Lumina stirred slowly as dawn’s first light filtered through the small window of the cottage, casting a soft golden glow across the rumpled quilts.

Her body ached deliciously in all the right places deep, tender soreness radiating from her well-fucked core, a sweet reminder of how roughly Ashen had claimed her the night before.

Every shift of her thighs sent a throb of lingering pleasure-pain through her. For the first time in days, she had slept deeply, dreamlessly, safe in this hidden pocket of the wild middle ground. No nightmares nor ghosts of her father’s rage. Only the heavy, possessive weight of her husband beside her.

She sat up carefully, wincing at the pull in her thighs and lower back. The bed creaked softly.

Beside her, Ashen lay sprawled on his side, one arm draped possessively over the space where she had been. His silver hair spilled across the pillow like moonlight, tousled from her fingers yanking it in ecstasy.

His face was relaxed in sleep, the usual hard lines of worry smoothed away, making him look younger... almost vulnerable.

For a heartbeat, warmth bloomed in her chest. Then memory slammed into her, the image of him with Breilla, arms wrapped around her, lips brushing her temple. Fresh rage ignited, hot and sharp.

She smacked him hard across the face. The sharp crack echoed in the quiet cottage, even though she didn’t expect her actions until she had done them.

Ashen jolted awake, eyes flying open in shock, one hand flying to his stinging cheek. "Hey..." he rasped, voice thick with sleep and confusion.

"You freaking tore my dress to shreds, and now my whole body is freaking sore," she snapped, yanking the quilt up to cover her breasts, cheeks flushing out of anger and lingering arousal.

He blinked once, then a slow, wicked smile spread across his face as he drank her in alive, furious, and right here with him.

Those few days without her had been pure hell, endless worry, a cold empty bed, and the realm in chaos. Seeing her now, even spitting fire, flooded him with such profound relief it felt like joy.

"Well, I got new dresses for you," he murmured, voice still husky from sleep.

She stared at him, incredulous, as he rolled out of bed completely naked, cock already half-hard and swinging heavy between his thighs.

He strolled to the far wall, pulled down a worn tapestry, and opened the simple wooden closet.

Rows upon rows of luxurious dresses spilled into view silks in deep blues and silvers, rich velvets embroidered with subtle starlight patterns, flowing gowns that shimmered like captured moonlight. Dozens of them, all in her exact size.

Lumina’s mouth fell open. "How did you get this place? And why the hell are there women’s clothes here?"

Ashen dropped to his knees in front of her instantly, eyes wide with remorse. "I am sorry, my queen... I promise she..."

"I don’t need your explanations, Ashen." Her voice trembled with hurt.

"You hurt me. Do you have any idea how that felt? I am not forgiving you that easily. Even if I know you didn’t want this marriage, I won’t just sit back and watch it all happen without reacting."

He reached for her hands, but she snatched them away. His face crumpled with genuine pain. "That’s why I am apologizing... I am sorry. Maybe if you get pregnant..."

She slapped him again, harder. The sound rang out. "I am not forgiving you that easily. You need to win me back. For now, I am focusing on my father’s throne."

He smirked despite the sting, grabbing her waist and pulling her closer. "Just admit you didn’t want Rhynera taking that throne. That’s why..."

She shoved at his chest. "Don’t tease me."

But Ashen didn’t let go. His smirk melted into something darker, hungrier. He leaned in, hot breath ghosting her ear.

"I missed you," he whispered, voice low and rough with need. His hands slid up her arms, gentle at first, then firmer, tracing the curve of her shoulders.

She shivered, trying to cling to her anger, but his touch instantly reignited the memories of last night’s rough hands, deep thrusts, and desperate moans.

"Stop," she breathed, but the word held no conviction.

He didn’t. He cupped her face, thumbs brushing away the faint traces of tears.

"Every second without you was torture. I searched realms for you. I fought beasts for you." His lips grazed her jaw, soft and teasing, then firmer as he kissed down the sensitive column of her neck. She tilted her head back with a soft sigh, body betraying her.

