I’m beyond nervous as my fingers trace over the lace at the edges of my dress’s sleeves. All day, all I’ve been able to think about is Felix’s words. The look in his eyes as he told me that he’d make me his… the things he said to me. Part of me suspects that he’s doing this because he knows it’ll help me hone the powers his empire needs most, but another part of me is hoping that it’s more than that.When did I stop seeing Felix as a monster? When did I start to consider him my husband in more than name? Was it during our trip, when he showed me vulnerability I’m certain he’s never shown another? Or perhaps it was when he handed me a letter from my sister. Shortly after, he told me he’d continue to retrieve and deliver letters for me, and he’s done so without a single complaint. Maybe it was the way he kissed me in our bath, or the way he shielded me from the snow this afternoon. In each of those instances, he chipped away at my reservation, carving a place for himself in a heart I thought I’d given away.“I always find myself wondering what you’re thinking about.”I turn around at the sound of his voice, my hand rising to my chest in an effort to calm my raging heart. “I didn’t hear you come in.”Felix steps into the room and undoes his coat, letting it drop to the floor. “They call me the Shadow Emperor for a reason, my love.”He walks up to me and gently cups my cheek, and I take a moment to study the golden specks in his eyes. I’ve never seen anything like it, and each time I look into his eyes, they mesmerize me a little more.Felix moves his thumb over my lip, his movements slow. I watch as his expression changes from wonder to desire, and I’m reminded of the words he whispered into my ear earlier today.“I meant what I said today.”I nod. “I know.”“Tell me you want this, too, Arabella. Tell me you crave my touch as much as I crave your body.”I hesitate, the words stuck in my throat, nerves and fear rendering me speechless.“Tell me no, my love. Say the word, and I’ll leave you alone. I won’t force my affection upon you any further. I once told you I would never take you against your will, and those words still hold true, regardless of our agreement.”I shake my head, and Felix freezes, misunderstanding me. His hand slips away, but I catch it before he has a chance to step away from me. I cradle his hand in mine and entwine our fingers, holding our joined hands against my chest. The veins on his face move in patterns, revealing a different part of his face every few seconds. A mere few months ago, his face repulsed me, but now I find myself seeking traces of him through the black veins that slither along his face.“I do,” I whisper. “I… I want this, too.”I shouldn’t, but I do. I’m tired of feeling guilty about my desire. I’m tired of pretending I don’t want more of the feelings he instilled in me, and I’m tired of fighting this.I rise to my tiptoes and press my lips against his, the moment so awkward that I fear I made a mistake, but before I can pull away, Felix grabs my hair and kisses me back.He groans against my lips and pulls me closer, until our bodies are pressed together. The way his tongue moves against mine sends shivers down my spine.Felix’s hands wrap around my waist, and I gasp as he lifts me on top of the same dresser he kissed me on. “I’ve been wanting to do this ever since that time,” he murmurs. His fingers trace over the straps of my dress, and he looks me in the eye as he pushes one of them over my shoulder.He smirks and leans in, his lips hovering over mine. “I wanted to do so much more than kiss you then.” His lips capture mine, and I moan as he takes his time with me, kissing me softly, deeply. “I wanted to do everything I told you about today, yet so much more.” His lips move to my neck, and I gasp when he sucks down on it, the feeling foreign. It hurts just slightly, but there’s something about the roughness of it that sends tremors down my body. “I wanted to mark you as mine.”He leans back and stares at my neck in satisfaction, making me trace over the spot instinctively. Whatever it is he did, the look in his eyes has my heart skipping a beat.Felix smirks before leaning in again, his lips brushing over my neck. He presses soft kisses on my skin, taking his time with me when I want more. I’m uncertain what exactly it is that I want, but I know I need more of him.“Felix,” I murmur in protest, eliciting a chuckle from him.He wraps his hands around my waist and pulls me closer, our bodies pressed together as his lips come down on mine. I lose myself in his touch, in the way he moves against me and the way he makes me feel. I’ve never felt so alive, so wanted, so whole.I’m lifted off the dresser, but Felix’s lips never leave mine. He carries me to our bed, and I wrap my legs around him, my skirt riding up until it’s bunched around my hips. I expected him to put me down on the bed, but instead he presses me up against the bedpost.“You drive me mad,” he whispers against my lips. “Before the night is over, I want you feeling as desperate as I do. I want you delirious, your every thought filled with me.”I lean back against the bedpost, my eyes on his. We’re both breathing hard, lost in this moment. “You already invade my every thought, Felix, whether I like it or not.”I place a trembling hand on his cheek and lean in, pressing my lips against his. Felix groans, his hardness pressing between my legs, alleviating a foreign ache, yet the movement doesn’t take my need away. I feel heat simmer around me, and I direct my magic outside, praying I won’t set our bedroom ablaze. Already, the flames in our room are burning fiercer than they did before.Felix kisses me harder, his movements rougher, less controlled. Watching Felix lose his icy control because of me is one of the sexiest things I’ve ever experienced, and I want more of it.