Page 46 of Chess

“I killed him. He wanted me to,” she whispered, trying to fight the uncontrollable sobs that still managed to escape her.

Chess didn’t say anything, just scooped her out of the bath and held her to him. She cried into his chest as he took her to the bed and laid her down, covering her with the thick blankets.

“Sleep,” he said softly. “I never promise anything, but I promise I won’t ever betray you.”

The prince lowered himself on top of the blankets, resting his back against the headboard. He ran his fingers through her wet hair, and Ever closed her eyes at the comforting touch. She then tried to sleep, even though the nightmares would take control, playing an angry melody inside her head.

Ever didn’t know how long she’d stayed in bed. But it had been longer than she’d liked.Days. As she cracked open her eyes, Chess handed her a cool bag of blood. “Maddie got this for you, and Ferris was able to retrieve a human for Mouse to feed on.” The prince wore one of Rav’s old black vests, but it fit him better than it ever did her brother. It had been so long since she’d seen Chess in his usual style, but it suited him well.

“How is Mouse?”

He shrugged. “Not as hungry.”Good.

“I’m surprised the others didn’t give you a hard time for staying in here.”

“What can I say? I do have an aura that makes everyone come around eventually, including a certain White Queen.” He gave her a wide grin.

“You’re so cocky.” Ever rolled her eyes, then straightened, thinking about more important matters at hand. “Tomorrow morning, we leave for Scarlet. Only you and me. The others will guard here.”

“Aw, you want to be alone with me some more, Queenie, is that it?”

“You’re insufferable.”

“Am I?” Chess arched a brow.

Holding the blankets to her chest, she leaned forward and grabbed him by the arm with her free hand. His lips parted in surprise as she pulled him beside her and pressed her mouth to the prince’s. “Truly.” Her forehead rested against his. Over the past few days, he’d stayed with her as she sulked, as she wept, and had brought her blood. It was different, and she couldn’t thank him enough for sticking beside her.

He inched his body closer, capturing her lips with his, his tongue slipping inside, flirting with hers. Her heart accelerated, turning frenzied.

The kiss deepened, becoming more than the simple kiss she’d planned, and the way he was kissing her was different than before. He was gentle with her, his hands entwining in her hair. A heat spread through her, making her heart pound harder, thirsty for more, hungry for him. She pushed the blankets away, inviting him in. Her body was still bare from her bath, ever since he’d taken her from the bloody water and tucked her safely into bed as he guarded her, even though he’d been the one who had needed protection.

She unbuttoned his vest and drew it off. Her hand trailed down the length of his chiseled chest, taking in every sculpted curve. Her fingertips drifted to the laces of his trousers and loosened them, allowing him to shuck them the remainder of the way off.

Chess scooted closer, his lips slanting over hers, claiming them. Their bodies were now flesh to flesh, igniting a fierce warmth, not a single barrier between them. Ever rolled him to his back, trailing open-mouth kisses down his throat, his chest, his abdomen, then his thigh, wanting to explore every piece of him. Her fangs were eager to come out, and she sank them into his salty flesh, the way he had with her. She relished in the euphoric growl that escaped the prince as she tasted him, as her fingers skated to his cock and pumped him thoroughly.

While drinking in his metallic flavor, her body tightened, his growing taut. Ever released him, then slowly ran her tongue up the base of his length to the tip before taking him fully into her mouth. His hips slightly bucked in rhythm with her movements. She continued to lick, to taste, to stroke, to devour until he writhed beneath her, spilling himself onto her tongue.

With a smile after she swallowed, she glanced up at him, his yellow eyes pinned to hers, blazing with lust.

As they stared at one another for what seemed like an eternity, she knew this was what she’d saved herself for,whoshe’d saved herself for.

“I’ve never given myself to anyone,” Ever breathed, “but I want to with you. It doesn’t have to be today, it doesn’t have to be tomorrow, just whenever you’re ready.”

In one swift motion, she was resting in his lap, a laugh escaping her as he purred, “Oh, I’m ready, Queenie.” His lips crashed into hers, growing desperate, ferocious. She mirrored his movements, her hips rocking into his until he was hard once more.

Chess gently lay Ever on her back, kissing down her chest, her breast, flicking a peaked nipple with his tongue before sucking it between his teeth. Her back arched and her eyes fluttered at every single one of his licks, his touches.

The prince’s fingers drifted between her thighs, circling her clit as he kissed his way to her ear. “Tell me if you need me to slow down,” he rasped.

She cradled his face, bringing his mouth to hers again, never wanting it to leave. “Don’t you dare. I want you inside me.”

A wickedly delicious smile crossed his face and he did as she asked, sliding into her with one exquisite motion until she was full. It was harder than he would’ve moved with a mortal, but the perfect amount of force for what a vampire could handle. A slight ache burned, making her gasp, yet only for a moment before her body held a new sensation.

Chess’s body shook as he slowly moved inside her, and she knew he was holding back, for her. “Faster,” Ever said. She dug her fingers into his back and drove her fangs into his shoulder. In answer, his pace picked up, his thrusting growing harder, faster, exactly what she’d asked for and more. He was fucking her and shelikedit,lovedit. “More.”

He flipped them both so she was in his lap, his fingers gripping her hips, then her arse, urging her to move faster this time, harder, while he sank his fangs into her neck.

The world was filled with music, as though all the musicians of the past and the present had come together, performing the loudest song she’d ever heard. One she wanted to be a part of, one she never wanted to end while it pulsed within her heart. And then the cymbals struck, a rush of ecstasy rolling through her, and she moaned Chess’s name over and over again.

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