Page 33 of A Valiant Prince

“Yes, and so do you,” I say to her.

“Oh really?” she asks.

“Yes, really,” I respond.

She sits up on her knees. I watch as she pulls off her t-shirt and unhooks her bra, letting her breasts bounce free. My hands itch to touch them, but I remain where I am. She stands up on the bed, which makes her a little taller than I am. I can see her triumph over her height. She pulls the string on her shorts and lets them fall down her legs, and then she pushes her underwear down until they fall to her feet. She stands perfectly still and completely unclothed.

I can no longer keep my hands from reaching for her. I grip her hips and pull her against me. I lean in and plant a kiss on her belly, right below her breasts. She arches against me. I run my hand down her thigh and back up the inside until I feel the wetness between her legs. I stroke her there as my lips close around one nipple and then the other one. She moans softly as I bite and suck at her.

I suddenly can’t wait any longer. I need to be inside her, possessing her, making her mine. I flip her down on the bed, and she gives a little squeal and a giggle as she bounces once, but then I’m on her and in her and her squeal turns to a moan and my name on her lips. I move rapidly, thrusting deep and hard, over and over. My release sneaks up on me, and I reach down between us to pinch her clit, so she explodes right before I do.

I catch myself on my elbows as I thrust once more into her on a groan. Her trembling body stills beneath me. Only our heavy breathing fills the silence of the room. I open my eyes and find her gazing at me. She removes her good hand from my shoulder where she’s been death gripping it through her orgasm and gently strokes the side of my face. I lean into it and plant a kiss on the palm of her hand.

She sighs but it’s more in frustration than contentment. My gaze widens at the realization and also at the realization that I am able to tell the difference.

“What’s wrong, Anna?” I ask her.

“Why does this have to be so complicated?” she says, searching my eyes as if I could answer that.

I lean down and rub my nose against hers before kissing her slowly. “Everything else is complicated,” I say to her and then motion between us. “This isn’t complicated at all.”

I get a grin out of her with that statement. I rest my forehead on hers as her face goes fuzzy in my vision from the proximity.

“You don’t think we are complicated?” she asks as she blinks and her long eyelashes brush against mine.

I smile. “No, Princess, I don’t think we are complicated,” I say to her. “Yes, we met under some very…unusual circumstances. And yes, our families are…well, complicated seems like an understatement there. But maybe the universe meant for us to meet, so we could be the uncomplicated in each other’s lives.” I stop and ponder the words of truth that just spilled from my mouth. I seldom speak without thinking, except around Anna. My heart hangs on my sleeve like a badge of honor.

I want to tell her that I’m falling for her, but my fear keeps me from saying it.

“Maybe,” she says.

“Let’s get a shower,” I say to her as I stand and hold out my hand to her.

This time we’re all business in the shower. While washing her hair, Anna looks up at me.

“Have you been there before?” she asks.

“Where, Niagara Falls?” I reply.

She nods and puts her head under the spray of the shower. Her eyes close, and I watch the hot water run down her face. She’s breathtaking. I lean forward and kiss her, and she grins against my lips.

“What’s that for?” she asks.

“For being you,” I say.

“Are you gonna answer my question?” she asks me, opening her eyes again.

I laugh. “Yes, I’ve been but not for a very long time,” I say to her.

“Is it very beautiful?” she asks. “It looks very beautiful in photos.”

“It is. It lights up at night,” I tell her. Her eyes widen.

“Can we stay until the lights go on?” she asks. I grin and nod.

We finish our shower and crawl into bed. I turn off the lights, and she curls up against my side. My mind wanders to when we first met.

“Anna?” I ask.