“I’m trying to take my time with you, beloved, but you make it impossible.”Felix snaps his fingers, and my dress disappears, right along with my corset, both reappearing on the floor seconds later. He glances down and bites on his lip for a second before leaning in, pressing a kiss over my hard nipples through the fabric of my chemise. I inhale sharply, the heat of his lips sending a thrill down my body. Felix leans back and smirks, as though pleased by my response. He looks into my eyes as he snaps his fingers again, and I gasp as I feel my chemise disappear, baring me to him.I attempt to cover my chest, but Felix shakes his head. “No. Don’t hide from me, Arabella. Such beauty should never be hidden.”He cups my breasts and brushes his thumbs over my bare nipples, the roughness of his fingers sending a sharp burst of desire straight to my core. “Felix,” I moan, lust overtaking my thoughts.I let my hands roam over his chest, pulling at his uniform, impatience ruling my every move. Felix looks into my eyes and grins as he snaps his fingers again, leaving him bare-chested. I swallow hard as I take in his strong muscles, at last allowing myself to touch him freely. Thick veins slither over his skin, leaving most of his body as black as ink, his muscles obscured. Despite that, I run my hands over him, eager for the few moments the veins move out of the way, showing me a small part of him.I almost breathe a sigh of relief when Felix places me down on the bed. I sit up with my legs dangling as he stands in front of me, our eyes locking. Felix snaps his fingers again, and this time, I’m left completely bare.noveldramaHe kneels down in front of the bed and spreads my legs, my embarrassment and insecurities increasing by the second. “Felix,” I murmur, uncomfortable.He looks up at me, his eyes heated. “Trust me?” he asks, and I nod. “I’ve been fantasizing about doing this to you again for weeks. Lean back, my love. Didn’t you enjoy it last time?”I do as he says and bite down on my lip when he leans in and kisses my inner thigh, slowly inching closer. I gasp when he presses a soft kiss right between my legs, where I want him most. I feel energy buzz deep in my chest and all over my skin, and once again, I try my hardest to push it out the window, eager to channel it yet scared of setting anything on fire tonight.A moan escapes my lips when I feel his tongue, the feeling unlike anything I’ve ever felt before. It’s different tonight, perhaps because I crave him with greater urgency. Felix draws circles with his tongue, slowly increasing the pressure I’m feeling, until I do what he wanted me to. I moan his name, over and over again, feeling as though I’m losing control of my body. All the while, Felix increases the pace, until he sends me over the edge, making me drown in satisfaction and desire, his name on my lips.He pulls away and rises to his feet, his own gaze filled with satisfaction, though I doubt he could possibly feel as good as I do in this moment. He snaps his fingers again, and this time, he’s left standing in front of me bare.I’m a blend of nerves and desire as he lifts his hand and repositions me on our bed so I’m fully lying down. He smiles as he joins me, hovering on top of me. He pushes my thighs apart with his knees and lowers himself so our bodies are touching, and my eyes fall closed when he presses up against me.Felix grins, and my eyes widen when I feel his fingers move the way his tongue did earlier, yet he hasn’t moved his hands. He leans in and presses a kiss to my forehead before pulling away, his eyes on mine as he pushes into me, stretching me almost painfully.He pauses on top of me, our bodies fully connected, allowing me a moment to adjust. All the while, the feeling of his fingers on me distracts me, the combination of him inside me and his fingers drawing circles drives me insane.“Are you all right, my love?”I nod, my cheeks blazing. I stare into his gorgeous eyes, my heart skipping a beat. There’s something about this moment that I’m certain I’ll always remember. Felix smiles and pulls back, moving inside me slowly, his eyes tracing my every expression. He grins when a moan escapes my lips and increases his pace. “That is music to my ears, beloved.”“Felix,” I moan, the sensations almost too much. He increases the pace, his movements slow but hard. Once again, I start to lose control over my body, unable to take the combination of his fingers when I’m already so sensitive, combined with the way he’s thrusting into me. “I can’t take it,” I moan. “Felix, please.”He smirks, but I see the torment in his eyes. “Come for me, Arabella,” he orders, and I do. I didn’t think I’d experience this feeling twice, but this time it’s even more overwhelming.“Fates,” Felix groans, his own movements erratic. He takes me hard and fast, the movements adding to the sensations that overtake me, and my eyes fall closed as wave after wave of pleasure crashes through me.Felix drops his forehead to mine, both of us panting, the two of us still connected. “How could this possibly have been better than my dreams?” he whispers. “Arabella, you are my every dream come true.”He holds me closely and turns us over, until I’m on top of him, his arms around me. Felix hugs me tightly and I rest my lips against his throat, my heart still racing.I don’t dare admit it, but he’s my every dream come true, too. When I first got to Eldiria, all I wanted to do was get away. I was desperate to return home, to the life I left behind. Right in this moment, I can’t imagine wanting to be anywhere other than in Felix’s arms.Felix turns to look out the window and tenses. “Arabella,” he murmurs. “Look outside.”I turn in his arms, my eyes widening when I realize there’s no snow on the parts the lights illuminate. It likely won’t last long. By tomorrow morning, a fresh layer of snow will be covering the ground, but for a couple of moments, we’re rid of it. I bite down on my lip, pride and embarrassment mingling into an emotion I’ve never felt before.“You’ll see, Arabella… you and I will change the course of Eldiria’s future.”I turn in his embrace to look up at him, the conviction in his eyes stealing my breath away. “Yes,” I tell him. “We will.”For the first time since we came to an agreement, I truly believe it.