Page 19 of Unmasked

She belonged here.

“My Intended has arrived. They’ll face their deaths in the morning.”

I headed in Penelope’s direction, raking my eyes over the curves displayed from the black fitted dress she wore. She didn’t leave the doorway but waited for me to come to her.

“You’re early.”

“I couldn’t stay away a moment longer.”

I bit my bottom lip, sliding my hand to her lower back as I led her from The Throne Room and into the halls that led to my bedroom. The moment we were inside, I pulled her body into mine, crushing my lips into hers.

The moan that met me had my fingers digging into her lower back and ass. I didn’t wait. I pulled the dress over the top of her head, wrapping around her as I drank in her desperate cries.

Penelope was pulling at my jacket and pushing it free. She jerked at my shirt, tearing it open. Buttons rolled on the floor, and we had our clothes off in record time.

I wasn’t even sure how we made it to the bed. I was so consumed by her taste, by the way my body craved nothing but hers, I was lost. Dark hair was splayed across my comforter, and I knew we were sideways on the mattress. I didn’t care as I latched to her neck, sucking hard against her skin. The tinge of blood I tasted had me growling as I pulled away. The agony around my heart was beautifully conflicting. The love I held for her could obliterate worlds. It was destroying me. Rebuilding… me.

The Vaughn I used to know no longer existed. This new me, there wasn’t anything he wouldn’t do for her. Her attention. The taste and scent of her skin. I was a dead man living as a condemned king, and yet my belief in us together told me this country, this false king who claimed my title, didn’t stand a chance. We were the future—and we were coming—for everything.

Confidence soared, turning terrifyingly real for the first time. It was as if, it was when. It was now.

“Vaughn?”

I was breathing hard, staring down at her and swallowing through the inevitable.

I didn’t speak as I reached forward tracing down the side of her face. A calm washed through. A stillness, and it came with my knowing.

“What is it? You thought something.”

My head slowly went back and forth as I lowered. “Later.”

My lips brushed down her chest, and I closed my lids, losing myself back to her. My tongue teased her nipple, and I sucked it into my mouth, basking in her quick, little sounds.

Fingers pushed through my hair, and Penelope held on as I moved to tease her other breast.

Wetness met my fingertips. I kissed down her body, teasing her pussy as I let my teeth rake between her ribs. I bit gently, sucking before I continued further down.

Love didn’t exist here. It felt way beyond that. No… This wasn’t love—this was obsession—addiction. I was dying for her in every way but the real one.

Rubbing in the wetness against her pussy, I circled over her clit, building her up as I lowered even more.

Penelope’s body was trembling as she held steady to my hair, easing me lower. Her legs were shaking. I sunk my teeth into her lower stomach causing her to cry out. When I moved down and added suction over the top of her slit, Penelope’s head flew up and her lips parted through the gasp. She took deep breaths, arching as she fell back. My tongue lowered, flicking against her. I sucked. I pushed inside to taste her even more.

I took my time.

My Intended’s moans grew louder, and I pulled back, easing a finger in deep. Her hips arched even more and her rocking was automatic.

“Tell me.” Penelope’s voice was desperate. Breathy. “I want to hear it. Vaughn… please… tell me. I…” A cry left her and her head lifted so she could look at me. Pink tinted her cheeks and her lids were heavy with passion. Agony. Yes, that longing ache twisted a little tighter in my chest.

“I love you.” I slowly traced my tongue over her clit as I added another finger. “More than the sun⁠—”

“The moon—” She whimpered.

“The stars—” I countered.

“The air I breathe. The air—Vaughn. ” Her lips opened and parted a little more. She let go of my hair, gripping to the comforter. I pushed my fingers as deep as they would go, slowly thrusting and rubbing along her insides.

The spasms that shook her was more than a release—it was proof.