Dragons Against Them (Kingdoms of Fire and Ice #2)(8)
His lips began a fiery trail down to one breast. He nipped at its peak through her gown’s thin fabric, and Addie sucked in a sharp breath. Her core began to ache from her own needs. Yes, this was what she needed today. To get lost in oblivion with Zayne.
“Twist my arm?”
He drew back, a puzzled look upon his face. “I shall do no such thing.”
“It means yes, Zayne. Please.”
In a blink, she was in his arms, being carried toward the mouth of the cave. Addie looked beyond his bare shoulders, checking the skies for sentries. Would Tristan keep his rules-following mouth shut at her request? God, she hoped so.
In a few short steps, the sun was blotted from view, the mouth of the cave swallowing them whole. Her eyes struggled to adjust to the darkness as no fire was lit and Zayne made no immediate attempt to light one. Instead, he traveled deeper into the silent space before lowering her onto what felt akin to a bearskin rug. Only then did he issue a puff of flame to ignite a nearby stone-ringed collection of sticks and kindling.
“Come here often?” she teased as he began the painstaking task of disrobing her.
“I may have sought assistance in finding a suitable location for this afternoon’s respite.”
Seconds ticked by into minutes, and Addie fought not to squirm beneath the heat of his touch. It was times like this that made her miss jeans and T-shirts that much more. After what felt like forever, Zayne freed her from the confines of her gown and carefully drew it up and over her head. Impressive, as his impatience often got the best of him and several gowns had now been left in terrible disrepair. Today, however, he’d kept his talons safely tucked away. A good thing, since she was running out of excuses as to why her dresses had been repeatedly demolished.
While her handmaiden had her doubts, Addie’s father believed his daughter to be pure—something she had no intention of coming clean on. She had no intention of abstaining from sex with Zayne until the wedding either. While his absence left her feeling somewhat lost and alone, his touch brought her back to life. Made her feel empowered, brave. These feelings were foreign to her, yet ones she was beginning to crave when she went too long without them.
Thankfully, once they were married, Zayne had assured her these prolonged dry spells would become a thing of the past. Though if her half sister didn’t hurry up and return, Addie feared her father might try to delay the ceremony until she did. Which would lead to more and more days of Addie being confined to the castle.
Anxiety began to build in her chest anew.
Zayne returned his attention to her as he peeled the last of her undergarments away, his eyes bright with desire, their glow illuminating his handsome face. “Does this setting please you, my lady?”
“So far, yes.”
“So far?”
Guilt riddled her at the hint of disappointment in his voice. With his inner dragon so close to the surface, her sarcasm had been lost on him. So she offered him a demure look, tracing one finger down his smooth muscular chest. “Well, yes. There’s one thing I’m afraid is still missing.”
His right brow arched. “And that is?”
“You.” Her gaze slid to meet his. “Inside me.”
A purr rumbled from deep within her prince as he stretched to cover her body with his, a devilish grin now tugging at his lips. “As you wish, my lady.”
Prince Tristan exited the stables and cast a dark look at Prince Zayne’s accomplice now making his way toward the castle’s inner courtyard. Brom was large as a bear and, if that glint in the warrior’s eyes was any indication, dangerous as one too. That being the case, Tristan opted not to engage in a battle of words with the man, though he assuredly had known of his royal charge’s disallowed intentions. Instead he called to one of the stable hands to ensure the brute made it to his quarters, then fell into step with his own trusted warrior and childhood friend, Quinn Blackstone.
“Shall I notify the king, Your Highness?”
Curses, even Quinn was aware of the royal couple’s disobedience. Had their escape been so easily witnessed, or was Tristan the only fool who believed for a moment that his twin might actually behave as a lady should? He blew out an exasperated sigh.
“No, Quinn. I fear that today, such an action would greatly upset Princess Adelaide.”
The man beside him scowled. “The woman has no regard for your father’s rules.”
It was true. Though his twin claimed to be trying in earnest, she had yet to acclimate to either their culture or the king’s rules. And though it was expected of Tristan to let their father know of troubles that arose, this time he refrained. For she was far more than a disobedient child; he could sense it.
Growing up outside the castle walls, presumably among peasants and left to run wild and free, had instilled within Addie a confidence he himself struggled to portray. But her talk of those years away had been kept to a minimum, her answers vague and topics of conversation quickly changed. Tristan desired to earn his sister’s trust so that she might one day share her secrets with him. After all, it was his duty to learn all he could of their kingdom as he was heir to its throne. That Edana’s high wizard had taken it upon himself to assist in her return and keep her safe when two kingdoms braced for war was not lost on the prince. Neither was his father’s growing insistence that she remained tucked safely away inside the castle walls. The king had never been so protective of Rosalind.