by Sue Lyndon
“That’s good news, then,” Cora said, but she looked uncertain. “Are you leaving now? To help with the investigation?”
“No. I’m not actually a member of the Royal Guard, but when there’s an incident on palace grounds, I often get involved. Or if a suspect isn’t being very forthcoming in their answers, they will sometimes be brought to the palace and locked in the dungeon until I’m able to get them to talk.”
A slight shudder ran through her, and he approached her and sat on the bed, wrapping an arm around her.
“You’re uncomfortable with my line of work.”
“You could say that. How often do you, um, you know.”
“Torture a confession out of a criminal?” He brushed her hair over her shoulder, gathering it into his hand and then releasing it to fall in waves of gold down her back.
“Yes, that.” She gulped and stared at her hands.
“Not often. A few times a year. It’s becoming less and less, as the plots against my father seem to be dying out. He’s well-liked in Ismallia. Most suspects start singing the moment an officer threatens to bring them to me as I’ve developed a certain reputation.” He continued stroking her hair. “I could’ve allowed an officer of the Royal Guard to arrest you and question you, Cora, but I would have felt as if I were abandoning you. I knew I would frighten you, but I couldn’t stand the thought of handing you over to one of the officers. They would have scared you and threatened you, and then I would’ve had no choice but to pummel them to within an inch of their life.”
“I’m glad you don’t have to leave now.” Finally, she met his gaze.
“Me too.” He grasped her hand and squeezed. “Why don’t you get dressed, and I’ll take you to all the touristy places you had planned to visit after the wedding?”
She laughed. “How did you know about that?”
“It’s your first time in my country. I know you’re probably dying to see the giant UFO in the center of Ta-Kona, the clear waters of the Horona Bay, and the endless tulip fields in the north.”
Her expression brightened, her blue eyes sparkling as the tension left her body. “That sounds wonderful. But you must tell me. Is the UFO real? Some of the American tabloids claim it’s real, that the Ismallian Air Force shot it down and put it on display as a war prize and to deter aliens from invading.”
He rose with her in his arms and kissed her forehead. “I wish I could tell you it was real, but alas, it was a publicity stunt, one of my half-brother’s ideas, to increase tourism in our country. Prince Tarius commissioned its creation in secret and it was installed in the center of Ta-Kona in the middle of the night, with no identifying plaque to name it as a work of art or a war prize. It’s also installed in such a way that it appears it crash landed, so there are those who think it hurtled to the earth in the middle of the night. Some residents claim to have heard the noise and have appeared on television to speak about it. The speculation soon began, and the palace has never made an official comment on the UFO’s authenticity.”
“What a genius idea,” she said, laughing.
“It was a genius idea. The tourism industry in Ismallia increased tenfold in the first year. Our economy was fragile a few years ago and on the brink of a recession, but Prince Tarius’ stunt turned it around.” He pressed his hardening cock against her. “I suggest you get dressed now, or we’ll never make it outside my quarters.”
She flushed and scampered to find her dress and flip flops. He tossed his robe on a chair and set about putting his jeans and tee-shirt back on, not once taking his eyes off the beauty that was Cora. She wasn’t only gorgeous on the outside, but on the inside as well. Her gentle spirit was breathtaking and had him captivated. She’d forgiven him for arresting her and had been far more understanding than he deserved for his treatment of her in the dungeon. While she was uncomfortable about his line of work, she hadn’t rejected him because of it. Her entire face had lit up at the prospect of spending more time in his company.
“Do you think we could have lunch at that restaurant that overlooks Horona Bay?” she asked hopefully as she straightened her dress. “In addition to places to visit, I made a list of places to eat while I’m here. Their website boasts they have the best deep-dish pizza and tiramisu in the world.”
“I’ll call ahead and get us a table with the best view, if you promise me one thing.” He strode to her, cupped her face, and peered into her inquisitive gaze.
“What’s that?”
“You’ll stay with me for the rest of your time in Ismallia. I’ll have the servants fetch the rest of your things, including your other suitcase. However, I might have to confiscate all your panties.” He reached one hand down to squeeze her ass. “I like knowing you’re bare underneath your dresses, and all I have to do is flip your skirt up and take you.”
