To Love a Prince (Knights of Valor Book 1)(33)

She clung to the headboard at this fresh onslaught of sensation.

Eli stroked her innermost recesses and left her gasping and wanting more. He pressed deeper, and she stiffened as pain bolted through her. Eli stopped, then eased back, and with a flick of his tongue, focused her attention again on her heavy swollen breasts.

Desire overwhelmed Auburn as he laved her pebbled peaks and stroked her most intimate parts. The heat in her belly bloomed and ignited her nerves. Pleasure seared her with each kiss, each touch. Pleasure so intense it stripped away thought, and yet, she wanted more. He was leading her somewhere, and she eagerly followed. Whatever he’d stared, she wanted him to finish. Needed him to finish.

Eli smiled as his thumb flicked across her tiny button.

Auburn’s eyes widened, and a moan escaped her as her hips writhed against his hand. It was as if he’d touched the center of her and lightening had exploded around him.

His lips found hers, and he kissed her, heightening her arousal with each touch, each intimate caress, as he led her to the ultimate completion of their duet.

Her body burned, and she arched beneath him, her hands still captured in his and pinned, exposing her completely and totally to him.

He angled his head over hers, and she parted her lips and welcomed him. Eli plunged forward, taking her mouth and stroking her tongue with his in time to the rhythm of his hand between her thighs.

The heat in her belly grew, rose, pushed towards something she had no words for, something that radiated through her whole body. Breathless moans escaped her as feeling propelled her forward, faster and faster until she plunged ahead. And exploded. The sudden all-encompassing rush of sensation eclipsed everything else, and for a moment, there was nothing but the intensity of desire fulfilled.

Eli released her hands, holding her close to him as wave after wave of pleasure shook her. As it ebbed, she slumped back against the bed, eyes wide but her body spent. Pleasure still coursed through her veins, sweet and warm, but a mellower version, one that left her soft and satiated.

She traced her hand along his sharp jaw line. He kissed her fingers then lay beside her and gathered her into his arms. She pillowed her head on his chest, and sleep took her.





Chapter 22





Eli watched Auburn sleep beside him as a halo of pleasure wreathed her. His chest tightened, and he closed his eyes as he kissed her temple. By the gods, he wanted to hear his name on her lips every night, wanted to shower her in pleasure, wanted to give her the world.

He couldn’t be without her. Not now or ever.

The intensity of his emotions shook him. He’d never wanted anything so much. Needed it.

Damn the Twin Goddesses of love. They had snared him. Given him a weakness. He was a ruthless and practical man, but he could be neither with Auburn. Eli stroked her copper-colored hair and watched the strands trail through his fingers.

He was trapped between the woman he loved and his duty to his mother and all of Tamryn.

A movement in the shadows caught Eli’s attention, and he reached for the dagger in the boots he’d left beside the bed.

“Jaelin wishes to see you, Your Highness,” Sligo said.

Eli exhaled. “Five minutes.”

Sligo nodded and disappeared back into the shadows.

Sliding out of bed, Eli tucked the blankets around Auburn, brushed her hair from her brow, and kissed her softly. He then pulled on a fresh change of clothes and seated himself in an overstuffed chair.

A moment later, Sligo appeared with Jaelin.

She bowed. “Thank you for seeing me, Your Highness.”

“I’ve been looking forward to your report. What have you learned?”

“The sultan’s wives are relieved that he’s gotten rid of Auburn. While some were jealous of her, most feared her.”

“Why would they fear her?”

“They believe death follows her and blame her for the assassination attempt against you. Several women in the harem have died over the years, all in proximity to Auburn. The authorities never implicated Auburn in the deaths, but the other women have kept their distance from her.”

Eli raised a brow. “She mentioned being forced to eat an azalea bloom.”

“What she didn’t tell you, and may not know herself, is all the girls involved in that died of mysterious causes within weeks of the incident. None of the wives or slaves tried to harm her again.”

“They beat her.”

“Permissible in Qumaref, but they never went far enough to injure her. They knew better.”

Eli’s fists balled at his side, but he forced his voice to remain neutral. “Were the girls’ deaths coincidences?”

“I don’t believe so.”

“Who killed them?”

“My information on that is less reliable, Your Highness.”

Eli nodded. “Tell me what you think.”

“I believe Auburn was abducted from a Tamarian family as an infant,” Jaelin said. “Her captors made it look like they murdered her.”

Eli steepled his fingers. “Why take a small child if not to ransom her back to her parents?”

“What’s left of the trail makes me think there were some who wanted her dead and others who wanted her alive. By making it look like they’d murdered her, the faction that wanted her alive bought time.”

Eli sucked in a slow breath. “Who was behind her abduction?”