Bliss...

This was pure bliss.

He woke up happier than he's ever been with her snuggled in his arms, his lion calmer and content to have finally marked his mate, had retreated in the back of his mind.

He ran his nose along side of her neck smiling from ear to ear. His scent now permanently mangled with hers. Every shifter regardless of the species, will now know she was his and his alone, and that made him practically giddy.

He didn't even know he could get giddy.

He buried his nose at the crook of her neck, right at her sweet spot. Her essence was stronger there. He kissed and licked over the already fully healed mark and felt her trembled in his arms, her breathing no longer evened, her pulse quickening letting him know she was awakening.

Her eyes still closed, she unceremoniously threw her leg around his waist.

He made love to her well into the first lights of the sunrise. They were both insatiable and couldn't get enough of one another.

So he knew she was exhausted and most likely sore.

Her breathing had evened out again.

He should let her sleep.

That would be the good mate thing to do.

They were still both naked from last night's marathon. He took his time looking at his handy work smirking and proud of himself.

Her soft caramel skin was covered with love bites. He grinned satisfied, but had to bite his lips to fight the urge to cover the empty spots.

But when he looked at her full, ripe plump breasts with her light brown areoles and already hard buds, he bite down a groan and felt his cock stand to attention brushing up against her perfectly placed heat.

His sensible side was pushed down and made way to his beast wanting nothing more than to ravage her all over again.

He positioned her closer to him, and placed his member at her entrance. She was so hot, so wet already. Even in her sleep she was ready for him.

Unable to wait another second, he thrusts in her, buried himself to the hilt. She gasped and her eyes flew open.

Heaven...

his personal beliefs does not include a heaven or hell, but if those existed, then his personal heaven would be right here between her legs. Right when he first start to go in, and her breath would hitch every danm time still surprised on how big he was, and how she was a perfect fit for him.

His heaven is when he was finally ball deep in and his entire cock would be enveloped in her warmth and drenched in her juice.

His heaven is when she could no longer control herself and all the moans, groans and filthy things would come out of her mouth uninhibited.

It's definitely his heaven when he can feel her walls clenching around him as he pumped into her savagely and watch as her skin turns pink, hotter than ever, as she screams his name over and over again, as he hungrily put her sweet breast in his mouth lapping at it, never wanting to let it go, and finally feel her sweet cunt milk his every drop when his dick spurts loads after loads into her.

He watched as her body shudders spamsmodically and her skin broke out in goosebumps as her orgasm started fading and she was slowly coming back to him.

"Mmmm i can get use to waking up like this." She says her eyes closed, head tilted back rubbing her nipples against his hard chest still feeling the after effects.

He kissed her forehead, and slid out of her still semi hard.

"Whatever my queen wants she gets."

"That's a dangerous thing to say sir." She answered in a soft giggle.

He chuckles at her cuteness, because she was still talking with her eyes closed. He was an asshole for waking her up, but he couldn't regret a thing.

But he meant every word. He would give her the universe if she would let him.

He pushed in a handful of hair that escaped her silk bonnet he gave her to wear last night.

He smiled when he remembered how she pretty much attacked him and rode him hard after that simple gesture. When he asked her about that reaction, she explained how she couldn't help it because it meant so much to her that he cared about her hair so much.

That really surprised him, because for him it was obvious. He loved her and adores her hair, so of course he had to also be a part of taking care and protecting it. He's grown up with enough black women around him in the kingdom to know the rules for lack of better terms.

He slowly got up detaching her from him and retrieve a warm wet towel in the en suite to clean her up. Fixed the sheet back around her and kissed her cheek as soft as a feather.

"Get some more rest baby. Its still early. I'll bring some food over in an hour or two."

'Ok handsome thank you.' she thought.

She thought...

Her lips didn't move.

She thought... But he heard her loud and clear.

Long ago between mates, the werewolves had that ability. Right after marking her, he did feel closer to her than ever, but he'd never imagined it to being to that extent.

