Husband With Benefits

While Dora and Kael lay in waiting for the arrival of Dora’s kidnapper in the small clinic, a soft knock echoed in the dimly lit corridor leading to Prince Rafe’s office on the other coast of Petrovia. The door opened after a Prince Rafe allowed the person to enter, and a woman, her eyes downcast, was ushered inside by the Prince’s assistant.

Pausing at the threshold, she cast a glance at the man sitting behind the desk and stepped forward, her fingers clutching a set of papers tightly to her chest.

Prince Rafe, seated behind his ornate desk, stood up at her entrance. It was a matter of his regard for her that instead of waiting for her to bow as was expected due to his rank, he chose to go to her. His eyes softened the moment they landed on her. He strode toward her, a subtle air of authority in every step, until he stood just before her. Without hesitation, he leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on the crown of her head, his lips lingering.

"Emma," he murmured, his voice low and soothing. "How are you? And how is your father doing?"

Emma lifted her gaze briefly, her eyes meeting his for a fleeting moment before quickly darting away again, her nerves evident in the tense set of her shoulders and the movement of her eyes. "Father and I are both fine," she replied softly, her voice almost a whisper. She extended the papers she held toward him. "These are the documents you asked me to sign."

Rafe’s gaze shifted to the papers, and his lips curled into a faint smile when he saw her signature already scrawled neatly at the bottom of the page. He accepted them, though instead of immediately reading or completing the agreement with his own signature, his focus remained on Emma. With a swift yet tender motion, he slipped an arm around her waist, drawing her closer to him until she stood pressed against the polished edge of his desk.

A single stray lock of her dark hair had fallen forward, and with deliberate care, he tucked it behind her ear, his fingers lingering at the curve of her neck. His eyes, intense and searching, held hers as he spoke again, his tone filled with quiet assurance.

"You’ve made a very wise decision, Emma," Rafe said, his voice thick with admiration. "Once you’re crowned as the crown princess, no one will be able to touch you. Anyone who dares to dig into your past or tries to use it against you will find themselves powerless. I will make sure of that." His thumb gently brushed her jawline, a promise lingering in the air between them. "I’ll protect my crown princess. Always."

Emma swallowed, her hands trembling slightly as they rested against his chest. Though her face remained impassive, there was a flicker of something that briefly crossed her expression. Rafe frowned at that passing emotion but then concentrated instead on holding her close to him.