by Alexa Riley
“I know who you are.” Her breath hitches as the steel length of my cock moves between her legs.
“I’m yours,” I say simply and tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. Then I lean in and put my lips against the shell of it. “And you’re mine.”
“Awfully full of yourself, aren’t you?” The breathy need in her voice betrays her forced confidence.
“I feel the tremble of your legs, princess. Care to let me ease that for you?” I run my hands down her full hips and grip her ass. “Perhaps I should take your mouth to see if you give as good as you get.”
“You wouldn’t dare.” Her challenge makes me laugh as I move my lips across her cheek.
“Shit!” I yelp, bending over. A shooting pain races up my leg, and I realize she kicked me. “Are you always so rough with your dessert?”
“So you’re the sweet one?” she asks as she smiles at me. “I’ll let you kiss me. But I want something in return.”
“Name it,” I say, straightening up.
“Is it that easy?” She looks confused, like I’d somehow trick her.
“Try me, Princess.”
“When King Roman marries my sister, I want to come with her. I want to live in the palace so that we can stay together.”
“It is done.”
“Vlad, I - ”
I lunge at her and connect my mouth to hers. I expect her to fight me or for her to push me away. But what I don’t expect is her hands to wrap around my neck and for her tongue to slip inside my mouth. I moan around it and then kiss her just as fiercely.
The fire that ignites between us is enough to set this forest ablaze. I reach down with both hands and grip her lush ass, lifting her off the ground. Her legs come around my waist and lock behind me. I push my hard cock against her and grind, desperately seeking some kind of relief.
“This kind of behavior is only turning me on, Princess. It’s the kind of thing that will get your pretty little ass spanked.” I kiss her again until she’s gasping for air. “I like feisty. Keep it up and I’ll take you over my knee.”
“Fuck,” she moans at the dirty talk, and my lips move down her neck to the spot between her breasts.
I want all of her. It’s consuming me, and I don’t know if I can stop. “Is that what you want? Because I’ll give you anything, Tabitha.”
My words have never been more true. If she asked me to lay down my life for her, I would do so. From the moment I saw her, she’s claimed my soul, and there’s no going back.
I summon all the strength I have to release my grip on her ass and set her down on her feet.
“You have to go back to your sister or I’m going to throw you on the ground and fuck you right here.”
She looks like she’s been ravished, and it does nothing to ease my ache. But the sly smile she gives me is almost my undoing.
“You say that like it’s a bad thing,” she retorts, adjusting her dress.
I reach out and grab her arm before turning her around and smacking her ass. “Soon, Princess. Soon.”
I push her ahead of me, needing to keep my distance. I wouldn’t want to do anything to disgrace her family or my king, and right now I’m too close to the edge.
I see Roman say his goodbyes to Alena, and I wink at Tabitha as I join him at his side. We exit the garden and move around to the front of the estate, where the limo is waiting.
“You should bring the sister with Alena when she comes to the palace. It’s tradition for her to bring someone,” I say. Better to go ahead and plant that seed now. And seeing the similar state my king is in, I know he’ll agree to just about anything.
“It’s done,” he agrees, and my hopes soar.
The ride back to the palace is quiet, and I think of Tabitha the whole time. Normally I’m easy-going and people say I smile a lot. I’m head of security, but I don’t take life too seriously. But suddenly, after one meeting, I’m thinking over my future at the palace and taking a wife. Can I have both?
Chapter Three
Tabitha
I lie in bed with Alena, our fingers still locked together. I hear her breathing level out and know she’s finally fallen asleep. I roll over and look at my little sister, feeling like everything is going to be okay with her. Her future husband might seem like a jerk, but I saw something else there, too. He wants her and he wants her to want him back. He craves her attention, and I know that he will try to please her to get it. I also know that he will protect her. It was adorable how he worried about her hurting herself in her heels.
More than that, I know her better than anyone else does, and she’s curious about him. Even if she doesn’t fully know it or understand it. Something about him is drawing her in, too. I saw it when she started to panic at the thought of me trying to catch his eye. I don’t think anyone but her could ever garner his attention. He couldn’t pull himself away from her long enough to know other people were in the room.
A few times through dinner people would try to talk to him, but it was like he couldn’t hear them. I’m not sure how I noticed, with the way Vlad was teasing me though. Something about his playful yet dominant personality makes me want him more and more. I had to bite the inside of my mouth to keep from smiling multiple times during our meal. He likes to tease me, and I liked when he did it. More than I ever thought possible.
It was different than I’m accustomed to. A lot of men have asked for my hand in marriage. But it’s not that way with Vlad. He declared that I was his, and that was that.
Still, I worry. I hope that what Vlad said is true and I can go with them. It all seems too good to be true. The thought of him has me smiling again, and I wonder what it would be like to be his. To really belong to him. That is, if he meant the words he said about being his. It could have been the way he talks to every woman he wants.
