^^This song goes so well with the vibe of this chapter^^

"There are very few things that I crave more than reaching for you as you sleep."

~Jessica Michelle

Chapter 55

River's POV

My fingers moved against the sheets, soft silk against heated pads as my eyes slowly opened. A blurry face came into view. I squinted, blinking twice as my vision slowly cleared, revealing the face of my sleeping mate. A small smiled pulled to my lips.

My fingers lifted from the sheets, brushing his hair lightly behind his ear as his soft breathing swept lightly against my nose. Our faces were barely centimeters from each other. I was almost tempted press forward, to lightly brush my lips against. To feel that soothing warmth against mine again.

Heat rose to my cheeks, crawling up my ears as memories of last night replayed through my mind. His tender loving was still visible against my pale skin, light pink kiss marks ran up my arms and chest as small remembrances of our love making. My eyes pulled from my skin back to his face to where a light smile pulled on the corners of his lips.

What are you so happy about?

A light laugh escaped my mouth as I leaned forward to kiss him on the nose. The slight movement pulled a pained whimper from my throat as I became suddenly aware of a stinging soreness coming from down below.

I reached behind me, ruffling the sheets together as I slowly slipped them beneath me, hoping to relieve the pain but it did nothing but cause additional pressure. I hissed, momentarily frozen, hoping that if perhaps I took the form of a statute it would stop the pulsing. I held my breath, nails digging into the sheets as I squeezed my eyes shut.

"What are doing?"

I gasped, jumping slightly. An act that worsened the pain by a tenfold.

Nothing but curses and foul language filled my thoughts as tears built in the corners of my eyes.

The light brush of a finger against my cheek pulled me from my curse-filled thoughts. My eyes opened slowly as my mate's face glowed beneath the sunlight streaming through the open curtains, a visible frown forming on his handsome face.

"What's wrong?" His voice was so soft, so gentle as his lips lightly brushed against my cheek.

"H-hurts," I struggled through shallow breaths.

"Where?" He peeked beneath the sheets briefly, eyes searching my body. "Goddess, I knew I was holding you too tightly," he cursed.

I shook my head, the movement pulling another hiss from me. "I-inside."

His brows pulled, quizzified by my response only to gasp moments later.

"Inside?" He repeated, peering downwards as if he could possibly see the pain for himself.

I nodded, pointing downwards.

His eyes widened briefly before he stood from the bed, lifting the sheets around me to carefully pull me into his arms. His movements were slow, clearly afraid of hurting me as he gently cradled me to his chest.

"Michael warned me about this," my eyes widened.

He had spoken to Michael about this.

Suddenly I felt my ears grow hot.

"He told me the best way to help with the soreness is to soak in warm water," he peered down at me just as my cheeks began turning an unsightly shade of red.

His fingers brushed against my cheek, "What's wrong?"

"You...you spoke about this with Michael?" I squeaked out.

He nodded, "I knew this was going to be your first time and I wanted to make sure you were going to be well taken care of," he pressed a light kiss to my forehead, "during and after our love making."

My breath caught in my throat, lodging itself somewhere between my windpipe and Adam's apple as my eyes grew considerably larger by the minute.

If it were possible, I could've sworn I had fallen for him again.

The door opened with a slight squeak, the soft sound of rushing water following briefly afterward. Alastair sat on his knees, fingers in the water, waiting for the heat to follow as I buried my face in his chest.

It was then, face planted amidst his firm muscles that I realized we were both unclothed. Except for the thin sheet slowly falling down my shoulders and around my waist, there was nothing between our bare bodies but the soft winds of our own breathing.

My arms wrapped around the soft fabric, pulling it over my shoulders and fixing it around my waist. Alastair's head tilted to look down at me, watching me slowly begin to cocoon myself.

His brow rose, "River you're about to get into the water." His hand signaled to the full tub.

I grew silent, not sure whether to be more embarrassed about cocooning myself in the sheets or being caught doing it by my mate.

He let out a chimed laugh before slowly lifting me up and placing me into the water. The sheets floated around me in an enlarged bubble as I let out a huff amidst the heated water.

A slight sting caused me to wince as the water entered my aching area. The sheet was pulled from the water as Alastair climbed in after me and sat in front of me, positioning himself so he'd be facing me. His hands reached forward, perching themselves on my shoulders as he began rubbing soothing circles into the muscles.

