Rescued By The Fae Prince (Fae 0f Ballantine Book 3)

by Serena Meadows

  She was glistening with moisture, each stroke of his finger bringing her closer to the edge when he dipped his head between her legs. The first flick of his tongue brought a cry of pleasure from Sarah, but then she stiffened and tried to scoot away from him. He held onto her hips until she relaxed and looked down at him.

  “It’s okay, sweetheart,” Reese said. “I just want to make you feel good.”

  ***Sarah***

  Sarah felt more exposed than she ever had in her life, but the look in Reese’s eyes erased her feeling of discomfort, and her body began to throb again. This time, when his head dipped between her legs, she watched for a second, her body contracting with pleasure, then laid her head back as the first flick of his tongue made her entire body vibrate. A feeling more wonderful than anything she’d ever felt before spread through her as his tongue bathed her, and her juices bathed them both.

  She wasn’t ready when he slid his finger inside her, and the feeling intensified to the point it was almost painful. But it swept her away, wave after wave of pleasure nearly drowned her, until the largest wave of them all crashed over her, and all she could do was whimper his name as her body bucked. Before she had a chance to recover, Reese grabbed her legs, spread them further, then drove himself into her with a strangled cry.

  The pleasure that had begun to fade instantly flamed to life as he thrust into her over and over, deeper and deeper, touching a place deep inside her he’d never reached before. Each time he buried himself inside her, he cried out her name as if claiming her as his forever, then with one final stroke of his powerful hips, he took them both into oblivion. He emptied himself inside her, his body bucking, his muscles straining until, exhausted and out of breath, he collapsed on top of her.

  He rolled off her and onto his back, then gathered her into his arms. “I’m sorry, Sarah, I don’t know what came over me,” he said, his voice tinged with embarrassment. “I’ve never lost control like that before.”

  She laughed. “If that was losing control, I’m all for it,” she said, feeling her cheeks pinken.

  Reese looked down at her. “I’ll never get tired of seeing you blush like that,” he said, kissing her on the forehead.

  They lay in silence for a few minutes, but she knew that they had to get ready. “Reese, who exactly is coming to dinner tonight?” she asked, sitting up in bed and running her fingers through her hair.

  “Oh, just my cousin Colin, his wife Darby, and Keaton and Rainie. Keaton is Colin’s best friend, or at least he used to be,” Reese said, wondering if there was time to drag Sarah back into the bed.

  He let her get up, then forced himself to follow her, wishing they didn’t have to go to dinner. When she picked up the brush to run it through her hair, he took it from her and began to brush it for her. “Where does your cousin live?” she asked, watching him in the mirror.

  “Oh, he lives in Ballantine, a couple of hours from here. His parents are the king and queen,” Reese said, his eyes focused on her hair.

  She reached up and stopped him. “You mean like royalty?”

  He nodded, then looked at her. “I guess you didn’t know since we don’t really pay attention to that stuff here, but Fae towns have kings and queens, Royal Fae. There are Common Fae, Warrior Fae, and Intellectual Fae too.”

  “What does all that mean?” she asked, trying to figure out the system.

  “We all have different talents, I guess you could say,” Reese answered. “Royal Fae are known for the prowess in bed, by the way.”

  Sarah turned around and slapped him on the chest. “Reese, be serious, I’m trying to figure this out.”

  “I am being serious; we’re known for our love of sex,” he said. “It can be a curse or a gift depending on how you use it, and I have always chosen to use it wisely.”

  Sarah didn’t like the thought of him with other women. “Have there been many?” she asked, unable to stop the jealousy that flared to life.

  “Not that many, and no one for a long time, so you can stop worrying,” he said. “And I have no plans to go looking for anyone else. You’re everything I need.”

  When his mouth came down on hers, there was no stopping the passion that flared to life, and it was another fifteen minutes before she was finally able to shoo Reese out of the room. As she dressed, her body still humming with pleasure, she realized that if all Fae communities were led by a king and queen, that made Reese a prince, and she smiled. She’d dreamed of being rescued by a handsome prince when she was a girl, and it looked like her dreams had come true.

  Feeling like a princess in a fairy tale, she slipped into the dress she’d chosen knowing that it had been the perfect choice. Reese clearly agreed when he stepped through the door a few minutes later, and she headed for the door when she saw the look in his eyes.

  “Reese, don’t look at me that way, we’ll be late,” she said, opening the door and scampering into the hallway.

  “This better be the shortest dinner in history or I can’t be held responsible for my behavior,” he said, following her out into the hallway and pulling her into his arms. “You look good enough to eat,” he whispered in her ear. “Something I’m planning on doing again later, inch by inch, until you’re begging for me.”

  Chapter Eighteen

  ***Reese***

  Reese felt Sarah’s body tense and knew that he could have swept her into his arms and taken her back into the room without the least bit of resistance, but instead, he took her hand and headed for the dining room. Everyone would be waiting for them, and as nice as the diversion was, they had to come up with a plan to protect Sarah until the Unseelie could be stopped.

  The dining room sparkled with candlelight when they walked in, and the sight of his cousin and Keaton was a welcome one, but he felt Sarah hesitate. “Don’t worry; they’ll love you,” he said, giving her hand a squeeze.

  “Sorry we’re late, everyone, I couldn’t get my tie quite right,” he said, using an excuse he’d been using his entire life.

  Colin grinned at him. “Are you still giving that old excuse?” he asked.

  He shrugged, then looked down at Sarah and winked. “Everyone, I’d like you to meet Sarah,” he said. “And just to get it out in the open, yes, she is a Pixie.”

  There was silence, then they all started talking at once, and he felt Sarah tense next to him again. “One at a time; you’re going to scare her,” he said over their voices.

  “I’m sorry, Sarah, it’s just that everyone thought that the Pixies were gone,” Darby said, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “I’m Darby, by the way. I’m married to Colin and I’ve got a little witchcraft running through my blood, so you’re not the only one who’s different in this room.”

  He felt Sarah relax again. “Come on, let’s all sit down. I’m sure mother and father will be here soon,” he said, leading Sarah to a chair and holding it out for her.

  When they were all settled, his parents came in and took their seats, their greetings filling the room. While their wine was poured and the first course served, Keaton and Rainie told the story of their abrupt marriage in a distant village and their quest to bring Ballantine’s Alpine Guard back together. But as soon as the server left the room, his father cleared his throat and got right to the point.

  “I’m sure you all know why Reese asked you here,” he said, his eyes resting on Sarah, who blushed.

  “Thank you all for coming; this has all been a bit of a shock,” she said.

  There were murmurs around the table, and Darby reached out and patted Sarah’s arm. “We’re happy to help, but I’m not sure how we can yet.”

  “I’m not sure either,” Sarah said but managed a smile.

  “Things will work out; you’ll see,” Darby said.

  Reese was relieved that everyone was being nice to Sarah, but looking around the table, he realized that none of them had paid the least bit of attention to the class distinctions that had evolved over the generations. It shouldn’t have come as a big surprise
to him that they’d accept Sarah so easily, and it warmed him inside to know that he had such wonderful people in his life.

  Tuning back into the conversation, he realized that his father was telling them about the man who’d been following Sarah and their rash decision to bring her to Loughmore. When he’d finished, Colin said, “I think you did the right thing. Out there, we can’t protect her, but here we can. But the problem is we don’t know where the threat will come from, or when, and until then, I think it’s best if Sarah doesn’t leave the castle. We don’t even know if they know she’s here; they may still be looking for her out in the human world.”

  “I know some people who could find out for us,” Keaton spoke up. “Rainie and I have made some interesting friends.”

  “A few of them have ties to the Unseelie, and we convinced them that it was in their best interest to lend us a hand now and then,” Rainie said, a grin on her face. “They should be very cooperative.”

  Reese felt better, felt like something constructive was finally being done. “We need to find Simon,” he said. “I can’t help but think he’s involved in more than just a little sabotage.”

  “I have some men arriving tomorrow, so we can do a full search of the castle then,” Colin said, reminding him that Jamison hadn’t come.

  “Where is Jamison?” he asked, looking around the table.

  Colin cleared his throat. “My brother is home watching over things there. He’s been a bit resistant to all the changes in Ballantine. I never realized how much he hated change until the last few weeks. As strange as it sounds, he’s been more resistant than most of the rest of the Royal Fae. He and my father had been butting heads over just about everything, including whether or not my marriage is legal.”

  Reese felt bad about the turmoil that still plagued Ballantine. “I’m sorry, Colin,” he said. “That can’t be easy.”

  “We’ll work it out eventually,” Colin said, looking at Darby, who smiled at him. “But right now, we have bigger things to worry about.”

  “Right,” Reese said. “I think we’re all in agreement that until we find Simon and figure out more about what the Unseelie have planned, Sarah should stay in the castle.”

  “One of us should be with her at all times,” Rainie said.

  “I agree,” Reese said, turning to Sarah to give her a seductive look. “I volunteer for that job.”

  He expected her to blush and duck her head, but instead, she got to her feet. “If you are all done planning out my life, I think I’ll go to my room. I’m not very hungry anymore,” she said, her voice full of anger. “It was nice to meet you all.”

  They all watched in stunned silence as she walked out of the room, her head held high. Reese finally got to his feet. “I think I’d better go talk to her,” he said, a sinking feeling in his stomach.

  ***Sarah***

  Sarah didn’t make it very far before Reese caught up to her, and for the first time since they met, she wanted him to go away. “Sarah,” he called, his long strides eating up the distance between them. “I’m sorry, we didn’t mean to exclude you, we just know what we’re up against, and...”

  She stopped and turned on him. “And I don’t have any idea what’s going on, is what you’re trying to say,” she said glaring up at him. “I get it, Reese, I am clueless about this place I’m suddenly a part of, but that doesn’t mean that you can just make my decisions for me.”

  Reese’s face turned cloudy. “Do you want to go out there and get killed?” he asked. “Because that’s what is going to happen. The Unseelie won’t stop; we’ve learned that lesson the hard way.”

