The Crown's Fire - Chapter 274

Chapter 274: Lost in the Sensation
The celebration continued into the night, but Greta decided to return to her bedchamber to change her gown. She couldn’t help but notice how beautifully the king and queen looked together, their mutual affection evident in every glance and gesture.

She smiled and whispered, “I guess I’ve finally moved on.” During the ceremony, she searched deep in her heart while staring at Ezekiel. To her surprise, she felt nothing but happiness seeing him with his chosen wife. It was a light, relieving sensation.

To be honest, throughout the celebration, her eyes kept wandering, searching for one person… Elijah.

As she removed her gown to change into something simpler, she muttered, “He’s so busy.” Elijah had been difficult to find throughout the evening. They hadn’t had a chance to interact at all.

With a sigh, she changed into her sleepwear, her mood soured by the lack of contact with Elijah. Deciding she was no longer in the mood to go out, she called for a servant to bring her dinner to her room.

After some time, the servants arrived with a spread intended for two.

“Wait, I’m the only one eating. This is too much,” Greta said, puzzled.

The servants giggled, and one of them explained, “Commander Elijah saw us in the hallway and said to prepare dinner for two because he would be joining you.”

Greta’s face turned red as she realized the implication. The servants, with amused smiles, set the table. Just then, Elijah knocked and the servant opened the door for him.

“I heard you wanted to eat alone, so I thought I’d join you,” Elijah said with a wide smile. As the servants left, Greta noticed Elijah’s gaze fixated on her. She followed his line of sight and realized she was wearing a thin gown that did little to conceal her figure. Her peaks were noticeable through the fabric, hardened by the cold.

She cursed under her breath and quickly grabbed a shawl to cover herself.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to… but I can’t seem to keep my eyes off you,” Elijah murmured, his smile tinged with shyness. His gaze then shifted to her hands, and he let out a long, deep sigh.

Greta followed his gaze and realized she wasn’t wearing the ring he had given her.

Yes, she had moved on from Ezekiel, but that didn’t mean she was ready to have a relationship with Elijah. She wanted to be certain of her feelings for him. She didn’t want him to become a rebound. She would wear that ring once she was confident in her feelings because, right now, she was still confused.

She had loved Ezekiel for so many years, and she and Elijah had only recently become close. Was it really that easy to move on? Were her feelings for Elijah already that deep?

She had many questions in her mind, but one thing she was sure of was that Elijah made her feel something she hadn’t felt before. She couldn’t exactly describe it in words.

He pulled out a chair for her, and she sat down. Elijah sat next to her.

“Aren’t you busy? Aren’t you needed at the party? It’s still going on, right? The king and queen are still there,” Greta commented.

“Well, I am needed, but I’m entitled to take a break and have dinner,” Elijah answered humorously.

“It’s a feast in there,” she pointed out.

“True… But you’re not there. For me, being with you like this is more than a feast!” he replied with a wink.

She blushed deeply, and Elijah’s grin only widened. Greta pouted and snorted, “Hah, you’re so good with words.”

“Well, I’m good with words because I’m genuine and only say what comes from my heart, especially to you,” he said, his smile never wavering.

“Ah, stop with the sweet talk already. I’ll get indigestion,” she commented, continuing to eat. Elijah never failed to make her heart flutter whenever she was around him. She smiled when he started pampering her again, like cutting her meat and pouring her wine.

They ate in silence for a while. Elijah downed his wine and then broke the silence. Sighing, he uttered, “So… Hmm, I’m honestly scared to ask this question, but I’m dying of curiosity.”

“Fire away,” she replied, sipping her wine. She already had an idea what he was dying to ask.

“How did you feel when you saw our king getting married today?” he asked. This time, he didn’t look at her but simply grabbed an apple and started peeling it.

“Hmm, I felt happy,” she simply answered because that was how she felt.

Elijah put the apple and knife down and turned to stare at her. “Not angry? Are you not hurting seeing him getting married to another woman?” he asked without blinking.

Greta met his gaze and shook her head. “No, I’m not angry. I’m not hurting. It surprised me too, but seeing him so happy made me realize I’ve moved on. His happiness made me happy.”

Elijah’s expression softened, and he sighed with relief. “I was so worried. I didn’t want to be a rebound for you. I wanted you to be sure of your feelings.”

“I appreciate that, Elijah. And I’m still figuring things out, but I know that what I feel for you is real. I’m just not ready to jump into anything yet,” she opened up without looking at him because she felt like she was melting under his intense gaze.

Elijah grabbed her hand and gently squeezed it before bringing it to his lips and kissing her knuckle. “Take all the time you need. I’m not going anywhere,” he whispered.

Greta gulped as a familiar sensation coursed through her body. It felt weird but good.

Elijah couldn’t help himself. He leaned in, his eyes locked onto hers, and before she could react, he kissed her. The kiss started gentle, a soft brushing of lips that sent shivers down her spine. Greta’s heart raced as she instinctively responded, parting her lips slightly.

Elijah deepened the kiss, his hand cupping her cheek while the other remained intertwined with hers. The intensity grew, and Greta found herself lost in the moment. His tongue explored her mouth, tangling with hers in a dance that left her breathless. She felt a surge of warmth spread through her, making her toes curl.

Their breathing became ragged as the kiss grew more passionate. Elijah’s hand moved from her cheek to the back of her neck, pulling her closer as if he couldn’t get enough of her. Greta’s hands found their way to his shoulders, gripping tightly as she gave in to the overwhelming desire building between them.

Elijah’s lips trailed down her jawline to her neck, leaving a trail of fire in their wake. Greta tilted her head back, giving him better access as she moaned softly. His touch was electric, igniting every nerve in her body.

“Elijah,” she breathed, her voice barely a whisper.

He paused for a moment, looking into her eyes, his own dark with desire. “Greta, you have no idea how I want to kiss all of you,” he murmured before capturing her lips again in a searing kiss.

Time seemed to stand still as they lost themselves in each other. Elijah’s hands roamed over her body, cupping her breast and gently caressing them. Greta gulped as she felt her shawl fall to the floor. The weather was cold, but her body was burning with desire. Elijah kissed her neck, licking and suckling it, then trailed kisses down to her chest.

She still had her nightgown on, and she wondered how it would feel without it. Elijah paused and, with a hoarse voice, asked, “Can you let me kiss your body, Greta? I promise I’ll just kiss… I’m dying to taste you.”

Something compelled her to nod at him. Elijah stood up, pulling her with him, and slowly removed her sleepwear. Greta shivered, not from the cold but from the anticipation and excitement coursing through her. She felt vulnerable yet incredibly alive.

Elijah’s eyes roamed over her body, and Greta suddenly felt embarrassed. “You’re beautiful,” he murmured, but Greta felt self-conscious and tried to cover herself.

She opened her mouth to voice her hesitation, but Elijah’s lips met hers, silencing her concerns with a passionate kiss. Still kissing, he suddenly carried her and Greta felt her back hit the soft bed.

He kissed her neck, shoulders, trailing down to her breasts, taking his time to savor every inch of her. His hands followed his lips, gentle yet insistent, making her skin tingle with every touch.

Greta’s breath hitched as Elijah’s mouth closed around her nipple, sucking gently before flicking it with his tongue. She moaned softly, her hands finding their way to his hair, holding him close. He lavished attention on her other breast, his kisses hot and insistent.

Elijah’s mouth moved lower, tracing a path down her stomach, each kiss igniting a fire within her. She could only moan in response, lost in the sensations he was creating.