I leaned into him until my head hit his chest. My eyes slowly began to close as I soaked the calming movements of his messaging fingers. His lips pressed against the top of my head as his fingers traveled down to my lower back and slowly began unknotting the tight muscles there.

It was when his finger slowly encircled my sore entrance that I placed my hand on his cheek to weakly push him away.

"No," I whimpered in hushed voice.

"I'm only checking," Alastair's lips brushed against my ear, "I need to make sure I got it all out last night."

"Got what-" the realization hit me mid-sentence as I slightly choked.

He came inside me.

My face felt close to exploding with the amount of heat rushing to it.

"I tried to make sure to get it out while you were sleeping but just in case..." he trailed off as he bent forward. His fingers slowly stretched me open.

I hissed, fingers digging into his upper back as Alastair bent over my shoulder.

But just as soon as it had begun it had ended as his fingers carefully pulled from me and he laid a light kiss on my nose.

"I wouldn't have done that had it not been for your health," his eyes bore into mine as he leaned forward once again for a brief peck.

My lips remained pout-like, expecting more as he turned away to reach for a white cube. I was familiar with soap made of the fat of cheap cattle though that didn't mean my nose didn't upturn every time I was forced to use it. Back at home, I used to crush spices to put with the soap to distract myself from the pungent smell of the fats and oils that made up the white square.

A soft laughter resounded in front of me as Alastair nearly dropped the soap into the water, "that face," was all he managed.

"It smells weird, Alastair," I pointed to the soap in his hand.

Alastair brought the soap to his nose and gave a short sniff, "smells like soap," he raised a brow.

I shuddered, wrapping my arms around myself.

"River," Alastair leaned forward, the bar in hand, "you need to be cleaned. I'll pour some perfumes on it if it will help."

I nodded, eyes remaining on the bar as he reached for a small glass veil, popping it open as he poured the pink liquid over the white block. A few drops fell from the soap, trickling into the water with soft plops.

"What ingredient do you dislike in the soap?" Alastair asked as the last of the liquid poured over the soap.

"The animal fat." I got squeamish just thinking about it.

He hummed, "I'll see if the makers can make it with anything else."

My eyes pulled from the soap to his face, "They can do that?"

He nodded, "I heard of a poor colony that makes them of ash."

Ash? Is the soap black?

The idea sounded strange to me but it was definitely better than animal fat.

"Thank you."

He nodded as he placed the empty veil on the floor.

"Anything for you."

He leaned forward to scoop me back into his arms and pressed a gentle kiss to my lips that nearly pulled the breath from me.

Alastair got to work, slowly rubbing the small bar against my skin as I tried my very hardest to stay still and not jump from the tub. Every time I had been given this treatment with the maids I would hold my breath and count down the minutes till it would be over. Thankfully, they were swift with their hands and with the amount working on me at a time, it'd be over in mere moments and before I'd know it I'd be getting soaked in perfumes, thoughts of animal fat far from mind.

Alastair was much slower with his movements, taking his time cleaning every area as I squeezed my eyes shut and came increasingly close from grabbing the bar from his hand and throwing it out the window.

Finally, it was over in what felt like a lifetime and I was dowsed in a series of expensive perfumes and left to soak in it as he rained gentle kisses across my shoulders and neck.

Suddenly, a light knock resounded behind the bathing room door. Our heads pivoted towards the door, both equally as confused.

"Speak through the door," Alastair ordered.

"You've been called to a meeting," a girl's voice spoke.

"By whom?"

"The royal council, Your Majesty."

Alastair's brows pinched, "not my father?"

"Your father doesn't reside on the throne anymore, Your Majesty." The girl's voice came out just as quizzically as Alastair's had.

It was silent for a few moments before Alastair cleared his throat, "very well. Tell them I'll be present in a half hour time."

"Understood," the girl's footsteps grew farther and farther away until they could no longer be heard.

Alastair turned to me, "Do you want to stay in the tub and soak for longer or come with me?"

"I can come with you?" Was I allowed to come to royal meetings?

"Of course," his brows pinched, "why wouldn't you?"

"Because I'm your mate not a born member of the royal family."

