Page 101 of Her Royal Houseguest

Suddenly, she stood before him in a thin chemise and nothing else. Not even stockings.

His eyes widened, his mouth went dry and he abruptly cursed.

He’d left the door open.

Spinning around, he quietly shut and locked the door. But even as he turned away from her, the memory of her nipples as darkened shadows beneath the thin fabric had his kway stiffening with abrupt insistence.

She was offering him her body and he would not say no.

‘Do you know,’ he said softly as he turned to face her. ‘Many women have tried to seduce me. Many skilled courtesans.’

He watched as her eyes widened and her hands went to cover her body. Her cheeks had been pink before but now they flared red as he stepped forwards. Gently, he pulled her hands apart such that he could see the whole of her.

‘Nothing has tempted me more. No one interests me as you do.’ He was looking at her body, seeing the points of her breasts, the flare of her hips and the sweet way that she shifted under his gaze. Then he looked into her eyes. ‘Anna,’ he rasped. ‘Do not change your mind. I will find it very hard to stop.’

‘I won’t,’ she whispered. ‘I want this. I want you.’

He nearly gave in then. He nearly took her to bed with no thought of the future. But in this he needed his own honour before he took hers. ‘You must know that I am a man who bends. I do not do so easily but when I find something of worth, I will give all to have it.’ He caressed her face. ‘To have you, a queen among women.’

‘I am no queen.’ Then she flashed him a smile. ‘But I am a woman of worth.’

He chuckled, loving her confidence. ‘You are. And if you choose me, I will have no other.’

‘Of course, I—’ She gasped and her eyes widened. ‘No other?’

‘Why would I want another when I have you?’

Her eyes softened, her breath eased out. ‘No harem?’

‘None but you. I swear it.’

‘As do I,’ she said. ‘None but you.’

He grinned. ‘So be it.’ Then he abruptly bent and scooped her up.

She wrapped her arms around him as he lifted her. And as he took the few steps to the bed, she pressed kisses to his neck, his jaw and ultimately, his mouth.

She was still inexperienced at this, filled with enthusiasm rather than skill. And that was a quality he hoped she’d never lose. He set her down carefully, mindful that this would be her first time. An error now would haunt them both for a very long time.

‘We could wait,’ he rasped. ‘If—’

‘Now,’ she said as she drew him to her. ‘Please.’

That was all he needed to satisfy his honour. And since this was their first time, he feasted on every exquisite moment.

Her lips. He became drunk on them.

Her neck. Sweet apple taste, rapid tremble of her pulse.

Her breasts, each one. He could listen for an hour to the sounds she made as he nibbled the curve of her flesh and her pebbled peaks. And oh, how she gasped when he sucked first hard and sharp, then long and slow.

He fingered between her thighs, revelling in the hot wetness of her.

He spread her thighs, inhaling deeply, knowing that he could dine on her for ages and never get his fill.

But she was restless, and he was fighting his own tenuous control, so he shed his clothing. He had a covering with him. Indeed, he’d carried one with him since their first night in her parlour. Together, they sheathed him.

And then he pulled her knees up. He set his kway at her slick opening. And he waited.