Chapter 40
Inside their suite, Andrea sat curled on the plush couch, staring out at the dark mountains through the floor-to-ceiling windows.
Nathaniel was on the other side of the room, pouring two glasses of wine at the minibar. His every move was deliberate, smooth, like he was always in control. Andrea, on the other hand, felt like a tightly wound spring.
“It’s our last night,” Nathaniel said, his deep voice breaking the quiet as he walked over, handing her a glass. “Hard to believe, isn’t it?”
Andrea nodded, taking a small sip of the wine. “Yeah. It feels like we just got here.”
Nathaniel settled beside her, his presence commanding even when he was relaxed. He didn’t speak for a moment, his eyes on her profile. “You’ve been quiet all day. What’s on your mind?”
Andrea hesitated, swirling the wine in her glass. “I’ve just been thinking,” she said finally.
“About?” he pressed gently.
“About Blackthorn. About the Royal Draw,” she admitted. “And… about us.”
Nathaniel’s brow furrowed slightly, but his tone remained calm. “What about us?”
Andrea set her glass down, twisting her hands in her lap. “It’s just… everything feels so intense with you, Nathaniel. Like it’s bigger than me, or us. Sometimes I wonder if I’m even ready for all of this.”
Nathaniel’s hand covered hers, his touch firm but reassuring. “You’re ready,” he said quietly. “More than you know.”
His gaze was steady, unwavering, and Andrea felt herself leaning into it, even as doubts still swirled in her mind.
Later that evening, Nathaniel stood by the window, his silhouette framed by the moonlight. Andrea watched him from the bed, her heart racing as she tried to summon her courage.
“Nathaniel,” she called softly.
He turned, his dark eyes meeting hers. “Yes?”
Andrea swallowed hard. “Come here.”
A faint smile tugged at his lips as he approached, his steps slow and deliberate. “What’s this about?”
Andrea hesitated, then reached out, taking his hand. “I just… I want to be with you tonight. Completely.”
Nathaniel’s expression shifted, surprise flickering across his face before it softened into something deeper. “Andrea,” he murmured, his voice low.
“I mean it,” she said quickly, her cheeks flushing. “I’m not… I’m not new to this. I’ve done this before.”
The lie tasted bitter on her tongue, but she forced herself to hold his gaze.
Nathaniel studied her for a long moment, his sharp eyes seeming to see right through her. Then, he cupped her cheek gently, his thumb brushing against her skin. “You don’t have to lie to me, Andrea.”
Her breath hitched, and she looked away, embarrassed. “I just didn’t want you to think I was… inexperienced.”
Nathaniel’s fingers tilted her chin back toward him, his expression tender. “It doesn’t matter to me,” he said softly. “The only thing I care about is you feeling safe. Do you trust me?”
Andrea nodded, her heart pounding. “I do.”
“Good,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. “Then let me take care of you.”
Nathaniel’s usual intensity gave way to a tenderness Andrea hadn’t expected. Every touch, every kiss was deliberate, patient, as if he was trying to memorize every part of her.
Andrea’s nerves melted away under his careful attention, replaced by a warmth that spread through her entire body. For the first time, she saw another side of Nathaniel—not the controlling, possessive man she’d grown used to, but someone who wanted to cherish her.
“You’re perfect,” he murmured against her skin, his words sending shivers down her spine.
Afterward, they lay tangled together under the soft sheets, the firelight casting flickering shadows on the walls. Nathaniel’s arm was draped over her waist, his fingers tracing lazy patterns on her skin.
Andrea stared up at the ceiling, her thoughts swirling. “Nathaniel?” she said quietly.
“Hmm?”
“I’m scared about the next Royal Draw,” she admitted. “What if I don’t measure up? What if they decide I don’t belong?”
Nathaniel’s fingers stilled, and he shifted so he could look at her. “You don’t need to worry about that.”
Andrea frowned. “What do you mean?”
“I’ll make sure you’re where you’re supposed to be,” he said, his voice calm but laced with an unspoken edge.
Andrea’s stomach twisted. “Nathaniel, you can’t control the Draw.”
Nathaniel’s lips curved into a faint, cryptic smile. “You’d be surprised what I can do, Andrea.”
Her heart skipped a beat, a mix of unease and curiosity creeping in. “What are you saying?”
“I’m saying you don’t need to worry,” he said simply, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “I’ll take care of everything.”
Andrea wanted to press him further, but the warmth of his embrace and the soothing cadence of his voice made it hard to think clearly.
As the fire burned low, Andrea felt her eyelids grow heavy. She turned her head slightly, her gaze meeting Nathaniel’s.
“Why do you do all of this for me?” she asked softly.
“Because you’re mine,” he said without hesitation, his tone firm but affectionate. “And I don’t let go of what’s mine.”
Andrea’s chest tightened, her emotions a tangled mess of affection, doubt, and something she couldn’t quite name.
As she drifted off to sleep in Nathaniel’s arms, her mind replayed his words. She felt loved, safe even—but a shadow of unease lingered, a quiet whisper reminding her that being his came with a price.