He grinned thinking on how he couldn't wait to mess with her when they were around other people.

He padded out of the room to the bathroom, took a quick cold shower, and finished his morning routines. Got dressed as quietly as possible since she was already deep asleep, hugging up his pillow and drooling. He shook his head smiling and left the room closing the door softly behind him.

Making his way downstairs, he wasn't at all surprised to see a whole lot of new people running around the palace doing various chores like a bunch of headless chickens.

Tomorrow, he was finally taking his oath in front of his pride and countless other guests no doubt.

Usually, an alpha taking his place at the head of his pride was a ceremony privy only to his immediate pride. But in his case, things were different. As soon as people got wind of the festivities, they have been inundated with requests from feline shifters from all over the world given that he was also their king. They had to find a way to accommodate a whole lot more people.

'It's going to be like a flipping Coachella concert.' he thought exasperated already.

Needless to say, that's why a small army was hired plus volunteers to get everything ready.

He entered the kitchen and watched Georges, one of their eldest chef busier than ever. He felt bad to ask him to do anything else, so he entered the room and start thinking on what to cook.

"Good morning Georges."

"Oh Prince Henri ! Good morning indeed! How are you doing today sir?"

Henri smiled at the man. It was impossible not to really, given on how jovial he always is. He has been in the family way before he was even born. It didn't feel right to have the man call him sir, or prince given that he practically raised him, but George categorically refused to just call him by his name even when he was merely a child.

"Doing really good Georges." and he meant it. "How is the family doing?"

"Everyone is doing well, really excited about tomorrow and as equally excited to finally meet our new Queen!"

"That's great to hear."

"Wait, sir what are you doing?"

"About to cook some brunch for Natalia and I, you've taught me to cook after all."

"Oh NOOoo! I'm sure you've got plenty to prepare for. I'll get it ready for you."

"It's ok dear friend, you've got plenty on your hands."

"Oh Prince Henri, please don't take away my chance to show my love to our future Queen. You know my best way to show this is via my cooking sir." He answered pouting a bit.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes yes yes... Now you go." he says shooing him off in tiny.

"Ok ok. I'll be in the dining room. I'll bring it upstairs. Thanks Georges."

As he walked out of the kitchen he couldn't help but being immensely proud that this man was part of his family, because that is what he was, family.

Every single member of his pride was his family, and he was sure that they will openly accept Natalia. That is why he couldn't understand her reaction last night, between bouts of love making, when he told her that tomorrow will also be used for him to officially introduce her to the pride.

She was afraid they wouldn't accept her... No she was more than afraid, she was certain that they wouldn't.

He pressed for her to explain why she felt that way but she didn't. Instead she went down on him and gave him one of the best blow jobs ever, making him forget his name in the process let alone the subject of their conversation.

But now that his blood had migrated back to his brain... His steps faltered when he looked and saw his mother barking out orders to those around her on how to arrange everything.

Then he remembered.

"MOTHER!" He bellowed, which startled her.

"HENRI! Have you no manners?"

He grimaced and muttered an apology, ingrained in him not to be disrespectful towards his parents

"Good to see you finally awake."

"Mother we need to talk."

"Yes we do dear, there are a lot i need you to sign off on. It is after all your crowning ceremony." she said smiling. She was really excited for their retirement, they have, after all been ruling for a very very very long time.

"About Natalia."

She stiffened at the name and that only confirmed what he'd assumed when he remembered that he had found Natalia with her in the kitchen yesterday when he made his entry with Tina.

"What did you tell her mom?"

"What did she say i said?"

"Ugh maman je t'en prie, arrête de joueur, on a beaucoup trop à faire!" (mom please, stop playing, we have too much to do!)

Just then his father waltz in.

"I know I've raised you better than this for you to think that it's ok to talk to your mother this way son."

As he walked in, the room stopped and everyone bowed they heads to him, but he continued to walk without acknowledging them.