His lips formed a thin line, "you're my mate. You're as much a royal member as I am."

I nodded slowly.

Alastair pulled himself from the bath, grabbing the nearest towel and wrapping it around his waist.

"Never forget who you are, River," Alastair lifted me from the water and wrapped me in a towel, "You're my mate. You rule by my side."

I nodded and he lifted me back into his arms, carrying me back to our room where he wiped me down and dressed me with care.

"Do you think they view me as such as well?" I asked as Alastair buttoned the last button on my shirt.

"They?" He peered up at me from his position on his knees with a raised brow.

"Our people. Do you think they view me as their ruler as much as they do you?"

He took a few minutes to answer as his eyes wandered momentarily, "I would like to think so."

That seemed to be the only response I'd be able to get from him so I allowed it for the moment.

We took a seat in the front of the courtroom, side by side, on two large red velvet thrones. The royal court members sat around us in a half moon as they all sat patiently, waiting for Alastair to allow them to start.

"You may begin this session," Alastair's voice filled the courtroom.

One stood up, hands pressed against the wooden table as he peered around at his fellow councilmen.

"Your Majesties," he peered at Alastair and me, "We ask to discuss the matter of the rebels who have arisen in the Southeast."

"They've been located?" Alastair spoke.

"Yes, a few civilians were robbed on the Southeast border. Marketplaces were looted at night and maidens have gone missing."

"And you suspect it's the act of rebels and not a common gang of thieves?"

Another man stood up to speak, "Yes, Your Majesty. Some of the thieves were identified as resembling those described in the hunt down a few months ago."

"Very well," Alastair let out a low breath of air, "send out a small group to check it out. I don't more than thirty men being sent down."

They nodded as a scribe sat in the center, writing down Alastair's words.

The meeting was dismissed as everyone stood up, my eyes locked on Isaiah and Derek who sat on the far left. Isaiah lifted a roll of paper into his arms, leaving a small tube of ink on the table as he stood. Derek watched him, mouth moving yet words muted to me across the room. Isaiah turned his eyes away, back facing Derek as he locked eyes with me. I rose my hand. A hint of a smile lifted to his lips as he began walking in my direction. I lifted myself from the throne, hissing at the slight ache that followed the sudden movement.

Alastair immediately jumped from his throne, hurrying to my side to help me down the stairs.

"Are you okay?" Isaiah asked as I fought Alastair's hands from lifting me into his arms.

"It's okay," I whispered to Alastair.

He nodded reluctantly. Though his hands remained on me, wrapping around my waist as if I'd tip over.

I peered up to see Isaiah raising a brow at me, a quirked smile forming on his face as he eyed Alastair's protective stance around me.

From his cheeky smile, it was obvious that he had realized what was going on. Isaiah patted me on the shoulder and I felt the sudden urge to melt into the floor.

I anxiously searched for something to change the subject with. "What's that?" I pointed to the paper roll in his arms.

Isaiah looked down and then back at me, "I like to take notes during our meetings. I know it's really the job of the scribes but I enjoy writing so why not?" He shrugged.

My head turned as I saw Derek peek at us. He scratched his head, watching Isaiah as his foot tapped anxiously on the floor.

"Is something going on between you and Derek?"

He seemed momentarily stunned by my question but attempted nonchalance as he scratched the back of his neck, "Umm, good question."

I raised a brow.

So much for nonchalance.

"We're having a...slump."

"A slump?" Was I supposed to know what that meant?

"It's nothing. We'll work it out," he smiled tightly.

I nodded, crossing my arms as I rose my brow.

He began fiddling with his roll before turning around to briefly look at Derek who appeared just as much of a mess as he did. Both seemingly lost in whatever world they placed themselves in.

Alastair's hand tightened around my waist as he bent down to whisper in my ear, "what do you want for breakfast?"

My brows knitted, eyes still on Isaiah as he watched Derek speaking to a councilman.

"Love?"

"Hm?"

A pair of soft lips pressed against the back of my ear. I tilted my head towards him with a smile.

"Breakfast?" He tried again. "You haven't eaten all day."

"Okay," I breathed out, fingers curling in his thick hair as his lips traveled down my neck.

His lips traveled back up my neck and he nipped below my ear, "Come, let's go." His hands traveled down as he lifted me into his arms.

