Page 57 of Tricky Princess
“Rosier,” she scolded, but then melted as he ran his nose up her neck. Like he did the night before, like he couldn’t get enough of her. The feeling was the same. She couldn’t get enough of the feel of him, his hot skin; she wanted to latch onto him, make him carry her around, and never let go.
Okay, creep, calm down.
“Mmmm,” he hummed against her neck.
“Are you happy to see me, or are you trying to lay claim in front of every male in the castle?”
“Both?”
“Someone is a lot happier than I expected.” She suppressed a moan as his teeth grazed her skin. She wanted to rip her dress off when he did that. She wanted to show everyone the marks he left on her skin the night before. They would know whom they came from, whose mark was buried deeper than her skin. Turning her head, she saw the woman with horns smirking as her friend whispered to her. The pompous one stormed off.
“Neither of us has eaten,” she reminded him. “And we should go check on our friends.”
He pulled away, looking up at her with flushed skin and glassy eyes. “Since when did you become the responsible one?”
“Since I have a reputation I need to protect.”
He leaned into the other side of her neck, pressing a light kiss on her pulse point before mumbling against her skin, “Stealing horses and injuring guards?”
“That.” She shivered as he nipped at her ear. “I would be a horrible friend if I fucked you in the middle of the training ring while Sam was still injured in bed.”
“Not if we gave him explicit details,” Ros answered.
“Ros…” She pushed off his chest. “What has gotten into you?”
He was practically being boyish and devilish as he looked up at her with that glint in his eyes. They should talk, not dry hump in the dirt.
“You in this damned dress—and the damned dress last night,” he said, pulling at the fabric.
“So you like me in dresses?”
“I like you in anything,” he whispered in her ear, “but knowing you don’t wear underwear, knowing you still don’t wear it when you have a dress on…” One of his shadows snaked beneath her dress, toying down her ass and through her sex. Her eyes widened in shock and he pulled back, smirking at her.
“But right now, I like this dress.”
She had always wondered if he could feel what his shadows were doing like how she could sometimes feel what her illusions felt. Her legs squeezed his thighs as a shadow dove into her once before quickly retreating, leaving her feeling empty.
“Fine,” he said, pecking her quickly on the lips with an evil smirk. “Let’s go see our friends.”
He stood swiftly, bringing her with him and taking an extra long time with his hands running up her ass before he turned and walked them out of the training area. Was that swagger he walked with as they left the training ring? His arm draped over her shoulder like he was some high school jock.
They walked over to Florence, who slowly curtsied. “Your Highness.”
“Please don’t,” Ellea said. “He’s already walking around like a damned peacock.”
“Are you letting your demon show, prince?” Florence smirked at him.
He swallowed hard and glanced at Ellea. He seemed to shake his head, trying to rid a feeling that no one could see. Ellea shot Florence a look and pushed Ros to the side.
“What’s wrong?” she whispered, searching his face.
“I hadn’t noticed,” he said, twitching his shoulders.
“Noticed what?”
He glanced over his shoulder slightly, and Ellea followed his gaze. His shadows twirled around them, taking forms she couldn’t quite make out.
“Hey,” she said, placing a hand over his racing heart, pressing him further into the shadows of the castle. “You don’t need to hide anything from me. I like you, even the demon bits.”
