The Archduke's Songbird-Chapter 205: The Etched Promise

The sun was high in the sky, casting its golden rays through the windows, when Jerrick finally let her go, his own desires satiated.

Jessamyn nuzzled closer to his chest, her breath warm against his skin as she gently traced her fingers along the contours of his muscles, now glistening with perspiration. Each touch sent a lingering warmth through her fingertips, a reminder of the passion they had just shared.

"I wonder..." she murmured, her voice trailing off as her fingers stopped at the neat curve of his biceps, admiring the strength and beauty of his form.

The entire morning had been a whirlwind of desire and fulfillment. Jerrick had found endlessly creative ways to touch her, to draw out her deepest desires and satiate them completely.

He had an uncanny ability to make her forget about everything else—the exhaustion, the hunger, the world outside their private haven. He had tied her to the bed with a playful yet possessive intensity, each restraint a promise of the pleasure that awaited her.

Her throat was sore from the screams that had escaped her lips, the echoes of his name still hanging in the air. He reveled in those cries, each one a testament to the ecstasy he had brought her.

And she, in turn, had surrendered to his touch, allowing him to worship her body with an intensity that left her breathless and craving more.

He looked down at her, his eyes softening as he watched her delicate fingers dance over his skin. "You wonder what, my wife?" he asked, his voice a low, soothing rumble that sent shivers down her spine.

She smiled up at him, her eyes glowing with a mix of contentment and curiosity. "I wonder how... you managed to pull the wool over everyone’s eyes," she said softly, her voice filled with awe as her fingers trailed along his knee. "Why?"

Her touch lingered on his knee, recalling how she noticed him not hurting throughout the entire morning. It was only later that she realized something was amiss. She had seen his legs with her own eyes, noting the discrepancy in their lengths and the odd alignment of his bones.

She truly believed his leg had been injured. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

Jerrick chuckled softly. "Why don’t you guess?" he said, taking her hand in his and pressing a kiss to her palm.

"Even when you acted ridiculously on our wedding night to drive them out rather than using your power, I found it suspicious... You want to hide your true potential; for others to see you as harmless..."

"Smart wife," Jerrick murmured, kissing her palm again, his lips lingering on her skin.

Jessamyn leaned in closer, her breath warm against his face as she kissed his chin. "But you are feared among the aristocrats. Just making yourself appear harmless isn’t doing enough. People are searching for Lycaon Wulfhednar and mocking you behind your back. They should know that the Theodulf line lives."

Jerrick’s eyes darkened with intensity as he pinched her chin gently, bringing her face closer to his. He kissed her deeply, their earlier passion rekindling with the touch of their lips.

Her lips, swollen from their previous kisses, welcomed his fervent caress. Despite the lingering soreness, Jessamyn couldn’t pull away; she loved the way he kissed her, the way he made her feel.

He broke the kiss, his forehead resting against hers. "I hide my true potential because it’s a necessary deception..."

"To let others know you’re not vying for the throne?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.

If that was the reason, it made sense. With the current state of the King of Ayberia, it would be surprising if there weren’t factions conspiring to usurp the throne. They would undoubtedly see Jerrick as a formidable threat.

"Who told you I’m not?" Jerrick’s eyes darkened with an intensity she rarely saw on his face.

"You want the throne?" Jessamyn raised her brows, surprise and curiosity flickering across her features.

He maintained that intense look, his gaze unwavering.

Jessamyn chuckled softly and leaned against his chest, her fingers tracing idle patterns on his skin. "That’s funny..."

She didn’t think he wanted the throne. If he wanted the throne, he would be there. But he wouldn’t be left alone. Some wanted him on the throne.

"Is it?" Jerrick’s deep voice resonated in the quiet room, filled with a mixture of amusement and something deeper. "But, my dear wife, this was not what you were going to ask me, was it?" He grabbed her waist, pulling her closer until their bodies were pressed together.

His touch was both possessive and gentle, a contrast that sent shivers down her spine. She looked up at him, her eyes searching his. "No, it wasn’t," she admitted, her voice barely more than a whisper.

"Then what is it, Jessamyn?" he asked, his breath warm against her ear. "What do you truly want to know?"

In his warm embrace, as everything around blurred to insignificance, Jessamyn bit her lips as she pressed her forehead to his chest.

She couldn’t ask him why his previous wife sought the help of physicians when he knew how to please a woman now, could she? Was she that unsatiated that even his efforts weren’t enough? Just what kind of nymph was she?

She didn’t want to think about his dead wife, but she couldn’t help it as she traced her finger over his slick skin, glowing in the sunlight.

"Aren’t you mine?" she asked, her finger ending at the mark of her teeth on his shoulder.

"I’m all yours," he whispered, his voice deep, causing her heartbeat to rise.

"This is enough..." she said, placing a kiss on his scar.

"You like it?" he asked, holding her hand that was gently caressing the scar.

"I want it there..." Jessamyn looked at Jerrick. "Forever...as an etched promise."

"It’s already done," Jerrick said without any hesitation.

Jessamyn pressed her lips on his. Rubbing his cheek gently with her thumb, she looked into his eyes. "I’m sorry I am leaving you a scar of hurt..."

"No, my dearest Songbird..." he kissed her forehead. "That was the only time you were close to hurting me. You have given me so much joy, I’m keeping them all etched in my heart. I’ll show it to you if I can..."

"Joy? Surely, not after we met again," she said.

She stayed true to herself, and hurt him in the process. He hurt her too but found a way to be there for her when she needed it. With the future known, she wanted to think about the past anymore.

"Meeting you again was the greatest joy I was given," he said without missing a beat.

His words enveloped her in a warmth she hadn’t felt in years. As she looked into his eyes, she saw not only the care he held for her but also the pain of their past, the mistakes and misunderstandings that had kept them apart.

Jerrick’s fingers trailed down her back, leaving a tingling path in their wake. He cupped her face, his thumb brushing over her lips, making her shiver. "Jessamyn, you should know... You are my world..."