Page 67 of Reckless Royalty

My fingers curl into the sheets, and I let out a slow breath, fighting off the thoughts that threaten to run wild. I turn my head just a bit, and I can see the way her lashes rest against her cheeks, the faint rise and fall of her chest.

My gaze drops to her lips, and that’s my first mistake. They’re soft, parted just slightly, and the memory of her laughter, her voice, is enough to make me want to taste them.

I’m fighting a losing battle even as I look away. I know I am, but I don’t care. I’m too far gone.

Focus, Mihai. Just focus.

I fucking can’t. The tension is coiling tighter and tighter, winding up inside me until I’m certain I’m going to snap. And then, barely a whisper, I hear it.

“Mihai,”

My name on her lips is my undoing.

I turn my head toward her, and she’s looking at me now, her big brown eyes catching mine in the dim light. There’s something in her expression—uncertainty, maybe curiosity—but it’s enough to light me up from the inside out.

The words slip out before I can stop them.

“Fuck it.”

And then I’m moving, rolling onto my side, my hand reaching out to cup her cheek. Her eyes widen slightly, but she doesn’t pull away, doesn’t flinch. I lean in, and the second my lips meet hers, it’s like the world tilts on its axis.

Her lips are soft against mine and she lets out the faintest gasp against my mouth, her hand coming up to grip my wrist. I kiss her gently at first, testing, waiting for any sign that she doesn’t want this.

But she doesn’t push me away. Instead, she leans into me, her lips parting slightly, and I take that as all the permission I need.

The kiss deepens, and my control slips further. I pull her closer, my hand sliding to the back of her neck, tilting her head so I can kiss her properly. She moans into my mouth and I swallow that sound like I’ve been starved for it.

She’s so fucking soft, all curves and warmth, and she fits against me like she was made to be in my arms. There’s nothing delicate or fragile about her, not in the way she feels. She’s real—something I can hold onto, something I want to hold onto. The way her curves press against me—plush, feminine, perfect—it drives me insane.

When we finally break apart, we’re both breathing heavily, her face flushed, her eyes searching mine. I rest my forehead against hers, trying to gather my thoughts, trying to rein in the chaos she’s just unleashed.

“I shouldn’t have done that,” I say finally, my voice low and rough. But even as I say it, I don’t regret it. Not one fucking bit.

She shakes her head, and her lips twitch into the faintest smile. “I’m glad you did.”

That’s it. That’s all it takes to completely wreck me.

My lips are on hers again and her hand comes up, tangling in my hair, pulling me closer. I deepen the kiss, pouring every ounce of tension, every unspoken word into it.

It’s intense, and I’m not holding back anymore. I can feel her relax with every caress of my tongue against hers, her fingers tracing along the back of my neck, and it drives me fucking wild.

My hand tightens on her waist, and it’s like she was shaped to fit there, the curve of her body filling my palms in a way that makes me want to pull her even closer.

I pull back, breathless, I see the look in her eyes—surprise, and fuckingneed.

“Maddy,” I murmur, my thumb brushing over her cheek. “If this is too much, if you want me to stop…”

She just shakes her head, her eyes bright and focused on me. “Don’t stop.”

I can’t fucking help but kiss her again, deeper this time, letting myself drown in the warmth, the softness of her. Everything else falls away, and for once, I’m not thinking about anything but her.

My fingers trail down her hips, possessive and light, her body soft in all the places my hard edges crave. I knew from the first time I saw her that her silence would be mine to break and no one else’s.

I break off the kiss, trailing my lips to her neck while my hand slips down her soft body.

And fuck, the way she responds to me—it’s enough to undo me. Every soft moan, every slight press of her hips against mine,it’s like she’s pulling me under, and I don’t want to come back up for air.

“Mihai,” she says my name again, and my cock fuckingthrobs.

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