I purse my lips thinking about him saying those things to someone else. I don’t like the way it makes me feel. My mother always said men keep mistresses and have wandering eyes. I don’t think that’s something I could ever stomach. Though when she told me that years ago after a few men started asking for my hand, I’d felt relief at the idea. The thought of whomever I got stuck with leaving me alone and spending his nights in his mistress’s bed comforted me somewhat.
Though with the way a lot of the men looked at me, I didn’t think I’d be so lucky. I know I’m pretty. In fact, it’s the only thing people ever really talk about. Sometimes I wonder if my love for getting all dolled up is because it’s something I enjoy or it’s something that’s been ingrained in me.
“Roman.” I hear my sister mumble in her sleep, breaking me from my thoughts. I throw my hand over my mouth to keep from giggling and waking her up. Slipping my other hand from hers I slide out of the bed so as not to wake her. I think maybe she should be alone with whatever dreams she’s having.
I tiptoe to the door, then shut it slowly behind me, trying not to make any noise. When I turn, I see my mother standing in the hallway waiting for me. She knows that if I’m not in my room I’m with Alena. She has another glass of wine in her hand, and she’s still wearing her evening dress. She hasn’t bothered to change. Her lips are pursed, and I know I’m in for it, but I have to wonder what it is this time. Could it be our behavior tonight? Or the fact that I was in Alena’s room, hanging out later than she allows us to? Probably all of the above.
“Your father and I got a call tonight.”
My stomach clenches as fear rises in my throat. Did someone ask for my hand in marriage? The thought wraps around my jugular, and I can’t breathe. She clicks her tongue, which is something she does when she’s irritated.
“Seems you’ll be going with Alena when she marries.”
I don’t know how I stay on my feet at her words, but I manage. I keep my emotions in check and stay utterly still as I process her words. I merely nod an acknowledgement because I know whatever I say will only piss her off. She has a temper, and it’s something I’ve always shielded Alena from the best I could.
The moment of relief slips away and makes room for the frustration I feel at the rotten control my mother has over me.
“Really, you two are too codependent as it is.”
She shakes her head, like the fact that Alena and I close is wrong. What’s wrong is the kind of mother she is, but I keep that to myself. It’s better not to piss her off. It only makes life harder, and she knows the best way to get to me is to go after Alena. When that tongue of hers cuts Alena down, it rips into a part of me as well.
So I smile. Alena will be out of here soon enough, and I don’t think her husband will put up with anything from my mother. Especially where his new bride is concerned. He already showed that tonight. I just have to fake it a little longer. And for Alena, I would fake it forever.
“You’ll meet Prince Nelson sometime next week.” With those words, she departs.
I lean back against the wall and drop my head. I’ve never even heard of Prince Nelson before, but I’m sure he’s like all the others I’ve met. Self-involved and looking for something pretty to put on his arm.
I pull myself away from the wall and head towards my room. I want to collapse on my bed and maybe have a good cry. The happiness I was feeling moments ago as I thought about the new life Alena and I could have is draining away. I was living in my head. I wanted Vlad to be true, but I don’t even know if he really wants me or wants to roll around in a bed with me for a night or two. The thought makes my heart hurt even more. It’s all too much to think about at once.
I open the door to my bedroom, and I’m roughly grabbed by the arm. I’m pulled inside and the door shuts behind me. The lock clicks into place, and suddenly I’m trapped.
“Vlad,” I say, shocked to see him standing in my bedroom. He’s still wearing what he had on at dinner, but his coat is gone. My heart thuds with excitement for a moment until I pay attention to the look on his face. He’s livid. I take one step back and then another. His eyes narrow on me as if he’s tracking my every movement, waiting to pounce.
“You’re taking offers for your hand in marriage?” he growls. The playful dominance from before is gone, and in its place is possessive power. It’s coming off of him in waves so strong that I swear I can feel them crashing against my body. “You can keep stepping away from me, Princess, but there’s no escape. I told you that you were mine.” He slowly comes closer, closing the distance between us. “And I meant it.”
I open my mouth to tell him to get out, but he’s quicker than his size would suggest. He’s on me like an animal, lifting me off my feet and throwing me over his shoulder. He stalks towards my bed and tosses me onto it as I struggle not to squeal.
His pins me down with his weight, as if to keep me from getting away. But I don’t want to. I spread my legs, letting his big body nestle between them as he sinks into my embrace. The sadness I was feeling melts away. I don’t know how he does it, but I feel safe, even with him looming over me like he’s a lion that’s just caught its dinner. His presence makes everything instantly better.
He grabs my hands, holding me more securely. I can’t stop myself from lifting my hips, wanting him closer. Wanting him all over me.
“You’re mine, Princess. Mine,” he bites out.
“Yours,” I agree. I want him so badly right now. My body aches for it. No, not only my body, but my heart, too. This man is a warrior. He’s a protector, and I know that for once in my life someone will take care of me. He will shelter me, and I want to fall into that. Fall into him.
A slow smile spreads across his face. “That’s good you agree, Princess, because I’m going to do something that will ensure no one can ever take you from me.”
In one quick motion I feel my panties being ripped from my body.
