Page 12 of Fire in Stone

Awareness warmed my skin in the wake of his gaze. I tugged at the hem of my t-shirt, feeling suddenly self-conscious. He kept advancing my way, stalking in his soft leather boots like a cat. His dark burgundy pants also looked soft, made from velvet or something like it.

“Do I know you?” I retreated.

“Well, we haven’t been formally introduced. But that’s easy to rectify.” He straightened his back before giving me a pompous bow, as if we were in some historical drama play. “I’m Prince Elex, the Heir to the Kingdom of Dakath Mountains in Nerifir.”

“Who?” I stared at him, speechless.

His words made me feel even more confused, but less scared. I’d been lucky never to meet any of the Miller Brothers in person before, but something told me this man wasn’t one of them. He just didn’t look or sound like one of Germany's most notorious criminals.

He did sound a bit out of it, though.

“Did you sayprince?” I asked.

“Yes, my sweet girl.” His voice softened. “But since this world is so shamelessly informal, you can call me by my given name, Elex.”

The name said nothing to me.

Lifting a hand, he stroked up my arm. His eyelids drooped a little as he inhaled deeply, then released a breath with a soft moan at the end, as if enjoying a drink of fine wine.

“Exquisite…” he murmured, leaning closer.

Frozen in shock, I didn’t move.

He lowered his head to my neck.

“You wake up all my senses.” The tip of his nose barely touched my skin as he breathed me in. “It’s so good to touch again. To feel… To taste…”

I felt the tip of his tongue flick against my skin and shrunk away from him.

“Did you just lick me?”

“Yes,” he admitted without even a hint of shame or apology.

My mouth fell open at his audacity. Unfortunately, he took it as an invitation as his mouth landed on mine, and…my breath left me. My phone slipped from my fingers, dropping to the floor.

His lips were warm and gentle. He closed them over mine slowly, as if savoring every moment of our connection. His hand slid up my back until his fingers caressed my nape. Tiny shivers rippled down my arms with goosebumps, only I wasn’t sure whether of pleasure or trepidation.

He moaned softly into the kiss, the sound resonating through my chest. With his other hand, he found his way under my shirt. The contact of his palm with the bare skin of my back was invigorating and…sobering.

My eyes snapped open in shock.

What was he doing kissing me?

What was I doing, letting him?

He tightened his arms around me, his touch growing more intense.

“Oh gods,” he groaned against my lips. “It’s been so…so long. You feel even better than I dreamed of.”

“No.” I pressed my hands into his shoulders, trying to shove him away. It proved impossible, like moving a mountain. He didn’t budge an inch. Instead, he grabbed me tighter, lifting my feet off the ground and pressing his pelvis to mine.

Panic spiked through me.

“Get off me!” Gripping his shoulders, I kneed him hard, right between his velvet-clad thighs.

He grabbed his crotch with a howl, letting me go. Losing his balance, he dropped to his knees. I didn’t give him any time to recover. Kicking him in his left shoulder, I sent him rolling to his back, then jumped on top of him, pressing my right knee to his throat.

“Hey!” he croaked, grimacing in pain and grabbing his crotch with both hands. “What was that for?”

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