My Taboo Harem!

Melissa’s laugh came out brighter this time, and Phei felt the sound settle into his chest with that strange, quiet ache she always gave him. He bent and kissed her again, slower, then another kiss beneath her eye, then one against the tip of her nose because annoying her was also affection and no one had yet successfully outlawed it.

She wrinkled her nose. "You are impossible."

"You keep saying that."

"You keep proving it."

His hand drifted back to her stomach, covering her gently. The mood softened without becoming sad. Melissa’s hand came over his, holding him there, and for a moment both of them looked down at the place where their child rested in secret silence.

Phei felt something tender always taking him over whenever he touched her berry since yesterday, of course he didn’t know anything but who was to say a father could sense their own fresh and blood despite not knowing about them, especially one with such senses like Phei? He did not know what was going on and why he kept getting this feeling yet this quiet warmth beneath his palm humbled him more completely than anything could have.

’Father’s intuitions?’ Well, the mother would know.

Melissa watched his face as she thought that.

"You are thinking too much," she whispered.

"I am thinking just enough."

"That sounds unlike you."

"I can be reasonable."

She smiled. "Occasionally."

He leaned forward and kissed her forehead, then her mouth again, and this time Melissa let herself sink fully into it, arms slipping around his neck, body pressing closer beneath the sheets. The kiss grew warmer, not rushed, but filled with the kind of intimacy that made the rest of the world feel poorly timed.

When she finally drew back, her breathing had changed, and so had his.

Melissa’s eyes lowered briefly to his lips; then she smiled:

]"We should shower."

Phei’s mouth curved. "Together?"

"My love, if you thought I meant separate showers, then I have failed as a woman."

"You could never."

"Good answer."

She tried to sit up.

Phei let her get just far enough to believe she had freedom.

Then he swept her up.

Melissa yelped, one arm flying around his shoulders as he lifted her from the bed into a princess carry with criminal ease. Her laughter broke through the room, startled and sweet, while the blanket slipped away behind them and morning wrapped her in gold.

"Phei!"

"What?"

"You could warn me."

"I could."

"You chose not to."

"Where’s the fun int that; I wanted the yelp."

She stared at him.

He smiled with no remorse.

Melissa tried to look offended, but the effort collapsed almost instantly. She laughed again and settled into his arms, her body snuggling against his chest as if she had no true intention of protesting.

Her cheek rested near his shoulder, her fingers grazing the back of his neck, and the warmth of her body fit into his hold with a softness that made him walk slower than necessary.

"You are enjoying this," she said.

"I am carrying a princess. Naturally."

Melissa’s lashes lifted. "A princess?"

Phei looked down at her as he crossed the bedroom toward the bathroom. "You look more like one like this."

"Oh?"

"In my arms. Spoiled. Kissed awake. Carried away from everything you always try to handle yourself." His voice lowered, losing the teasing edge without losing its warmth. "It suits you. Better than watching you stand there pretending you have to take care of me, the party, the guests, the girls, the world, and every emotional disaster walking through my door."

Melissa’s smile softened.

Phei continued walking, holding her securely against him:

"You look good being taken care of."

For a moment she said nothing but she lifted her head and kissed his jaw, slow and tender.

"After all," she murmured, her eyes bright with quiet mischief, "I am, indeed, a princess."

Phei smiled.

"There you are."

Melissa’s fingers toyed with the hair at his nape. "Spoil me, my prince, will you?"

He glanced down at her.

"Just prince?"

Her mouth curved.

"What do you want me to call you?"

"Husband."

Melissa’s teasing faded for a heartbeat. Her gaze searched his face, and something trembled softly beneath her smile. Not fear or really a refusal. More like a woman touching a future she wanted but would not cheapen by grabbing too quickly.

Then she recovered, because Melissa was unfair like that.

"Spoil me first," she whispered.

Phei laughed under his breath.]:

"As my princess commands."

The bathroom opened before them in quiet luxury.

It was vast without being ridiculous, though only barely, because the wealthy apparently believed personal hygiene required enough space to host diplomatic talks. Pale stone covered the floor and walls, polished until it held the morning light in soft reflections.

A long vanity stretched along one side beneath warm lamps, its counter arranged with Melissa’s creams, perfumes, folded towels, and the kind of small elegant bottles Phei suspected cost more than common sense.

The shower stood behind clear glass on the far side, wide enough for two people to move comfortably beneath a rainfall head set into the ceiling.

Bronze fixtures gleamed beneath the light, and the stone beneath it had been warmed already, probably by some discreet system built into the penthouse because luxury disliked allowing feet to suffer.

Beyond the shower, a sunken pool rested near the window, steam curling faintly from its warm surface, its edges smooth and inviting, the water glowing pale gold where the morning touched it.

Melissa looked from the shower to the pool.

Phei caught the direction of her gaze and smiled.

"Pool first?"

She shook her head and pointed toward the glass.

"Shower first."

"Practical princess."

"Clean princess."

"Demanding princess."

"And a very very very loved princess," she corrected.

Phei’s expression softened at once.

"Yes."

He carried her to the shower entrance but did not put her down immediately...

...Instead, he lowered his head and kissed her, one long kiss that made her fingers tighten behind his neck. Melissa answered with a quiet sigh, her body relaxing in his arms, and the sound turned the warm bathroom warmer.

When he finally set her down, his hands remained at her waist until her feet touched the heated stone.

Melissa looked up at him.

The morning light found her face again, and Phei suddenly understood the terrible injustice of beauty being allowed to wake up like this: soft, glowing, amused, loved, and looking at him as though he had already given her the whole world when all he wanted was to keep giving.

He brushed her hair back from her shoulder.

"Let me?"

Melissa’s breath slowed.

Then she nodded.

Phei’s fingers found the edge of her robe with careful patience, his gaze never leaving hers. He did not rush. There was no need to. The morning belonged to them for a little while longer, and Phei intended to spend it properly. He loosened the tie at her waist first, then let the fabric part beneath his hands with the same reverence he had used when kissing her awake.

Melissa watched him in silence, her lips slightly curved, her eyes warm and dark.

The robe slipped slowly from one shoulder.

Phei leaned in and kissed the newly bared skin there, soft enough to make her breath catch.

Then his hands returned to the fabric, and he began to undress her slowly, kissing every inch of skin as it was revealed, his cock throbbing between them with raw, aching need that made the air between them shimmer with unspoken sin.