Page 113 of The Prince's Curse

There was the rumble of a car engine, then the crunch of gravel. He listened for the sound of water running, then soft footfalls as she walked back into the room, her hair freshly arranged around her face.

“You’re in good hands, are you?” he asked.

Her lips curved in a smirk. “Am I?”

“You tell me,” he said, holding them out. After closing the door, she hurried to him and straddled his hips. But instead of smothering him with hungry kisses, she sat back and frowned. “What’s wrong?” he asked.

Her brow furrowed. “It’s after midnight. Today is my birthday.”Her voice broke, and she drew a shuddering breath. Then another, quick and shallow, until she was gasping, her breathing ragged over the hummingbird pace of her heart.

“What’s wrong? Are you— Should I get Shoshanna?”

“I’m scared,” she managed. “What if this is real? All this time I’ve just been thinking it was too crazy to be real, but now…What she kills me? I don’t want to die,” she said, her voice cracking as she met his gaze, tears welling in her eyes. “I want to stay. Please don’t let her?—”

He threw his arms around her and held her tight as she crumbled. It was one thing to feel sorry for himself and his pain, facing that yawning chasm of dread. But he would live. He knew how unfair the world was, but Scarlett was finally grasping how tenuous her fate really was.

She startled him when she pulled away, clasping his cheeks hard enough to bruise. “Promise you won’t let her hurt me.”

“I…” He stared into those eyes, and all he could see was that softer, chubby-cheeked version of her, eyes shining with joy as she stared up at him, as he vowed to protect her forever, only to be made a liar mere days later. “I can’t.”

Her face fell. “Julian, please.”

“I will try, but I can’t promise you that. I can’t lie to you,” he said.

The yearning in her eyes nearly broke him. She started to pull away, but he grabbed her face instead, not letting her turn away. Her brow furrowed.

“Look at me,” he said firmly. “I love you. You, Scarlett Ward. With the smart mouth and suspicious nature and brave soul. And I can’t promise I’ll save you. I don’t know what Armina is capable of. But I can promise that I will stand between you and that witch and every bloody thing she can throw at us. She will have to destroy me before she gets her hands on you again. I will do everything in my power to keep you here with me. Where you belong.”

Her eyes widened. “You promise?”

“I promise. On my soul,” he said. She still looked doubtful, and he steeled himself. “Things are different this time. We have never had as much reason to hope as we do now.”

“Do you think Shoshanna can do it?”

“I think she’s our best chance,” he said.

“I guess that has to be enough,” she said quietly. Then she startled him, bringing him in for a fierce, hungry kiss before shoving him off. “Close the door.”

He staggered back, watching as she peeled off her loose shirt and tossed it, revealing her lean frame. Seconds later, her bra followed, exposing her small breasts that seemed terribly alone without his hands. “What are you doing?”

“I’m not dying without doing this,” she said, wriggling out of her pants.

He shut the door and kicked off his shoes, but hesitated at arm’s reach. “Are you sure you’re not under a spell? That magic was powerful.”

“It’s worn off. I feel like I could run a mile without breaking a sweat,” she said, going for her panties. He lunged forward and caught her hands, plucking them away as she smiled.

“Let me,” he said, sliding them over her hips, taking his time to caress the swell of her thigh, exposing the fine curls over her sex. The smell of her arousal hit him like a wave, intoxicating and rich. He wasted no time, yanking her thighs apart and prompting a delightful gasp of surprise.

“What about Shoshanna?” she gasped.

He ignored her question, teasing at her lips with his tongue until she writhed beneath him. When that first burst of wetness surged from her, he glanced up. “They have a soundproofed bedroom.”

Her brow arched. “Good.”

Chapter 27

No dream could come close to the giddy, mind-melting pleasure of Julian’s tongue between her thighs. Wonderful, warm sensations rolled over her in waves, one crashing over the next, tossing her higher and higher.

She was so close, and she didn’t know what demon possessed her to pant, “Stop. I want to…with you,” she bit out. “I want you inside when I come.”

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