by Susan Stoker
The scent of her arousal hung in the air, propelling him to pound into her harder and faster, just as she’d pleaded.
“You feel so fucking good.” He tightened his hold on her hips. “You’re mine now. All mine. I’m serious, Cora. I’m never letting you go.”
Chapter Eight
Akeen’s declaration of possession burned through her, warming her soul more than it should. She was drawn to him like a moth to a flame, and she imagined returning to America would leave her physically aching with an emptiness only he could cure. But in the end, an entire ocean would loom between them. This wouldn’t end like a fairytale.
He pounded into her so hard, his balls slapped heavily against her with each thrust. The steady impacts of flesh hitting flesh filled the room, creating an erotic rhythm of sounds when coupled with their rapid breaths and moans. She touched his chest, now gleaming with sweat, and traced the lines of his tribal pattern tattoos. He growled and suddenly withdrew from her center and guided her into a new position.
On her hands and knees, with her bottom lifted high in the air.
Face flaming, she tried to turn back over, but he wouldn’t allow it. He swatted her ass when she made any move to get out of place.
“Akeen, it’s broad daylight in here and—”
“—and you’ll take it from behind like a good girl,” he finished for her, grabbing her hips and sinking into her pussy with one hard drive.
Dark spots momentarily danced in her vision. She blinked and steadied herself on the bed as he pumped in and out of her with vigorous, almost violent, plunges.
She couldn’t move. She could barely breathe. She could only remain on her hands and knees and take every hard thrust he gave her.
Like a good girl.
For a reason she couldn’t fathom, those two little words made her tummy flip, but in a delicious sort of way.
Shame heated her face further when he boldly pulled her bottom cheeks apart. She whimpered into the pillow, unable to stop him from prodding her secret pucker while he continued fucking her. He paused only long enough in his thrusts to steal moisture from between her womanly folds and spread it over her anus, then continued slamming in and out of her pussy with abandon, keeping one finger pressing on her most private hole.
In this position, his balls repeatedly slapped against her throbbing clit, driving her closer and closer to the sweet precipice of ecstasy. Euphoric wave after wave swept over her, and she cried out, riding the pulses of her orgasm while Akeen maintained his rapid pace of fucking her.
The finger prodding her ass became more insistent, but he didn’t quite push into her tightness. Pressure against her most secret hole amplified her arousal and made her come longer and harder than she thought possible. She closed her eyes and cried out. Immense quakes of pleasure stole her breath and robbed her of all rational thought.
“Has anyone ever touched you here before, Cora?” he asked, still pounding away in her pussy. God, the man had stamina. She was spent of all energy, but it didn’t matter because he had enough for the both of them.
“Akeen, I really don’t think that’s any of your business.” What would he think if he discovered she’d seldom enjoyed more than regular missionary position sex? She could count on one hand the number of times she’d been taken from behind, and it had been dark in the room during each of those rare instances. In addition, no one had ever touched her asshole before. The very idea made her entire body flush.
“Answer the question.” He applied more pressure, until he finally breached her snug passage and pushed the tip of his finger inside.
“Oh God!” She jerked against him, the odd but not unpleasant sensation causing her insides to tighten with the return of her arousal. Her clit commenced throbbing, as if she hadn’t just come undone moments ago and was winding up for another release.
He reduced the pace of his thrusts in her pussy, teasing her with slow, shallow drives that made her whimper in frustration. She broke out in a sweat and writhed beneath him as the aching in her core increased and she hovered on the edge of carnal bliss.
“Answer me, Cora, or I will torture you like this all day.”
“Fine! Yes, this is the first time I’ve been touched there.”
She was on the verge of asking him to pound her hard again when he increased his speed and pushed deeper in her ass.
Holy fuck.
Stars exploded behind her eyelids in an array of changing colors, rivaling the display of last night’s fireworks. She moaned as another orgasm pummeled through her, the delicious pulses of heat intensified by the added pressure of having her ass and pussy filled up at the same time.
Akeen emitted another one of his deep sexy growls and slowly withdrew from her bottom hole. He shuddered and gripped her hips harder, the pace of his thrusts in her pussy quickening. His cock jerked inside her and she felt the warmth of his seed spurting out into the thin layer of rubber separating them. She appreciated that he’d used protection without any argument, but damn, she imagined the feel of his unsheathed cock sliding into her pussy would be wondrous.
Maybe another time.
Her spirits soared thinking there might be a next time with Akeen, even as her rational mind wagged a finger at her and urged her to hop on the first plane back to America.
He pulled out of her pussy and she collapsed on the bed beneath him. Though she was exceedingly fatigued, her entire being hummed with satisfaction.
Akeen gave her ass an affectionate slap—yeah, he was definitely an ass man—and vanished into the bathroom for several moments. She heard the running of water followed by a knock on the door.
Fuuuuck. What now? She scrambled under the covers, expecting members of the Royal Guard to barge straight into the bedroom again. But to her relief, the knocking persisted and no one charged in. She supposed that meant it wasn’t an emergency.
Akeen exited the bathroom, shrugging into a plush white robe, and hurried toward the entrance of his quarters.
