Page 34 of Savage Prince

And when we finally settle in for a nap before heading out into the city again, I’m so grateful it keeps me awake for a long time, basking in the joy of having all I’ll ever truly need right here in my arms.

SIXTEEN

juliet

I waketo a beam of afternoon sunlight in my face and instantly want to go back to sleep.

I’m exhausted, but I’m also happy. Whole.

And no longer a virgin.

Reallyno longer a virgin. I have been thoroughly and expertly deflowered by my fated mate and best friend and the only person I ever want to wake up naked with.

I lift my head, staring down at the beautiful man beside me.

Myman.

Ford is already awake and watching me with a mixture of hope and uncertainty that makes me love him even more.

“How do you feel?” he asks, brushing my hair behind my ear with a gentle sweep of his fingers.

“Mine,” I whisper.

His lips quirk. “Yes. Absolutely. Body and soul.”

“Forever,” I insist.

He nods, his hint of a smile fading. “I’m sorry.”

“What are you sorry for?”

“For being so glad that you’re back, bad memories and all,” he says, moving his arm out of the way as I shift closer to his side. “I started thinking about it again. After you were asleep.”

“You don’t have to be sorry. I told you. I need the pain.”

Ford’s brow furrows. “Do you really though?”

“Yes, I do,” I say, strong enough now to add without hesitation, “I think you can only love as deeply as you’ve hurt. Or maybe that’s just the way it is for me.” I rest my hand on his chest, right over his heart. “I didn’t love you the same way when I was fresh and new with no suffering locked inside of me. I didn’t understand how precious this was, how irreplicable.”

His eyes begin to shine. “It’s the same for me.”

My lips curve, even as the back of my nose starts to burn. “Then I guess we’re just two fucked up weirdos who belong together.”

“No doubt in my mind.” He reaches for me, and I slide on top of him, straddling his hips and resting my chest against his as he hugs me tight. “I just want to steal you away to a cave in the middle of nowhere and forget about everything but us.”

I squeeze my eyes shut, feeling so safe with his scent surrounding me. “Same. But we can’t.” I lift my head, meeting his gaze. “I remember Layla and Natalie and everyone we care about now, too. No one else is going to help them. We have to get Maxim on our side. Whatever it takes.”

He nods. “Then let’s go call Trevor. It’s nearly three-thirty. That’s close enough to four.”

I inhale, letting the breath out slowly as I savor how perfect his skin feels against mine. “You’re probably right, but…I have a small problem.”

His brows lift. “What’s that?”

“I think I’ve forgotten what sex feels like while I was asleep,” I say.

Ford’s eyes flash. “That’s not a little problem. That’s a big problem.”

“Very big,” I agree, rolling my hips against his rapidly growing erection. “Some might say huge.”

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