He bit hard against his lip, tasting blood as he fought to keep from plunging deep inside. He entered her slowly, feeling her wetness sheathe every inch of his shaft. Lowering his mouth to the curve of her breast, he penetrated until he could go no further. He held steady, not moving as he raised himself up above her.
“I want every night with you. Every morning.” He began to move, punctuating his words with the rhythm of his thrusts. Serena arched her back, pressing deeply against him. He could feel her body squeezing his manhood as he entered her. When he increased the tempo, she lost every inhibition, her body trembling as she climbed closer to her release.
She was achingly close to her climax, and her nails dug into his back. “I won’t let you die, Karl. I promise I’ll come to you. But you have to leave.” She was half-sobbing, when he covered her nipple with his mouth, sucking hard while his hand stroked the other breast. “I love you.”
Karl closed his eyes, never ceasing his rhythmic penetrations. It didn’t seem possible that anyone could love him, but he needed her. More than anything else.
He held her close as he continued pumping into her, until she shuddered in her climax. As she came apart, he groaned, releasing his seed inside her.
He lay atop her, still mostly clothed, his body damp with perspiration. She lay motionless, not looking at him. Karl adjusted his clothing, fastening his trousers and turning her over. “We need to leave, Serena.”
She stood and took him by the hand. With slow steps, she walked with him to the door.
“Do you need help getting dressed?” he asked.
She shook her head. “I can’t go with you at this moment. It would attract too much attention. Let me meet you just before dawn. Wait for me beyond the gates where you first kidnapped me.”
Her voice held an emptiness, as if she were trying to make him leave her behind. He drew her into his arms, holding her close. “Don’t surrender, Serena. Fight for what you want.” His hands threaded through her hair, and he felt the dampness of her tears against his shoulder.
She gripped him hard and whispered, “I’ll come…as soon as I can.”
He didn’t believe her. The bleakness in her face held the shadow of tears. “If you don’t, I’ll come after you. I swear it on my life.”
At first light, Serena went to visit her mother. Queen Clara looked slightly better than the last time she’d seen her. There was color in her face, and she was seated in a chair instead of resting in bed. The silvery gown she wore accentuated Clara’s light brown hair, and a light filled up her smile when she laid eyes on Serena.
“I’ve missed you,liebe Mutter,“ Serena said, kneeling at her mother’s feet and embracing her.
Frail arms came around her shoulders, and Clara touched her cheek. “I understand you were kidnapped by a prince.”
Serena nodded. “Anna sent him to protect me, believing that it would save my reputation if anyone learned I was traveling alone. But things…turned out differently.”
Her mother reached out and took her hand. “You have feelings for this man, don’t you?”
Though Serena lowered her head in a yes, there were no words she could express. She loved Karl enough that she had to protect him from her father’s wrath.
Last night, when he’d come to her room, she’d been both elated and terrified that he was here. Though she’d wanted nothing more than to flee, she knew that Freiherr Albert von Meinhardt, had positioned two dozen guards all around the palace—men loyal to her father. She didn’t know how Karl had managed to get inside her room without being seen, but it was impossible for her to escape a second time. Not without leading him into danger.
Better to love him while he was still alive than to bring about his death from her own selfish wishes.
Clara patted her shoulder. “I am sorry that you cannot marry him any longer.” Her mouth drew into a taut line. “But I understand you are to wed Freiherr Meinhardt in two days.”
“I won’t wed him,” Serena said. She told her mother of the Freiherr’s decision to imprison Captain Feldmann’s wife and child. “Not a man who would stoop so low.”
Her mother looked aghast. “What will you do?”
“I’m going to abdicate my throne to Anna.” A quiet resignation filled her up inside, and she felt at peace with the decision. Running away would not solve anything. If she was to live her life as a commoner, she didn’t want to be constantly looking over her shoulder for soldiers. She wanted to be free.
And that meant facing the king’s fury.
“Serena,” her mother continued, “your father has ordered you to meet with him, once we’ve finished talking. Shall I come with you?”
“It would be better if you remained here,” she answered, knowing that her mother was not strong enough to defend her. “I will face him alone.”
And I won’t cower before him, she promised herself. Though she didn’t believe that he would let her go, she was ready to face the worst of his temper. She had her own reason to fight, a reason that was waiting for her beyond the gates.
She rose from her mother’s side and nodded to her ladies. “I will see my father now.”
As they walked down the hallway, Katarina came to her side and offered her hand. Serena took it, and though she wore gloves, her fingers were icy cold.