Her heart pounded. What if they wanted to ask her more questions about Greg? What if they planned to restrict her to the palace beyond the four days she had planned to stay in Ismallia? A wave of sickness rose in her stomach at the thought of leaving, even though she most certainly had to return to Manhattan.
Staying would be madness. She’d only known Akeen for a day.
She reminded herself that he could get any woman he wanted. He probably had a dozen potential girlfriends waiting in the wings. Girls who weren’t as shy and awkward in the bedroom. Her cheeks heated when she recalled how much she’d struggled when he first tried to fuck her from behind, and her surprised reaction to his finger prodding her asshole.
Masculine voices drifted into the bedroom. Curious, she wrapped herself up in the bedsheet and traipsed to the doorway of the bedroom. She peeked out, but didn’t see anyone. She didn’t have a direct view of the entrance of Akeen’s quarters, but she could hear the voices better. Closing her eyes and concentrating, she cocked her head to the side and held her breath, trying to catch a few words or a complete sentence.
Her pulse quickened when she heard her name, but Akeen and the other men—she heard at least two distinct voices in addition to his familiar deep brogue—spoke so quietly that she couldn’t make anything else out. She returned to the bed and waited for Akeen.
***
“Greg Keller’s lover, Maria Heshanoma, has been captured, along with many of her family members believed to be involved in the plot against King Brenul. A group of over twenty of them have been arrested and are being transported to the Royal Guard’s headquarters south of Ta-Kona. It seems the poison affected Greg’s mind badly before he died. He’d been rambling in the hospital about the plot to kill King Brenul and being crossed by his ex-girlfriend, then when the authorities showed up to question him, he gave them your name instead of Maria’s. We aren’t sure if he named you on purpose, or if he was simply delirious from the pain and confused. But it doesn’t matter now, because Maria and th
e others are no longer a threat.”
“That’s good news, then,” Cora said, but she looked uncertain. “Are you leaving now? To help with the investigation?”
“No. I’m not actually a member of the Royal Guard, but when there’s an incident on palace grounds, I often get involved. Or if a suspect isn’t being very forthcoming in their answers, they will sometimes be brought to the palace and locked in the dungeon until I’m able to get them to talk.”
A slight shudder ran through her, and he approached her and sat on the bed, wrapping an arm around her.
“You’re uncomfortable with my line of work.”
“You could say that. How often do you, um, you know.”
“Torture a confession out of a criminal?” He brushed her hair over her shoulder, gathering it into his hand and then releasing it to fall in waves of gold down her back.
“Yes, that.” She gulped and stared at her hands.
“Not often. A few times a year. It’s becoming less and less, as the plots against my father seem to be dying out. He’s well-liked in Ismallia. Most suspects start singing the moment an officer threatens to bring them to me as I’ve developed a certain reputation.” He continued stroking her hair. “I could’ve allowed an officer of the Royal Guard to arrest you and question you, Cora, but I would have felt as if I were abandoning you. I knew I would frighten you, but I couldn’t stand the thought of handing you over to one of the officers. They would have scared you and threatened you, and then I would’ve had no choice but to pummel them to within an inch of their life.”
“I’m glad you don’t have to leave now.” Finally, she met his gaze.
“Me too.” He grasped her hand and squeezed. “Why don’t you get dressed, and I’ll take you to all the touristy places you had planned to visit after the wedding?”
She laughed. “How did you know about that?”
“It’s your first time in my country. I know you’re probably dying to see the giant UFO in the center of Ta-Kona, the clear waters of the Horona Bay, and the endless tulip fields in the north.”
Her expression brightened, her blue eyes sparkling as the tension left her body. “That sounds wonderful. But you must tell me. Is the UFO really a fake? Some of the American tabloids claim it’s real, that the Ismallian Air Force shot it down and put it on display as a war prize and to deter aliens from invading.”
He rose with her in his arms and kissed her forehead. “I wish I could tell you it was real, but alas, it was a publicity stunt, one of my half-brother’s ideas, to increase tourism in our country. Prince Tarius commissioned its creation in secret and it was installed in the center of Ta-Kona in the middle of the night, with no identifying plaque to name it as a work of art or a war prize. It’s also installed in such a way that it appears it crash landed, so there are those who think it hurtled to the earth in the middle of the night. Some residents claim to have heard the noise and have appeared on television to speak about it. The speculation soon began, and the palace has never made an official comment on the UFO’s authenticity.”
“What a genius idea,” she said, laughing.
“It was a genius idea. The tourism industry in Ismallia increased tenfold in the first year. Our economy was fragile a few years ago and on the brink of a recession, but Prince Tarius’ stunt turned it around.” He pressed his hardening cock against her. “I suggest you get dressed now, or we’ll never make it outside my quarters.”
She flushed and scampered to find her dress and flip flops. He tossed his robe on a chair and set about putting his jeans and tee-shirt back on, not once taking his eyes off the beauty that was Cora. She wasn’t only gorgeous on the outside, but on the inside as well. Her gentle spirit was breathtaking and had him captivated. She’d forgiven him for arresting her and had been far more understanding than he deserved for his treatment of her in the dungeon. While she was uncomfortable about his line of work, she hadn’t rejected him because of it. Her entire face had lit up at the prospect of spending more time in his company.
