I stretched against him and yawned. “I don’t think I’ve ever slept so well before.”
His lips lifted in a crooked smile. The easy gesture completely took my breath away. “Good.”
I glanced at the doors to the courtyard, but the curtains were drawn, and the doors had already been locked and warded due to what had happened in the maze. We were alone. Completely. Even though two warriors still stood outside these walls.
“Thank you,” I added. “For holding me.”
“I’m glad it helped. I live to serve you, Princess.”
My heartbeat ticked up because the way he said those words was almost as though he truly meant them.Mine. That word again flitted through my thoughts, reminding me of the fierce way he’d declared that to Abel and the shifters.
I shifted again on the soft, warm mattress only to encounter a very hard and veryerectshaft near my hip.
Kole chuffed and pulled back slightly. “Sorry. A male can only take so much. Your arse has been rubbing against me all night.”
My cheeks warmed, and a soft laugh bubbled out of me. “Oh dear, how dreadful for you.”
He chuckled. “I’m not complaining. But seeing as you’re awake now, and you’reneedingme from last night is now gone, I better get up.” He nodded toward his wrist, toward the magic that would inevitably flare if he didn’t soon put distance between us.
He made a move to lift the sheets, but I latched my hand onto his waist, stopping him. Beneath my grip, his muscles tensed. “Wait. What if I do need you...right now?”
He arched a dark eyebrow, and his voice dipped. “Now? Are you feeling scared again, Princess?”
My toes curled as he initiated the game we’d only just started playing.
“I am.” I cleared my throat and released a quick puff of self-cleansing magic to scrub my teeth and freshen my breath, then tilted my chin up. “I definitelyneedmy warrior to comfort me right now, and if you cast a silencing Shield around us, they won’t hear a thing.” I nodded toward the courtyard and hall, where Xaven and Callahan were likely still stationed.
Kole’s nostrils flared, and his pupils dilated. An instant flare of air elemental magic came from him, alerting me to his Shield being erected, and theverynoticeable bulge in the warrior’s breeches grew.
“In fact, I truly need to do something to feel better. Will you help me feel better, Kole?” I came to my knees, and he rolled onto his back. Dark hair tousled on his head, and his eyes grew hooded.
“I’ll do anything to make you feel good, Princess. Whatever you need, just tell me.”
I cast all of my attention to him and spread my thighs on the mattress to kneel over him. “I really must insist on one thing. Please, Kole. I really do need this. Ineedit. Will you let me?”
I spread my legs more and allowed my silky slip to rise. Kole’s nostrils flared, and his gaze fixated on my exposed flesh.
I ran my finger along his stomach.
He groaned, the sound part growl ofwantand part growl of hesitation, and he said, “Tell me what you need, Princess.”
“I’m most hungry.” I began to unbutton his breeches. “It’s been a long night, and I hardly ate anything during the ball. Ireallymustput something in my mouth. Can you help me with that, as my Imperial Warrior?”
I worked his breeches down, and his cock sprang free. I gasped. I’d never seen him naked before, and the size and length of him had my mouth watering. “Stars. You’re even bigger than I thought you’d be.”
Before he could respond, my hand was around him, gripping him tightly. He hissed, but magic didn’t flare on his wrist, our game still fooling it.
“I’m so hungry.” I pumped my hand up and down his length. “I need to taste you.” I lowered myself to him, and when I ran my tongue over his length, his hips bucked.
“Your Highness,” he growled. “If they catch us...”
“They won’t because Ineedyou.”
The sincerity of my words seemed to hit him, because his tense abdominal muscles loosened. “Fuck, I’m embarrassed to say this, but it probably won’t take long anyway. I’ve been aching for you all night.”
My lips curved in a genuine smile, and I brought him entirely into my mouth and swallowed his length down my throat, opening as much as I could for him. I concentrated on taking him, feeling him, wanting him.
Guttural sounds came from his chest, but I kept my focus on his hardness and my driving desire to show him how much I wanted him. How much I cared for him. Just as he’d done for me during the night.
