Page 97 of Underground Prince

“Th…” I was trying to say something, anything, his name, English. Only carnal knowledge, a type of communication with no words, escaped.

“I want you,” he said, and I felt the rise and fall of his lips as they moved against mine to speak. “Right here. Right now.”

“But…the people…” What people? Who cared?

He was already lifting me, resting me on the railing so my legs could curve around him and he could get under my dress. With one keeping me balanced against my back, he used the other to do just that.

“But…” But what? I wanted him, too. We could both be naked in seconds on a giant balcony with no one around. The excitement of a public place with private boundaries, exposed under the city glitter, was an impulse I’d gladly submit to.

Except this didn’t feel right, despite Theo finding my pleasure spot again, bringing me to the brink where I could barely utter words…

We’d fought. He’d run away. Turned his back on me because he couldn’t see the potential that tied us together every time we met; a satin ribbon of desire that refused to unknot.

His tongue parted my lips, and I let the velvet in, allowing him access because I wanted itsobad…

And there it was. His reasons, explained to me through the seduction of his tongue.

This was what he wanted, too.Theo assumed, within a mere moment, after a quickie against the bannister, he could get me out of his system.

I backed off, panting. “Wait.”

His breaths were hard, but he stopped, holding onto me as we broke apart.

“We can’t do this,” I said.

“Scarlet. We already are.”

“I’m not…this.” Gently pushing him away, I brought my legs down and stood. “We’renot this,” I said.

“I’m not sure I understand.”

“Look,” I said, my breaths still heaving. “We want each other. That much is clear.Iwant you. But there’s more here. And playing fast and loose at a hotel gala isn’t going to get it out of us.”

His expression shuttered, telling me I’d hit the mark. I shouldn’t have been surprised, but the dull thud in my heart was there regardless.

“If you want me,” I said, my inhales slower now. “Do it right.”

I intended to go back inside. I wasn’t sure how much longer I’d make it without granting him his wish and giving him what he wanted.

But as I brushed past, he caught my arm.

“I crave you,” he said. “I think of you when I shouldn’t. I find myself wondering where you are, who you’re with, if I’m making a mistake by escaping you.”

I caught my breath, a small choke of shock.

“And you’re right. I want it out of me. This. Whatever hold you have on me can’t happen. Giving you what you want, allowing the fix, was my last shot at stopping this.” He let go abruptly. “Andfuckif it isn’t working.”

“Do you really think,” I said, refusing to allow him to dodge me this time, “screwing me on a penthouse patio would’ve gotten us anywhere? Givein, Theo.”

He shook out of my hold and prowled the expanse of the balcony. “I can’t.”

“So we’re just going to desire each other from afar? Is that it? Whenever we cross paths, I’m just going to have to use whatever my imagination can muster up because that’s all I’ll have—”

A sound escaped his lips, frustration and thorns, as he tore forward, clasped my face, and ground his lips to mine.

“I told you,” he said, his exhales hot,hotagainst my mouth, “I’d give you that. All of it. Everything you can think of I’ll do to you. I’ll tongue every inch of your body, stroke all the places you want, make you come against every surface area we find.”

My body was already a traitor and melding with his.

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