The Rise of a King - Copia x Reader

XXIII

It was early evening when the van pulled up to the parking lot and you helped everyone to get the equipment inside.
"Sister, a word please", a too well-known voice suddenly spoke from behind you and before you were even able to agree, you were already pulled a step back from the mass of people dragging stuff inside.
You eventually caught yourself and managed to comprehend what was going on, you were greeted by Sister Imperator with a strangely warm smile gracing her lips. You stood there breathless for a moment, wondering whether this was just the quiet before the storm.
"Is there anything you need my help with, sister?", you asked politely, hoping she wouldn't realise how nervous you were.
"Not at the moment, sister. I just came to thank you for your great dedication this evening, you truly have proven your talent as leading sister and I may consider putting you in charge more often from now on".
You couldn't have been more perplexed than you were right now, were you dreaming or did Sister Imperator really just.. praise you?
"I..", you began to stammer, too stunned to speak.
"Well I mean.. I just did what any sister would've done in my position".
"No sister, you were above and beyond excellent".
"Well thank you", were the last words you managed to get out before you ran out of ideas what to say, never in a million years would you have expected this to happen..
"Well I will you leave you to it then! Hopefully you will remain this dedication!"
And with that, she left inside and you just stood there on the parking lot.
What just happened?
Your thoughts were interrupted as you heard a sassy chuckle from a few steps away and as you looked up the stairs, you found your Cardinal smirking satisfied into the dark.
"What's so funny, C?", you chuckled and walked up to him, clinging onto his arm.
"Oh it's nothing"
"Now come one, don't tell me sister's sudden mood change is your doing, again"
He put on a playfully innocent face.
"Well, I may have let slip through how much of a help you were with the censer tonight.. and what can I say, once I start speaking of you, it's hard to stop me so maybe.. just maybe I mentioned your great charisma when interacting with the crowd earlier"
Totally at loss for words, you squeezed his arm tightly while the two of you made your way inside.
"You're a dream, d'you know that?", you said and looked up to him.
"No Y/n, you're my dream. And I'd do anything so I'll never have to wake up".
You both stopped walking and stood still on the quiet hallway as you gazed into each other's eyes.
"What are you talking about?", you ask a little confused.
He gave you an intense stare with those beautiful eyes of his before he spoke: "I'm talking about that I might have fallen in love with you".

Fallen in love with me?
His words kept echoing through your head as you repeated their meaning over and over again. But words have said enough for now, you decided to let actions speak for your emotions as you reached for the back of his neck and by which you pulled him closer to you until his face was so close to you that the tip of your still a little cold nose touched his and you eventually connected your lips. It was warm and gentle at first but soon grew more hungry and passionate until you almost couldn't stop anymore. It felt like a need to touch his lips with yours, to explore his mouth with your tongue and taste him thoroughly.

You were a little disappointed when the two of you had to separate to gasp for desperately needed air, yet the fire within the two of you was not extinguished.
"Let me prove my feelings for you, Y/n", he gasped breathlessly and grabbed your hand by which he was about to take you upstairs, yet he didn't move until you gave him an excited nod, followed by a smirk.

⚠️Smut warning ahead, from here on you can skip the whole chapter safely without missing anything! For the others: Enjoy!⚠️

Barely a minute later, you already found yourself within the Cardinal's chambers where you almost forgot the urgency of your visit as you gazed around and admired every piece of furniture, decoration and tapestry.
"I can't believe this is all just yours", you exhaled and suddenly felt yourself being close to him. Your heart skipped a beat as you felt his warm breath tickle your skin.
"For tonight, it's all ours, alright baby?", he growled and your eyes widened as you felt a deep blush grace your cheeks. That tone of his literally sent shivers down your spine and you were all in.
He then moved his face closely to your ear and whispered "this way", before he once again took your hand gently and led you into a room to the right which you immediately recognised as the bedroom.
Besides the finely carved dresser of dark wood, in the middle of the room, right beneath a wide window throned a huge, immensely soft looking bed with black sheets and deep wine red covers.
It was already dark outside so barely no light was lightening the grim room as you stepped inside and studied every bit of it closely while the man to your right only had his eyes pinned onto you. He followed your every move, felt how every of your steps increased his heartbeat and felt hungrier for you by the second.