Chapter Four
Vlad
“Do you feel what’s happening between us, Princess?” I toss the scrap of lace away and look down at her bare pussy. “Do you feel my claim on you yet?”
“Oh God,” she moans, her eyes wild with passion.
“No, sweet Tabitha. Only my name passes your lips when your pussy is out for me to taste.”
“Vlad, I’ve never - ” She bites her lip and then shrugs.
“I’m trying to hold on to my control and you dare tempt me with such filthy talk? Telling me that your pretty little cunt has been saved for me is enough to push me over the edge.”
She gives me a smile that is both sexy and playful. I can’t deny her or myself any longer, and I move down her body.
“Strip that dress off and let me look at what’s mine.” I push her thighs farther apart and stare down at her wet pussy. Her pink lips are spread just enough to expose her clit. I lick my lips and slip my hands under her ass and lift her up to my mouth.
I moan at the flavor of her innocence and bury my face as deep as I can. I feel her thighs come up around my face, and I welcome it. I want to be surrounded by her cunt and all her beautiful curves. There’s no way I can get close enough.
Looking up, I see her hands grip the sheets beside her, and that won’t do. Reluctantly I take my mouth off of her warm center and give her a hard stare.
“I said strip, Princess.”
She fumbles with the material, and I put my mouth back on her sugary pussy. I try to hold back the laugh as I see her close her eyes and enjoy the pleasure but then remember her task. She gives up at some point, and I hear the rip of material. Her body is completely bared to me.
Her trim waist leads up to her full breasts. I move my hands up her body and rub her nipples. The hard peaks beg for my touch, and I give both of them a little pinch.
“Vlad. What are you doing to me?” She’s out of breath, and her back arches off the bed.
I dip my tongue into her innocence and back to her clit before circling the little bud. Her body tightens, and she clenches the pillow behind her. I lay one of my heavy arms across the lower part of her body and hold her down, keeping the steady, even rhythm.
“No one but me hears your pleasure, Princess. Use the pillow if you need to.”
I go back to the slow circles and watch as she grabs the pillow and puts it over her mouth. Barely a second later I hear the muffled screams of her orgasm and feel the wetness coat my face. I lap up her honey and drink it down like it’s a prize I’ve won.
Licking her gently, I pull her orgasm from her and coax it for as long as possible. I kiss the insides of her thighs and make love to her soft skin with my mouth. I want her to remember the first time I ate her and never forget the pleasure I can give her.
Just when I think the last of her body has given itself up to me, I run my nose along the flesh on the inside of her thigh. I kiss her once and then bite down, marking her. I feel her body tense again, and she shudders in pleasure as I lick the place I marked. I like seeing it there, knowing I did it. I want to claim all of her, and I want the world to see it. I can’t yet, but this will work. For now.
I strip off my clothes and stand there, letting her look at me. Look at the last man she’ll ever have. Her eyes widen when they land on my cock, the hard length pointing nearly straight up to my belly button. Reaching down, I stroke myself and feel the wetness of the tip. I spread the moisture up and down my shaft as I jerk my cock in front of her.
Her thighs fall open a little wider, and then her hips rise in invitation.
“Do you want me, Princess?”
She nods, but I wait, needing to hear the words.
“Make love to me.”
I climb on the bed and kiss my way up her
body, stopping at her breasts to pay homage to their perfect sweetness. I can’t wait to taste them when they’re filled with milk for our babies. She’ll be round and ripe and ready to feed.
I rub my cock through her slick desire, lubing it up and getting it ready for her. It’s a tease for both of us, and I don’t know how long I’ll be able to last.
“You’re too goddamn tempting. I’m not going to last,” I growl as I slip the tip inside her.
“I want to feel you, Vlad. All of you. I’ve never wanted someone like this before.”
“And you never will again. This is it for you. For both of us.”
I thrust inside her, letting her warm, wet heat take all of me. Her body tenses, and I kiss her lips softly, trying to soothe the pain.
“I’ll never hurt you again, Tabitha,” I whisper, and rub my nose against hers.
I don’t want the first time I make love to her to be painful, but breaking her barrier is a reminder that she’s pure, that she’s saved herself for this moment. For her husband. For me.
“Move,” she moans as I kiss her neck and run my hands all over her silky body.
“Not yet,” I say against her breast as my mouth covers one of her nipples.
The feel of the hard peak in my mouth is almost enough to have me going off inside her. But I hold off and wait until she’s nearly impossible to hold down. I want her begging for my thrusts and on the edge, as close as I am.
“Please, Vlad. I’m dying.”
“You think I would let my princess die? No, I don’t give you permission.” I smile down at her, and she tries to scowl. I take the look off her face when I pull out and then thrust back in.
She closes her eyes and leans her head back as her hips rise to meet every stroke of my cock. I look down between us and see my cock disappearing inside her. It’s too much, and I have to close my eyes tightly to keep myself in check.
“Harder, Vlad,” she whispers, and I look up to see the intensity in her eyes.