“We have to be careful,” he says.
“We will be.”
He clasps my hand, then lifts it to his lips and kisses it. When he pulls it away, he freezes, eyes wide. “This wasn’t here before.”
A dark tendril spirals from my wrist to my elbow. Small leaves appear along it, making it look like a vine. I sit up and examine the new markings. “How?”
Brevan sits, then holds out his arm. The curving lines along his forearm are the same as the marks I now bear. I look up at him. “What does it mean?”
“I’m not sure, but this is going to be impossible to hide from Caiden.”
“Don’t talk about him right now.” I straddle him, then press my lips to his. I can feel the curve of the smile before he kisses me back.
If this is the only night I get with this man, I don’t intend to sleep.
Forty-Three
“Good morning, Princess,”Brevan says with a bow when I step outside my room.
He’s in his armor. His hair is pulled back neatly, and he’s clean-shaven. I knew he couldn’t stay the night, but I was disappointed to wake to a cold bed.
“Good morning, Enforcer,” I say.
“The prince and the emperor returned early this morning while you were sleeping,” he informs me. “You’ll be happy to know that they met with the emperor’s personal doctor, who says he will make a full recovery.”
“That’s excellent news.” I force a smile.
“I am to escort you to meet with Duchess Drathmore and her friends. They are working on the Darkfall Ball and would like you to join in as it will be your responsibility next Darkfall. Shall we?”
We make a few turns, then go down a flight of stairs. Then we walk down a hall lined with doors. I think it’s another part of the castle I haven’t been in before. It might take me years to explore the whole place. Which means, I never will, because there is no way I’ll be here that long.
Brevan casually turns the handle to a room, then pulls me in after him. He pushes me up against the closed door, and then his mouth is on mine.
I kiss him back as if he’s the air I need to survive. It’s dangerous and stupid, but I can’t stop kissing him. Knowing that every moment with him might be my last makes me abandon reason. I can’t walk away from him.
He breaks our kiss to lift the skirt of my dress until it’s around my waist. It stays put with him pressed so close to me. I reach for his trousers, which is not an easy feat through all the fabric, but he grabs my wrists and pins my arms to the door. He gives me a wicked grin, then his lips are on my neck, then my cleavage. My breath hitches, and I let out a moan.
He drops a hand to cover my mouth, using the other to maintain his hold on both my wrists. “Shh.”
I clamp my mouth shut and swallow back the sounds that threaten to break free as he continues to kiss me everywhere there’s bare skin. He releases my wrists, and his free hand travels below my waist, his fingers expertly teasing and rubbing my clit through the thin fabric of my undergarments. It’s taking all my willpower to keep quiet, and when he slips a finger inside me, I clamp my hand over my mouth to keep from crying out.
He deftly removes my undergarments and tosses them aside, and then my leg is around his waist. I throw my arms over his shoulders and kiss him while he thrusts into me. I’m so wet he slides right in. It’s hurried and intense, and I’m already fighting against an orgasm. He continues to thrust while kneading my breasts over my dress. Our kiss is desperate but claiming. Like we both know this could be the last time.
Tenison builds, winding tight in my belly, threatening to explode. I pull away from the kiss and bite down on my lower lip to keep from crying out as the pressure breaks, sending shockwaves of pleasure through me. Brevan thrusts a few moretimes, and little ripples of ecstasy make me tremble over and over until he gasps and stills as he releases. He withdraws quickly, then uses a handkerchief to clean us up before helping me back into my undergarments.
As we walk down the hall, I’m still flushed and overheated. Brevan’s cheeks are pink, and I think he looks a little more at ease than usual. All that dissolves the second we turn into the sitting room where Lady Drathmore and a group of older women are gathered around piles of fabric and bouquets of every size and color.
With his usual stiffness, Brevan bows to the women. “Lady Drathmore, ladies, Princess Sabina is here to assist as requested.”
“Thank you, Enforcer,” Lady Drathmore says.
He inclines his head again, then leaves the room. I know he’ll be standing in the hall, waiting as usual. I don’t want to think about what it will be like when the emperor sends him away. Or worse, when Brevan discovers who I really am. I hope I can leave before he finds out. I don’t want to see the look of betrayal on his face.
“Princess, thank you for joining us,” Lady Drathmore says. “As you know, the organizing of the Darkfall Ball is the empress’s duty, but since we no longer have an empress,”—she takes a breath and her smile falters for a moment before she fixes it back on her face—“it will be your job. This year, the emperor asked me to take on the honor. Next Darkfall will be yours.”
“I appreciate any guidance you can give me.” I smile, knowing that none of us will be here by the next Darkfall.
“Good. Now, come and meet everyone. My grandson has kept you so isolated that you have yet to meet most of the important people in the empire.” She guides me to the group.
