Page 71 of Star Prince

Once clear of the space lanes, she loaded the jump coordinates Muffin had given her into the computer. Her lips pursed as her fingers skimmed over the icons on her navigation display. “Odd. When I enter the coordinates, the location comes up as not applicable.”

Quin groaned. “They haven’t made the jump yet. We’ve had maintenance problems since day one. If I had to guess, I’d say that thruster we told you about balked at light speed.” He exchanged glanceswith Muffin. “Delayed again. The captain’s not going to be a happy man.”

“What do you think, Lara?” Gann asked. “With their coordinates, we can find them; correct?”

She gave a smug laugh. “At sublightspeed they’re practically lying in our path.” She pushed the thrust levers forward. “Get ready to meet me, Princess.”

Push’s eyes took on a faraway look. “I still can’t believe it. Tee. A princess.”

“Tee’ah,” Gredda corrected.

Quin snorted. “No wonder she couldn’t hold her liquor. Remember that time—”

“Stop!”Gann held up his hands. “I don’t want to know more”—than he already did, that was. What he had heard so far of Tee’ah Dar’s escapades would age her parents several decades. Fortunately, his worries were over. The virtuous young princess was safely in the crown prince’s capable hands.

“You’re a virgin?”Ian blurted. “But you have a birth-blocker patch on.”

“I thought I’d plan ahead.” Tee’ah hoped he would still want to make love with her now that he had learned she knew nothing about the act of sexual consummation—other than what she had read and heard…and dreamed.

He absorbed what she had told him. When he spoke, his voice was gentler. “Look where we are.” He swept his hand over her hair. “For your first time, is this what you want?”

Am I who you want?he asked with his eyes.

Her heart swelled. “When the man is special, I imagine most women would agree that the setting doesn’t matter.”

“AVash Nadahwoman’s first time is a holy, religious act,” he said.

“Yes,” she said on a breath. If she thought she had left that notion behind with her old life, she was wrong. She craved the customs and rituals she was raised to associate with this milestone in her life. It didn’t matter that Ian hadn’t the required incense and scented oils at his disposal, or perhaps evenVashtraining in the sexual arts. It mattered only that heknew.And now he did.

Three hours and thirty-one minutes.

She sighed and pulled him down on top of her. He settled his strong body against hers, supporting his weight on his elbows and knees as he bowed his head to brush a kiss over her lips. Where their thighs were tangled, she felt him, hard and thick. Fully aroused. But his manner reflected the extent of his control.

He gazed down at her, his eyes radiating a heart-stopping combination of heat and affection. Then, with reverence worthy of the moment, he recited the formal verses used, and more appropriate for, aVash Nadahcouple’s wedding night. “‘In this we begin our life. In this we form a blessed bond not to be broken. In thisinajh d’anah,two shall become one.

Tingles cascaded down her spine. “Thank you.For saying the words.”Inajh d’anah—flesh of my flesh.

“I wasn’t sure I’d remember them—I’ve had to do a lifetime of memorizing in a very short time.” He smiled. “That passage didn’t mean much before.” He touched his finger to her lips. “Now it does.”

His gaze was so steeped in sexuality it made her insides grow hot. She took his fingertip into her mouth and suckled gently. His eyes darkened and a soft groan escaped his locked jaw. Abruptly, he rose to his knees, crossed his arms, and pulled his T-shirt over his head. She hadn’t seen a man as masculine and sexy in all her life. His well-toned stomach muscles flexed, and the thin gold chain he always wore lay against a muscled chest. Her fingers twitched, aching to touch him there…and everywhere.

He tossed the rest of his clothes onto the floor and bent over her. The necklace dangled, tickling her jaw. When she was bared to him, he swallowed, his voice thicker. “Inajh d’anah... My beautiful girl.”

With wide, callused palms and then his mouth, he explored her body. “You’re so wet,” he whispered, his finger slipping inside her.

“For you, Ian. Please,” she urged him. “Now.”

“Not until I make you crazy.”

She laughed. “Iamcrazy.” Then she sucked in a sharp breath when the nubs of his beard pricked her inner thighs. And then his hot tongue found her very center.

Sweet heaven. Pleasureshuddered through her. Having pleasured herself from time to time over the years, she was no stranger to the intimate areas of her body. But nothing she had felt before came close to the carnal delight of Ian’s tongue and fingers. He took his time with her, learning what pleased her asshelearned what pleased her. When the desire for completion swamped all else, she grabbed his wrist. “Please, Ian.”

But he wouldn’t succumb to her pleading.

His tongue flicked; his fingers circled. Her body tensed, tightened. She moaned, her hands fisting in his wavy hair.

“Sweetheart,” he said in a thick voice. “Come for me…” His fingers slipped deep inside her. Her hips jerked, and she cried out. “That’s it,” he coaxed. “Now let yourself go.”

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