Page 31 of Chess

She rolled her eyes and shut the door between them before heading into her own bathing chamber. Not surprisingly, all her things were gone, the counters bare, yet towels hung from the hooks on the wall.

Tossing her backpack in a corner, she peeled her bloody clothing from her body as she let the warm water fill the bath. With a sigh, she sank into the liquid and washed every part of her skin clean with a lavender soap bar until the water was no longer clear. She wondered what Chess would be doing after his bath, most likely lazily sprawled across Rav’s old bed. Naked? She shook away the thought of his lithe body, his toned abs, his beautifully sculpted face…

Stop. That.

Ever left her wet hair hanging down her back as she wrapped a fluffy towel around her body. A giddiness filled her that she hadn’t felt in a long while. Maybe, just maybe, one of her lacy dresses would be left behind. She opened her wardrobe and blinked. Her clothing wasn’t gone—it was all still there. But every piece of fabric was ripped and ruined. A sinking feeling washed over her as she slammed the wardrobe shut and dove for her bed. She lifted the bed skirt and reached beneath it, expecting to touch emptiness. Except she didn’t. She sighed as her hand brushed wood, but when she drew her beloved instrument out from the bed, horror filled her.

It was smashed and broken, covered in dust. This was her first instrument, a gift from her Italian uncle, the viola she’d traded with Rav, the one she loved so much. She reached under the bed again and took out the bow … snapped in half. Tears pricked her eyes. Had Chess come in and done this after she fled? Had one of the guards? Or Imogen? She shoved open the door, finding Chess with a towel around his waist, digging through Rav’s full wardrobe of unruined clothing.

“Do you know who did this?” Ever stuttered, hating the sound of her voice as she held up her broken instrument. “Didyoudo this?”

Chess whirled around to face her, his brow furrowed while studying the viola in her hand. He then shook his head. “I remember Rav said he was going to take care of some of your things, but I didn’t know what that meant. I thought he was just clearing them out.” That would have been better. If she’d found the instrument gone, like she’d thought it was going to be, that would have been better than this. But Rav had wanted to hurt her, in case she ever did try and come back. And he had.

Ever sank to her knees, the instrument clacking to the ground, as she held her face in her hands. She didn’t want to cry, not in front of him, but she couldn’t control it. “My brother knew how much this meant to me. I can get new clothes, I can build a new palace, but this viola will never play again. I can’t get this back. It was what reminded me of home, my parents, a gift from my uncle.” Sobs escaped her and she couldn’t get them to stop.

Ever waited for Chess to make a joke but he didn’t. Instead, he crouched in front of her and tucked a lock of wet hair behind her ear. “I’m sorry.”

“It wasn’t you who broke it,” she whispered.

“No, but I should’ve tried to kill Rav a long time ago.” For the first time, something like guilt crossed his expression.

Ever clasped his face in her hands, drawing him close, taking in the smell of pine. “You’re going to do it now, and so am I.” She then pressed her lips to his and she told herself she was a fool and to stop. But she didn’t want to stop, not as he kissed her back, not as his tongue slipped between her lips and danced with hers, and not as he drew her into his lap.

Chess’s lips left her mouth, trailing flames of desire down her throat while he kissed and nipped. She could feel the soft graze of his fangs drifting over her flesh. His fingers fell to her towel, dipping in to remove it, his gaze meeting hers, asking. She nodded and he took the layer of fabric from her skin, exposing her to the cool air of the room. His eyes hungrily roamed over her body—he then lifted her so she could wrap her legs around him, absorbing his warmth. She glided her lips across his again, drinking the sweet nectar that was all him.

Chess lay her gently on the bed, his hand lightly venturing over her breasts and down her stomach to between her thighs, where he cupped her mound. Her heart accelerated at his touch and she moaned when he drew a nipple into his mouth, softly sucking. His fangs then grazed her flesh, following to where his hand rested. They stopped at her inner thigh and he sank his teeth in, her body arching in pleasure. He flicked his tongue over the spot he bit before kissing his way to her core. She moaned as he licked his way up her center before pushing a finger inside her, then another. It had been so long since she’d been in this position with someone, but she couldn’t remember it ever feeling like this. His movements were practiced yet tender and wickedly delightful as he caressed with his lips, swirled with his tongue.

A blissful feeling swam through her and she grasped his hair when her body quaked beneath his mouth, her fangs sliding out. He grinned that maddeningly wide grin of his while he crawled up her, caging her in and shelikedthat too. Especially the feel of his hard cock against her, but even the layer of his towel was too much.

She reached for the fabric and unraveled it, then grasped his velvety cock, pumping and stroking, her thumb circling his tip. The prince’s head rested on her shoulder for a moment before he sank his fangs into her while she continued her movements. His bites were delectable and she wanted more when he drew back, his breath warm and tickling her neck.

Chess groaned, his body spasming as he spilled himself. “I don’t … fall in love,” he rasped, his breaths ragged.

“Good.” She smiled, trailing her finger up his spine. “Because neither do I.”

Chess chuckled, his lips softly kissing hers. He lifted her chin, peering into her eyes. “Just give me a minute and I’ll make it so any past lover will be ruined for you.”

Ever was tempted, so very tempted. She wanted to feel him slide his hard length into her heat, feel what it would be like to be fucked into oblivion. But she remembered what she’d always told herself because betrayal was always an option. “I don’t go past this point. Ever,” she breathed.

“Excuse me?” Chess’s eyebrows flew up his forehead.

“I don’t do more than this,” she said, cocking her head. “With anyone. I never have.”

He sucked in a sharp breath. “It isn’t just a rumor? You’re a virgin?”

“Yes. Is that an issue, Princeling?” She smiled at his dumbfounded expression.

“Forcenturies?”

“I’ve had plenty of pleasure in other ways, and I know how to take care of myself too.”

“It’s just, you’re so … beautiful.” His throat bobbed. A second later his expression turned back into a sly one. “Well then, I can show you other ways of pleasure the next time, if you wish. I just never imagined you and I…”

She laughed and tucked a lock of hair behind his ear. “We’re quite a mess, aren’t we?”

A knock came at the door leading to her room and she jerked up. Ever shoved Chess away and leapt from the bed, grabbing her towel and shutting the door between their rooms. She wiped Chess’s pleasure from her hand against the fabric as she wrapped it around herself and hurried to the door.

March stood there, wearing a fresh Scarlet uniform, his eyes widening as he studied her. He took a whiff and she knew he could smell Chess all over her. “I heard noises and just wanted to see if everything was okay.”

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