Page 20 of Princess Claimed

I need to protect my younger brothers from intimate contact with Ana. Especially while she’s so vulnerable.

“You can be in the room while I take care of her needs, but no touching.”

Chapter

Eleven

Ana

It’s kind of hilarious, listening to these men discuss who’s going to fuck me and how. Grinning, I shake my head.

I should find their discussion insulting, condescending, misogynistic. But I understand their intent, and I find it adorable. I’m more than happy for it to be any one of the three, as long as someone feeds me and fucks me soon. Even after what’s happened, I’m quite sure I’ll want sex after I drink, and if I don’t, I’m equally sure that none of them will force or pressure me.

All three of these vampires have lived at least a hundred years longer than I. They all have far more experience with sex, not to mention life in general, but when it comes to expressing emotions, or even admitting that they experience emotions, they’re all like little boys. My mind flashes back to my brother Alexei throwing tantrums whenever he didn’t get what he wanted.

I’d be more than happy to help them learn to handle their emotions, just like I coached my little brother, but alas, I won’t be with them long enough to break through their centuries of bad habits.

Crusher opens the door, completely filling the entrance, and I push back to sit up against the headboard. My heart thumps as I drink in his size, his power, his commanding presence. My fangs ache and my insides throb in anticipation. Plus, if I’m honest, a little fear. Crusher is huge.

“How did you sleep?” His voice is even deeper than I remember, and it stirs the rising need inside me. As does the sight of him, so broad and strong and masculine. A mountain of testosterone.

“Great,” I answer, even though my sleep was fitful, crowded with nightmares, and didn’t refresh me as much as I hoped. My close call with Rasputin shook me to my very core. Feeding will help. At least I hope so.

“I am going to be the one to feed you,” Crusher says, clearly trying to make it sound like it’s no big deal. Like he couldn’t care less, but the tension in his muscles, the speed of his heart, the rush of his blood—not to mention the heat in his expression—all defy his act of indifference.

“And after you’re sated,” he continues, “depending on your wishes, I am also willing to provide whatever else your body requires.”

Crusher’s hips shift, drawing my attention down, and my insides clench at the sight of his prominent bulge. He’s already hard, already fully prepared for part two of the list of tasks he’s agreed to take on.

As nervous and needy as I feel, I can’t help but be amused. These men claim that self-control runs their lives, but it’s clear they have zero control over certain parts of their bodies—not to mention their emotions. It’s not like I believe that any one of them loves me, not in the forever kind of way they’re so careful to guard against. But all of them at least like me, all except Phil. And even he cares about my well-being far more than he’s willing to admit.

I’ve accepted that it will never develop into love, but then again, what do I know about love? Love is one area where I’m on par with these emotionally stunted vampires. None of us has any experience in that.

“Is something funny?” Crusher asks, shifting again, clearly uncomfortable in several ways.

“No.” Trying to wash the grin from my face, I push up onto my hands and knees, and then crawl across the bed toward him. “I’m just looking forward to the feeding.”

Crusher moves from the doorway, and Blade and Flame enter the room behind him, positioning themselves on either side of my bed. As if their movements were choreographed, the three stand at attention around my bed, hands clasped behind their backs.

From my kneeling position, I look toward each of them, but none will make eye contact.

Fine. The harder these men fight to hide their reactions, the harder I’ll try to elicit some.

Rising up from all fours, I strip off my t-shirt.

“Disrobing is not necessary.” Crusher practically chokes on his words.

“But it’s what I prefer.” My breasts dangling, I continue crawling toward Crusher, now standing at the end of the bed. Sexual energy from both Blade and Flame licks me as I move past them, tightening my already hard nipples. Their attention strokes and teases my skin, as palpably as if their hands were upon me.

Crusher is also aroused. His sexual desire is pouring off him in waves, churning my insides as I slowly move toward him. How will it feel to have sex with a vampire as large and powerful as Crusher? A shiver of fear stalls me for a second.

Reaching the end of the bed, I rise to my knees, and put my hands on his shoulders. He’s so tall that it will be awkward to take his throat from this position.

“Can you bend over?” I ask. “Or should I stand?”

Leaping to my feet, I lean forward, pressing my nude body against him. Crusher’s hands encircle my torso, landing hot and firm and tense. It’s not clear whether his first instinct is to pull me closer or push me away. But he does neither. His massive hands stay still as they firmly encircle my ribs, and a different kind of thrill ripples through me. With just one tight squeeze, this vampire could crush my ribs in an instant, pulverize all my internal organs.

The thought is thrilling because I’m certain he won’t. And I’m about to experience his power in a very different way. Now that I’m standing on the bed, I match Crusher’s height, and I push his leather jacket off his shoulders, sliding it until it’s halfway to his elbows, partially immobilizing his arms. Tugging him forward, I bend and plunge my fangs into his throat.

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