Rowan’s hand slowly caressed Rosalind’s hips as he held her steady. Beneath his palms, he could feel just how soft and round she was, which only made the sight in front of him more intoxicating as she remained bent before him in nothing but his shirt.

Just seeing her like that, exposed to him in such an intimate way, was enough to make his lower body harden that morning, so he leaned down and pressed a lingering kiss to her bare skin and Rosalind took in a steady breath, her body already reacting to his closeness.

His hands then moved lower, gliding over her thighs and toward that sensitive place that had already begun to throb with anticipation. Even though she was already wet, he took his time teasing her, slipping his fingers in and out deliberately to build her anticipation until her body was fully responsive to him.

"Mmm..." Rosalind moaned softly, her lips parting against the sheets as she felt his fingers deepen their movement inside of her, drawing slow, teasing reactions from her body that made her breath tremble.

Just as the tension began building deep in her lower belly, Rowan changed his rhythm again, applying pressure in a way that made her shiver as if her body was reacting on its own, and Rosalind’s breath hitched as the sensation intensified until she could no longer hold still.

Then, without further delay, Rowan eased himself fully inside her, and she gasped sharply, "Ahh..." as her fingers tightened around the sheets while he began to thrust gently at first, testing the rhythm between them.

Rosalind felt him reach deeper than before, in a way that left her completely aware of every movement, while his hands remained steady around her waist, guiding her as her body shifted in response to his pace.

Her hips moved back against him instinctively, and the sound of their movement filled the space between them as he continued thrusting in controlled motion.

Rosalind’s breath grew heavier, her lips parting as louder moans escaped her despite her attempts to hold them back, while Rowan gradually increased his pace inside her. "Rowan..." she cried out, her voice breaking slightly as her body trembled beneath him.

"Rosalind..." he called back softly, his hands tightening just enough around her hips to steady her while his voice grounded her in the moment, reminding her that he was still fully there with her.

Rosalind’s hands tried to shift out of position, but Rowan held her firmly in place, controlling the rhythm as it grew faster and more intense. "You’re almost there," he murmured under his breath, his tone steady but certain.

"Ahh..." Rosalind moaned again, her entire body trembling as she felt herself climbing toward the peak he was steadily guiding her to, every movement pulling her higher until she could no longer think clearly.

"Rosalind...," he groaned her name against her skin, his voice strained as he continued driving her toward release, and just as she reached the edge, her lips parted but no words came out, her vision growing hazy as her body finally gave in to the overwhelming sensation.

With one final thrust, her body shook completely as the tension inside her snapped and released all at once, leaving her breathless and trembling.

Rowan exhaled heavily behind her, and after a moment he slowly eased out before pulling her closer, his hand coming up to cradle her neck as he gently tilted her face toward his and pressed a soft kiss to her lips again, his tongue sliding inside of her mouth and she moaned into his mouth in response.

---

Later, a private breakfast was brought into their chamber, and after the servants bowed and quietly left, the newlywedded couple were finally alone again.

Rosalind had already freshened up and was now seated at the table where the meal had been carefully arranged, while Rowan emerged moments later, drying his wet hair with a towel as he stepped into the room.

His gaze landed on her immediately, and his lips curved slightly as he took in the sight of her sitting there in his shirt. "Are you planning to start sharing my clothes now?" he asked lightly, his tone teasing.

Rosalind smiled "It’s so comfortable... and it smells like you," she replied honestly as he dropped the towel onto the bed and walked toward her.

"You look good in it," Rowan said simply, and the words alone were enough to make her blush instantly.

And suddenly, the idea of someone else invading his space didn’t bother him anymore. Because if it had been before, he would have been guarded and overly protective of his space, but with Rosalind, that instinct softened completely, and all he wanted was to see her smile happily like that.

They began breakfast together, sharing a quiet meal while stealing occasional glances at each other, each smile carrying the unspoken disbelief that they no longer had to hide what they felt.

At one point, Rosalind lifted a chocolate-covered strawberry toward him, and Rowan leaned in to bite it from her fingers, his gaze holding hers as he did so, sending a familiar flutter through her stomach before she quickly withdrew her hand and finished the rest herself.

Time seemed to slow between them as reality settled back in.

"So... where do you think we should go for the honeymoon?" he asked quietly after a while, and the question immediately sent a soft blush rising to her cheeks.

Rosalind tilted her head thoughtfully, but nothing immediately came to mind.

They had already visited many beautiful places in Eryndor, and she wasn’t sure whether they should return to one of them or choose somewhere entirely new. "What do you have in mind?" she asked instead.

"I don’t really have a specific place," Rowan admitted honestly, leaning back slightly. "I was thinking we could just stay in the palace... and make love in all the rooms here."

Rosalind’s face instantly turned red. "Do you even realize how many chambers there are in here?" she asked, as if he didn’t already know the palace inside out.

Rowan’s lips curved into a knowing smirk, and Rosalind immediately narrowed her eyes at him when she caught the look. "I’ll think of somewhere," she said after a moment, deciding to end his teasing.

He nodded without argument. "We’ll go with your choice," he said, making her smile softly as he reached for her mouth and took his turn to feed her.