Crown Prince's Bought Bride

With an impatient growl, he levered himself off her, shrugged off the offending garment and tossed it away. Eyes glued to hers, he nudged her legs apart. Heat rushed into her face as his gaze slowly dropped to where her dress had ridden up her thighs.

One impatient hand pushed the material higher, exposing the tops of her garter belt and the lacy panties already growing damp with need.

He made a rough sound under his breath. Then he settled himself over her, the rigid column of his erection imprinting itself unashamedly against her damp centre as he fused his mouth to hers once more.

Time grew elastic. All Maddie knew was that she was at the point of screaming her need, of begging him to ease the terrible ache at her core when he reached between them and boldly cupped her sex.

He swallowed her hot gasp, his tongue flicking erotically against hers as his hand delved beneath the lace of her panties. Expert fingers grazed the swollen bundle of nerves and her whole body burned furnace-hot. She wasn’t aware that her nails had dug into his shoulders until he flinched and raised his head.

For a taut moment, stormy eyes stared down at her. ‘How are you doing this to me?’ he muttered thickly, as another whisper of guilty bewilderment flickered over his face.

Her face flamed. ‘I... I’m...’

He shook his head, denying her stuttered response. Still staring at her, he let his fingers explore, circling her slowly, erotically. Another whimper burst from her throat and, seeing the single-minded purpose on his face, she felt a tiny sliver of apprehension pierce through her desire.

He was touching her where no other man had.

Suddenly the virginity she’d pushed to one side in her fight for survival became a precious commodity she didn’t want to throw away on a quick fumble. Certainly not with a man who looked at her with guilt-laden eyes.

She grabbed his wrist, halting the wicked onslaught between her thighs. ‘Remi...’

He stilled, his eyes widening a fraction as he slowly exhaled. ‘You want me to stop?’ he breathed in quiet astonishment, as if he couldn’t believe it.

She couldn’t believe it either. ‘I...’ The denial that had surged so true in her head moments ago faltered.

His free hand spiked into her hair and his lips found the sensitive area beneath her ear. Delirium heightened and she fought to breathe.

‘I don’t know why I crave you like this. If you really want me to stop, say so,’ he rasped in her ear.

She squeezed her eyes shut, absorbing the thrilling shiver that coursed through her before she attempted to find her voice again. ‘I’m not stopping you... I’m... I don’t know...’ She paused, self-consciousness pummelling her. ‘I’m a virgin,’ she finally blurted.

He reared back as if he’d been shot, expelling a stunned breath as he stared down at her. With hectic colour staining his cheeks, and hair dishevelled from her frenzied exploration, he was the most spectacular sight she’d ever seen.

Maddie wanted to rise up, explore more of him before this thing inevitably ended. But then that skilful hand began to move again. Slowly. Tortuously.

‘Tell me why you’re twenty-four and still a virgin,’ he demanded, his grey eyes almost black with stormy desire.

The pleasure strumming through her almost made her vision blur. ‘Before you jump to conclusions—no, I haven’t been waiting around for the perfect opportunity to hand my virginity to a crown prince. You’re... You don’t have the monopoly on emotional challenges. I was let down by someone I trusted. After that sex became...inconsequential.’

That wave of possessiveness washed over his face again, and then, his eyes still boring into hers, his touch intensified. There was something mind-melting about having him watch every whimper of pleasure he drew from her.

By the time he circled one finger at her entrance, she was a mindless wreck. She wasn’t going to pass out. She refused to. She wanted to remember every second of this ride. Because it had to stop soon.

‘Whoever he was, did he make you feel like this?’ he rasped gruffly.

Her hair unravelled further as she shook her head. ‘Never,’ she whispered.

‘Do you want me to stop?’

She swallowed. ‘No...’

Pure male satisfaction flared over his face. Then, before she could wrestle back the last of her sanity and put a stop to this madness, his finger slid inside her. Slowly. Carefully. Ensuring she felt every breath-stealing second of invasion.

Her muscles clenched around him, greedily absorbing the giddy sensation. Then Remi touched the barrier of her innocence and the look on his face was transformed again, eclipsing all previous emotions.

Her heart lurched, thumped wildly against her ribs as she deciphered it. Shock. Hunger. Possessiveness. Raw and unadulterated.