‘And we can’t possibly be seen.’
‘That’s in your best interests.’
‘Very concerned for my best interests, aren’t you?’
Touched by the wistful vulnerability in her soft mouth and shy eyes, he pushed away from the door and strolled towards her—immediately gratified by the sensual wariness that smouldered more every step he took.
‘I’m very concerned for you, full stop,’ he said honestly. ‘But I’m willing to do whatever you want me to.’
Rebellion tightened his muscles. His natural instincts were at war. He conceded power to no one, but for Elsie tonight he’d give it in order to take it. One and the same. Everything they both wanted.
‘Even if it’s wrong?’
‘I’m yours, Elsie.’ He reminded himself of the boundaries to ease his tension. ‘Yours until dawn.’
Her eyes sparked with a gleam of something he wasn’t sure he could handle.
‘Where do you usually take your lovers if not here?’ she asked, the colour in her cheeks betraying her. ‘You do have lovers, right?’
‘Not often.’
‘No?’ Her eyes glittered.
He chuckled. ‘Does that worry you?’
She shook her head and her gaze dropped. ‘I hope I’ll...’
He clamped his jaw as a hot shaft of possessiveness flooded him. She brushed a stray lock of hair from her face and he saw the tremble in her fingers.
‘Tonight is it. All there’ll ever be,’ he said.
Not because she wasn’t worthy. But because he refused to have her endure everything else that came with him. Lovers of princes and kings weren’t treated well by the rest of the world, even in this supposedly modern and permissive age. This was a symbolic last moment of freedom. Of choice. Because she wasn’t a choice he could make after tomorrow. And that was for her benefit, not his. Tomorrow she’d be gone for good.
‘Are you taking a vow of celibacy tomorrow too?’ she asked.
He didn’t know how it was going to work. An occasional discreet lover here and there. He hadn’t considered it until now and, honestly, he didn’t care. As long as he had her. Tonight. Now.
She ran her tongue along her lips. ‘I think you should stop wasting time...’
For all the bravado she was emotional, maybe even a little nervous. He was going to take care with her. Gentle, savage care. He’d wanted her the moment he’d seen her and she was so close to being his.
Who knew desire could be so total and destructive—tearing reason and rational thought into confetti and scattering it on a storm of lust? But this wasn’t just sexual desire. He was drawn to her strength and vulnerability, her humour and earnestness, sassiness and sweetness. He knew her past hindered her and he almost didn’t want to know why. It didn’t matter what it was because there could be no future between them anyway. He’d watched her in that café and knew she needed her freedom. He’d never allow someone so beautiful to wither as a prisoner here and that was what would happen. He planned to be the last King of Silvabon and it was a path he had to take alone.
But tonight? As she’d said. He was merely a man. And he couldn’t resist her a second longer.
Elsie couldn’t believe she was in a vast room so ornate it ought to be monstrous. Yet it wasn’t. It was rich and lush and, despite the size, incredibly intimate. That Felipe was so accustomed to such a literally gilded life? He had no idea how uncommon this decadent atmosphere was. But she forgot about the intricately carved wooden crests and glittering crystal chandeliers that made the gold glow because he cupped her face and kissed her—lips, cheekbones, jaw. He leisurely trailed along the base of her neck, gifting her a collar of kisses, licking the pulse of pleasure, exposing her vulnerability and responsiveness to his touch. Delight swirled, building a stronger need. She wanted more. She sank her full weight against him and let him into her mouth, her body...licking him back. She ached for him to take it all. He dropped a hand to stroke her backside and rocked her closer still against him. The rhythm maddened her, pushed her closer to an edge that she couldn’t quite grasp. Now she would feel him, have him. Now she would escape this terrible tension. Because it would flow, then ebb, right? Unleashed, it would be explored and then expunged. It had to be, because she was wound so tight she wanted to scream. And he knew. He held her, strong and sure and hard, against his arousal. Her feet parted a little and she pressed again, seeking another rush of pleasure. That pressing need for release bore down on her. Sudden and urgent.
‘Elsie.’ He felt it. Of course he felt it. ‘You want me? Don’t be silent.’
He slid his hand to that aching part at the apex of her thighs. It didn’t matter that she still wore her dress and panties—that his fingers were blocked by two layers of fabric. But his touch was scorching.
She was so hot, so desperate she was almost in tears. ‘Please.’
‘Elsie.’ His low voice was strained but forceful. ‘Take pleasure from me, Elsie.’
She shouldn’t have needed his command—his permission—but she did. She’d never let anyone this close. Never allowed herself to be this vulnerable, this exposed. She’d never had someone hold her and kiss her and touch her until she lost her mind. She bit her lip, hard.
‘I’ve got you,’ he promised.