Page 58 of The Royal Art of Revenge

His heated gaze bores into mine from above. A tingle of anticipation writhes its way down my spine, and I curl my toes as he lowers his head and brushes his lips over my neck.

“Tell me,” he murmurs against the flushed skin of my throat. “If I do something you don’t like. If I’m too rough, if I hurt you… Tell me, and I’ll stop.”

My breath hitches, and I nod. “I will.”

“Good.” He slides his hand between us and undoes the belt of my robe, and my hitched breath quickly becomes a shaky exhale as I close my eyes and turn my face to the side.

My cheeks are burning. Never in my life have I exposed myself to someone like this. It’s a level of vulnerability that’s always been unfathomable to me. To hand myself and my body to another person, to grant them control over me…

No.

“Hattie.” Finn runs the pad of his thumb over my lower lip. “If you aren’t comfortable…”

Oh, God, I froze.

“No, I—”

“Don’t force yourself,” he says, gazing down at me. “I’ll wait for you if you’re not ready.”

I throw my arm over my face, breaking our eye contact. Shit, I’m so embarrassed. I’m twenty-eight. This man just promised to marry me. What’s wrong with me? Why can’t I do this?

“I want to,” I breathe, my chest heaving. “I just… It’s…”

“Is it how we’re lying?” He pulls back, sitting up and giving me space while pulling the robe closed over my bare chest.

I peek out from under my arm. “What do you mean?”

“It’s not me, is it? I’m not making you uncomfortable?”

“No! And I want to do this. I really do.”

“Then, let’s try this.” He shifts and lies on the bed next to me, capturing my hand with his and kissing the inside of my wrist. “Would you be more comfortable if you were on top of me? If you could move at any point?”

I swallow, glancing at his chest. “Maybe.”

“Try it.” He rolls over, hooks one arm around my body, and makes a lame attempt at rolling onto his back again.

I shift and push myself up and over so I’m on top of him. I adjust my legs so I’m sitting on his lap, and he props himself up on his elbows, looking up at me.

Tentatively, I reach out and run the back of my fingers down his cheek. His eyes briefly flutter closed as he turns into my touch, and I do the same with the other hand. His skin is hot and soft, flushed from our kissing, and he slowly opens his eyes as I trace the shape of his handsome face with my fingertip.

He doesn’t say a word.

He merely lies there beneath me, watching me hotly as I explore every inch of his face.

I take my hand lower, trailing it over his stubbled jaw and down onto his neck. His throat bobs as my nail tickles the sensitive skin there, but he tilts his head back as if he’s submitting to me.

Oh.

There’s something to be said for having the crown prince beneath me like this.

I bite the inside of my cheek and focus on his neck. Has anyone else ever seen him this vulnerable? Has anyone else ever had this kind of power over him?

I doubt it.

This… This is just for me.

I bend down and kiss his neck. He sucks in a deep breath, one that makes his whole upper body quiver. A tremor goes through my own limbs, but it’s not one of fear.