Page 94 of The Prince of Power

“You can’t prove someone’s a virgin, Damian. It’s impossible. This doctor—or whoever they work for—is a charlatan.”

Her words rattle through me. For a second, I forget to breathe. “Are you sure?”

“Absolutely. What the doctor would be looking for is my hymen. A fragile little piece of tissue. Do you really think I’d still have one with all the horseback riding I’ve done?”

My head grows heavy. My God, I’ve been stupid. The Four Hundred has so many silly rituals, many of them magical. The High Master is said to be thirty-four thousand years old, for Christ’s sake.

I began to question all of it as I grew up, ultimately finding most of it ridiculous. But somehow not this. It never even occurred to me to do research on basic human anatomy.

I flip her onto her back and crush her with my body. My breath is coming out in ragged pants. I grab her by the chin, but she doesn’t look scared. Only startled.

“Ava,” I rasp, “if we’re going to do this, we’ll have to be careful. When we get back to Thornecroft… We’ll need to take extreme caution. Once I have you, I’ll want you all the time. Around the clock. But I won’t be able to…” I swallow. “We’ll need to…”

She sets her hand on my cheek, and I lean into her delicious warmth. “I know,” she says. “But you have to give me this. I want to lose my virginity on my terms. Otherwise, you won’t have an obedientvirginsacrifice when the bedding is supposed to happen.”

The ache in my chest is almost unbearable. My God, this woman is perfect. She’s not afraid to look me in the eye and draw a line with quiet, unwavering certainty. She knows who she is and expects me to rise to meet her there.

She’s a force I can’t dominate, only earn.

And I will.

By God, I will.

I inhale a deep, unsteady breath. Being gentle with her now will take every bit of my strength, but I’ll do it. I have to show her I’m worthy of her trust.

With shaking hands, I lift her T-shirt up slowly. When it’s over her stomach, I lean down and kiss her round belly. “We’ll have to take this slow, precious girl. I’m a little…”Ravenous. “Hungry for you. So be a good girl and keep yourself still and quiet. Only at first.”

She smiles. “Yes, my king.”

A pulse shoots into my cock, and I let out a groan. “No, Ava. You can’t talk that way. Not until I’m fully inside you.”

“Alright, Damian.”

My name on her lips does nothing to calm me. I pull her shirt all the way over her head, forcing my gaze away from her big, beautiful tits.

Later. I’ll look at them later.

As I pull her pajama pants down over her hips, the sweet, earthy scent of her pussy hits my nose, and my stomach begins to knot.

“Fuck, you’re too much.” I position my body over hers and gently lower myself down. Her curves are soft and warm. Delicious against my skin. “Too beautiful. Too perfect.”

“Do you really mean that?”

My head jerks up, and I search her face. She stares at me clear-eyed. Goddamn. She’s serious.

“You’re the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.”

Her nose wrinkles. “I know I’m pretty, but nowhere near as pretty as your consorts. Former consorts.”

I lower my head and kiss her hard. “I prefer your face to any other in the world.”

She lets out a sweet sigh, and I reach down and grab my cock. When I position it at her entrance, her wetness rubs against my tip. I hiss.

Slow, Damian. Don’t hurt her.

Never hurt her.

“Okay. We’ll do this nice and slow.”

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