The Hidden King's Stolen Wife-Chapter 250: Soaked in Petals*

Soleia rolled her eyes with a short laugh as she went over to the couch. Sighing, she dropped onto the cushioned seat, leaning her head back against the backrest before sighing loudly.

She was exhausted after everything that had happened, and now that they were back in the palace, she ironically felt way more at peace and relaxed than outside, despite her initial plans to escape.

"I seem to recall you were readily agreeable to marry her when your father initially asked," Soleia said, keeping her eyes shut. Rafael stilled. "That was the condition he set forth for you to become the crown prince, was it not?"

"Well, yes, it was," Rafael said with a frown. "But―"

"And when you agreed to marry her, it would already mean that your father expected you to consummate the marriage with her."

"I’ve already expressed that it wouldn’t be the case―"

"Just," Soleia said. Her eyes slowly opened. "You’ve said it only just. Not before."

Rafael kept his mouth shut and his head low. Soleia let out a small scoff, her point made.

"I’ve not said it before," Rafael muttered, "but I was never going to go through with it."

She continued to stare at him, watching as he peeped up at her like a puppy that realized it had caused trouble. Her lips began to twitch.

"Then who says you have to go through with it this time?" she said. "This is just to keep her hopeful."

Rafael’s eyes brightened as he hopped on the couch. Instantly, he brought Soleia into his arms, smothering her face with kisses as she screeched for mercy. Laughter bounced off the walls of the room, and once he finally gave her quarter, he was already hovering on top of her, and both their chests were rising and falling with their heavy breaths.

"I wasn’t going to do it either way," Rafael murmured, using his fingers to comb back a stray strand of Soleia’s hair. "I thought you had gone mad."

"I just wanted to see that smug, hopeful grin on her face," Soleia said. She couldn’t deny the satisfaction she got from the times Elinora had her just desserts handed to her. "If she thinks that she will have a chance with you, alone and without interference, she will definitely try to enchant you."

Rafael’s expression darkened. "And keep me away from you so that you can’t nullify the magic she cast."

Soleia nodded. "That’s right."

Both their eyes went down to Soleia’s belly, and Rafael gently placed a hand on it. His fingers slowly caressed her stomach, still flat at this time, with nothing to show that she was pregnant. However, if Rafael concentrated his magic, he could feel something there, growing.

"I will not let it happen," he said. He looked back at her, earnest.

This was their child, a product of their love. Rafael would rather die than have anything happen to their baby, and if he had to raze the world to keep both the mother and child safe, so be it. He wanted power, but what good was power if Soleia wasn’t by his side?

"Of course," she said with a gentle smile. "I believe in you."

"And I love you," Rafael said in return. He leaned in and closed the distance between them, laying kisses after kisses upon her face.

She responded in equal fervor, wrapping her arms around his neck to draw him close. The rounds they had gone only taught Soleia just how much she loved this man in front of her. Even after everything — the secrets and the lies — his love was ultimately as genuine as he had promised her. Their brush with death was more than enough to prove that.

Soleia melted right into Rafael’s hold, and he pulled her into his arms, carrying her over to the bed before laying her on the mattress. Her body softly bounced, and Rafael merely looked at her with his lips parted ever so slightly.

His gaze traveled up her milky white legs, which had been exposed when her skirt rode up her thighs due to the movement. Kneeling down, Rafael reached for her boots, quickly unlacing them before tossing them over his shoulder to a corner of the room. His actions caused Soleia to squeak as she sat up, blushing.

"Isn’t it a little too late to go red?" Rafael teased. Soleia had sat up, placing a hand against his chest to prevent him from coming any closer.

"It’s not that," she said, chewing her bottom lip. "We’ve had a long day. I smell absolutely atrocious right now."

"Never," Rafael said.

As if to prove his point, he leaned in and pressed a firm kiss on her calf, her knee, and the inner side of her thigh, earning a sharp gasp from Soleia. A certain body part of his twitched in response― he desperately craved to hear such a melodious tune.

"I... We need to take a bath," Soleia insisted, her face flustered.

Before she could say another word, Rafael placed a hand behind her back and another under her knees, lifting her into the air. She squeaked, her arms clutching his shoulders tightly.

Rafael crossed the room, entering their ensuite bathroom before placing Soleia on the floor. His fingers went to the laces at the back of her dress, and Soleia pulled her hair out of the way as he expertly untied everything in one fell swoop.

Her dress came falling down quickly, and she shivered slightly as cold air rushed against her skin. It didn’t last for long, though, as Rafael’s warm hands quickly padded themselves over her, and she was turned around quickly before his lips fell upon hers, capturing them in a breathtaking kiss.

She moaned against his touch, slowly turning as his hands came to rest at the curve of her hips, pressing her close against him as their lips melded together in a dance. His grip tightened when she leaned in a little closer― Soleia could feel his member straining against the fabric of his pants, rock-hard and at attention, digging into her lower belly.

When they finally parted for air, she wasn’t allowed a second to rest. Rafael picked her up, and Soleia instinctively wrapped her legs around his waist. He groaned almost inaudibly at the friction, and she adjusted herself, feeling him wedged right against her entrance, stopped only by the layer of clothing he wore.

It had been too long since they had indulged in such passion, and the withdrawal symptoms were hitting Soleia all at once like an avalanche. Her entire body craved with an insatiable lust for him, and every sound that spilled from his lips was as much an aphrodisiac to her as her voice was to him.

"Your clothes," she breathily said against his lips. "Take them off."

"As Your Highness commands," he answered, smirking.

With that said, he gently lowered her down into the tub where water was already drawn. A sunstone was placed at the very bottom to heat the water up to a perfect temperature, and the moment she was dipped into the water, Soleia sighed in relief. She sat there, her core aching as she watched Rafael strip his clothes down to his birthday suit.

Every movement seemed to stretch in time, and her teeth pressed hard against her lips as her eyes raked over his glorious figure. His muscles rippled with every movement, and when he pulled his shirt over his head and revealed the toned abdomen underneath, her eyes lingered for a second too long.

His belt and pants fell quickly after, and his boots were kicked off as well before he eventually slipped into the tub that was big enough for two. Even so, she had to be pressed against him, their limbs entangled as he pulled Soleia into his lap.

She nestled back against his chest when she felt his cock pressed against her back. Without giving him much time to think — not that much thought went through her head at that time — she lifted herself up slightly before sitting back down, making sure that he was positioned right at her entrance.

The downward movement sent him spearing right into her, and both of them let out synchronized moans of pleasure as he entered her in one smooth movement.

Her walls clenched tightly around him, and every contraction she made only caused Rafael to twitch in a mind-numbing delight. He could even feel it when she breathed, pulsing against his member as his head went blank momentarily.

"Soleia, fuck..." he said with a gasp, his voice breathy and weak. "I’ve missed this. I’ve missed you."

Her lips were also parted as she leaned her head back against him, her breath knocked out of her.

"Prove it," she said.

Those two words seemed to send a surge of strength rushing through Rafael’s lethargic body, and his hands went to her hips immediately. He pulled her up, just enough that only the tip of his cock was still in her, before yanking her down.