Page 125 of I Could Be Yours

I take them in mine. “No. Not at all.” Would this be a choice I would make for myself? No. But it’s a reflection of the woman I’m in love with, and therefore, I also love this room. “I feel like the forbidden prince who’s come to steal you away.”

An impish smile curves Essie’s pretty lips. “You definitely could be.”

I arch a brow.

She slips my tie around her hand, and her voice drops to asultry whisper. “Would you like to be my forbidden prince, Nate?”

I nod slowly. “Yeah, I think I would. Do you want to be the sweet princess I plan to steal from the castle and keep for my own?”

Excitement flashes in her eyes. “So, so much.” She pushes on my chest.

I frown.

“Give me a minute. I need to get ready for my prince.”

I still don’t move.

“Unless you’re opposed to naughty princess lingerie?”

It takes a moment for that to click. “Not even remotely opposed.” I step out and head for the living room. “I’ll be out here, waiting.”

Essie closes the door. I’ve never engaged in role play before, but based on what’s happening in my pants, I’m here for it. I loosen my tie and open the first few buttons on my shirt. I also run to the bathroom to swish with mouthwash and mess up my hair, going for the roguish, rumpled, forbidden-prince look, before I return to my place outside her door.

“Oh my prince, where are you?” she calls.

I take it as a sign that she’s ready and crack the bedroom door. The only illumination comes from the lamp beside her bed. It takes a moment for my eyes to adjust. Movement comes from behind the gauzy curtain. “Oh my prince, my forbidden love, when will you save me from this wretched existence?” Essie murmurs.

I smile and close the door with a quiet snick. I cross to the bed, carefully pulling the curtain back and hooking it on the post. My breath leaves me on a whoosh.

The pillows have been swept to the floor, the covers pulled back. Essie lies on the pale pink sheets, hair fanned across the pillow, eyes closed. One hand lies palm up on the mattress, the other rests low on her stomach. Her sheer pink negligee, trimmed in lace, dips low in the front and barely skims the top ofher thighs. The heart shields decorating her nipples glint enticingly.

She is the most stunning woman in the world, and she’s agreed to be mine. I reach out and skim her cheek, channeling my inner forbidden prince—but I don’t have much experience there. I do have experience lusting after this woman and wanting to find a way to hold her perfect, soft heart.

She sighs and chases the touch, my fingers dancing over her cheek.

“My sweet princess.” I capture her hand in mine and bring it to my lips. “I’ve come to steal you away.”

Her eyes flutter open on a gasp. “Is it really you?” She sits up in a rush, eyes wide. “Please don’t let this be a dream.”

I place her hand against my chest. “Do I feel like a dream, my love?”

“You’re truly here!” She giggles, cups my face in her hands, and kisses me, but she pulls back a moment later, eyes wide with pretend panic. “How ever did you get past the guards?”

I search for a plausible way to have tricked the fictional guards. “I pretended I was but a mere servant and dosed their mead with fairy dust. They will slumber for hours.” I may or may not have spent a lot of time watching princess movies over the past few weeks just to feel close to Essie.

She runs her hands down my chest, bottom lip sliding through her teeth. “We have hours?”

“That’s right, my love.” I brush over her nipple with my thumb. “Hours for me to kiss every inch of you.” I skim her hip and dip between her thighs. “To bring you limitless pleasure.” I kiss the edge of her jaw. “To worship you.” I take her face in my hands. “To make you mine.”

“That’s all I want,” she whispers against my lips.

We kiss while she undresses me and pulls me onto the bed. I stretch out over her, settling in the cradle of her hips. “I would slay a thousand dragons to be with you.”

She runs her fingers through my hair. “Claim me, Nathan. Take me. Make me yours.”

“Always mine.” I kiss my way down her body, obsessed with the soft sounds she makes and the way her nails press into my shoulders as I make her come with my mouth, and then again with my fingers.

I pepper every inch of her with kisses as I work my way back to her lips. “Can this stay on?”

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