To Love a Prince (Knights of Valor Book 1)(52)

Eli said nothing for several long moments as he considered. He knew what the right thing was, and yet... He sucked in a breath as he stared down at her copper hair.

Damn duty. Damn being born a prince. And damn Dracor for not choosing the next king. Eli closed his eyes. “We will stay, and I will get that trade agreement.”

Auburn hugged him.

“It appears as if I have added two more to my retinue.” Eli let out the breath he’d been holding as he glared at Leopold. “If the sultan knows you’re a Knight, he’ll demand to meet you. I’d rather he didn’t.”

“Me, too,” Leopold said.

“If he learns Ndrek is a mage, he’ll also be interested in him,” Auburn said.

“I’m less worried about introducing Ndrek than I am Leopold,” Eli said.

“Don’t blame you. Ndrek is good at making pretty with people.”

Ndrek bowed with a flourish.

“I will trust you to guard Auburn and protect her while I’m at the negotiations.”

“Couldn’t stop me from protecting her,” Leopold said. “And Ndrek’s not bad for a wizard.”

“Was that a compliment, Sir Leopold?” Ndrek said.

“Nope.”

Ndrek grinned.





Chapter 31





The group returned to the palace several days later without incident, and they settled into the cool comfort of Eli’s suite.

Leopold sprawled into an overstuffed chair. “Ndrek and me’ll keep an eye on Auburn. I’m guessing you got meetings to attend.”

“Tomorrow,” Eli said. “In the meantime, Sligo will give you a run down on Qumarefi security.”

“That means you’re kicking us out of your rooms.” Leopold glanced at Auburn.

“Hard for you to tour the palace in here.”

“You wanna come with us, Auburn?” Leopold asked. “Accommodations aren’t as nice, but the company’s better.”

Eli’s words dropped to a low growl. “Get out.”

Auburn squeezed the prince’s hand and smiled at Leopold. “Thank you for the kind offer, Sir Leopold, but I would prefer to stay with Prince Eli.”

Eli laced his fingers with hers. “You can see yourselves out.”

Leopold grumbled, but he led Ndrek out of the suite and closed the door behind them.

As the door closed, Eli tugged on Auburn’s fingers and pulled her into his arms. He tangled his hands in her hair as he touched his lips to hers. He’d meant the kiss to be soft, gentle, but the need that stole through him demanded more.

By the gods, he wanted her. Needed her. He deepened the kiss and claimed her mouth.

Auburn softened against him, her lips parting as she gave him all he asked. He stroked his fingers down her back, across the indentation of her waist, and over the swell of her hips. Touching, memorizing every detail of her.

Auburn was his.

To the seven hells with Daniella, the prophecy, and Tamarian politics.

He molded Auburn against him as he kissed her, as he touched and stroked her. He enjoyed the way his kisses left her breathless, and the intensity of his own need surprised him.

She spread her hands across his back, and his muscles bunched beneath her fingers as he pressed her softness against the hard wall of his chest. A quiet sigh escaped her, desire already stealing through her. He wanted to give her that and more, wanted to fill her with the golden bliss of shared pleasure.

Teasing his fingers along her heated flesh, he drank in her silken skin, the rich scent of her, and her soft moans. He lifted her into his arms and carried her to the bed, laying her down on the crisp linens as her copper hair fanned over the plump pillow. He stroked down her sensuous curves, teasing over the soft swells of her breasts and trailing over the roundness of her hips.

As he eased his fingers back up, he found the fastenings on her dress and unhooked them. A moment later, he slid the garment off her, and he sent her underpinnings after them.

Color flushed her cheeks as he paused and drank in the sight of her milk-pale skin, rich curves, and the copper curls at the juncture of her thighs.

By the gods, she was beautiful.

Need burrowed into him, but he reigned it in as he stroked up along the outside of her thigh, reaching higher until he cupped her soft breasts.

His thumbs found her pert peaks, and she moaned, arching her back and filling his hands. Kneading her soft globes, he listened to her intake of breath as he leaned forward and captured her lips with his. She yielded to him, giving him all he wanted. The feminine scent of her filled him, and he grew drunk on the taste of her.

Stripping off the rest of his clothes, he tossed them to the floor.

She reached for him, and he came, filling her arms as he parted her thighs and eased his knees between them. Her breath tangled in her throat as he opened her to him, and his weight pressed her into the bed. The light sprinkle of hair on his chest teased her sensitive mounds, and he groaned as she wriggled against the evidence of his desire cradled against her belly.

He caught her lips with his and plundered her mouth as his hands stroked her.

Auburn dug her fingers into his shoulders as she clung to him, but Eli gave her no quarter as he lavished sensation on her. Touching, caressing, searching for the places that brought soft sighs to her lips then exploiting them.