To Love a Prince (Knights of Valor Book 1)(53)

Desire flushed her skin, and she surrendered completely and totally to him.

She stroked down his back and grazed him with the tips of her nails as she teased over his hips and back up his abdomen.

By the Twins, he loved her and wanted to give her everything. As she gave everything to him.

Her questing hands ignited him, and his body responded. Eli grit his teeth to keep control. He caught Auburn’s fingers and pinned them above her head as he continued to explore her, stroking down her cheek, over her collarbone, and teasing her rosy peaks before dipping lower over her softly rounded belly.

Teasing lower still, he traced the curve of her hip and the smooth column of her thigh. He stroked the sensitive area behind her knee, and she writhed beneath him as she parted herself wider for him.

His eyes locked on hers as he teased up her thigh and over the curls at her apex. Dipping inside, he found the tiny nub secreted there and rubbed his thumb over it.

She moaned, her hands slipping from his grasp as sensation shot through her and she clung to him.

Capturing her mouth again, his lips and tongue teased her as his hand continued its ministrations. When he was certain she was ready, he eased a finger into her, and her velvety sheath tightened around him.

She opened herself further to his plundering hand, urging him forward.

Eli knew what she wanted, knew what he’d aroused in her. He slid his hand from her slickness and guided himself between her parted thighs, pressing into her and taking her completely.

She held him as he stretched her, filled her, and made her his. Her breathing hitched, then she moved beneath him. She was already learning the steps to this ancient dance.

Her throaty moan sizzled through him, and he met her, matched her, took them both further up the cliffs of passion.

His chest pressed against her softness as his arms encircled her. Taking her. Filling her over and over as the scent of vanilla and sandalwood, the sound of her pleasure, and the feel of her in his arms permeated his senses and left room for nothing but her.

Auburn tightened her arms around him, clinging to him as he heaped a rising tidal wave of desire on her. His steady thrusts drove them higher and higher, building, reaching. He plundered her softness until she soared beyond.

Gasping as she lost herself, her body arched beneath him as her passion exploded.

Her velvety sheath gripped him, caressing him in the most intimate of ways, and he couldn’t hold back any longer. Eli lost himself in her.

Falling back on the bed beside her, he gathered Auburn to him, their limbs still intertwined as he wrapped a blanket around them.

“I love you, Eli,” she whispered as she nuzzled against his chest.

He held her closer and kissed the top of her head as he watched her features soften with sleep.

“And I love you.”

The words swirled through the room, and he couldn’t deny them.

By the gods, he loved her.

A truth, a dangerous one.

He’d almost lost her. Eli closed his eyes as he waited for the waves of fear to quiet. He’d never wanted to be vulnerable again, never wanted someone to have such power over him again.

She’d crushed that plan, taking his queen and forcing him to rethink his strategy.

He didn’t care. She was alive and where she should be. Where he always wanted her to be.

With him. And safe.





Chapter 32





Negotiations resumed, and fear tightened Auburn’s chest as Eli donned a fresh silk suit. “Please be careful.”

The prince touched his lips to hers. “I will.”

Responding without thought, Auburn twined her arms around his neck and pressed close to him.

Eli groaned and crushed her against him as he plundered her mouth and tangled his hands in her hair. After several long moments, he broke away from the kiss and thumbed over her lush pink lips. “Promise me you’ll stay with Sir Leopold.”

“I will.” She gazed up into his brilliant blue eyes. “Sligo will be with you? And your normal security team?”

“Yes. Any more visions?”

Auburn shook her head. “But I’m still worried.”

“As am I.” He touched his lips to hers. “I’ll be careful. I have a great deal to live for.”

She sucked in a breath as Eli left their suite. He joined Rolland and the rest of his retinue, but there was no mistaking which one was her prince. She made the sign of the dragon over her chest and whispered a prayer for him.

By the gods, she was a fool, but she was a fool in love.

After Eli returned to negotiations, she busied herself with her normal morning tasks, caging her thoughts so they couldn’t wander. As much as she loved Eli, and as much he cared about her, he would marry Lady Daniella when they returned to Tamryn. He loved his country and his people too much to do anything else.

Pain wrapped around her heart, and she forced herself to concentrate. Eli was a neat man and tidying took little effort. Finishing, Auburn sent his boots to be polished and the wrinkles to be pressed from his suits. She then settled down with an epic poem written in Elven. It was beautiful but difficult and would occupy her mind.

She was ten pages into the story when Leopold stomped into the room and tossed a sheathed dagger onto the bed beside her. “You need to learn self-defense. We’ll start with a dagger and go from there. Not sure you’re strong enough to use a sword. Yet.”