Married To The Dragon Prince Against My Will-Chapter 269: THR PLAN 2

WILLIAM

The first thing I noticed when my eyes cracked open was the way Asheky curled on her side like she belonged exactly where she was.

Naked, tangled in my black silk, one leg hooked over the edge of the comforter as if she had fought the covers in her dreams and lost.

Her hair was a wild mess across the pillow, strands spilling everywhere, some sticking to her cheek from last night’s sweat.

I couldn’t look away. That same face I had watched from across crowded rooms for months, always too far, always out of reach, was now inches from mine.

Lips slightly parted, lashes fanned against flushed skin, the faint purple mark I had left on her throat last night blooming like a secret signature.

My chest tightened. I still couldn’t believe it. The woman I had spent too many nights imagining in this exact bed was finally here, bare and peaceful, and I felt something dangerously close to reverence.

I shifted closer, careful not to wake her. Couldn’t help it. My arm slid around her waist, pulling her flush against me.

She mumbled something incoherent, half-asleep protest, her palm pressing weakly against my chest like she wanted space.

I didn’t give it. Instead, I buried my face in the crook of her neck, inhaling the faint scent of her vanilla scent.

I pressed slow, open-mouthed kisses along the column of her throat, tasting salt and warmth.

She sighed, body going lax, and then the miracle transpired as she snuggled closer. Her arms slipped around my ribs, cheek nestling right over my heartbeat.

For the first time since we had started this twisted relationship, she didn’t fight.

She just... melted into me. I trailed kisses up her jaw, across her forehead, down the bridge of her nose, softly. It felt more intimate than anything we had done in the dark last night.

My cock twitched against her thigh, already half-hard just from the sight and feel of her.

Fuck. I was trying so hard to behave. She was still deep in sleep, vulnerable in a way that made my chest ache, and here I was fighting the urge to roll her underneath me and take her slow this time, make her whisper my name like a prayer.

I groaned low in my throat, forcing myself to pull back an inch. That’s when I reached for the nightstand, fishing out the pipe I kept for mornings like this when my head was too loud and my body too restless.

I lit it, took one long drag, and exhaled a thin stream of smoke toward the ceiling.

The second puff hadn’t even left my lips when she coughed small, startled, and wrinkled her nose.

"Shit."

I stubbed the thing out so fast the ashtray nearly tipped. "I am sorry," I muttered, already waving the smoke away. "Fuck, I am sorry. Didn’t think..."

She coughed again, softer this time, then stretched like a cat, arms reaching forward.

Before I could apologize a third time, she burrowed deeper into my chest, face pressed to my sternum, stealing my breath all over again.

I wrapped both arms around her, holding her like she might disappear if I let go.

A buzz from the nightstand broke the quiet. Victor is probably already losing his mind about the schedule.

I grabbed it, thumbed the screen without looking away from her.

"I won’t be able to attend the show," I typed. "Push it forward."

The reply came in seconds.

"What the fuck!" I snorted. "Whatever."

Another buzz. "What the fuck! Come and host then..."

Sky stirred and her lashes fluttered. Before Victor could send whatever tantrum was next, she lifted her head just enough to rest her chin on my chest.

Her palm flattened over my heart, fingers splaying like she was claiming territory as I smirked down at her.

"You want more?"

She jolted upright, eyes wide, then remembered she was naked and yanked the sheet up to her chin.

"Goodness, William!"

"Good morning to you too." I couldn’t stop the grin.

She tried to scoot away but I caught her waist and tugged her right back.

"The heck... this is freaking too much. You were too rough yesterday."

I laughed, low and unapologetic.

"Four nights remaining," she stated and shot me a look that should have burned holes through me, then slid out of bed anyway, dragging the sheet with her like a makeshift toga.

I couldn’t explain how I felt hearing her say that.

The sight of her in nothing but white cotton wrapped around her curves made my mouth dry.

I reached for the edge of the sheet, playfully trying not to get into the mood but she swatted my hand.

"Don’t you have a show? Go. And stop disturbing me."

The words hit like ice water. My jaw clenched. Every time she reminded me of the remaining night and how she would go back to the jerk, the one she still carried like armor

It pissed me off in ways I couldn’t explain. Not just jealousy. But the rage directed at him for ever touching her.

I rolled my eyes to hide it. "Have the whole house to yourself then."

I stalked into the bathroom and slammed the door harder than necessary.

Under the scalding spray, my cock was already rising again, traitor that it was.

I braced one hand on the tile, head bowed, letting the water beat against my shoulders.

Frustrated didn’t cover it. I wanted her again slow, deep, no rush but more than that, I wanted her to stop running. To stop mentioning him.

I handled myself quickly, roughly, came with her name on a bitten curse, then rinsed off and stepped out.

She was still in the bedroom when I walked back in, towel low on my hips.

Only now she had swapped the sheet for one of my old black T-shirts. It hit mid-thigh, sleeves rolled, neckline slipping off one shoulder. Fuck, she looked better in my clothes than I ever did.

"Why aren’t you in a suit?" she asked, eyeing me as I pulled on boxers and jeans. Well deciding on going casual as I love.

I raised a brow at her question. "Why should I?"

She scoffed, crossed to the closet like she owned it, and pulled out the charcoal tuxedo I hadn’t touched in two years.

"Put this on."

I stared at her weirdly. "I don’t wear this."

"Well... you should. Since you are going somewhere important." She held it out, eyes steady.

I was speechless. No one told me what to wear and yet here she was, doing it like it was nothing.

I took the hanger. "Fine."

In the walk-in, I shrugged into the jacket, buttoned the shirt, but when it came to the bow tie... I fumbled and fumbled. After the third failed attempt, I gave up and walked out, silk dangling from my fingers.

She looked up from the bed. "Tie?"

I stretched it toward her without a word.

She scoffed. "Levi is way better at this." The name landed like a slap. I turned on my heel, ready to walk out.

Fuck the show, fuck everything but she grabbed my wrist and yanked me back.

"Hey. Where are you going?"

I glared but she didn’t flinch one bit.

Instead, she stepped into my space, took the tie from my hand, and looped it around my neck with practiced ease.

Her fingers brushed my throat as she worked the knot slowly, carefully, almost tenderly.

I watched her face the whole time, the little furrow between her brows, the way her lips pressed together in concentration.

When she finished, she smoothed the silk flat against my chest, then met my eyes.

"There.. You look more human." I didn’t move.

The anger dissolved into something warmer. I caught her waist, pulled her flush against me. She sucked in a breath.

"Let go," she whispered, but there was no heat in it.

I smiled slowly, really. "I will treasure this."

I leaned down and pressed the smallest, softest kiss to her forehead. Lingered there, breathing her in.

A sharp knock at the bedroom door.

She froze, glancing up at me.

"Who...?"

"My assistant," I murmured. "Brought raw food. Cook for yourself so you don’t starve."

I kissed the corner of her mouth once more quickly then let her go.

With one last look at her standing there in my shirt, hair still messy, lips kiss-swollen, I walked out.

A sharp knock at the bedroom door.

She froze, glancing up at me.

"Who...?"

"My assistant," I murmured. "Brought raw food. Cook for yourself so you don’t starve."

I kissed the corner of her mouth once more quickly then let her go.

With one last look at her standing there in my shirt, hair still messy, lips kiss-swollen, I walked out.

A sharp knock at the bedroom door.

She froze, glancing up at me.

"Who...?"

"My assistant," I murmured. "Brought raw food. Cook for yourself so you don’t starve."

I kissed the corner of her mouth once more quickly then let her go.

With one last look at her standing there in my shirt, hair still messy, lips kiss-swollen, I walked out.