Page 55 of Stolen

“Yes,” she said breathlessly. She ran her palms down my biceps, smoothing over the muscle like she loved how it felt. “Please fuck me, Varick. I want you inside me.”

Gratitude filled my chest. She wanted to erase any lingering doubts I had about the sex in Vai Seren. I’d told her she and I would start over. This was her saying yes again. Together, we could reclaim our passion, giving each other pleasure not out of duty, but out of love and mutual respect.

I pushed inside, and she was more than ready for me. Hot and wet, her pussy was a dream around my dick. Tight as a fist, even after everything I’d done to get her ready for me. Fuck. I wasn’t going to last. Testing my control, I eased out a few inches and thrust back inside. Pressure built, rushing me right up to the edge. I tensed, my balls tight and the base of my cock tingling.

“You good?” I asked gruffly.

“I’m perfect.”

“Good, because this is going to be quick and hard.” With a groan, I let go and delivered on that promise. My thrusts were hard and deep, and soon that telltale flush was spreading down her breasts.

“Come for me again,” I ordered, watching her tits bounce. “I want to feel it on my cock.”

She obeyed, reaching between us and stroking her clit.

Good girl. I was too far beyond speech to say it. I could only hold myself over her and drive my dick into her pussy over and over and over. Mind-blowing pressure. Exquisite heat. Her perfect, tight cunt. The narrow bed shuddered and hit the wall, sending little pieces of grass fluttering onto the sheets.

She threw her head back, her pale hair wild around her head and the tendons in her neck straining. Between our bodies, she rubbed her clit furiously. Her hot little cunt strangled my dick as she came yet again.

The pressure was insane. I clenched my jaw and pumped faster. At the last second, I pulled out and spurted all over her pussy. Come landed in thick stripes between her thighs. I shuddered, a hoarse cry ripping from my throat as I held my pulsing dick and let bliss pound through me.

I ended up on my back with her sprawled on top of me. It took us both a long time to catch our breath. As my heart slowed, I stared at the ceiling and tried to stave off reality for a few more precious seconds. But like everything else good in the world, the afterglow couldn’t last.

Given lifted her head. “You’re worried about getting me pregnant.”

I looked at her. “Of course I am. You’re Laurent’s queen.”

She sat up, her features instantly defensive. “Then why sleep with me at all?”

“Because I’m weak,” I said readily, sitting up and scrubbing a hand over my face. I scratched at my beard, which was beginning to itch. “And stupid,” I muttered.

“So having sex with me was stupid?” She climbed from the bed, jerking her arm away when I tried to reach for her. She marched to the hearth and snatched her clothes from the drying rack.

I got up and dressed quickly, never taking my eyes off her. “That’s not what I meant, Given. You can’t tell me you don’t understand how important it is for a king’s heir to be legitimate. There’s also that savior of the realm bullshit we have to worry about.”

She faced away, pulling her dress over her head with jerky movements. The skirts bunched around her hips, and part of the fabric stuck in her neckline. Love, it seemed, didn’t make a male any smarter. With a sigh, I went to her and tugged the garment into place. Then I turned her around and rested my hands on her shoulders.

“It was a poor choice of words,” I said. “I don’t regret what we did. I think we both know it’s impossible for us to resist each other. But this prophecy hangs over everything, and you and I didn’t leave Lar Katerin on a pleasant note. I don’t know what to expect from Laurent now.”

“I saw him,” she said quietly. “When you and I were in Vai Seren. I meant to farsee to Rhys the Fair, but I ended up in Laurent’s Council chamber.”

For a moment, I was too stunned to speak. Then anger swept me. “And you didn’t think to tell me this?”

“I didn’t have an opportunity.” She jerked from my grasp. “When was I supposed to tell you? Before or after I forced a demon from my body and watched it turn to dust? Or maybe I should have squeezed it in while we were in the Great Hall fighting for our lives.”

I opened my mouth, then shut it. “You’re right,” I said tightly. “I’m sorry.”

Slowly, the tension drained from her. “Laurent and I didn’t speak for very long. He was worried about you.” Her brow furrowed. “He asked how he could get us out.”

Silence fell. Daylight slanted through the window, filling the tiny hut with cheery light that sharply contrasted with the somber mood that stretched between us.

“We can’t stay here,” I said. “I have my estate in Lar Keiren, but Laurent will never agree to me taking you there. You obviously can’t go back to Sithistra—”

“We could go to Aberwas. Rhys the Fair’s men saved us in the Thicket. He’s on our side. He’ll offer protection if we ask.”

Everything inside me recoiled at that. “I don’t need protection from the bandit king.”

Anger sparked in her eyes. “Now you sound like Laurent. Rhys isn’t a smuggler. He’s a mage.”

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