In Bed With Her Shithead Boss (By Ellie Wynters) novel Chapter 365

Amelia stared at the ceiling of her new bedroom suite, the moonlight casting soft patterns across the dark room. The royal residence wing was eerily quiet at this hour, so different from the constant bustle of the day. She'd spent the last hour carefully unpacking a few personal items like photographs, favorite books, small treasures from her life before becoming Princess Amelia of Wystovia. Weird, she knew, to be doing this on her wedding night.

But the wedding reception had ended hours ago. After a final round of goodbyes, Niko had escorted her through a maze of corridors to their private wing of the palace. He'd shown her to her bedroom, explaining which doors led where, how to call for assistance if needed.

"This will be your space," he'd said, standing awkwardly in the doorway. "My room is through there." He'd gestured to an adjoining door between their suites. "If you need anything at all..."

Separate rooms? Oh my god, now she felt like she was playing a role in some Victorian novel.

Then he'd leaned in, kissed her cheek softly, and wished her goodnight before disappearing through the connecting door to his own chambers.

Amelia hadn't known what to expect of her wedding night, but somehow, this wasn't it. That brief, chaste kiss and the sound of his door closing had left her feeling strangely adrift. Was this disappointment? Relief? She wasn't sure.

So, after unpacking some of her stuff, she had showered and changed for bed. But she couldn't fall asleep.

Rising from the bed, she crossed to the window. The palace gardens stretched out below, bathed in moonlight. Somewhere in the distance, a clock chimed two in the morning.

Was Niko awake? She found herself drawn to the connecting door between their rooms. She stared at it, her hand hovering over the ornate brass handle. Should she knock? Just walk in? What if he was already asleep? What if he expected her to come to him but didn't want to pressure her?

What if he didn't want her to come at all?

Amelia's fingers brushed the cool metal, then withdrew. She paced back across the room, frustrated with her own indecision. This was ridiculous. They were married now. There shouldn't be this uncertainty between them.

The warmth in his eyes during their first dance, the sincerity in his voice when he'd whispered "I'm glad it's you" those moments had felt real. There had been genuine connection in that kiss at the altar, brief though it was. And yet here she stood, separated from her new husband by a closed door and a lifetime of formal training that had taught her to wait for direction rather than act on instinct.

"Enough," she muttered, squaring her shoulders. She would just knock, see if he was still awake. They could talk, at least. Begin to navigate this new reality together.

Amelia returned to the connecting door with renewed determination. Her knuckles had barely grazed the polished wood when she heard movement from the other side.

The door opened before she could knock properly, revealing Niko in dark blue silk pajama bottoms and nothing else. His hair was slightly tousled, his expression a mixture of surprise and something else she couldn't quite read.

"Amelia," he said, his voice low. "I was just..." He glanced back at his room, then to her. "I couldn't sleep." His eyes lowered.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify