Series: Willow Winters
Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 72146 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 361(@200wpm)___ 289(@250wpm)___ 240(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72146 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 361(@200wpm)___ 289(@250wpm)___ 240(@300wpm)
But none comes and he looks away in disappointment before setting his lips into a thin line. “Very well,” he says softly and we continue in silence. Although he’s still polite and doesn’t release my hand. Instead he rubs soothing circles on the back of my knuckles, leading me on the path.
We turn right and I recognize it from the ball. It is the path that the lone couple took, or at least it is close by. This section is bounded by stone walls on either side. They seemed to appear out of the hedges, but they are the beginnings of a courtyard with a fountain at its center.
Prince Jasper pauses in the middle of the path as if he has just remembered something he meant to do.
“I have decided I will take tea in the garden,” he calls to the squire, who is a respectful distance behind us. “Would you gather cups and a fresh pot of water so we may enjoy it in the courtyard?”
“Yes, Your Grace,” he says. He bows and disappears from sight.
The moment he’s gone, Prince Jasper presses me against the stone wall behind me. My back to the hard wall. A shocked gasp escapes from my mouth, followed by a second as he grips both my wrists in one hand and pushes them above my head. My heart races as his gaze becomes hot with need. I feel as exposed as I did in the bedroom last night. My chest heaves with arousal and surprise.
Prince Jasper leans his face close to mine, his eyes dark. “Perhaps you prefer this? Less of a gentleman?”
“I—”
“If it’s what you want…don’t lie to me, Princess.”
“I do not… I do not know—”
He leans in even closer. “Your body tells the truth for you, Princess. I can offer you whatever it is you ache for,” he murmurs, his lips to the shell of my ear. His grip on my wrist loosens slightly.
For a moment, my heart lurches. Does he know? Is he? No…he can’t be. For he’s clean shaven as he was yesterday. And I’ve felt the rough touch of stubble with the kiss of my lover.
Before I can think too much, he leans in closer, and closer, so close I can feel his breath against my lips. But he tilts his head at the last moment and kisses my neck. He leaves opened mouthed kisses there, and I’ve never felt such desire in the light of day—his lips and his tongue, licking and sucking gently. A soft moan spills from my lips and his groan of satisfaction makes me even hotter.
I squirm in his grip, kicking my feet. Somehow these kisses are making me as wet as his fingers. As wet as his mouth. It is as if the nerves run straight from my neck to between my legs, and being outside in the garden—a place that is more in danger of discovery than my rooms—makes me feel wild with lust.
“You would like to be caught, wouldn’t you, Princess? You’d like your squire to see you getting ravished against the wall. You don’t need to tell me. I know you’re wet under your dress. That look in your eyes…I fucking love it.”
His filthy mouth surprises me, leaving me shocked.
I lean my head against the wall and let him kiss at my neck. I’m heady with want and I try not to think. The thoughts are far too much.
“If I bit you here, would you be able to hide it? I don’t think so. Not with skin like yours. You’d have to wear a scarf, or choose a high-necked gown. Do you even have one for this season? Would you hide in your rooms? No, I think you wouldn’t. I think you’d wear it out for everyone to see.”
“You can’t… My father—”
“Your father would see, too. He would see, and he would know you had no choice but to marry me. He would know who did this to you, and he would know you let me and loved it.”
My chest heaves with a wanton exhale. I can’t help it.
“You’d like worse, wouldn’t you, Princess? You’d like to be caught bent over with your hands on the wall, your skirts up to your waist, my cock buried in your cunt. If I made you come with my fingers, you wouldn’t be able to stop if someone saw. You’d just have to finish like that. But perhaps you wouldn’t need my fingers. Perhaps you’d only need to be fucked.”
I let out another moan. Does he think I am begging him? I still can’t speak. Silent in his accusation. I do wish he’d take me. Fuck me against the stone wall and leave scratches against my bare skin. Claim me.
“Do you think the maidens would call the others? Do you think they would hide in the flowers and watch? How many pairs of eyes does it take to make you hot? I think it only takes one,” he whispers and rakes his teeth along my neck.