She gave him a playful push. “It’s a deal, but no flipping up my skirt in public.”
“You drive a hard bargain.”
Chapter 9
Cora sat in her window seat, her heart lodged painfully in her throat. The plane would be taking off soon, and she would return to her life in America. A life that didn’t include a sexy royal bastard.
She shouldn’t be thinking about him. She shouldn’t be thinking about jumping out of her seat and trying to exit the plane, but she couldn’t help it. He’d bid her goodbye before she walked through security. He was probably already back in the palace.
“Come visit me soon, my little sunflower,” he had said. “I will arrange for your travels when you’re ready, even fly you in on a private plane.”
She’d melted on the spot and promised she would try, but in reality, a return visit to Ismallia wasn’t in her near future. If she pinched pennies, she could save enough for a stay during the fall, but, even so, that felt like a lifetime away. She was touched that he’d offered to arrange for her travels, but she couldn’t accept his money. What if she allowed him to fly her in on a private plane and their relationship didn’t work out after all? It would be weird. Too weird. In addition to her pride complicating matters, she didn’t want to feel forced into a relationship.
She glanced around, wondering why the plane hadn’t moved from the gate yet. All the passengers had taken their seats, and the flight attendants had already given their safety spiel. At least, despite the flight being mostly full, she had lucked out and ended up with an entire row of seats to herself. If someone sat next to her and tried to make small talk, she would’ve been annoyed.
Closing her eyes, she replayed her final night with Akeen. He’d taught her how to properly suck his cock, calling her a good girl after she swallowed every last drop of his seed. Then he’d taken her from behind again. Twice. He’d ordered her to spread her legs wide apart and show him every little fold and crevice of her pussy, then he’d feasted on her until she came repeatedly while his tongue lapped at her clit.
He’d also looked at her with reverence, as if she was the most precious thing in the world to him. God, it made her heart hurt thinking about it, but their last night together had been magical.
Her stomach flipped as worries intruded into her thoughts. What if he never called her? What if he never emailed her or contacted her again in any way? She would be positively heartbroken. Sure, she had his private information, but what if she contacted him only to receive no reply?
Stop it, Cora. He’s totally into you.
He’d made lovey eyes at her while she stuffed her face with tiramisu, he’d given her at least five times the number of orgasms as she’d given him, and he’d spent every possible moment of the last four days at her side. It was silly to entertain thoughts of him not being into her, she told herself with a sense of finality before she resumed the replay of Akeen’s sexual prowess on their last night together.
But a disruption in the front of the plane soon interrupted her naughty musings. From all the commotion, it sounded like a passenger was arriving at the last minute. Weird. She’d thought the door had already been sealed.
It was Akeen.
He slid into the seat next to her, looking so casual and smug about his last-minute travel plans, that she almost smacked him. He stared at the seat ahead of him, not glancing at her, and pretending as if she was a total stranger.
“This seat wasn’t already taken, was it, miss?”
“You realize this is crazy, right?” she asked, giving him the side eye.
“Probably. But I couldn’t convince you to stay in my country, so I’m inviting myself to yours.”
“What about your obligations, all your duties to the crown as a royal advisor?”
“I took a holiday.” He finally turned his gaze on hers. “My father says I’m to return as soon as possible, though with my American bride.”
She felt the blood drain from her face. “Your bride? Wow, you really are sure of yourself. When are you planning to propose?”
“As soon as I’m certain you’ll say yes.” He leaned in to capture her lips.
The plane started moving and the captain was making announcements over the speakers, but the whole world faded as Akeen kissed her masterfully. When he finally pulled away, she was flushed and breathing hard. The ten-hour flight was going to be one hell of a tease. By the time they got through customs and grabbed a taxi back to her apartment, it would be at least twelve hours until she could get her hands on him.
As if reading her mind, he leaned over and said, “I’ll ask one of the flight attendants for a blanket when they come by. Then what happens under the blanket, stays under the blanket.”
