His Virgin Princess

by Grace Goodwin

“And I thought Von was a hard ass,” I mumbled. Was this guy for real? He was half dead and worried about protocol?

  “I believe you said Von was a caveman.”

  “Yeah, well, he’s a rules-following kind of guy, which makes him a hard ass…and a caveman.” I took a step away from him but my ankle buckled. I threw out my arms to steady myself, but Gage was there first. Before I could catch my breath, I was in his arms, being carried like a child. “Put me down.”

  “You are injured. You will not walk until you are healed.”

  “You’re ridiculous. Put me down. I walked miles and miles to get here, Your Majesty. I can manage just fine.”

  “No. And I am not a majesty. I am a prince. A descendant of the original Seven.”

  I sighed and gave into the inevitable, leaning my head back onto his shoulder and absorbing as much warmth as I could. “Whatever you say, caveman.”

  “Soft ass.”

  That one made me blink. “What did you just call me?”

  “You break rules, not follow them. Therefore, you must be a soft ass.” His hand drifted down to my backside and started a massage that quickly made my eyes roll back into my head. God, if he ever got me naked, I was in trouble. Do anything he wanted, wherever he wanted, whenever he wanted kind of trouble. “Definitely soft.”

  “That’s not a word.”

  “It is now.” He continued his massage and I didn’t even try to hold back the contented sigh. He was safe, not dying—at least not at the moment—and my ankle did hurt like a son-of-a-bitch. But the main emotion making me limp was relief. I’d found him. We were together now. Everything else would work itself out. It had to.

  “Use that comm to call Von, and get us out of here, please.”

  “How far away are these Hunters?”

  I managed a small shrug. “I don’t know. They’re at the Touchstone. But they’ve been pretty busy with the whole ‘three virginities’ thing since they found their mates. They’re past that part now, but they’re not stopping. They might not be…available right away.” I felt the heat climbing my cheeks as I tried to explain the obvious to Gage. He must have heard something in my voice, for his gaze was transfixed on my face and there was hunger in his eyes. Fascination.

  Possession.

  I’d seen that look on the other Hunters’ faces when they found their mates. And as much as it made me feel like a stupid, romantic, love-sick idiot, seeing it on Gage’s face made my heart race and my mind go blank with longing. I wanted him to look at me like that when he could actually do something about it.

  He considered my words. I was patient, giving him time. I didn’t blame him. Someone wanted him dead. Based on his job, it could be many people. Too many. He didn’t want to end back up in a cave like this again.

  “Fine. We’ll call your friends. Get their help as soon as they can tear themselves from their mates.”

  There would be no tearing away. Lexi and especially Katie were not the stay-at-home type, but I didn’t say anything. He’d learn the truth when they got here. Assuming they came for us.

  They had to come.

  I used the comm and got Katie. No surprise that Bryn took over the call within seconds, demanding my location. I didn’t tell them about Gage. When Bryn assured me they were on their way, I disconnected. “I figure it’s safer if we don’t say your name over the comm until after they get here.”

  He nodded, warmth filling his eyes as he studied me. “You are an interesting female, Danielle. I will trust your friends, but for now, we alert no one else.” He lifted his gaze from me to look out over the horizon, and I saw the Hunter within him for the first time. Hard. Cold. Relentless. “The ascension ceremony is in a few days. Until then, we will need to be careful.”

  “And after?”

  “After, I will scour this planet with Hunters loyal to me until the traitor is taken care of.”

  3

  Dani, Bryn’s home, Feris 5

  I was in the biggest bath tub I’d ever seen. It could be classified as a hot tub on Earth, but it wasn’t quite as scalding. And this one was in the bathroom, not outside. It was actually in the floor. The water was warm, had some kind of scented oils that smelled like the outdoors and I had the best view.

  Gage was in the shower, the thing they called the bathing tube on Everis, and soaping up his torso. He had zero inhibitions, not one ounce of modesty, for he knew I was watching him.

  Von and Bryn had responded to our comms immediately. After Gage explained what had happened, they’d readily agreed he needed to remain in hiding. Whoever wanted him dead had to think they’d succeeded, at least for now. Until there was time to unravel who was involved.

