Page 3 of Claimed by the Bastard Prince
The pretty blonde’seyes went wide, before she flushed profusely and released a nervous laugh.
Akeen’s groin tightened.
He’d been watching her long enough to know she’d come to the wedding celebration alone. He’d come by himself too, and he’d been scoping out the gathering for a single woman to warm his bed tonight when he’d spotted her sitting at a table, sipping champagne by herself. Though she’d smiled occasionally while watching people dance, he’d also noticed brief flashes of sadness that he’d felt an inexplicable need to erase.
When she’d licked a drop of champagne off her bottom lip, the primal urge to claim her had roused his cock to hardness in a single heartbeat.
Except now, he wasn’t thinking about just one night.
His balls fucking ached standing this close to her.
Once wouldn’t be enough. Hell, twice wouldn’t be enough.
He wanted to toss her over his shoulder, carry her to his private quarters upstairs, and fuck her over and over again.
“The man who’s going to convince me to stay in Ismallia. Hmm. So, is that your go-to line when you’re trying to get into a girl’s pants?” Cora asked before grinning into her champagne. She took a sip and then—holy fuck—once more licked a drop of the bubbly liquid off her bottom lip.
Akeen stepped forward, reached around her, and set his glass of champagne on the surface of the thick iron balcony railing. He remained close to her, peering down into her startled blue eyes, still holding her hand and stroking her wrist. “Tell me your favorite pick-up line, my little sunflower, and I’ll use it.”
She gave him a tight smile, but he detected the rapid beat of her pulse in her neck and the quick intakes of her breath. Her mind was telling her to escape him, but her body wanted the same thing he did—a night of raw, primal fucking. In fact, he would bet his entire fortune her panties were soaked right now. She squirmed awkwardly in place, as if to confirm his suspicions.
Then she lifted her eyebrows, and, with exaggerated movements that forced him to step back an inch, lifted her champagne and took another sip, finally downing the contents of the glass. Though it was now empty, she still held it between them like a barrier.
“Well,” she said, her gaze traveling upward, “if you were especially perceptive, you would have noticed I was staring down upon the beautiful garden. Rather than insinuating that sex with you is going to beso goodthat I fall madly in love with you and decide to never return to America, you could have asked me to accompany you for a walk in the garden. Cheesy, bold pick-up lines don’t usually work on me, Akeen. You’re dressed like a gentleman, the least you could do is play the part and not come at me like a rutting boar.”
He released her hand and grabbed her empty glass, setting it next to his.
God, she was perfect.
If he wasn’t busy envisioning all the ways to put her smart mouth to use, he would’ve been quicker with a retort.
Cora was a challenge that he fucking accepted.
Ismallian women normally dropped at his feet, but that’s because they recognized him as the wealthy bastard son of the king, a powerful man who advised his father and worked behind the scenes in Parliament. It thrilled him that this American hadn’t the faintest idea about his identity.
“I prefer a more direct approach, Cora,” he finally said. “I saw you. I watched you. I decided I wanted you. Iwillhave you.”
She laughed and gave him an incredulous look. As she shook her head in disagreement, her long golden curls shifted over her shoulders, and the scent of her floral shampoo tickled his nose. “Wow, you sure are cocky. Let me guess—you’re so handsome and wealthy, that most women normally fall straight into your arms.”
“Actually, they usually fall right into my bed.”
She grinned, her eyes lighting up the night. “Wow, again. As tempting as crawling between the sheets with a total stranger sounds, I’m going to have to pass.”
“In that case,” he replied quickly, “I would like to invite you to accompany me on a stroll through the garden.” He stepped back and held out his elbow.
She sighed and rolled her eyes, but surprised him by taking his offered arm. “Well, I suppose a walk won’t hurt. You lead the way, Mr. Cocky.”
Oh fuck. That mouth.
Yes, he was going to put that smart mouth of hers to work later. But first, he had to woo her. He wasn’t worried. No woman he’d chased had ever turned him down, even the few who’d displayed a bit of reluctance in the beginning.
By the time sunlight broke across the mountains of Ismallia, she would have screamed his name countless times during the throes of passion.
He guided her toward the servants’ staircase that was hidden behind a large pillar. It was the fastest way down to the garden, and it would afford them more privacy than the main staircase, which was crowded with royals and their guests. If Akeen had to engage in polite small talk with one more relative or member of Parliament, his head was going to explode. He’d attended the wedding and a few hours of the reception to show his support for his half-brother and his new bride, but now he was ready to leave. But not until Cora agreed to accompany him.
They were quiet on the way down the narrow staircase, and luckily, they only passed a few startled servants. Finally, they reached the garden level and strode out into the warm, fragrant evening air.
God, his cock ached. The thought of stripping off Cora’s gown and kissing every inch of her body, then holding her down and teasing her with slow thrusts into her sweet little pussy before he commenced fucking her hard, made him half-dizzy with lust. There was something about her that beckoned him. He doubted she was a virgin, but there was still an innocence about her that begged to be defiled.
