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>>>>>

From the author:

Sowwwy, the bonus chapters are delayed. I suddenly got a ton of work sent my way by clients. I have finished the work and now ready to continue writing. This is the first chapter. I will publish two more soon.

xx