As he pulled away, I whined. He tightened his fingers, tangling them in my hair, stretching my neck upward. His mouth roved down my face, my skin tingling at his touch. He suckled on my neck, his other hand loosening his trousers until they plunged to the floor, knives and saber clashing onto the stone.
Grabbing my ass, he tugged me into him. I gasped. He was already throbbing, straining against the thin fabric of his underwear. I reached for him, but he twisted, a seductive chuckle escaping.
“Clement,” I growled.
He ignored me, tugging off my sweater and walking me backward until I fell onto the bed. He shed the rest of his clothes, before sliding down my chest, his mouth closing around one of my breasts. I arched into him, the sheer fabric of my bra clinging to my peaked nipple, warm and wet.
Sliding the knife from my holster, he ran the tip up my skin, pausing in between my breasts. With a grin, he sliced through the middle, and the fabric fell away. Cool air rushed my body. He took my other breast in his mouth and sucked, pressure firing through me. Coils of heat swirled through my lower belly. Not yet, not yet! I couldn’t even control myself.
He lifted, and I half-sighed, half-groaned. He ran the blade down my stomach, tucking the tip just under my waistband. “These are my favorite—” But he ignored me, ripping the fabric and leaving me fully exposed.
The knife clanged onto the floor as he spread me wide, his hands gripping my thighs. His hot breath gave me little warning before his tongue eased inside me. I clutched the covers, my head thrown back, already so far gone.
His hands slid up my thighs, one resting on my hip to keep me pinned while the other circled my clit. His tongue plunged in and out mercilessly. I tried to rock into him, but his hand tightened, controlling the pace, keeping me riding the edge.
I gritted my teeth, unable to stop myself from spiraling.
Then, I fell. My back arched, and my hips bucked as the world exploded around me.
He kept the pressure, drinking me in, riding every last shudder until I slumped, boneless on the mattress.
Languidly, he kissed his way back up my body, settling me into his arms.
“I’m going to need a minute,” I panted.
“Good.” Moisture beaded around his mouth, shining in the flicker from the fire. “Because I'm still enjoying myself over here.” He licked his lips before kissing me, the taste laced with salt and tang.
My libido stirred again. I rolled onto him, but he snaked an arm around my waist and flipped me, his thigh pressed between my legs. “I’m not done yet.” He pinned my wrists above my head with one hand, his other tracing the line of my lower lip.
He met my gaze, his mouth quirking. “I’m all yours, Tamara.” He spread my thighs wide with his knees, hovering tantalizingly close to my entrance. “And I promised to make you cum so hard you forget everything.”
I mumbled something incoherent, unable to look away from the intensity in his deep black eyes. He was magnificent. Goddess above did I need him. Now.
He chuckled, his beard scratching down my face as he nipped his way to my neck. “I don’t think you meant to say that out loud.” His hand tightened on my wrists, my pulse bounding under his grasp. “But who am I to say no to you?”
He thrust inside me with one, deep stroke. His teeth bit into my neck with a primal growl that blended with my gasp. I locked my legs around his back, and he pushed deeper, stretching until I was deliciously full.
“Clement,” I whispered, my voice needy and thick.
He anchored his arm around me while he plunged in again and again, his hips slapping against mine. His breathing became fast and ragged, moving faster, deeper. A dark thrill built inside me as pressure synched between us, increasing in intensity as our bodies fused.
I dug my heels into the slick muscles of his back, feeling them tense in a ripple along his spine which spread through into my core. His mouth found mine as we both released, our hearts thrashing together.
We lay on top of the covers, the gentle warmth from the fire licking over our bodies. The snow fell in an unbroken stream against the blocked window. The spirits were probably watching, which meant the prince was as well. But I didn’t care.
Tomorrow was the day, and there was no person I’d rather spend my last night with.
I nestled into his warm body, my arm draped across his chest and allowed myself to sleep.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
ALL’S FAIR IN LOVE AND WAR
This is not how I pictured my life going.
I stood on the marble step below Lilyanna admiring the golden lattice crisscrossing her back. It was far neater than my first attempt, and her gown clung beautifully to the curves I’d created on her ever-dwindling figure. Her blonde hair was missing its sheen, her smile lacking the truth, and her posture was so stilted, she looked frozen.
The prince stood opposite. His dark suit hung perfectly on his lithe body, the diamond tie pin and matching crown twinkling in the thousands of candles which illuminated the banquet hall. Tonight, his eyes were gray, a fact I was sure of because he spent the entire ceremony looking straight through Lilyanna to pierce me with his smug look.
