And then I froze. I froze and I shivered, a little tremor rattling through my whole body.
…Because those eyes were locked right on me. Those fierce, glowing, animalistic eyes positively burned right through me, nailing me to the spot. I gasped, my heart jumping, and something wicked pulsing between my legs before I yanked my head back around, clutching at my gown as if to still my own hands.
What had that been?
I shivered at the illicit feeling I’d just had for this— this— beast of a man, and shook my head. Maybe I needed something to drink.
Imogen shook her had, answering for me. “Who knows why he’s here. Dad invited everyone I guess.”
“But he showed?”
They all glanced at each other before nervously glancing over my shoulders again.
“What's the big deal?”
I knew what the big deal was. I knew Prince Logan hadn’t been seen in at least a year and a half, and him standing at a courting ball was serious news.
But I still asked
Adele balked at me. “The big deal besides him going crazy and murdering everyone here?”
I laughed, nervously. “He wouldn’t do that.”
Ilana shook her head, her eyes worried. “Isla, he would—”
“I wouldn’t do what?”
I squeaked.
I actually squeaked, like a squirrel or something at the deep, resonating, gravelly baritone voice behind me. I whirled, and suddenly, everything else faded away. Because towering in front of me, was Prince Logan.
He enveloped me, this beast of a man easily two and half times my size. His sheer size had me shivering, towering above me like that. And those eyes — my goodness those eyes! I could feel the heat creep into my face. I could feel that naughty, totally inappropriate pulse again between my legs.
I swallowed thickly, my eyes locked on his.
“Tell me, Princess,” he growled, those eyes burning into mine. I gasped quietly as he reached down, a single thick finger tilting my chin up as his eyes captured mine.
“What wouldn’t I do?”
Chapter 4
Logan
“I— I mean we were just—”
“You’re wondering if the rumors are true.” I said evenly, watching her eyes get big.
She shook her head.
“Of course you are.”
They all were.
“You want to know if I’m going to turn into a wolf or a bear or something and eat someone.” I growled out that last part, finding a sort of glee when her two friends squeaked and jumped back a step.
She didn’t though.
Her — the one who’d caught my eye the second I walked in. I’d stepped into that ballroom ready to walk back out. I’d taken a breath and steeled myself for misery. But then I’d seen her, and it was like for the first time in four fucking years, light had come into my life again.
For the first time in four goddamn years, it was like the clouds parted and sunlight had hit my face again like a long lost friend. And right then, I knew what I’d said to Cade was wrong.
That whole thing about tonight “not being a problem”? Yeah, I’d been very wrong.
Very, very wrong.
Because one look at this gorgeous, innocent creature, and I knew everything was going to change. I knew she was going to be a very big problem.
“What’s your name, Princess?” I husked, feeling my pulse roar under my skin. I could feel the beast stirring inside. Fuck, I could smell the scent of her, could feel the heat from her skin, even though we were still about a foot apart.
I imagined shredding that dress from her lithe little body and devouring her. I lusted to taste her, to run my tongue over every goddamn inch of her.
I hadn’t had these thoughts in four years. Needless to say, my cock was fucking rock hard in seconds.
“Isla,” she said quietly, “Princess Isla Morningstar.”
I barely heard her, since every part of me was fixated on those perfect,plump lips forming the words. But then, I did hear those words, and they rang a bell. For four years, I’d removed myself from the “who’s who” of the royal families. I’d just stopped giving even a remote shit about that. But then, Morningstar rang a bell. Morningstar, as in, King Lucian Morningstar.
As in, tonight’s host.
Those lips of hers curled into a small smile, her cheeks flushed as she realized I wasn’t saying anything. My finger was still on her chin, and I could feel the heated throb of her pulse in her neck.
I ground my teeth, barely containing myself. Barely holding back the beast that wanted nothing more than to yank her against me, claim those sweet lips as mine and mine only, and then take the rest of her, right here on the ballroom floor. My cock lurched inside my tuxedo pants, my pulse hammering like a drum, and my balls feeling heavy with need for her.
I wanted her. The need for her snarled and roared inside. I wanted to claim her and breed her, and run away with her, keeping her as my own.