[ He feels the riot of emotions that wash through her, but it’s the depth of that hurt that stabs through him. Has his movements stuttering before he leans forward to rest his forehead against hers. That was the last emotion he’d wanted to cause, so of course that would be the strongest.

He silently curses himself even as he strokes a thumb against her jaw. ]

We can talk about anything you want tomorrow, sweet. I promise. [ Although he’s still pretty sure she won’t remember any of this, after the amount of alcohol she’d consumed tonight.

He finishes getting her cleaned up and her hair done before getting her up out of the tub and wrapped thickly in soft towels He pauses to strip out of his own pants and soaked shirt, leaving them discarded in a pile on the floor for now and him standing there in a dark pair of boxers.

Scooping her up into his arms, he moves to carry her away from the bathroom and down the hall towards her bedroom. ]

One late-night snuggle in bed, as the Princess wishes.