Chapter 55

NOLAN

The freezing night seemed to go on forever. When a tiny bit of sunlight announced it was daytime again, Nolan felt a flicker of hope. Thinking Yena would come to see him again.

But she did not come.

And the day just dragged on. One slow, cold minute at a time.

This was the real punishment. It was not the discomfort or the hunger. It was the isolation of solitary confinement.

When night fell once more, Nolan was tempted to slip into feelings of hopelessness.

His body missed Yena’s. It felt like part of himself was missing without her.

But dwelling on those thoughts did not help to pass the time. And they were not productive, either.

Nolan braced himself for another night of deep blackness and bitter cold. He resolved to spend the hours ahead planning.

Considering what were Adan’s next possible moves.

And how Nolan could anticipate and respond to each one.

Next time, Nolan would be ready.

Adan had gotten the jump on him once. That was enough.

YENA

I was buzzing with adrenaline after the interview. When I got back to the palace, I could hardly sit still. I didn’t want to lie around watching the news again, so I went to my studio and used up some of my nervous energy tidying up and organizing my supplies.

Finally I started crashing, and I dragged myself back to the bedroom. The big empty bed was depressing. I curled up under the covers, but I hardly slept through the night.

I rested my eyes and resisted the urge to check my phone.

Staying up all night refreshing the notifications wouldn’t make anything happen any faster. But that didn’t mean I could stop thinking about it.

I dozed on and off. When I woke up and found there was a tiny bit of sunlight bleeding in around the edges of the curtains, I finally opened up my phone and turned on the TV.

My interview with Alaster and Cindy was all over the internet. All over the news.

And the reaction was good.

People believed us.

It was working.

And now I just had to wonder whether it was enough to convince the King to let Nolan out of confinement. It had to be.

But I really didn’t know the King. I didn’t know anything about him or his motives.

He had congratulated us at my and Nolan’s wedding. He posed with us for a few photos after the ceremony. And that was the extent of all my interactions with Nolan’s father.

I scrambled out of bed and started the hot water running in the tub.

If the plan had worked, Nolan would be coming back to me today.

I shaved my legs. Washed and deep conditioned my hair. And after I got dressed, I asked Rafaela to have our room cleaned and sheets changed while I ate breakfast.

I texted Nolan’s secretary to see if he had any updates on Nolan’s release.

He didn’t reply.

It seemed like the only thing left to do was wait.

NOLAN

Thundering footfall on the stairs woke Nolan from a doze and jolted him onto his feet.

Three Gamma warriors appeared, one after the other. The first one through the door was wearing thick black gloves and holding a key. He worked the key into the lock at the center of the silver bars.

The bars rolled open, drifting into a gap in the wall.

“The King has ordered your release, Your Highness,” the lead guard announced. He took a step back and dropped to his knees. The two other men behind him did the same.

Nolan wasted no time. He crossed the landing and hoofed it down the stairs, leaving the Gamma warriors kneeling before an empty jail cell.

The tower was a long walk from the prince and princess’s suite.

Nolan moved as fast as he could without breaking into an actual run.

He passed by the hallway that would lead to his office. Thinking about going straight back to work right now seemed like insanity.

Yena was Nolan’s priority.

He rounded the last corner that led into their wing of the palace. And there she was, pacing in the hallway.

Yena was looking in the other direction. She either heard Nolan approaching, or felt his eyes on her, and spun around to face him.

They ran into each other’s arms.

Nolan picked Yena up and she wrapped her legs around his waist and kissed him.

The beautiful smell of her was overwhelming.

He had been in jail for three days without a shave. Yena cradled his face in both her hands, running her fingers through his short, scruffy beard.

Everything felt right again.

Nolan wanted to ask her what happened. How she got him released.

But his mouth was no longer capable of speech. He kissed Yena’s neck and used his teeth to start moving the straps of her dress down her shoulders.

In the bedroom, he kicked the doors closed behind him and threw her onto the bed. She reached out and pulled him on top of her.

Nolan was cold and dirty after two days without a shower. And Yena smelled so clean, sweet, and flowery. She fought to keep him in bed with her, but he peeled away and got into the shower before she could follow.

He scrubbed himself quickly in hot soapy water and was back in the bedroom in under a minute, running a towel over his body.

Yena was naked, waiting for him in bed.

Nolan leapt on top of her and resumed their kiss. She moaned and squirmed underneath him. She slid her silky-smooth legs against his and ran her soft hands all over his muscular chest.

He kissed Yena’s neck. She whispered into his ear, “I missed you.”

Nolan looked into her eyes and said, “I missed you too, baby.”

He kept his eyes locked on hers and shifted his hips. His dick found its way inside of her. He went in slow, a little at a time.

Yena took a deep breath and arched her back.

“Good girl,” Nolan purred into her ear.

She liked that.

He kept going slow. He took her wrists and pulled them up over her head, holding them together there with one of his big, strong hands. Rendering her helpless.

Then he pushed himself deeper inside of her, making her call out his name.

He bent his mouth to hers and she opened wide, eager to kiss him. But he teased her, pulling his lips away.

She squealed.

Nolan licked her neck. And her big, soft breasts. And then he just couldn’t hold back any longer.

He started pounding Yena hard. He released her hands and they flew to his shoulders. She held on to him tight, digging her fingernails into his damp skin.

She whimpered and pleaded with him to fuck her harder. Her voice was primal and sexy.

He adjusted his grip on her body and gave her what she wanted.

Nolan felt his life force returning to him.

Every second he was inside her, he felt stronger. More powerful.

Which was good. Because the princess had quite an appetite, and Nolan was going to keep her satisfied.

He felt her body start to shake and kept up his pace until she cried out in pleasure.

When it felt like she was almost finished, Nolan gave her a long, slow kiss, then growled into her ear, “I didn’t say that you could stop.”

Her whole body quivered immediately in response.

His lips curled into a smug smile.

Yena’s blue eyes were dark and smoldering. She reached up and clutched at Nolan’s tight beard as she gasped for air and panted.