A squeak escaped my mouth as a light laugh escaped his. I turned to say goodbye to Isaiah but he was nowhere to be seen.

Well, that's strange.

Though my attention was immediately pulled back to Alastair as his soft voice filled my ear.

"Do you want to have breakfast in the garden or our room?"

"Garden," was my immediate answer.

He nodded with a smile as he bent down to kiss my nose, "this time we're eating on cushions. No rolling in the dirt."

I laughed, "no complaining here."

Just the thought of sitting on a hard ground right now made me that much sorer.

I peered up, surprised as the kitchen came into view. A group of maids exited the kitchen and curtsied as they saw Alastair approaching.

"Your Majesty," they greeted.

"Is there something you need, Your Majesty?" One girl asked.

"Yes, if you'd be so kind as to bring a couple cushions to the garden and some baked goods as well." The girls nodded, half going to get cushions and the others heading back into the kitchen.

It only took a few moments before the girls came streaming down the stairs, cushions, and blankets in hand as they went outside to set it up. Pastries and cakes flowed out of the kitchen as a couple maids carried trays out after the first group and started setting them up on top of the blankets.

Alastair carried me out after them and bent down to lay me carefully on a set of cushions. A breeze brushed past my shoulders and a slight shiver ran down my body. I tried to cover it up but it nothing went unnoticed by Alastair as he immediately called for a maid and began wrapping me in a fur.

"Bring a pot of tea from the kitchen," he ordered one of the maids as his arms wrapped around me.

"I'm fine with the blanket, Alastair," I tried but he would have none of it as he sent the maid off.

"You're never to be just fine," Alastair muttered as he cut a piece of cake and lifted a forkful to my mouth.

I opened my mouth, welcoming in the sugary goodness with a moan.

"Good?" Alastair smiled.

I nodded, opening my mouth for more.

He laughed lightly as he filled the fork and placed it into my waiting mouth.

It was when we were almost done with the small cake that a maid placed a steaming pot of tea in front of us with two porcelain cups. Alastair thanked her before pouring me a cup and handing it to me. It was hot to the touch and soothing to the throat as I sipped down the steaming liquid. I nearly burned my tongue through my impatience but the taste was well worth it.

Chai.

I looked up at Alastair with a bright smile.

'"You really love Chai, don't you love," he brushed his finger down my cheek.

"Yes," I leaned against him, "but I love you more."

He let out a light laugh, "What a romantic," he cooed as he brushed his nose against mine with a cheeky grin.

I pressed forward, brushing my lips against his playfully before pulling away. His eyes searched mine briefly before his hands grabbed me by the waist and pulled me forward. A light moan escaped my mouth as his lips came crashing down on mine and I was lifted into his lap. I almost fell backward but his hand kept me upright, resting just on my lower back as his lips moved passionately against mine. When he pulled away to kiss down my neck, I breathed hastily, attempting to catch my breath as my fingers laid perched on his shoulders.

"A-Alastair," I gasped as his fingers roamed beneath my shirt.

"Hmm?" His lips pressed against my shoulder.

"I'm s-still sore so no..." my breath caught short as his teeth scraped lightly against my collarbone.

"Just foreplay, love," he whispered against my neck, "just foreplay," he repeated with a slight moan.

And it was then, within the rose-filled garden that I discovered a new side to Alastair. A very oral side to Alastair. Throughout the afternoon, he left no part of me untouched. Each crevice of my body was covered in light markings, from neck to toe, as he nipped and kissed more areas than I knew he could reach. I was so clouded amidst the heat of pleasure that I hadn't even noticed when he had carried me back to our room and I was taken once again against our bed on an oral journey that pulled and tugged on my strings till I nearly broke and throat grew so raw that I could no longer moan without sounding garbled.

My head thrashed against our sheets, nails cutting into the blanket as I reached the height of pleasure for what must have felt like the hundredth time. My chest rose and fell with my heavy breathing as my vision grew clouded and it wasn't before long that I passed out, knocked out and sated against the rising chest of my equally as satisfied mate.

Whelps, that's all for now. I know you guys probably expected another love scene but River was too sore...sowy :P So what did you guys think?  Love you guys tunzzz!! *blows kisses* <3