“Do you think we could have lunch at that restaurant that overlooks Horona Bay?” she asked hopefully as she straightened her dress. “In addition to places to visit, I made a list of places to eat while I’m here. Their website boasts they have the best deep-dish pizza and tiramisu in the world.”
“I’ll call ahead and get us a table with the best view, if you promise me one thing.” He strode to her, cupped her face, and peered into her inquisitive gaze.
“What’s that?”
“You’ll stay with me for the rest of your time in Ismallia. I’ll have the servants fetch the rest of your things, including your other suitcase. However, I might have to confiscate all your panties.” He reached one hand down to squeeze her ass. “I like knowing you’re bare underneath your dresses, and all I have to do is flip your skirt up and take you.”
She gave him a playful push. “It’s a deal, but no flipping up my skirt in public.”
“You drive a hard bargain.”
Chapter Nine
Cora sat in her window seat, her heart lodged painfully in her throat. The plane would be taking off soon, and she would return to her life in America. A life that didn’t include a sexy royal bastard.
She shouldn’t be thinking about him. She shouldn’t be thinking about jumping out of her seat and trying to exit the plane, but she couldn’t help it. He’d bid her goodbye before she walked through security. He was probably already back in the palace.
“Come visit me soon, my little American flower,” he had said. “I will arrange for your travels when you’re ready, even fly you in on a private plane.”
She’d melted on the spot and promised she would try, but in reality, a return visit to Ismallia wasn’t in her near future. If she pinched pennies, she could save enough for a stay during the fall, but, even so, that felt like a lifetime away. She was touched that he’d offered to arrange for her travels, but she couldn’t accept his money. What if she allowed him to fly her in on a private plane and their relationship didn’t work out after all? It would be weird. Too weird. In addition to her pride complicating matters, she didn’t want to feel forced into a relationship.
She glanced around, wondering why the plane hadn’t moved from the gate yet. All the passengers had taken their seats, and the flight attendants had already given their safety spiel. At least she had the entire row of seats to herself. If someone sat next to her and tried to make small talk, she would’ve been annoyed.
Closing her eyes, she replayed her final night with Akeen. He’d taught her how to properly suck his cock, calling her a good girl after she swallowed every last drop of his seed. Then he’d taken her from behind again. Twice. He’d ordered her to spread her legs wide apart and show him every little fold and crevice of her pussy, then he’d feasted on her until she came repeatedly while his tongue lapped at her clit.
He’d also looked at her with reverence, as if she was the most precious thing in the world to him. God, it made her heart hurt thinking about it, but their last night together had been magical.
Her stomach flipped as worries intruded into her thoughts. What if he never called her? What if he never emailed her or contacted her again in any way? She would be positively heartbroken. Sure, she had his private information, but what if she contacted him only to receive no reply?
Stop it, Cora. He’s totally into you.
He’d made lovey eyes at her while she stuffed her face with tiramisu, he’d given her at least five times the number of orgasms as she’d given him, and he’d spent every possible moment of the last four days at her side. It was silly to entertain thoughts of him not being into her, she told herself with a sense of finality before she resumed the replay of Akeen’s sexual prowess on their last night together.
But a disruption in the front of the plane soon interrupted her naughty musings. From all the commotion, it sounded like a passenger was arriving at the last minute. Weird. She’d thought the door had already been sealed.
Wit
h a sigh, she opened her eyes, ready to glare at the person responsible for delaying the flight. She gasped and stared in disbelief at the darkly handsome man approaching her seat.
It was Akeen.
He slid into the seat next to her, looking so casual and smug about his last-minute travel plans, that she almost smacked him. He stared at the seat ahead of him, not glancing at her, and pretending as if she was a total stranger.
“This seat wasn’t already taken, was it?”
“You realize this is crazy, right?” she asked, giving him the side eye.
“Probably. But I couldn’t convince you to stay in my country, so I’m inviting myself to yours.”
“What about your obligations, all your duties to the crown as a royal advisor?”
“I took a holiday.” He finally turned his gaze on hers. “My boss says I’m to return as soon as possible, though with my American bride.”
She felt the blood drain from her face. “Your bride? Wow, you really are sure of yourself. When are you planning to propose?”
“As soon as I’m certain you’ll say yes.” He leaned in to capture her lips.
The plane started moving and the captain was making announcements over the speakers, but the whole world faded as Akeen kissed her masterfully. When he finally pulled away, she was flushed and breathing hard. The ten-hour flight was going to be one hell of a tease. By the time they got through customs and grabbed a taxi back to her apartment, it would be at least twelve hours until she could get her hands on him.
As if reading her mind, he leaned over and said, “I’ll ask one of the flight attendants for a blanket when they come by. Then what happens under the blanket, stays under the blanket.”
“Absolutely not. You will do no such thing. You know how loud I am, and you aren’t exactly quiet in the throes of passion yourself, Mr. Cocky.”