  Bryn offered his home as a place for us to recover and hide. Since he and Gage had never met, had zero connections other than having mates from Earth, Gage felt comfortable enough with the option. There weren’t many available. As a leader of the Seven, Gage had a very public life. I imagined him to be like a famous person on Earth, where everyone knew the moment he sneezed.

  That was why we gave Bryn our coordinates and he showed up, Von, Lexi and Katie in tow, in a shuttle. That was the term he called it. Me? It was like a tiny space ship out of a Star Trek movie. Transporting across the galaxy from Earth was one thing; I hadn’t been conscious. This? I’d been awake and in awe. Sure, I’d just found my Marked Mate, saved him from a certain death, but I was in a space ship. Flying over Everis. It made me realize we definitely weren’t in Kansas anymore.

  And when Bryn handed Gage a handheld metal rod that glowed blue and apparently healed injuries when waved back and forth over them, I was in technology overload. But when Gage crouched before me and waved the wand over my ankle and the pain lessened, then eased entirely, I was amazed. And annoyed. He’d been tortured and left for dead and he wanted to heal my ankle? The idiot! I’d convinced him I was fine—it would always swell and ache even after a space wand was waved over it—did he use it on himself. It was hard to tell his cuts and bruises were healed based on the blood and dirt covering him, but he perked up, the tense lines of his body and around his mouth eased.

  And now that we were settled into Bryn’s house—his big, huge, amazingly large house—we were alone. Bryn had pointed to where Von and Lexi would stay and Von hoisted his mate over his shoulder and carried her off. I doubted I’d hear from them again, unless it was sounds of them fucking carrying down the long hallways.

  Once we were alone in our suite of rooms—it wasn’t just one darn room, but three along with the bathroom with the huge bathtub—I became modest. We weren’t dream sharing. Gage wasn’t in danger. He was healed and whole and right in front of me.

  By the look in his eyes, he’d wanted to touch me, kiss me, and a whole lot more. To pick up where we left off in the dream before my stupid ankle had woken me up. But there was no way I was letting him get near me until I showered. I was all for spontaneous, wild monkey sex, but I didn’t want to smell like a monkey when we finally got naked in real life. I didn’t want him to see me with greasy hair and stinky armpits for our first real kiss.

  He’d turned on the water for the tub to let it fill while I cleaned myself in the shower first. Then I could relax in the deep water. I wasn’t going to argue with that, and so I’d nodded. He’d walked out and left me alone…until a minute after the shower shut off. Then, he’d knocked and entered. My body was shielded because of the deepness of the tub and when he’d looked at me, standing so darn tall and dark and handsome, my insides did melt a little. And other places, too.

  I’d thought he’d want me to turn around, but no. A slow smile spread across his face as he’d shucked off his filthy clothes, exposing inch by glorious inch of his hard body. Perhaps he was a touch leaner than usual since being left for dead, but he still looked incredible. Broad shoulders, tons of olive-colored, toned skin. He had black hair on his chest, a smattering of it that tapered down to his navel—an innie—and then to a thin line that went beneath his pants. And when he’d pushed off th
ose pants, I’d discovered he didn’t wear underwear. He was also very erect and when he saw me ogling, he grew harder. Longer, the bulbous head curved up toward his belly and…whoa, that was going to fit in me? Everywhere? Just because I gave him a BJ in a dream didn’t mean it was going to fit down my throat. Or in my bottom.

  My nipples hardened and my inner walls clenched at the thought.

  Only when I realized I was staring, wide eyed, mouth open, had I looked away. My cheeks flushed as hot as the water in the tub. He’d turned, went into the bathing tube and started scrubbing. And the view from behind wasn’t half bad either.

  Now, watching him lather up those muscular pecs and dense thighs had my ovaries jumping for joy.

  “Do you have family worried about you?” I asked.

  His hands stilled on his belly and I wished I could climb in and wash him myself, run my palms over every inch of him. I was sure he wouldn’t mind, but I wasn’t quite there yet. I had no clue what I was doing, and I didn’t want to make a fool of myself. At least not until after our first kiss.

  “My mother died when I was two. I don’t remember her at all.”

