Page 104 of Destiny Redeemed
Before I could form a retort, he was leading me through a series of back passages I’d rarely used. The palace was a labyrinth, and Anderic navigated it with the ease of someone who had spent a lifetime exploring its secrets.
“Taking the scenic route?” I asked, recognizing the direction we were headed.
He glanced back, his blue eyes darkening. “I prefer paths where we won’t be interrupted.”
We emerged into the secluded wing that housed the royal family’s private quarters. As Anderic opened the ornate door to his chambers and pulled me inside, the decisive click of the lock sent a familiar shiver down my spine.
The Prince’s chambers were exactly as I remembered them—spacious and elegant, with high ceilings and tall windows that overlooked the gardens. The massive four-poster bed dominated one wall, still draped in those rich fabrics of blue and gold that complemented his royal aesthetic.
“I’ve thought about having you here again,” Anderic said, his voice dropping to that dangerous register that made my knees weak. “Ever since that night.”
“Is that so?” I managed, trying to maintain my composure even as heat bloomed in my core. “And here I thought princes were supposed to be above such base thoughts.”
He moved closer, his fingers trailing up my arm. “I’ve never been very good at denying myself what I want.”
“And what is it that you want, Your Highness?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
His answer was to kiss me—not the gentle, controlled kisses we’d shared before, but something wild and consuming. His hands tangled in my hair, tilting my head back as his tongue explored my mouth with devastating thoroughness.
I melted against him, my fingers clutching at his shoulders as he backed me toward the bed. When my legs hit the edge, he broke the kiss, his breathing as ragged as my own.
“I want you,” he said simply. “All of you, Ilyana.”
Something in the way he said my name—like a prayer and a curse combined—broke the last of my restraint. I reached for the ties of my dress, but his hands caught mine.
“Let me,” he murmured.
Anderic undressed me with torturous slowness, his fingers skimming over each new expanse of skin revealed, leaving trails of fire in their wake. By the time I stood naked before him, I was trembling with need.
“Beautiful,” he breathed, his eyes traveling over me with such intensity I could almost feel it as a physical touch.
I reached for him, tugging impatiently at his clothing. “Your turn, Prince.”
He smiled, that devastating smile that lit his eyes and deepened his dimples. “So demanding.”
But he complied, shedding his fine garments until he stood gloriously naked. I let my gaze wander over the defined muscles of his chest, the narrow trail of golden hair leading down to his impressive arousal. The sight of him sent a fresh wave of heat between my thighs.
“See something you like?” he teased, pulling me against him.
The feel of his skin against mine drew a gasp from my lips. “Perhaps.”
He lifted me onto the bed with ease, following me down until he hovered above me, his golden curls creating a halo in the afternoon light. When he kissed me again, it was with deliberate slowness, as if we had all the time in the world.
His lips traveled down my neck, across my collarbone, until they closed around one sensitive nipple. I arched beneath him, a moan escaping my lips as his tongue circled the hardened peak.
“Anderic,” I gasped, my hands threading through his hair.
“Say that again,” he commanded, his voice rough with desire.
“Anderic,” I repeated, and was rewarded with his mouth on my other breast, his hand sliding down my stomach to the heat between my thighs.
His fingers found me wet and wanting, and he groaned against my skin. “So ready for me.”
He stroked me with maddening precision, finding the spot that made my hips buck against his hand. All the while, his mouth continued its exploration of my body, leaving marks that would remind me of this moment long after we parted.
When I was trembling on the edge, he positioned himself between my thighs, the head of his cock pressing against my entrance.
“Look at me,” he demanded, and I opened my eyes to find his intense gaze fixed on mine.
