Page 45 of A Reign of Embers

I catch his gaze again. “I told you, that couldn’t happen. If he tried, it’d shatter any affection I might have started to feel. And it could be years before I’m sure of whether that affection can overcome everything else. I won’t— Nothing else will happen unless I’ve talked to allof you first. I shouldn’t have let it go even that far last night.”

My massive prince looks mildly mollified. He swoops in and claims a kiss so scorching I think he must be aiming to sear away any traces of Marc on my lips. As he pulls back, a flush tingles over my skin.

“You’re ours—and we’re yours,” he declares. “Until he can say the same with his whole being, he doesn’t deserve anything.”

I don’t think this is a good time to mention Marc’s offering of body, mind, soul, and heart to my authority. Raul probably wouldn’t believe it anyway.

Bastien steps in to caress my jaw, his dark green gaze steady. “Like Lore said, I trustyou. He is your husband—we’re lucky to have you at all, hard as that may be to accept.”

My throat constricts all over again. “I think I’m the lucky one, having the three of you.”

“Then it’s luck all around.” He leans in for a kiss that’s more tender but no less passionate than Raul’s and gives me a bittersweet smile. “I suppose you have to get back to the business of running—and not losing—an empire. We’ll keep fighting right beside you.”

“Yes,” I say, thoughts of all the meetings and appearances and plans I need to make rushing over me. But as Bastien and then Raul head into the secret passage, something in me balks against following them.

Lorenzo glances back at me when he reaches the panel, taking in my stance. He hesitates.“Doyou need to go right back?”

My mouth twists. “I probably should. There’s so much— It’s just a relief to be away from all the expectations for a few minutes.”

Heat sparks in the prince of Rione’s eyes. He closes the panel and returns to me.

As he sets his hands on either side of my waist, he dips his head for a lingering kiss of his own.“Then let’s make it a little more of an escape. You deserve all the love in the world, Aurelia. I don’t want you ever to forget that.”

It’s impossible not to melt into his embrace. I give myself over to this kiss I don’t need to question or doubt from the man who devoted himself to me first, the man who’s always wanted to see the best in me.

A hungry sound reverberates from Lorenzo’s chest. As I loop my arms around his neck, he pulls me tighter against him.“You always feel so good.”His hands skim up my sides so his thumbs can trace the curves of my breasts through my gown.“Do you want— Are you recovered enough?—”

I can taste what he’s asking in the desire that ripples through his illusionary voice. In that moment, there’s nothing I want more. It’s been too fucking long since I’ve been fully adored by any of the men I love.

“Yes,” I murmur in answer to both questions, and dive into another kiss.

Lorenzo nudges me toward the settee as his deft fingers loosen the lacing on my gown. He eases me down on the cushioned seat, sliding the bodice down my body at the same time.

He kisses me at the same time as he kneels on the floor in front of me. His hands cup my breasts fully, palms swiveling over my sensitized nipples to provoke the sweetest jolts of pleasure.

I gasp against his mouth and kiss him harder. Heat floods every particle of my being around a knot of my own hunger.

I’ve missed this. I almost forgot how much.

Lorenzo bends to suck the tip of one breast into his searing mouth. At the nip of his teeth, I whimper and curl my fingers against his thick hair.

As he works over my chest with lips and teeth and one setof clever fingers, he tucks his other hand beneath my skirt. It grazes teasing patterns over my skin all the way up my calf and thigh, until I can’t restrain a moan.

My hips sway toward him impatiently. Lorenzo hums, the vibration tingling through my breast, and strokes me through my drawers.

Fuck, yes—but I need so much more. The intimacies I’ve had to set aside, the pleasure that might have brought too much pain before—I’m starving for it.

The flames of need flare higher as he eases aside the silky layer to caress me skin to skin. I yank his head up so our mouths can meld together once more and then mumble, “Please. I’ve been waiting too long for this already.”

Lorenzo’s chuckle tickles through my head. He kisses my cheek before yanking my drawers right off.“Whatever you need, Rell. Always.”

I reach down to fumble with his trousers. It takes a few excruciating moments to free his cock. Once the rigid length rests in my hands, I can’t resist pumping it in my hand, feeling it twitch with a desire to match my own.

Lorenzo muffles a groan on my shoulder. He tugs me to the edge of the seat where he can line himself up against me perfectly.

As he plunges into me, I lean toward him. Our mouths collide again. His shaft fills me with the blissful burn I was craving, not a shred of discomfort in the sensation.

A moan tumbles out of me. I clutch him tighter, rocking to meet his thrusts, urging him deeper. “I love you. So much. So good.”

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