"Ashen..." Half protest, half plea.

He pulled her fully into his lap, the quilt slipping away to bare her completely.

"Let me show you how badly I need you." His mouth claimed hers in a slow, deep kiss tender at first, lips moving with aching sweetness. She gave in, kissing him back, fingers tangling in his silver hair. But the anger still burned; she bit his lower lip hard, drawing a deep growl from his chest.

"You think you can just..." she murmured against his mouth.

He flipped her onto her back in one smooth motion, pinning her beneath his hard body.

"I think I can remind you exactly who you belong to." His voice was rough with raw desire, his eyes dark as he kissed her again deeper, more demanding. His tongue swept in, claiming every inch while his hands roamed her body with possessive hunger. She arched into him, sore muscles protesting but craving more.

He trailed hot, open-mouthed kisses down her throat, nipping at the fluttering pulse.

"I missed this," he growled against her skin. "Missed your taste... your needy little sounds." One hand slid lower, parting her thighs.

She gasped as his fingers found her core already slick and swollen with fresh arousal. He teased her slowly at first, circling her throbbing clit with expert pressure, drawing out helpless moans.

"You are still mad," he murmured, kissing the soft swell of her breast.

"Good. Take it out on me." He sucked her nipple into his mouth, tongue flicking roughly, teeth grazing just hard enough to send sharp jolts of pleasure-pain straight to her core. She bucked against his hand, nails digging into his shoulders.

"Harder," she demanded, rage-baiting him even as ecstasy coiled tighter.

He obliged instantly, thrusting two thick fingers deep inside her, curling them brutally against that perfect spot while his thumb rubbed tight, relentless circles over her clit. "Like this, my queen?" His pace turned rough and punishing, the wet sounds of her arousal filling the cottage. "I love you, angry. I love you fighting me. But this tight cunt is mine."

She shattered around his fingers with a broken cry of his name, walls clenching hard as waves of intense pleasure ripped through her. He didn’t stop kissing her through every pulse, whispering hotly, "That’s my good girl... that’s my queen."

Before she could catch her breath, he shed the last of his clothes and positioned himself between her spread thighs, thick cock leaking against her entrance.

"I missed being buried inside you," he groaned, voice thick with emotion. He pushed in slowly at first inch by inch stretching her sore walls until he bottomed out completely. She gasped at the deep, burning fullness.

Then he moved with rough, passionate strokes that rocked the bed beneath them. His hands gripped her hips bruisingly, pulling her into every powerful thrust.

"You feel so freaking good," he groaned, lips crashing against hers. "I couldn’t breathe without you." He angled deeper, hitting that spot that made stars explode behind her eyes. She raked her nails down his back, drawing blood, urging him on.

"Faster," she demanded, biting his shoulder hard.

He snarled and gave her exactly what she wanted pounding into her with brutal force, the bed creaking wildly, sweat slicking their bodies.

Between the savage thrusts, he kissed her neck, her breasts, murmuring raw, romantic words.

"I love you... Gods, I missed you... You’re everything to me." His hand wrapped gently around her throat not squeezing, just holding possessively as he drove into her harder.

Pleasure coiled tight again. She clenched around his thick cock, moaning into his mouth. "Ashen..."

"Cum for me," he commanded, thumb finding her swollen clit and rubbing roughly. "Let me feel you milk my cock."

She shattered again screaming his name, body arching violently off the bed as her second orgasm crashed over her in blinding waves. He followed right after, thrusting deep with a guttural moan and spilling hot, thick ropes of cum inside her. "Take every drop," he rasped against her neck. "You’re going to carry my child."

They collapsed together, tangled and panting, his cock still buried deep inside her pulsing heat. He kissed her forehead softly, then her swollen lips. "Forgive me?"

She smacked his arm lightly, though a small smile tugged at her mouth. "Not yet. But... keep trying."

He laughed, low and warm, pulling her closer into his arms. The soreness lingered sweetly between her thighs, but so did the comforting heat of his body. For now, it was more than enough.