Page 46 of Defying the Crown
Daniel's answering smile is wicked as he moves toward me, backing me against the elevator wall. "Good," he murmurs before claiming my lips in a searing kiss that leaves no doubt about our intentions once we reach our destination
His boldness awakens something primal in me—something far removed from the reserved, proper prince I've been trained to be. I want to match his confidence, his openness about desire. I want him.
Chapter 18
Daniel
The Peninsula presidential suite door clicks shut behind us, and Harald's hand is still warm in mine. I can't help but stare at the ridiculous luxury surrounding us - the room is surrounded in windows probably taller than my entire apartment, casting long shadows from the city's lights below us across carpet that probably costs more than I make in a year.
"This is..." My voice trails off as I try to find words that won't make me sound like the poor foster kid I am.
Harald squeezes my hand gently. "Too much?"
"No, it's just... different," I reply softly, my voice carrying a hint of wonder as I drink in the opulence surrounding us. Turning to face Harald, I find my nerves gradually settling into something more tranquil as our gazes meet. Those earnest blue eyes seem to sparkle with an inner light, their depths inviting and reassuring. "Good different," I continue, a small smile tugging at the corners of my mouth as I give his hand a gentle squeeze. The warmth of his skin against mine is comforting, grounding me.
My fingers tremble slightly as I let go of his hand and slowly begin to unbutton my shirt, revealing tantalizing glimpses of my skin beneath. The air between us feels electric, charged with anticipation as I step back from Harald's embrace. I need him to see every inch of me - scars and all - laid bare before him like an offering.
"Let me," I murmur softly when he instinctively moves to follow me. My voice is barely audible over the pounding of my heart in my ears. "Just... watch."
I savor each second our eyes are locked, drinking in the hunger and desire reflected back at me from those blue depths. With deliberate slowness, I slip my shirt off one shoulder and then the other, letting it fall to pool on the plush carpet at my feet.
I stand before him now in nothing but my pants - utterly exposed yet strangely empowered by his ardent gaze roaming over my body like a reverent caress. Every nerve ending tingles with sensitivity as the cool air kisses my newly bared skin.
Arousal coils hot and tight in my core as Harald's eyes darken with lust. My cock twitches against my fly at the sight of him watching me so intently. The knowledge that he desires me just as much - if not more so - than I crave him sends a shiver racing down my spine straight to my groin.
I wet my suddenly dry lips with the tip of my tongue and hold his molten gaze as my hands drift down to the button of my pants. With agonizing slowness, I pop it open, letting the fabric part just enough to reveal the top of my hip bones and the trail of dark hair leading downwards.
"Daniel..." The way he says my name, like a prayer, gives me confidence I didn't know I had.
Emboldened, I slide the zipper down, tooth by torturous tooth. The sound is obscenely loud in the otherwise silent room. I shrug the pants off my hips, letting them fall and pool around my ankles before stepping out of them completely.
I'm laid bare before him now, clad in nothing but my black boxer briefs. The thin fabric does little to hide my obvious arousal straining against it.
"Your turn," I whisper huskily, my voice barely audible over the pounding of my heart. I close the distance between us until mere inches separate our bodies. "I want to see you too."
My hands find the soft, luxurious hem of his cashmere sweater, gently sliding underneath to feel the warmth radiating from his skin. I look up at him from beneath my lashes, silently begging him to let me undress him as he did for me.
"Can I?" I ask softly yet urgently yearning for Haralds response; my desire evident by my ragged breathing; Haralds eyes lock onto mine; blue meeting brown; both filled intense neediness; raw sexual energy crackling between us; an almost tangible force drawing our bodies together despite ourselves
Harald nods, lifting his arms as I pull the sweater over his head. I can't help but run my hands down his firm muscular chest, my fingers trailing along his taut stomach tracing each defined ab muscle sending electric shivers through both our bodies, feeling his heart racing beneath my fingertips. His skin is impossibly soft, and I lean in to press my lips against his collarbone.
I feel Harald's breath tickling my ear as he murmurs, "You're driving me crazy," his accent thicker than usual.
I grin, feeling powerful. "That's the idea." I say. I run my hands up his arms, feeling the muscles tense beneath my touch. His skin is so warm, practically burning against my palms. I trail my fingers down to the button of his designer jeans, popping it open with deliberate slowness.
"Daniel..." His voice is rough, desperate, a deep rumble that reverberates through my very core. I love that I can affect him like this, that with just a few simple touches, a mere caress along his arms, I can reduce him to such an urgent need. It's intoxicating, heady stuff - the power I hold over him in this moment, the knowledge that his desire is entirely because of me.
"Patience," I tease, though my own heart is racing like a runaway train, thumping so hard against my ribs that I'm sure he can hear it. My breath catches in my throat as I slide his zipper down with agonizing slowness, the metallic rasp echoing through the charged silence between us. I let my knuckles brush against him teasingly through the thin fabric of his boxer briefs, savoring the intoxicating feel of him already so rock hard and ready for me. Harald's sharp intake of breath at that intimate contact sends a shiver down my spine, and the firmness I feel through his underwear is all the encouragement I need to keep going.
I can't help but marvel at the trust he's placing in me, allowing me this close, revealing this vulnerable side of himself. Slowly, as if unraveling a precious gift, I slide his pants down over his hips, revealing the boxers that leave little to the imagination. His erection presses against the fabric, straining for release, and it takes every ounce of self-control not to moan aloud at the sight of him.
Steam continues to curl from the bathroom, fogging the mirrors and filling the air with warmth. But the heat between us has nothing to do with the running shower.
"You're gorgeous," he whispers, pressing a kiss to my shoulder. His lips trail up my neck, and I tilt my head to give him better access. "Perfect."
I turn in his arms, pressing our chests together. "Shower's going to get cold," I murmur against his lips, though we both know I couldn't care less about the water temperature right now.
His hands span my waist, thumbs stroking over my hipbones with tantalizing gentleness, igniting a trail of goosebumps in their wake. The delicate touch makes me shiver, making me acutely aware of every nerve ending in my body that yearns for his caress.
