Wicked in Your Arms (Forgotten Princesses #1)(42)

She watched him, her eyes liquid dark, soulful and deep, probing as though she wanted him to say the words that would let her forget herself and surrender to the desire humming between them.

“I burn for you, Grier. I would give us both pleasure,” he vowed. “You are the first woman I’ve wanted this much since I’ve set foot on this island . . . the first since I’ve stepped off the battlefield . . .”

Her lips parted in a silent gasp and he took advantage, swooping in, stealing her lips and forgetting himself, forgetting everything in the hot fusion of their mouths.

She opened for the thrust of his tongue and he moaned, kissing harder, sinking his body against her softness.

Her hands came up to tangle in his hair. With a growl, he ran his hand along her trouser-clad hips. He lifted her easily, wrapping her slim limbs around his hips. His cock strained at the front of his trousers. He nestled deeper into her beckoning heat, wanting nothing more than to free himself and drive into her core. He slid his hands to cup each well-rounded cheek, rocking against her.

“You’re wicked in these trousers,” he muttered against her mouth, nipping and pulling at her bruised bottom lip.

“Wore them all the time back home. No one paid me much heed in them before.”

“Either the men were blind, or you were. No red-blooded man could see you in these and not want to reach out and touch you.” His hands kneaded her behind, partly for illustration and partly because he could not help himself.

She sighed at his ministrations. “Sevastian.”

The sound of his name on her lips undid him. He kissed her deeply, muttering into her mouth, “Call me Sev.”

“Sev,” she sighed as his hands continued to roam over the delicious curve of her backside.

“It would feel much better if no garments blocked my touch from you. If I could feel all of you.”

She stared at him a long moment. Too long. And he knew she was battling her thoughts, struggling with her inner demons.

“Do you not want this, Grier?” He thrust against her, nestling into the core of her that radiated heat.

She closed her eyes as though in torment. “I can’t think when you do that.”

Sev sighed. Pulling from a reserve of will he didn’t know he possessed, he stepped back. “I’ll not coerce you. I’ll have you with your mind fully agreeable or not at all.”

He ignored the throbbing of his cock that called him a fool. A few more kisses and he’d have her on her back and himself lodged deep between her thighs before she could form a coherent thought. And yet he couldn’t do that. That’s not how he wanted it.

Not how he wanted her.

He wanted the fiery Grier Hadley who’d first tossed her drink on his head. He wanted her begging, naked and writhing against him with an eagerness that echoed his own, craving him as much as he craved her. He wanted her for long hours. Multiple times. Nothing hasty or rushed.

She blinked, looking thoroughly confused. “Y-you want me to go?”

He laughed hoarsely even though he felt decidedly unamused. “I want a woman enthusiastic and willing in my bed. You, unfortunately, aren’t coming across as either of those things.”

“I—” She gaped rather comically. And yet he found nothing humorous about the situation. He ached for her. Even as he backed away from her he hoped she would call him back, throw herself into his arms, and turn into that passionate creature he wanted so desperately.

He arched a brow, waiting, hoping.

Color rode high in her cheeks. Her mouth snapped shut, folding into a hard line as she gave a jerky nod.

Then she was gone. Fleeing the room quickly, nothing more than a blur. Sev inhaled her lingering scent, woods and winter wind—the only hint left of her. He moved to the balcony, welcoming the cold nip of air washing over him. Hopefully it would douse his ardor. Glancing to his left, he watched as she lithely dropped onto her own balcony, marveling that she would be so bold as to launch herself across balconies. But not bold enough to fall into bed with him.

She lifted her head and met his gaze across the distance. Even in the gloom, he could feel her stare, see the glitter of her eyes in the night.

Yet. The single word floated through his head like curling smoke, creeping and penetrating deep into his bones. Yet. She hadn’t fallen into his bed yet.

He smiled slowly, confidence stealing over him. She would. She was too passionate, too brazen to resist her natural impulses. He already knew her well enough to know that. A female who rode at deadly speed for simply the joy of it did not run from desire.

She lingered on her balcony for a moment longer, her slim form little more than shadow staring back at him. Then she vanished inside her bedchamber.

They weren’t leaving for days yet. Plenty of time for Miss Hadley to come around and embrace her true nature. Plenty of time for him to persuade her that she wanted him as much as he wanted her.

A slow smile curved his mouth as he moved back inside his room.





Chapter Fifteen

Grier tossed herself onto her bed and wrapped trembling arms around a pillow, squeezing tightly.

That had not gone as planned at all. She jammed her eyes shut in a hard blink. Only now could she be honest. The prince had held a mirror up to her face, forcing her to see the truth within herself. She’d dared to visit his bedchamber because she’d been jealous and hurt. Because she wanted to see him one final time.