  “And your father?”

  “He has been gone for nearly a year. The ascension ceremony is scheduled to take place on the anniversary of his death.”

  “I’m sorry.” I was. I could practically feel his pain radiating from him. Such a strong body. Strong, warrior spirit. Seeing him hurting was worse than feeling the pain myself. “What was he like?”

  “He was strong. Honorable. A member of the Seven. A true prince. I can only hope to live up to his legacy.”

  “As a prince?” Did he mean that in the I’m from a royal family way, or was that just a title they gave high level politicians on Everis? I had no idea. But I was no princess. I felt more comfortable in hiking boots than a tiara.

  “As a man.” He stood proudly, staring at me, the hunger in his eyes so intense I would swear I could feel his touch from across the room. The water ran over his healed body, dripping and following every curve. Every shadow. Lower. God, he was magnificent. Huge. Everywhere. I glanced up to see he enjoyed my inspection. Without doubt, I didn’t have the acting ability to hide my lust for his perfect body.

  “What about other family?”

  “My parents weren’t Marked Mates so my father mated a second time. Again, not a Marked Mate.”

  “I heard finding your Marked Mate is rare.” I moved my hand across the surface of the water, playing with the few bubbles, trying like hell to ignore the heat coming off my mate, and not the physical kind. I’d never wanted a man like I wanted him, and the wait was making me edgy, hyper-aware of everything. The coolness of the air on my shoulders, the heat of the water, the popping of bubbles on my sensitive nipples.

  “It is. Very rare. My father died almost a year ago. What is a mate of your parent called on Earth?”

  “Stepmother or stepfather.”

  “Then I have a stepmother, Mauve, and a stepsister, Rayla, who is three years younger than I. Rayla was from Mauve’s first mate, who was killed hunting a bounty on a Prillon criminal.”

  “No other brothers and sisters? Uncles? Cousins?”

  He shook his head, turned and tilted his head back to wash his hair. It was shaggy, a slight shadow of beard on his face making him look dark and dangerous and sexy. So sexy. I devoured him with my eyes.

  “No. None. I am the heir to my father’s seat on the Seven. My family descends from the original ruling families. I am a prince to my people, and you, Danielle, will be their princess.”

  Princess? Me? Dani from Florida. A princess? Insane.

  I had to look away to form a coherent thought about something besides being the central character of a Disney movie. I couldn’t even sing. I was too skinny. Too small. I didn’t have the curves to fill out that kind of dress. I didn’t talk to mice, or birds, or any other kind of creature. I hunted deer and ate them for dinner. I didn’t talk to them or dance in the woods singing songs to squirrels. I wasn’t regal or refined, and the ridiculous wave I saw the royals do on television back on Earth would give me carpal tunnel. Seriously? What were we talking about? Me? Royalty?

  No.

  Family. Right. I cleared my throat and pushed all princess thoughts aside. “I don’t have any family either. I don’t remember my mother. She didn’t die, she just decided she needed to go back to the city. She left when I was four, to go off with the yoga instructor from the recreation center in town. I heard they got married and moved to California.”

  Gage was lathering his hair now and I ended my words. Watching him was more interesting than my worthless mother. And it wasn’t just his gorgeous face I was ogling. With his arms up, his back arched and in profile, his cock thrust out and up from his body. I couldn’t miss it. I licked my lips, remembering the soft feel of the skin, the taste of the bead of fluid that came from the tip in my dreams. How hard it was. Hot. How it pulsed against my tongue.

  “And your father?” he asked.

  I felt the familiar pang of sadness when I thought of my dad, but I no longer felt lonely. My heart was slowly being filled by Gage.

  “My father died last year. He taught me everything I know about surviving in the wilderness. He was a hunting and fishing guide. Took people into the wetlands to hunt, to the rivers to fish. We spent at least two months in the mountains up north in Montana every summer. He was a good man. A great father.”

  The shower shut off and he opened the tube door. Came out. I stared as he walked to the tub, his body dripping with water, his muscles flexing and bunching as he moved with confidence. Ease. Even with a big club between his thighs.

  “I am sorry that he has passed on to be with the Gods.”

