Page 54 of Shadows of the Crown

“Beg.” I smile menacingly at the demand, dragging my lips over the straps of her heel.

“I think you underestimate just how badly I want to taste you.” The huskiness in my voice surprises even me. My mouth works slowly up her legs, removing her shoes while I continue. “My desire reaches much further than meagerbegging…I would crawl across the lands to you under the judgment of every curious eye in the kingdom. I would forfeit my claim to the throne without question, merely because you asked. I would stand against the Angel itself just for the chance to sit at the foot of your altar.

“Ariella,” I breathe, reaching the apex of her inner thigh. My gaze slides to her hooded eyes, swimming with questioning hunger. “Every heartbeat of mine is a promise to you. And if you so wished, I would force both realms to bear witness as I sliced the organ from my aching chest and placed it in your hands—so there would be no question about who I belong to.

“So…” I hover over her heat, barely able to restrain myself. “Will you allow me the pleasure of tasting you?” I refuse to point out the confusion on her face, and how I never thoughttheassassin could ever be so befuddled. My declaration was quite intense, though—evenIam addled by how strongly I feel.

Her parted lips do not say a word when she gives a barely perceptible nod. Not a moment later I descend, running my tongue along her swollen core. My eyes scrunch closed as I groan, muttering something about how I’ll refuse death’s every call—because the only way I will accept my demise is from drowning in her.

My arms slide up her hips, grabbing her waist and tugging her closer. She gasps when I flutter my tongue, my skin flushing even more at her pleasure-filled sounds. I am so consumed by her that everything else in my life pales in comparison.

I should fear these feelings. Push her from my mind because the Angel ordained societal tiers, and royals do not belong with anyone under a noble status. I chuckle when Ariella latches onto my hair.

Fuck the Angel. And my father—he believes himself discreet, though I am aware of his dislike for the woman below me. And after Gavriel informed me of my father’svisitwith Ariella—in the treasury, no less—I’ve been watching him and Varrick more closely than before.

I suck my angel’s clit deeply between my lips, barely containing my smile when her thighs squeeze my head. She mutters curses to herself as her hips gyrate against my tongue. I reach a hand under my chest, struggling with how hard I press into the bed. Once high enough, I circle the heat of her entrance lightly and nearly come when a shuddering moan leaves her.

“Fuck me,” she drags on a whine, gripping my hair so hard it borders on too painful. I continue to circle my fingers, pressing further into her slit with each rotation.

I hover just above her pulsating core. “Don’t worry, angel, I will.” Her inebriating taste floods my tongue once more as I relent to her cries and sheathe two fingers inside her walls, pressing my cock into the bed for any kind of relief.

This woman is unbelievable.

I undulate my hand, becoming possessed when her thighs begin to shake—I need to unravel her. I maintain the same rhythm when her breathing deepens, peering up her tense body, silhouetted only by the moonlight drifting through her window.

To have this deadly, cunning, unforgiving assassin melting at my touch…

Her body tenses a heartbeat before she comes, her coarse moan settling into my abdomen. I slow my movements as her spasms lessen, wringing out every spec of pleasure I can. When her legs release me—much to my disappointment—I lower my head to gather the waves ofcum seeping from her.

Fuck, does she taste good.

Her hips jerk when my tongue sinks into her heat. “Fuck, Caspian, I can’t—I need you inside me.” I pause, sitting back to look where she leans elevated on her elbows.

“Was I not just inside you…” I tease, running the top of a finger over her slit.

She groans, snatching my hand to haul me over her. Her legs wrap around my hips in a manner that tells me they will not let go until I oblige. She pinches my chin, pulling my face down until our lips connect.

“You know that’s not what I mean.” My cock twitches at her sex-addled voice, and I line myself up to her entrance, swaying my head to massage her swollen mouth.

“You’re right,” I chuckle as I drive my throbbing cock into her with one thrust.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Ariella

Caspian enters me in one thrust, and I gasp into his mouth as my hands grip his hair tighter. He’s thicker than I’d anticipated, lining my walls with a momentary burning sensation before it melts into something exquisite.

He pauses, breathing hard. “Are you okay?” I hum, pulling at his skin to continue, too lost in the bliss to acknowledge when he mutters about how needy I am.

His lips drag over my blazing skin, and my head tilts to provide him more access. My hands slide to below his shoulders, gripping tightly when he pounds into me so hard that I’m certain the crease of my legs will be bruised in the morning. No one has ever fucked me like this before—I fear how easily I could become addicted.

One of his hands skims over my waist before latching under my leg and securing it next to my chest. “Fuck me, that feels so good,” I moan deeply, completely losing my ability to maskany emotions.

“So she does like it rough, huh?” The prince’s voice is teasing, and I have a feeling he’s about to take it a step further.

“I swear to the Angel, prince—if you even think about stopping, I will actually gut you this time.” He smiles against my neck, kissing an extra sensitive spot that causes me to clench around him. My nails embed into his skin, though instead of protesting, it seems to encourage him. If he feels any pain, he sure as Aether isn’t showing it.

He hovers next to my ear and whispers with a seductively deep voice, “Don’t worry, Ari…we’re not done here until you come on my cock at least twice.” He finishes his sentence with an extra hard thrust, and I let out a guttural moan, arching into him. I somehow spread my thighs further apart, allowing him even deeper; the feeling of him so far inside me is the most unbelievable thing I’ve ever felt.

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