Page 43 of Claimed By the Crown Prince

‘Laia...are you sure you don’t want to do this with the man who will be your husband?’

She shook her head.

‘I’m not naive enough to confuse sex with love.’ She made a face. ‘If my father’s affair has taught me anything it’s that. This...this thing that’s between us. You said it’s rare. I might never feel this again, even with the man I choose to marry. I know that.’ Just so he was in no doubt, she said, ‘I choose you to be my first lover, Dax. But don’t worry, I won’t fall in love with you.’

His mouth twisted. ‘No. Because I’m not really a suitable consort for a queen, am I?’

His words sank in and suddenly it felt as if the earth was tilting sideways. She put out her hands to find balance, but Dax was already holding her steady, his hands on her arms.

He was frowning. ‘Okay?’

Laia nodded. ‘Just a little rush of blood...’

But she knew something had just happened. Something profound that she couldn’t—or didn’t want to—analyse just yet. A desire for him to be hers in spite of all the reasons why he couldn’t—because he had no intention of settling down.

Desperate to avoid thinking about that, Laia said, ‘Kiss me, Dax.’

He brought one hand up, over her arm and shoulder, under her hair, and cupped her neck, tugging her closer. ‘Now, that I can do.’

He seemed to take for ever to touch his mouth to hers. Laia had the slightest glimpse of his wicked smile and she was about to scowl or beg. But then everything was forgiven, because his mouth was on hers and Laia’s entire body was suffused with heat and electric excitement.

She’d thought she’d made too much of their kiss earlier...that it couldn’t possibly have been that transformative...but it was happening again. And it was even more profound, because now she was even hungrier for it. Desperate.

She hadn’t even realised she’d twined her arms around Dax’s neck, arching her body against his, wanting to feel that whipcord strength against her body, hard against soft.

She’d never considered herself a very girly girl, but she’d never felt more feminine than she did in this moment. Never been so aware of the differences between a man and a woman.

Dax’s other hand was splayed across her back, and she could feel him moving it up now, over her bare skin, finding one of the straps of her dress and slipping his fingers underneath to dislodge it.

But then he tensed and stopped. Pulled back.

Laia opened her eyes. Her mouth already felt swollen. Breath fast and choppy. ‘What is it?’

Dax’s face was flushed, eyes glittering. ‘I don’t have anything with me...’ He cursed softly and let her go.

Laia struggled to make her sluggish brain work. ‘You don’t have what with you?’

He put his hands on his hips. ‘Protection. I don’t have protection. We can’t do this. I’m not risking getting you pregnant. That’s a scandal too far even for me.’

Finally what he’d said sank in, and with it came a wave of relief.

She said, ‘Wait there.’ And fled back across the hall to her room, fingers clumsy with the key to the door. Eventually it opened and she almost fell inside. She went straight to where she’d stashed the box of condoms and picked it up.

She brought it back to Dax and handed it to him.

He took it and looked at it. And then her. He said, ‘The delivery earlier today?’

Laia nodded, feeling self-conscious. ‘I only thought of it when...after the kiss... Obviously I can’t risk getting pregnant...’

Dax shook his head faintly. ‘Not many women have ever surprised me... No, scratch that—actually no woman has ever surprised me as much as you have.’

Laia said, ‘Is it...are there enough?’

Dax looked at the box and huffed out a laugh. He opened it and took out one foil-wrapped sheath.

‘Let’s start with one and see how we go, okay?’

Laia had never felt so gauche or out of her depth.

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