The bell tolled midnight, and Ethan did something crazy. He leaned in to kiss me.
I don’t know if he meant to, or if it just happened. One moment I was looking into those perfect eyes, and the next, his hands had reached out to yank me against him. His mouth ravenously pressed against mine.
The kiss was soft, and warm, and deliriously heated. It was better than anything I could’ve imagined. An empty part of me began to fill up as his gorgeous lips moved over mine, and a radiating buzzing spread throughout my body, beginning at my core and flowing all the way to the ends of my being.
I didn’t know how to react to this. I’d never kissed anyone before. Never cared to. Men were too much work. But by the gods,Ethan.I wanted to fall inside of him and soar forever. This kiss felt like a flawless jump performed on the ice. It was better than a gold medal being placed around my neck after the perfect program. The kiss had every bit of the feeling of flying that skating gave me, but there was so much more behind it. I was surprised I didn’t grow wings. I couldn’t believe Ethan’s lips were against mine. His touch was fueled by so much passion… and unspoken words that were brought to light without ever being said.
As if by instinct, I relaxed, and my eyes closed. I leaned into the kiss and moved my hands over his chest as the affection deepened. Ethan dared to drift his hands downward so they settled on my hips, but gods, I wanted more. Like, take-my-panties-off-nowmore.
I decided to take things up a notch. I lightly bit his lower lip before I glided the tip of my tongue against his. Ethan let out a moan, as if that one little motion drove him insane. He came closer and pressed his hips against mine.
I felt something brush up against my leg, and I realized… he had a freaking hard-on. Like, bad. It was so intense that I could feel it through the layers of my skirt. I’d never felt a guy’s dick against me before, but just the sensation of Ethan rocking against my pelvis as we made out made me love it. All I wanted was for him to be in me, right then, right now.
But hell if it stopped there. My cloak slipped off as Ethan’s hands roamed over my bare shoulders. He deepened the kiss and pushed his tongue further inside of my mouth. I accepted his offering and groaned. It seemed involuntary when I fisted my hands inside his hair and yanked his head back. I kissed him like this would be the last time. If all I had was this kiss forever, it wouldn’t be enough. I needed to drink from this river of pleasure every day. Our chemistry was like some kind of drug, taking control of my mind and intoxicating every part of me until I could hardly stand to breathe.
Oh, gods. Please, touch my boobs.
I grabbed Ethan’s hands and tried to put them over my breasts. But the moment I did that, it was like the spell ended. He broke the kiss and jumped back, taking a few quick breaths. His hair was wild, due to me messing it up, and the look in his eyes were panicked… like he couldn’t believe he’d just done what he did.
Well, at least the question if he found me attractive was solved. I thought I didn’t float his boat at all, but I turned out to be completely wrong.
I’d believed we’d never have sex. Now I was thinking my virginity wouldn’t last till morning.
Ethan cleared his throat. “You… we should get to bed.”
“What are you referring to?” I dared to ask. Ethan reddened a deep scarlet.
He managed to choke out, “We need sleep for tomorrow. It’s already late.”
Ethan took my hand. Our fingers intertwined as we entered the school and climbed the staircase back to the dormitories. My head was freaking spinning, and I needed to change my underwear. I could barely breathe. That kiss had been the most incredible thing I’d ever experienced. All I was thinking about was when we’d get to make out again.
Ethan stood at the entrance to my dorm and gave my hand a squeeze before letting go. His eyes locked on my face. “Goodnight, Emma.”
Like the wolf he was, Ethan silently swept away and vanished. I was left paralyzed, the feeling of his roaming hands all over my body still caressing me like a phantom.
I didn’t understand how I could fall for two people. But I did know one thing.
Prince Ethan was officially crazy. And I was officially in love with him.
Chapter Twenty-One
Ethan
The day of the Contest was finally here, and I hadn’t gotten a lick of sleep the night before. I’d been too busy tossing and turning as I recalled what it felt like to have Emma’s lips on mine.
I’d never kissed anyone like that before. The experience wasn’t something I could put into words. It was all feelings and instinct. When my mouth was on hers, I felt like an animal. A powerful beast who wanted nothing more than to stake my claim and take her with an eager thirst.
And make her enjoy every second of the process.
It was improper, it was crude, and Iloved it.That kiss was all wolf. It was a longing need. Enough to make my instincts go crazy. I hated to admit I’d done some not-so-mentionable things well after turning in for the night. Several times. Yet it wasn’t enough to satisfy the need. When she’d put my hands on her breasts— so cruel. It was enough to make a grown man fall to his knees.
My body craved Emma’s. But I couldn’t have her. Not yet. There was business to attend to— and if I didn’t pay attention, Emma and I would never get our chance to be together before our lives were taken by the Contest. Sex, unfortunately, would have to wait.
Early that morning Emma and I had been escorted to the tourney area. There was a wooden arena outside of the city where the Contest would be held. Beyond that were multiple tents for the contestants and Contest officials.
We didn’t speak on the way to the tourney. Neither of us dared to mention the kiss last night. Both of us were acting like nothing ever happened— which was absolutely suffocating. I wanted to address things, but now wasn’t the time. Our minds had to be focused on survival.
As contestants, Emma and I had gotten our own tent. There was a bed for rest, a table, chairs and pillows, along with trunks for our things and carpets lining the ground. A changing screen lined the back of the tent. When we arrived, we saw two hunks of metal sitting on the table, along with clothes in navy and black. Embroidered on the clothes was a wolf’s head emblem against a checkered background. Our tourney flag and colors.