He looked not a day over 45-50 and was still immensely intimidating, even if he was centuries old. Which he reminded him how he was selfishly relieved that Natalia was now a shifter as well. Just the thought of out living her made him feel sick to his stomach.

"Dad, this is important because somehow Natalia got it in her head that she was not wanted here, and i wonder why."

His father put a protective arm around his wife. "My love?"

She looked at him for a few seconds than exhaled annoyingly.

"Fine! Yes... We had a talk. I was just getting to know her dear and see how she fared under scrutiny. So yes, i may have mentioned that she doesn't belong here and..."

His father groaned and pulled her back, putting her behind him.

He saw red. He would never hurt his mother but he was beyond pissed.

Adil roared through him, shaking the room and scaring everyone in the room except his father and made his way to the surface pushing Henri down before he could stop him.

His dad demanded everyone to leave, while still keeping his mother behind him.

Adil: "YOU DID WHAT? As the mother of my human, i respect you so. But how dare you speak to mate this way? You know NOTHING OF ALL SHE HAD ENDURE ALL HER LIFE and didn't let any of it stop her from being the strong and beautiful, let's not forget that, human she is today.

You are never to speak to my mate this way ever AGAIN! "

Mr. Beausejour put his hand on Henri's chest getting his attention back on him instead of his wife. He knew his son would never hurt his mother but...

" You aren't Henri. "

********

A surge of anger jolted her out of her much needed sleep and straight onto the plush carpeted floor her feet all mangled up between the sheets.

She lay there for a few trying to understand where that feeling came from. Perhaps she was having a nightmare of everyone throwing cabbages and tomatoes at her tomorrow once they realized their new Queen was a "Non-born".

She rolled her eyes and crawled her way back to the bed using the edge as anchor to help her get up off the floor.

She was deliciously aching everywhere and blushed thinking of all the filthy things she let him do to her last night and well into the morning.

She penguin walked to the bathroom and welcomed the stream of hot water massaging her muscles. Nevertheless she took a quick shower, and made her way the Jacuzzi she's been eyeing for a few days now. She couldn't wait to feel the jets massaging her sore muscles.

And while it feels like no time at all had passed, but it was probably half an hour. She heard a soft knock at the bathroom door, then it opened before she could say anything, and in came her gorgeous man smiling, dimples in display.

'Sweet Jesus, he is going to be the death of me. Did i ever lick those dimples? How the hell is it even fair for one human to look this good?... Or right... Shifter. So, sexy... Smart as hell, sexy... Shit did i say sexy already ? I think he scrambled my brain from all those orgasms. ' she thought.

Henri snorted, putting his hand over his mouth trying so hard not to laugh. She looked over at him, narrowing her eyes suspiciously. He cleared his throat. "Brunch is ready beautiful, come out already. You need food."

Adil had already taught him how to secure his thoughts, but he was going to have a bit of fun with her first before letting her know about her new ability.

The Hours flew by, and it was suddenly the big day. Nervous was not a strong enough word to describe how she felt. The butterflies in her stomach had joined the circus and was making her nauseous.

Henri let her sleep last night, and looking at her face in the mirror she appreciated it. No dark circles and she looked well rested. She had twisted her hair out last night in preparation for today, but Henri sent up a small army of women anyway to get her ready in the name of making her the most beautiful woman of the night while slyly adding that she of course didn't really need the help.

Yea right. 🙄

Something been going on with him. He's been snickering and even blushing at times when nothing is going on around them, almost like he could read her...

Wait a gosh dang minute...

Oh ok... Well two can play this game.

She finished getting ready and was finally allowed to look at herself in the mirror, and for a moment she was stunned and wondered who was that looking back at her.

The dress Henri picked out for her was perfect.

Floor length, off the shoulder trim mermaid dress, off white with subtle gold threads woven within the entire dress in various intricate patterns.

It shimmered in the light.

She was shimmering and was ok with it.

She actually didn't want to hide. And that dress was simultaneously definitely not hiding anything and covering everything except for for her bare shoulders and arms. It hugged her every curve showing off her hourglass shape and very plush derrière. She suspected that was why he picked it.

