He touched her as if she were a dream returned to life, but the truth behind her identity threatened to turn that dream into a curse. How long can love last when it's built on secrets and betrayals?
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[Mature Content: Reader Discretion Advised]
Yue and the Emperor sat in silence, facing each other in the warm waters of the hot spring.
Mist rose between them, softly touching their bare shoulders and necks. The water gently moved against their skin, making them more aware of each other's presence.
Li Zhao's eyes traced the features of Yue's face.
He lingered on her lips before gazing at her collarbone, where the droplets caught the lantern's glow and glistened on her skin.
Yue could feel his gaze, almost as if he were touching her. She moved slightly, sending ripples across the surface.
These small waves caught Li Zhao's attention, leading his eyes to a bead of water slowly traveling down her neck.
Li Zhao clenched his jaw, trying hard to resist moving closer to her. Even as one who controlled armies, he found it difficult to control his desires.
"The water," Yue said softly, "feels like silk."
Li Zhao swallowed, trying to keep his composure, affected by her simple words. Steam rose from him as he took a deep breath and agreed,
"Yes," in a voice rougher than before.
His gaze drifted to where the water met her skin, imagining what lay beneath the surface.
A petal fell from the sky and floated gently between them, carried by the spring's current.
Yue watched its path, thankful for the distraction. Without thinking, she reached out for it.As she stretched out her arms, her shoulder emerged from the water.
There, just beneath her collarbone, partially revealed as water droplets cascaded down her skin, a crescent moon birthmark.
Time seemed to stop. The Emperor's eyes widened and fixed on the birthmark—the same one described in the record.
His hand moved on its own accord, reaching out to her slowly, like approaching a delicate bird.
Yue froze, the petal forgotten as it drifted away.
"May I?" His voice was barely audible, thick with emotion.
Her eyes stayed on his, filled with uncertainty but allowing him to continue.
Li Zhao gently moved her wet hair from her shoulder.
Carefully, he uncovered the birthmark and placed his fingers lightly on it.
The touch sent a jolt through them both, and he felt her heartbeat quicken beneath his fingers.
At that moment, the Emperor was gone. The serious look of a ruler disappeared, leaving only the boy who had been in love with a princess.
His eyes showed many feelings—surprise, wonder, sadness, and a profound emotion that had never faded.
It's her, he realized after all these years. The princess he had grieved for, the girl he couldn't save, the woman whose death haunted him. Alive. Here. Right before him.
His hand trembled on her skin. How didn't he realize sooner?
The signs were there—her elegance, strength, and knowledge of things only the princess would know.
He had been blind or didn't want to see the truth. His past actions came back to him like a burden.
The guilt nearly broke him—and now she was here, within his reach.A new fear grew inside him.
How could he be so close to her? How could he desire her? He had played a part in destroying everything she came from—her family, her kingdom, her identity—all lost because of his choices.
Emotions hit him hard—longing for what they had, sorrow for what they lost, regret for causing her suffering, an undeniable need.
Under it all, a love that had never died, just became more complex and painful.
He felt the urge to confess everything—who she was, what he did, how deeply he mourned her—but the words wouldn't come.
The truth could destroy this fragile moment, this unexpected reunion.He couldn't say it.
Not now. Not here.
Li Zhao moved his hand from her birthmark, touching her with both gentleness and desperation.
He pulled her closer through the misty water, his other hand softly holding her cheek.
Water droplets clung to his fingers as he traced her jaw.
"Yue," he whispered, her name like a quiet prayer.
He searched her eyes, hoping for permission, recognition, forgiveness.
His thumb brushed her lower lip.
Then he closed in and kissed her.
Yue stiffened momentarily, her mind struggling to process the flood of sensations.
His lips were warm and softer than expected.
Her hands hovered uncertainly at her sides, then rose to his chest.
Something inside her broke free. Her lips parted under his, first slowly, then with growing confidence.
The kiss deepened, transforming into something primal.
