Page 76 of Royal Desire

I gasp.

The sensation shoots straight between my legs.

He gives me a squeeze and gives my clit pressure with the heel of his hand. “So wet. Do you know how many times I dreamed of being right here again? Every fucking day, baby. Every fucking day.”

“Every day.” I’m barely able to put together two words.

The truth bleeds from both of us as we bare our souls. He continues to pump two thick fingers deep inside me. I arch my back to get more of him. Payne gives me what I want and moves his hand with vigor, fucking me with his fingers and working my clit.

“I want your orgasm—this one and every one after it. I don’t care what happened in the past or what will happen in the next hour. This is mine, Ruby. I’m taking you back, and I’ll never let go again. Do you understand what that means?”

This time I can’t utter a word to agree, explain, or beg his forgiveness for hurting him. It doesn’t matter how young or scared I was. I had no choice. He deserves the truth, but the very orgasm he demands with his heart and soul is imminent.

He sucks the skin at the nape of my neck between his teeth. They sink into me as he twists my nipple again—a reminder that he’s here. He’s everywhere.

“Give it to me, baby. Give me you and your body and your life. I won’t stop until they’re all mine. Let go.”

I arch my back as the very orgasm he demands washes over me. It racks my body, my heart, my soul. My teeth sink into my bottom lip. It’s all I can do not to cry out for the world—or worse, my brother across the suite—to hear.

This orgasm is unlike any other I’ve ever experienced, even the best ones of my life until this point—the ones given to me by Payne.

A younger Payne. An innocent Payne. A Payne who wasn’t slain by someone who promised to love him forever.

Me.

“Yes, baby.” He doesn’t let up. My orgasm stretches on and on until I can’t take it any longer. “Fuck, you’re more magnificent than my memories.”

I slump in his strong arms that hold me tight to his rock-hard chest. He doesn’t let go—his hand still cups me between my legs like he’s afraid I’ll slip through his fingers.

If only we could ignore the world and stay like this for the rest of time.

He doesn’t roll me over and thrust into me like I thought he might. He stays like this—his hand and my sex impossibly wet from my need and want only for him.

Instead, he holds me and continues to talk. “I meant every word, baby. I need you to tell me that you understand what this means. You’re here, and you’re not going anywhere. This is not an overly emotional hookup for old times’ sake. I will not let you go again.”

My breath and heart rate finally even. I push away enough to roll to my back so I can look up at him. He’s forced to let go of my breast, but his hold on my sex stays possessive and firm.

As firm as the expression on his face.

My words come out in a whisper. “That’s a big demand when there’s so much unsaid between us.”

“I told you, it doesn’t matter. Nothing matters but this.” He leans down and claims my mouth as fiercely as he just claimed my body. His lips are bruising in the best way possible. His tongue explores and tastes me in a way he could nourish his body with mine until the end of time.

I bring my hands to his face and break the kiss but hold him close. I stare intently into his eyes. “Everything matters, Payne. I need you to know things. I need to explain⁠—”

But I don’t have a chance to say anything else. I’m interrupted by his cell that vibrates on the nightstand.

We both freeze, not wanting to move away from each other.

The vibration stops but starts again immediately.

I finally let go of his face. “You should get that. I don’t know what time it is, but I need to get to the hospital and check on Grandma.”

He leans down to claim my mouth one more time before he finally releases me in all ways. When he rolls to his back, I get a beautiful view of his chest, abs, and erect cock strained against the gym shorts he wore to bed last night.

He grabs his phone and looks at the screen before he answers. “Yeah?”

I can’t hear who’s on the other end, but I do glance at the clock on his nightstand. It’s almost six o’clock.