The Prince and the Player Read online

  My erection is pointed right at her, and her eyes darken as she leans down to remove her skirt. I imagine her taking me between those pillow lips, sucking me to ecstasy—but not before I’ve come between her thighs.

  I sit in the chair, and she moves to me. My hands are on her waist, and I pull her onto my lap in a straddle. She holds a square condom packet, and I wait as she tears it open, positioning it over my tip and rolling it down my length, leaving room for the massive orgasm that’s been building all night.

  Grasping her hips, I’m ready to plunge deep into her hot core, but she tenses. I hesitate a moment. “Is something wrong?”

  She blinks down and shakes her head. “I’m sorry.” Her voice is quiet. “I’m not a virgin, but…”

  Straightening, I pull her to me, smoothing her dark hair off her face. “What is it, Ava?”

  Her chin drops, and her cheeks flame red. My brow lines in confusion, and I lift her in my arms, carrying her inside to the enormous king-sized bed. I move the thick blankets aside and ease us to the center, her on her back and me beside her.

  “Tell me,” I say gently. “Why are you afraid?”

  “I’m embarrassed,” she whispers, her beautiful green eyes fixed on my shoulders.

  I touch her so lightly along her face, down her cheek. “You don’t have to be embarrassed with me. I want to know everything about you.”

  She clears her throat softly. “Just… please be gentle. I’ve never been with someone because I wanted to.”

  My brow lines as I try to understand. “Do you mean—?”

  “Don’t,” she whispers, reaching up to touch my lips. “I want this to be perfect.”

  The meaning of what she said twists in my stomach. That protectiveness I felt earlier roars to life in my chest, now along with a knot of anger. I pull her to me, burying my face in her sweet smelling hair and inhaling deeply as I hold her. Her small hands are around me, holding me just as close. She’s not fighting me; she’s not pulling away. She’s trusting me with knowledge I hate knowing.

  Lifting my head, I look deep into her eyes. “I will never hurt you, Ava,” I say, infusing the words with all the conviction I feel in my chest.

  She only studies my face a moment before she smiles. “I know. It’s why I’m here.”

  Reaching for her neck, I gently pull her beautiful mouth to mine. Her hands are on my neck, my shoulders, and I take her lips gently, then with a little more force. She meets me with equal intensity, and it’s what I need to know.

  I push her lips apart with my mouth, and as our tongues connect and curl together, my erection surges back. She exhales a soft moan, and my kisses move to her chin, down to her beautiful breasts. I slide my palms over one, covering a nipple with my mouth and giving it a firm suck, a little bite.

  Her back arches, and she moans louder. I’m moving lower, to the strip of lace across her hips. Clasping both sides, I jerk them off her, and sigh at the sight of her bare pussy, a bit of cream hiding inside.

  She makes a little cry when I pull her to my mouth, tasting her, sliding my tongue up and down the length of her slit. Her hips jump, and she moans. Her flat stomach quivers, and I’m determined to make her come hard.

  “You want this,” I say, nipping the inside of her thigh, rising higher to kiss the crease in her leg.

  “Yes… oh, god, yes!” she gasps, gripping in the sheets.

  I’m back on her, running my tongue up and around her slick folds not stopping until I feel her break. I kiss her clit, pulling the tight little bud again and again until she’s no longer shaking, she’s crying out, trying to wriggle away.

  “Okay,” I say with a grin, releasing her thighs and kissing her stomach, sliding my tongue up the length of her body until I’m over her, looking deep into her sexy eyes, shining with satisfaction.

  “My turn,” I whisper, kissing her full lips.

  She holds my face, kissing me back hard as I plunge deep into her swollen depths. She’s hot and soft and so fucking tight.

  “Oh, god!” she gasps, her nails cutting into my skin.

  I instantly slow my pace, finding her eyes. “Are you okay?” I whisper, stroking her cheek with my thumb.

  “You’re so big,” she gasps. “I feel so… full.”

  “Am I hurting you?” My brow tightens. I’m so fucking gone, I don’t know what I’ll do if she says yes.