  I blinked furiously. I would not cry now. So, I nodded.

  “Before my mark flared to life, I was expected to marry Rayla,” he said, and I was thankful he moved back to his soap opera life. “The royal engagement has already been announced.”

  My mouth fell open. Definitely soap opera. “You’re engaged to your sister?”

  He grinned as he slid into the tub, sank down until his shoulders sank beneath the water and moved right in front of me. Placing his hands on the edge of the tub on either side of my head, I was pinned in place. “Not by blood. She is well-loved by the people, a commoner who would become a princess. She is kind and selfless, involved in many organizations that help the common people.”

  Holy shit. He did not just use the word common in relation to his sister. Stepsister. Whatever.

  “Is she beautiful?” I wanted to smack myself for asking that, but the damn words popped out before I could rein in the little green monster roaring to life inside me. Jealousy was a bitch, and I really didn’t want to hate my future sister-in-law.

  “Yes. She is.” He lifted his hand to my hair, held a strand in his fingers as his gaze dropped to my lips. “But not as beautiful as you are.”

  I blushed; I couldn’t help it, not with him looking at me like he was ready to pounce. I wanted to yell at him to hurry up, but I was trapped like a deer in the headlights, frozen. Waiting for him to touch me. Worried he still wanted someone else. “Does she know? About me?”

  His gaze softened, drifting to my lips. I struggled to breathe. “Yes. She was thrilled.”

  I frowned. “She was happy to not become a princess?” That did not compute. No one could be happy giving up this gorgeous hunk of man.

  “Yes. We were both trapped by duty. Now she is free to marry for love, not obligation. I love her, Danielle, she is my family, mine to protect.”

  “You love her?” Gah! Could I sound more like a babbling idiot? But it was completely his fault. I couldn’t think. Not with the heat of his body rolling over me like a drug. And his lips. I was staring. Starving. I’d dreamed of him night after night, lost him, found him, but he’d never been mine. Real. Not like this. And the hunger roaring to life inside me wasn’t normal. It was terrifying. Too much. Too strong. I was spinning out of control,
my body not my own, but his. Aware of his heartbeat, the pulse at the base of his neck. God, his scent was like a drug, filling my entire body with heat.

  And the thought of him with another woman? The part of me screaming about that was wild and raw, edgy and feral. I’d never felt like this before. I was afraid to move, afraid if I moved one muscle, I’d lose control and pounce. Mark him. I wanted to rub my body all over him, like a fucking cat claiming territory, marking him with my scent—because I knew the others would smell my skin on his, know that he was mine. It was wrong. Strange.

  I couldn’t stop wanting to do it anyway.

  God, maybe I was an alien, because this was innate. Instinct. I felt like the Hunter now.

  We were no longer dirty. No longer hurt.

  “I love her as a sister and nothing else. But it is nothing compared to how I feel about you. I am your family now, Danielle, and you are mine.”

  Shaking. Can’t breathe. Can’t breathe. I needed him to touch me. Needed it more than I needed oxygen. I licked my lips, pleased when his gaze followed the gesture and his eyes grew dark with heat.

  “Prove it.” I glided through the water and pressed my body to his, chest to chest, lifting my fingers to run through his hair as I’d been longing to do.

  The first contact was like a jolt of electricity, my body crackling with heat and lust and want. It was his turn to freeze, to fight for control. Closing my eyes, eager for a taste of him, I pressed my lips to his, claimed his mouth in a kiss.

  I was gentle. Soft. My lips lingered. Pulled back. It was an invitation that I knew he wouldn’t even try to resist. I wanted him. Needed him to touch me, to make me feel like I truly belonged to him after fighting so hard to be with him. But I wasn’t experienced. I didn’t really know what else to do except give him permission to do anything he wanted.

  No. Everything, he wanted. Everything we both needed.

  I broke the kiss and wrapped my arms around him, holding him tight. Close. As close as I could get. Fighting back a tidal wave of emotion, of love and longing and lust and a million other things I couldn’t process, let alone name. I fought back the tears building like walls of fire behind my eyes and pressed my lips to his ear. “I need you, Gage. Please. I need to be yours.”