The sight brought heat to his core.
As he reached her, he stayed on all fours, hovering above her. With arms and legs on either side of her body, he gazed at her with his grey-blue eyes. Deep, Adalia matched his stare, and it brought a boyish grin to his face.
Adalia shuffled down the bed so she was lying on her back—looking up at him.
Unable to resist the invitation in her gaze, Matthias stretched his legs out, one nestled between hers and one of hers nestled between his.
Reaching up both hands, Adalia wrapped them around the back of his neck and pulled him towards her. Matthias leaned in and claimed her mouth once again.
The kiss was deeper this time, not as feverish, both taking their time in tasting one another with each and every touch. Adalia raked her fingernails firmly up and down Matthias’s back, nothard enough to break the skin. The prince buried one hand in her brown hair at the back of her head while the other traced lazy lines up and down her ribs, fingers skimming over the silk fabric of her nightgown.
Pulling back, Matthias caught his breath as he took in the woman before him, her face flushed and lips swollen. “Well, that’s one way to be welcomed back.” He grinned.
“Do you often frequent ladies’ bedrooms without their knowledge and try to seduce them with your tender serenade?” Adalia teased, her breath coming in short gasps.
“Only yours.” Matthias flashed her a smile. “I’m sorry I turned up unannounced. I’ve never winnowed so far before and I didn’t think it would work.”
Adalia’s brow lifted in surprise. “I didn’t even know you could do that. What else are you hiding from me?
“The only gift for being a Prince of Darkness . . . but don’t tell anyone, or I’ll have to punish you,” Matthias softly growled as he sprinkled feather light kisses over her face.
Adalia giggled.
The way she looked at him brought a grin to his face. “Sorry it took me so long.”
“Don’t apologise. Just promise me you are staying this time?” Adalia whispered as Matthias placed his forehead on hers.
“I’m not going anywhere, little dove. I will stay for as long as you’ll have me.”
She grinned and rolled out from underneath Matthias, knocking his arm gently so he fell against her bed and with ease, she flipped them. Straddling his hips, she placed both hands placed upon his chest.
“I want you to stay forever,” Adalia softly murmured.
Matthias was mesmerised by her voice. Sitting up, he used one arm for support and the other tucked a small tendril of hair behind Adalia’s ear. “Then I will stay forever,” he said as his wings curled around them both and trapped them in a soft, feathery cocoon.
Adalia leant forwards and placed a single kiss on Matthias’s forehead. Then she trailed light ones all over his face, from hiseyelids to the nape of his neck. “Care to explain the busted lip and bruising on your face?”
Small bumps prickled his skin and Matthias struggled to keep his eyes open from the pleasure of her touch.
This woman was going to be the death of him.
Taking one of his hands in hers, Adalia studied it. “And what happened to your knuckles?”
Matthias pulled his hand away a little, but she held on firmly.
“It wasn’t my choice, but it was fight night at the palace tonight, and Snake challenged me.”
“That piece of trash,” Adalia huffed with a scrunched brow. “Please tell me he didn’t win?”
Matthias chuckled at her response. “He probably feels like trash right now, but no, he didn’t win.”
Grinning, Adalia resumed her task of covering the prince’s face in soft kisses.
He nuzzled her back before pulling away, and her brows furrowed.
“Stop me from kissing you one more time, sir, and we’re going to have words.” Adalia half- teased, half-threatened. “You better not be leaving.”
The prince chuckled. “I have no plans of going anywhere; I want to do this properly.”
