Page 60 of The Ballad of the Vampire Prince

My back arches to take me over the edge.

“Svenn…” I let out a soft muffled cry.

The door suddenly burst open.

I open my eyes to find Svenn standing in the bath chamber with a single eyebrow raised. My mutinous heart leaps at his presence.

“Do you mind?” He clears his throat and jerks his head to the side.

I don’t look at the direction he meant because the shock of his presence alone paralyzes me. My brain freezes and I can’t form a reply.

He somehow takes my muteness as a sign of acceptance. A quick work of his breeches and Svenn is laid bare in all his glory in front of me. He goes straight for the shower, half across the bathroom from my tub.

Svenn twists the handle and hot steaming water sprays from the three showerheads above him. The sound of the water hitting the marbled tiles wakes me from my trance.

Oh no. What have I done?

Did he see what I was doing? I really don’t want him to know I’m still desperate for him.

I wait for him to say something, anything but he says nothing. Svenn has his back on me in the shower stall so I can’t really tell what he’s thinking either.

Maybe he didn’t see me after all.

Now that he is here, I glance back at him and allow myself to take in the view before me.

Water trickles from the sleek, coiled muscle of his back down to his calves in rivulets. I’m fascinated and tempted to trace their pathway with my fingers. That is a warrior’s body honed to perfection, with the scars to prove it.

In my dreams, that is all mine. He is all mine.

It doesn’t feel right to be stalking him like this. I will myself to look away, but I can’t.

Svenn’s broad back shifts slightly to the side and my eyes wander downward to the full length of him. It’s just as long and thick as I remember on our wedding night. He takes it in his fist and gives it a rough stroke.

I don’t know why that looks so arousing. My hand moves spontaneously to—

I glance up to find a pair of crimson eyes staring back at me.

My mouth goes dry when he turns off the shower.

Heavens help me. Un. Anyone. Save me.

I should look away.

But I don’t. I keep gazing straight ahead like a trapped deer.

He dries his hair with the towel and approaches me with deliberate steps. I slowly slide lower into the bathtub as if the act can save me from the incoming danger.

His gaze dips to mine and I still don’t break eye contact.

What am I doing?

I know I’m in the wrong, so I heave a deep breath. “I’m sorry.”

“No, you’re not.” His reply is sharp, snapping me out of my daze. He runs a hand through his hair, raking it back. “Don’t apologize when you don’t mean it.”

“I do mean it!”

“Then perhaps it would be a good idea to shift your eyes away from my cock.”

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