Page 8 of The Broken Prince

“Goodnight, Prince.”

He smirked before he walked to the front door.

I hadn’t taken a drink of my ale since the conversation started, and now I no longer wanted it. My heart raced in my chest, the thumps distinct against my ribs, and I considered the desire pulling at me, an uncontrollable urge I couldn’t even explain.

I was on my feet and outside the bar, spotting him in the dark street under the sconces. When I was behind him, he stopped and turned around, like he somehow knew I was there even though I’d been too far away for my boots to be audible.

I walked up, head held high but my heart uneasy. He said Cobra Vampires could feel heartbeats, but he wasn’t that type, so my erratic heartbeat was safe from his detection. When I was right in front of him, I realized how tall he was, had forgotten despite our long journey together.

He looked me up and down appreciatively. “I like the sundresses, but this is nice too.”

“My father’s request.”

“The only way to be prepared for the unknown is to be prepared for everything.”

I gave a nod. “Good advice.”

His hard gaze pierced my flesh, the kind that was confident and intense, like I could easily be his foe or his lover. Ethan wore a similar look, but Aurelias’s was at a much greater depth. His stare felt hot and possessive, but his mouth didn’t lower onto mine. His arm didn’t slide into the small of my back before he tugged.

Nothing happened.

So, I made it happen. I moved into him and gripped his biceps for balance as I rose on my tiptoes and kissed him hard on the mouth.

His lips caught mine, and he kissed me with the desire I felt from his eyes. Possessive. Demanding. Sexy. His muscular arms moved to the small of my back, and he tugged me against him, letting me feel his hardness against my stomach.

My focus was on him as he guided me off the street and into the alley between two buildings. My back hit the wall, and he smothered me against it, a blanket in winter, his large body blocking me from view of anyone who might walk by.

My hands moved underneath his shirt and felt the searing-hot muscles of his abs and chest. He was harder than the stone at my back, as hard as I remembered from our passionate nights. I’d never had another lover like him, and I didn’t want to waste my time on a poor imitation when the real thing was right in front of me.

Now I wished I were in one of my dresses, because all I would have had to do was lift it and drop his pants, and he’d be inside me right then and there.

He gave a quiet moan against my lips as he gripped my ass with his big hand. He was fully immersed in the moment, his desire rampant the way it’d been in my bedchambers in the castle, but he still pulled away.

My lips felt ice-cold the second his mouth was gone.

His coffee-colored eyes stared into mine, almost angry.

“Let’s get out of here.” His place was close by, down a couple dark alleyways.

“Guards are watching my place.”

“There’s an inn right there.” It was across the street, a vacancy sign right outside.

He pulled away entirely, taking his heat and affection. “It’s not a good idea.”

I’d craved that release since the last time I’d had it, and I felt an inferno of disappointment when he denied me. I’d never been denied before by anyone at any time. But this vampire walked into my life and changed it irrevocably. “You’re scared of my father?” It was hard to believe, that a man who was superior in most ways feared a man who wasn’t even here.

“No.” His tone was chilled, like the insult doused his arousal.

“Then why?” I demanded, annoyed I wouldn’t get my way but also embarrassed that I’d basically thrown myself at him and was rejected.

He came back to me, his eyes hard, pressing me against the wall. “Because I’m leaving these shores once the first opportunity arises. My home is a world away, and once I leave, I’ll never return.” He stepped back slightly. “Not to mention I’m a predator…and you’re prey.”

My eyes shifted back and forth between his in confusion. “Do you think I expect us to get married? To live happily ever after in Delacroix once the war is over? To pop out some vampire babies?”

Now his hard gaze turned cold in anger.

“I just want to fuck, Aurelias.”

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