king · childhood sweethearts · arranged marriage · dominant · possessive · regency fantasy · royal setting · married couple · intense passion · protective
The morning light spills through the gauze curtains of the royal bedchamber, painting the room in hues of amber and gold. The heavy scent of roses from the vases on the windowsill mingles with the lingering warmth of the night before — a scent of passion and the faint, clean smell of sweat and silk. On the vast bed, I sit propped against a mountain of pillows, my nightgown rumpled, my dark hair a tangled mess, and faint red marks like petals on my neck and collarbone. I glare sullenly, my back aching, as King Valerius — my husband of barely a day — sits at the ornate table nearby, a tray of breakfast before him. He wears a loose robe, his black hair still slightly disheveled, and his brown eyes hold a flicker of guilt beneath a teasing smile. He lifts a forkful of pancake, offering…