Page 41 of Their Cursed Wolves

“Trust me, I can be useful. I promise. Anything you need, just ask.”

When he licks his lips, I follow the movement with my eyes. “When you said Prince Drogo and Prince Rinan have been… poking you with their erection, what did you mean by that?”

“Exactly what I said,” I tell him honestly.

“Bastards,” he mutters, then his eyes pop open and fix on me, filled with heat. “And were you seducing them the way you’re seducing me now?”

I stare in confusion. “I’m not–”

He leans down and captures my lips, stealing my breath. But this time, I’m not as surprised as I’ve been in the past. I know what to expect, and I’m not disappointed when a delicious heat washes through my body.

His kiss deepens, growing harder, as his lips slant over my mouth, his tongue sweeping inside, tangling with my own. I move against him, kissing him back just as hard in return, and it’s like my blood is on fire. Tangling my hand through his hair, I bring him down more fiercely, and he groans, shifting on the bed until he’s on top of me.

When his big body settles between my legs, I part my thighs, giving him more room. And there he is, hard and erect, pressing against my core like a sword. I rub against him with my whole body, and he swears against my lips. His hand slides up my thigh, pushing my nightgown to the side until he finds my core. At first, he just dances over me, but then he slides one finger inside, just the tip, and I gasp.

No one has ever touched me like this before. I’ve never even thought about someone touching me like this. It’s hard to breathe. Hard to think. Hard to focus on anything except that finger rubbing gently inside of me, sending sparks flying through me.

“That feels… so good,” I murmur, breaking from his kiss.

He sucks down my throat as he continues to touch me gently. I can feel something building inside of me. Something perfect and hot and everything I’ve ever wanted. I rub myself against his finger, loving the sensations I don’t want to stop.

Someone knocks at the door.

Arlys curses and rolls off of me, pulling the blankets over us as he does so.

A minute later, Prince Drogo walks in. He has a stack of papers in his hand. “Sorry, but I–” He freezes when he sees us, sniffs the air, and scowls. “It smells like her, like fucking sex.”

“We haven’t,” Arlys says quickly.

Prince Drogo bears his teeth. “Do you need me to stand watch so you don’t listen to your cock?”

Arlys glares back. “No, I can control myself. It was just… a mistake.”

A mistake. That hurts.

I roll away from them both, laying with my back to them. “Well, this mistake is trying to sleep, so would you both just shut up and go to bed?”

Prince Drogo doesn’t leave for a long minute. I finally hear the door close behind him. I sense Arlys turn toward me. I feel him staring, feel his desire to say something. But he doesn’t. He doesn’t say a word.

Not a single word.

I pretend to sleep, but I don’t, and neither does he. Instead, I’m left feeling strangely hurt, but also… left wondering what it would have been like if we hadn’t stopped.

SEVENTEEN

Tara

I tuck my shirt into my pants and tighten my belt on my traveling clothes, happy with the sword and dagger I’d chosen for the trip. My hair is neatly braided down my back, and my boots are well-worn and perfect for climbing. Now I’m ready for a big bad mission to save the shifters. Before I step away from the mirror, I throw my cape over my shoulders and head out of the room.

As I close my door, I’m struck with an urge to go see King Talon. I get a picture of him in my head, sick and miserable, just like my father. The image calls to me, holding me in its grip until I know what I have to do. I’m no healer, but I can help a little. So, I head his way instead of down to breakfast.

I lightly rap on his door, even though it’s ajar. It creaks open, and I see him propped up in his bed with pillows. He’s awake, but he looks so fragile, like if someone took a pillow away, he’d simply fall over. It’s sad how much an illness can take from a person.

“Princess Tara,” he greets, a note of surprise in his tired voice.

I bow my head. “King Talon, may I join you?”

“Certainly,” he says.

---