His hand slid from her cheek, tracing a path down the elegant curve of her neck. His fingers followed the delicate line of her collarbone, hesitating at the hollow of her throat where her pulse fluttered like a captured bird.
Then his palm moved lower, cupping the gentle swell of her breast beneath the water.
His touch was reverent, exploring rather than demanding, his thumb tracing circles that made her skin tingle with newfound awareness.
"May I continue?" he whispered against her lips, his voice rough with restraint.
She answered by pressing closer, her body arching slightly into his touch.
His hand continued its journey, spanning her narrow waist. His fingers splayed across the curve of her waist down to her hips, mapping her shape as if committing it to memory.
Water rippled around them, pushed by their movements, as he held her like a recovered treasure.
His fingers intertwined with her wet hair, gently holding her head as if to stop her from ever leaving him again.
Yue was overwhelmed by the sensations—his skin's warmth, his arms' strong embrace, and the taste of his lips.
Her body responded in ways she couldn't understand. Her arms wrapped around his neck, pulling her closer as if drawn by an invisible force.
Steam surrounded them as Li Zhao lifted Yue from the water, her skin sliding against his.
He broke away from their kiss, his chest heaving.
"Yue," he whispered, his voice rough. "If we continue..."
He paused, searching her face. "I need to know this is what you want."
Her fingers trembled against his shoulders. For a moment, she said nothing, her breath coming in quick, shallow gasps.
"Yes," she finally whispered.
Li Zhao's expression grew solemn. "There's no going back from this moment. You understand?"
She nodded, water droplets falling from her hair.
With gentle movements, Li Zhao reached for a silk robe hanging nearby. He wrapped it around her wet shoulders, covering her nakedness with care before lifting her.
Her body felt impossibly light in his arms, yet the weight of what they were about to do pressed heavily on her heart.
He carried her through the mist-filled chamber to the adjoining room, where a large bed awaited, its sheets turned down.
Li Zhao set her down carefully at the edge of the bed. His hands moved to the sash of her robe, hesitating one final time.
At her nod, he slowly untied it, allowing the silk to fall open.
The Emperor stood transfixed. Her skin gleamed in the soft light, still beaded with moisture from the hot spring.
The gentle curves of her body—the slope of her shoulders, the swell of her chest, the dip of her waist—formed a landscape more beautiful than any painting in the imperial collection.
"You're more beautiful than I imagined," he breathed, the words inadequate for what he felt. His eyes met hers, dark with longing.
Yue trembled as Li Zhao's gaze traveled over her exposed body. She fought the urge to cover herself.
The Emperor's fingertips traced the outline of her collarbone before drifting lower.
She let out a small gasp as his hands cupped her breast.
"So perfect," he murmured, his voice husky.
He squeezed softly, testing their weight in his palms. Her skin pebbled under his attention, her nipples hardening against his palms.
Li Zhao noticed the change immediately. His eyes flashed with renewed hunger as he focused his attention on the hardened peaks.
He rolled them between his fingers, applying pressure.
Yue's fingers clutched at the silk beneath her, as pleasure spiraled outward from his touch.
He pinched them, just firmly enough to send a jolt through her body.
Yue's head fell back, a soft moan escaping her lips before she could stop it.
The sound seemed to ignite something primal in Li Zhao. His breathing quickened, and his movements grew more deliberate.
His hands were steady as he traced over each of her curves. Each touch ignited something deep within her.
"I've dreamed of this," he whispered into her neck, his breath warm against her damp skin.
Yue's gaze drifted downward, following the sculpted lines of the Emperor's body.
Her breath caught in her throat when she noticed his arousal, impressive in both length and girth.
A flutter of anxiety passed through her—she hadn't anticipated such proportions. Her eyes widened slightly, betraying her momentary apprehension.
Li Zhao noticed her reaction and his expression softened. He leaned forward, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead.
"We'll go slowly," he murmured against her skin.