Aspen’s POV
Helio’s chambers were bathed in soft moonlight when we got back, and the ice-encased fire still burned. He set his crown on a stand made just for it and locked the door behind us. His arms closed around me, pulling me flush against his warm chest. Our kisses, fueled by the pent-up longing of the night, were a whirlwind. I laughed at how quickly he undid the buttons and ties of my dress.
My fingers tangled in his hair, drawing him closer. We stumbled backward, limbs tangling. Laughing, we tumbled onto the plush expanse of his bed. Helio drew his lips in a fiery path from my neck to my collarbone, whispered promises into the moonlit air. Each touch, each murmured word, sent a shiver through me. I wanted more. He kissed his way down my chest gently and undid my undergarments qu