At her request... More like begging, her make up remained natural with a dark burgundy lipstick. The curls of her hair were more defined still loose framing her face and tickling her bare shoulders now that her twists were out. She finished the look with a pearl decor ankle strap sandals. Just wished the heels weren't so high.

After thanking everyone, she made her way down where Henri was waiting for her. The second she entered the room at the top of the stairs, his head whirled towards her, and the biggest smile tugged at his lips. He put a hand over his heart and just froze there holding her gaze while she strutted down the long imperial staircase.

"Well if you are going to just stand there with that goofy smile on your face instead of helping her, then i will." exclaimed a booming voice from a man she was just noticing.

He marched towards her, and it was almost suffocating on the amount of power he was emitting. She knew immediately who he was and grew nervous.

Henri also emitted tremendous power, even more than this gentleman. But she felt at ease with him. Like there's nowhere else she'd rather be.

"Oh my, you are a vision! I can tell why my son is so taken with you! You are very beautiful!"

He took her hand wrapped around his elbow, and ushered her down the remaining steps.

"Thank you very much sir."

"Oh no, you are to be my daughter, no" sir". You can call me dad!"

'ORRRR daddy, zaddy because yummm' she thought. Stealing a glance towards Henri under her eyelashes. She almost lost it when he furrowed his brows clenching his Jaws.

"It is lovely to finally meet you...dad."

The man clapped over the moon by her decision. She felt a bit more at ease and smile back at him.

He was as tall as his sons, just less broader. Probably because he is not working out as often as he was used to. Given his kids age, he had to be in his 70s, but she had to admit, he really did look good.

'You are so going to get punished kitten.'

She jumped at the voice suddenly invading her mind. She didn't even notice when Henri took her from his father and tucked her snuggly by his side.

'serves you right handsome, for not telling me and continued to listen to my thoughts.'

'oh so you think I'm handsome?'

'breathtaking' and he really was in his exceptionally well fitted armani charcoal gray suit, his hair nearly coiffed back to a low bun.

He squeezed her tighter against him a soft blush appearing on his cheeks. She swooned even harder. Her big bad lion king was just a just a big softie.

His father was still talking to them but they had no idea about what.

"Ok.. I hope you guys understand everything because we don't have time for questions. Let's go."

She threw Henri a worried look not having heard a word the king said. He chuckled and hugged her taking in her scent.

"You look so beautiful. I can't wait to tear that dress off of you later."

"I love that dress!"

"I'll buy you more."

"Everyone is waiting." she whispers.

"Thank you for agreeing to stand by my side tonight Natalia, it means a lot."

"No other place I'd rather be." She answered without hesitation straightening up his light gray tie.

Then the voice of the person she dreaded to see this evening rang in her ears making her bury her face in his neck.

Although she doesnt know why the heck she was doing that.

Ugh being a cat sometimes can be a bit annoying!

" Hello Natalia."

She reluctantly tore herself away from Henri's neck and looked at his mother.

"Good evening Mrs. Beausejour."

"We...

We may have started on the wrong foot..."

She scoffed. Henri squeeze her hand.

"I believe i owe you an apology for my awful behavior the other day."

She was stunned, but recovered quickly. If she was woman enough to say sorry, then...

"Thank you Mrs. Beausejour, i accept your apology. And I'm also sorry for my part."

"Very good then." she said with a smile. She was visibly more relaxed

"Let's go, we must not keep our guests waiting. Henri, you've got lofs of tributes out there. Felines from some of the most remotes corners of the world have either come or sent representatives to meet you. I hope you are ready."

"Way to make him nervous mom!" Luc exclaimed coming out of nowhere and gave his mom a quick kiss on the cheek.

"Oh hush child, your brother doesn't get nervous."

"BESTIE! You look FABULOUS!" she giggled blushing still not sure on how to react to her new friend.

Henri groaned and rolled his eyes.