  She pauses a moment that feels like an eternity before shaking her head. “No, it-it feels… good.” Her cheeks flood with pink, and I kiss her again, holding her face as I begin to rock her. I couldn’t stop if I tried.

  Her body is so sexy, so hot and tight, and now she’s moving with me, bucking her hips and working my dick like we’ve been here before. My ass tightens, and I feel my orgasm mounting. A bead of sweat rolls down my cheek, and I lean up to pull the soft skin of her jaw between my teeth.

  “Oh, Rowan,” she whispers, moving her hips faster. “Oh, god!” she gasps, and I reach down between us, searching for that place between her thighs.

  I fumble for her clit, covering the top of her mound and massaging the sides as my hips move faster. When I touch her center, she gasps, and her insides clench just before breaking into spasms. Tightness explodes through my pelvis. I’m pulsing, filling that fucking condom, blacking out from intense pleasure.

  “Oh fuck,” I gasp, holding her, my eyes squeezed shut. My dick pulses deep inside her, and her muscles continue working me, pulling and milking.

  “Ava.” It’s a ragged groan through the waves of orgasm.

  We’re holding each other. She holds my shoulders, clinging to me as much as I am to her. I lift my head and find her mouth, kissing her like she’s water in the desert. Our lips part, tongues collide, and we consume again and again.

  She’s sweet and innocent and sexy and intoxicating. I’m not sure how I’ll ever get enough of her passionate soul.

  “Ava,” I whisper her name, sliding my fingers up to her soft hair and down the side of her beautiful face.

  She reaches up and cups my cheeks, holding me as she kisses my face. I turn and kiss her palm.

  “Your majesty,” she whispers then exhales a small laugh. Her green eyes roll and she shakes her head.

  “What?” I can’t stand to think she’s second-guessing this.

  “A king,” she says, with another little laugh. “How can I have fallen for a king?”

  Satisfaction floods my chest. I lean up and prop my head on my hand. Running my other down the length of her body. I pause at her soft breast, circling my thumb over her nipple and watching it harden in response. I flatten my palm against her stomach then wrap it around to cup her gorgeous ass. Glancing up, I meet her eyes studying me, watching my reaction to her body’s responses.

  “Have you fallen for me?” I ask. I want to hear her say it again.

  A playful smile curls her lips. “Did I say that out loud?”

  I laugh as I lean down, pressing our smiles together just before they melt into a passionate kiss. How is it possible? I’ve fallen for her as well.

  Zelda

  I’m lying on my side on the brown sectional sofa. Cal sits on the floor with his back leaning where my face is propped on my hand. On his lap is a plate of the best pizza I’ve ever eaten in my life.

  “It’s crack pizza,” I announce, as he holds up another slice for me to bite. “I’ve never tasted anything this delicious, and it’s only cheese.”

  “We take our cheese very seriously,” he says, leaning his head back to look at me.

  I lean forward and kiss him. I haven’t stopped kissing him since we made love. I don’t want to stop as long as we still have time together. I’m so fucking afraid of what’s going to happen tomorrow, I refuse to let myself even think about it. Instead, I’ll soak up as many memories of MacCallam Lockwood Tate while I still can.

  “Mm,” he says, swallowing his bite and changing the channels on the enormous flat screen television. “You must love this one. It’s black and white.”


  I look up to see he’s stopped on a scene in which Woody Allen is walking beside a very young Meryl Streep.

  “Manhattan! I do love this one!” I give his shoulder a brief shake and he laughs.

  “Finally, something we can agree on.”

  Falling back against the cushions I close my eyes. “Just listen to that Gershwin soundtrack.” I sit up quickly, just in time to see Meryl Streep slide the weight of her long blonde hair over her shoulder. “Look how beautiful she is.”

  “She reminds me of someone.”

  “Jennifer Lawrence. I’ve always thought that. Statuesque, blonde, amazing actress…”

  “Hmm,” I can see his brow line in the flickering light. “I was thinking about you.”

  “Me?” The way he says it makes me feel self-conscious. “Our noses are different.”

  “Your hair is the same, your eyes…” He shifts, facing me. “You’re equally captivating.”