  Sarah had heard enough, the fear she felt at his words almost overwhelming her, but she wasn’t going to back down. “I just want some time to myself if that’s possible,” she said, turning and heading back down the hallway. “You can sit outside my door, or stay in your room, but leave me alone.”

  Reese didn’t try to argue with her or talk her out of going to her room alone, and a little part of her was filled with disappointment, but mostly, she was relieved. He followed her, walking a few steps behind her, not saying a word, but she could feel him silently fuming. When she opened her door, he grabbed her arm and turned her around to look at him.

  “I’m sorry, Sarah, but we were just thinking about your safety,” he said, searching her eyes.

  She sighed, feeling her anger fading. “I know that, Reese, but I’m beginning to feel completely overwhelmed, and I think I need some time alone,” she said.

  He looked disappointed. “Okay, I guess I can understand that,” he said. “Tomorrow, I promise we’ll talk.”

  She reached up and stroked his cheek. “I’ll see you for breakfast.”

  He grabbed her and kissed her until she was breathless, then let her go. “I’ll be right next door if you need anything,” he said. “Lock your door when you get inside and don’t open it for anyone but me.”

  She nodded, suddenly feeling like she was going to cry, then slipped inside, shut the door, and turned the lock. Reese’s footsteps retreated down the hallway, but she knew that he’d be back, knew that he’d be right next door all night, and took a deep, steadying breath. Reese had given her the strength she needed, and she would always be grateful to him, but it was time to stop relying on him and stand on her own two feet.

  After she got ready for bed, she grabbed a notebook and got into bed, deciding that writing everything down was going to be the only way she could sort through everything. When she was finished, she had more questions than answers, but the exercise had cleared some of the fog from her brain, and exhaustion had made her eyelids heavy.

  Knowing that there was nothing more she could do that night; she set aside the notebook and closed her eyes. Reese’s face was the first thing that popped into her mind as she tried to go to sleep, and for a second, she was tempted to get out of bed and go to his room, but it was too much effort, and soon she was sound asleep.

  She woke several hours later from a sleep so deep, it left her confused for a few minutes, until the reality of her life came crashing down on her and she sat up in bed. Her heart racing, she sat in the darkness reminding herself that she was safe, that Reese was only a few feet away. Finally, she got up out of bed, went to the bathroom, splashed cold water on her face, and looked at herself in the mirror.

  There were dark circles under her eyes, and her face was pale; it shocked her to see how bad she looked and decided then and there to take control of her life. As crazy as it had become, it was still hers. Wide awake, she found her notebook and looked over everything she written, then began to make a list of questions she wanted answered.

  When it was finished, she looked over it, a bit frustrated that she’d have to wait until morning, then she remembered the library. There had to be some history books in there; no society survived as long as it sounded like the Fae had and not have recorded something. Throwing on her robe over the silky nightgown, she crept toward her door, unlocked it, and poked her head out, finding the hallway dark and silent.

  It was harder than she thought to navigate the dark hallways, and she wished she had a flashlight, but she found her way to the library, locked the door behind her, and threw on the lights. She stood staring at the shelves of books that filled the room floor to ceiling, the scholar in her itching to explore every shelf, but instead, she went to the section where Reese had found the book and began searching the shelves.

  A few minutes later, she was sitting at one of the reading tables, a stack of books in front of her, totally engrossed in the history of the Fae. She’d just finished one book and was staring at the stack trying to decide what was next when she heard a sound from the depths of the library. Sitting perfectly still, she listened to the silence, then reassured, she picked up the book on top of the stack and opened it to the first page.

  But after only a few pages, she heard the noise again and looked up, this time to find Simon leaning against a bookcase staring at her. “Doing a little late-night
reading?” he asked, an evil smile spreading across his face.

  Chapter Nineteen

  ***Reese***

  Reese woke to the sun streaming in through his window, yawned and stretched, realizing that the bed felt very empty without Sarah. He wondered if she was still asleep, and hoped that he’d be able to fix things with her that day. He never meant to treat her like a child or exclude her from the decision making. But he had, and she had every right to be angry; he just hoped that she wasn’t still mad.

  When he’d looked in on her last night, she’d been fast asleep, so he’d snuck in, covered her up, and turned off the light. He lay there listening for any sounds of movement from the room next door, then decided that she must still be asleep. Getting out of bed, he was tempted to crack open the door just to make sure but knew that if she was awake, it might make her mad.

  Instead, he got dressed and headed down to the kitchen, planning to wake her with breakfast in bed. If she was still angry, they could have a long talk, and if not, well, there were other things they could do, he thought, a smile spreading across his face. It didn’t take long to put a tray together, thanks to the cook who could never resist him, and he was on his way back to Sarah.

  Tray balanced in one hand, he knocked on her door, a smile on his face, but there was no response from inside, so he rapped on the door a little harder this time. After a few moments of dead quiet on the other side, he began to get worried and set down the tray, thinking he’d go into his room and peek through the door between their bedrooms. But before he walked away, he tried the doorknob, his heart pounding in his chest when it turned easily in his hand and the door creaked open.