  He’s looking at me too intently. I turn away and take another bite of crack pizza while the characters onscreen argue about the nature of politics in Ingmar Bergman films.

  “Pseudo-intellectuals,” I say, hoping to break the sudden awkwardness.

  With a quiet laugh, he pushes off the floor. “I think we should move this party to the bedroom.”

  “Really?” I give the room service cart a quick survey. Half the pizza remains on the silver platter. “We’ll have to leave our drugs out here unguarded.”

  “I’ll save the champagne. You cover the crack.” He motions with the dark green bottle. “It’ll keep until morning.”

  With a sigh, I push off the couch and step over to place the silver lid over the remaining food. I’m just turning back when I catch sight of his tight, naked ass disappearing into the bedroom, and chase after him to grab it.

  Cal tackles me at once, and we fall onto the bed laughing. He holds me down and kisses me firmly on the mouth. I kiss him back, and when he rolls onto his back, I pop up.

  “Are you tired?”

  “Hell, no. I’m just warming up. I plan on fucking you three point seven more times tonight.”

  “Point seven. You’re very precise in your measurements.”

  “It’s possible the last time will run over into tomorrow.”

  Turning my head, I strain to look at the clock. “I think we’ve already made it to tomorrow.”

  Catching my chin, he pulls my face back around. “Quit being a party pooper. You pooped out on me last night.”

  “I was really tired last night!”

  We scoot around so we’re side by side, resting against the pillows. I lean forward to put my cheek against his bare chest. I love hearing the sound of his breath, his heart beating.

  “I’m just the opposite,” he says, thoughtfully, threading his fingers in the back of my hair. “I sprained my wrist playing tennis once, and I was so adrenalized, it took me forever to fall asleep.”

  “Is that why you brought me a bottle of champagne?”

  “Partly.” His fingers find the back of my neck, giving it a stroke before threading into my hair again. I snuggle deeper into his side, loving the feeling of him touching me. “It’s possible I had ulterior motives.”

  “Well, you got what you came for.” I lift my head and press a kiss against his heated skin. “Still, I was exhausted. We ran all over that museum, then we ran all over the beach.”

  He chuckles, causing my head to bounce. “I told you my uncle would take you to that damn aquarium.”

  “I loved the aquarium.” We’re quiet a moment, and I think about what he said. “You were right, though. About your uncle.”

  “I know that old fellow pretty well. Grew up with him.”

  Pushing up to a sitting position, I lean beside him. His eyes are on the television, and I study his profile, his straight nose and full lips, the little line in his chin.

  “So what happened with him?” I ask quietly, internally holding my breath.

  Hazel eyes meet mine. “What do you mean?”

  Blinking down, I run my finger along the top of his shoulder. “I mean, why are you on the outs with him? Why is Rowan so angry?”

  He does a little frown before answering. “It’s matters of state.”

  “You mean it’s classified or something? Like you could tell me, but then you’d have to kill me?”

  That makes him grin. “Hardly. More like you’ll find it so boring you’ll fall asleep on me again.”

  “I don’t think I will. I really want to know.”

  He shifts to the side. “Why?”

  Shrugging, I glance down. “Reggie is the reason I met you. I guess, I want to know why you’re so angry with him. I wouldn’t know you if it weren’t for him.”

  He catches my chin and lifts my face. “That is definitely a point in his favor.” A quick kiss, and he gathers me to his chest. “About six years ago, right before our father died, Rowan overheard Reggie plotting with Hubert Farbridge, a member of the cabinet. I don’t know what was said, but Rowan took it to mean they were conspiring to cause our father’s death.

  “Cause his death? But how? Did they shoot him?”

  “His heart was bad. He had a terrible temper, and they knew how to get him worked up into a rage. The night he died they’d had a terrible fight about joining forces with Twatrington.”

  My head pops up. “Twatrington? What’s that?”

  He grins and runs his thumb along my jawline. “Our neighbor to the southwest. They’ve attacked farmers along our border for years. Their ultimate goal is to combine the two countries into one—under their rule.”

  “Why would they do that?”

  “Better access to the sea, tourism dollars. We’ve spent a lot of time cultivating relationships with the nobility. Most of our visitors spend large amounts of money here because they have deep pockets, and we’re thought of as something of a high-end destination.”

  “I definitely agree with that. Everything is so beautiful and refined—the architecture, the sea. It’s like an elegant paradise.”

  He shifts to the side and puts his palm on my face, softly running his fingers over my lips. The depth of his gaze makes my stomach squirm.

  “Are you saying you might want to stay here? Longer than a week?”

  That little fish is back, flipping all around my insides. “I think it would be amazing to stay here.”

  He pulls me closer, rolling me onto my back and leaning down to kiss my neck, gradually working his way up to my jaw, sending heat rising under my skin, chasing after his luscious lips. We kiss long and passionately. I pull his bottom lip between mine; he catches my top. I’m completely turned on by the time we come up for air.

  “Then we’ll have to figure out a reason for you to stay, won’t we?”

  Exhaling a laugh, I shake my head. “If only it were that easy.”

  “Maybe it can be.” He covers my mouth again, pulling me onto his lap in a straddle. I lift my hips, and he moves into position to plunge deep inside me, drowning my doubts in the flood of our desire.

  Afterglow

  Rowan

  Opening my eyes in the bright, blue suite with Ava snuggled soft and warm at my side is like waking up in the clouds, no longer on Earth, just this side of heaven. Stretching gently, I do my best not to wake her. I shift to my side and look down at her.

  Her knees are bent, and one hand is under her face. Her long lashes rest on the tops of her cheeks, and her pink lips are slightly parted. Dark hair fans out behind her, and my fingers ache to touch her. She’s so incredibly beautiful.

  I think about last night, what she told me, and I have to wrestle down the fury threatening to rise in my chest again. She didn’t say the words, but from the implication… Was she raped?

  I can’t even think it without thoughts of murder filling my mind. I don’t want to make her relive a painful time from her past, but if someone hurt my Ava in that way, I will find out who did it. That bastard’s days are numbered.

  She stirs, e
xhaling a soft noise, and my chest tightens with joy. In spite of her past, she made love so passionately last night. She went with me wherever I wanted to take her. She stole my heart. I don’t know how I’ll let her leave at the end of her visit.

  Her eyelids flutter, and the hand under her cheek reaches out. I catch it in my larger one, and pull it to my lips, causing her eyes to spring open.

  “Rowan,” she says softly. I love sound of her voice saying my name. “Were you watching me sleep?”

  “Yes.” I slide the back of my fingers down the smooth skin of her arm.

  Her shoulder rises and she exhales a laugh. “That tickles.”

  “Ava,” I groan. Yep, my morning wood is aching, and it didn’t take more than that to push me over the edge.

  Pulling her to me, I slide down to kiss her soft breasts, running my tongue over her tightening nipple before sucking it firmly into my mouth. She arches her back, softly laughing as her fingers thread into the sides of my hair.

  “You didn’t get enough last night?” her voice taunts me. Still, she squirms around to press a kiss against my temple.

  “No.” I move lower, kissing the curve of her hip before moving to the center, circling my tongue around her navel.

  “Ooo, yes,” she gasps as I keep moving lower.

  It’s possible I might never get enough of her beautiful body. Wrapping my arms around her thighs I spread her open so I can focus my attention directly on her clit. Her hips jerk and her hands fly to grasp my hair.

  I need to be deep inside her, but I won’t take her without making her come, especially not after what she revealed to me. I want to show her how good this can be. I want all her orgasms. It only takes a few more concentrated passes before her hips are flexing, and she’s trying to squirm away.

  “Rowan! Oh, god! I can’t… Stop!” She’s gasping and shaking, and I release her, kissing her lower stomach, just above that sensitive spot, rising up to her breasts, and finally arriving at her luscious lips.

  She holds the back of my neck, kissing me hard, pulling me closer. It’s only a moment before we’re in position, and I plunge deep into her clenching insides. She’s so tight and hot, and I’m on the razor’s edge. It only takes a few hard thrusts before I’m shooting over the moon, releasing the tension that somehow seems to build up every night.