“Absolutely not. You will do no such thing. You know how loud I am, and you aren’t exactly quiet in the throes of passion yourself, Mr. Cocky.”
He interrupted her protests with another hard kiss.
Akeen swept Cora up in his arms when she finished unlocking her apartment door.
“Hey! What are you doing?”
“Showing you how I will carry you over the threshold once we are finally married. Of course, it’ll be in my quarters at the palace in Ismallia. You will live like a princess in my family’s castle.”
She would say yes. Eventually. He wouldn’t leave America until she agreed to become his wife and return home with him.
“Please carry me directly to the bedroom. I’m very tired.”
“You’re not going to sleep yet. Not until I’ve ravished you thoroughly.” He carried her into the bedroom and laid her atop the covers.
“Wait. The doorman will be up at any moment with my luggage,” she said, starting to get up.
He stilled her movement and said, “I’ll go meet him. You stay here.”
“Thank you.”
He met the doorman and tipped him, then sat Cora’s suitcases in the hallway. He’d bought his ticket at the last minute and, therefore, hadn’t brought anything of his own. It felt strangely liberating to leave his homeland with nothing but the clothes on his back and his wallet. All the other times he’d traveled internationally, it had been to accompany his father on trips to visit the leaders of other nations, and the amount of planning and packing that had gone into such travels had nearly driven him mad. With a spring in his step, he returned to the bedroom in search of his soon-to-be bride.
The minute she said yes, he would arrange for a quick wedding in his homeland.
They’d known each other for less than a week, but it was long enough to recognize she was the perfect woman for him. His match in every way. Whatever it took, he would get her to say yes when he finally popped the question. And then he would spend every hour of every day for the rest of his life striving to make her as happy as she made him.
When he entered the bedroom, he found Cora sprawled naked atop the covers, feigning sleep. The smile that twitched on her lips revealed she was faking. He kicked off his shoes and stripped off his clothing, eager to join her and release all his pent up sexual energy.
He’d felt her up under the blanket on the plane, and she’d stuck her hands down his pants a few times, but despite all his grandstanding, neither of them had been able to come in the middle of the crowded airplane.
Cora had claimed stage fright, and he couldn’t endure more than several strokes to his cock without groaning his pleasure aloud, her warm little hand had felt that fucking good.
Now the wait was over.
Fisting his cock in one hand, he approached her sleeping form, his mind racing with all the naughty things he wanted to do to her. First, he had to taste her. The scent of her arousal had driven him insane with lust on the plane.
Grabbing her ankles, he yanked her further down on the bed and forced her thighs apart. Before her eyes fluttered open, he had his tongue circling her clit. He peeked at her over the smooth expanse of her stomach to find her expression one of euphoria. He splayed her folds apart and plunged two fingers in and out of her tightness while he continued teasing her clit, making her writhe and moan against his mouth. Her little whimpers and moans were music to his ears.
When she tensed, as if her orgasm was approaching, he immediately withdrew his fingers from her wet channel and sat back. A frustrated noise emitted from her throat, and her equally annoyed stare, told him she’d been only a second away from a release.
“You can come when my cock is buried deep in your tight pussy, Cora.”
Need flared in her blue depths and she parted her legs further in invitation. Then her eyes widened in alarm, as if she’d just remembered something important. She reached into the drawer of her bedside table, pulled out a condom, and tossed it in his direction with a sassy look. He tore open the packet and wasted no time in sheathing himself. Fuck, he was so beside himself with the want of her that he’d nearly forgotten the need for protection.
The idea of putting a baby in her appealed, though. As soon as they were married, he would insist on pumping her full of his seed every day, until her stomach swelled with their child.
Her chest rose and fell rapidly with her quick breaths, and he straddled her and cupped her breasts for a moment, before settling his cock at her entrance and grabbing hold of her hips.
“Here’s another taste of what you’ll experience on our wedding day, and every day afterward,” he said smugly, before thrusting into her pussy.
Fuck yes.
She was all tight perfection and velvety warmth, wrapped around his straining cock.
“Or you could stay in New York and we could live in sin.” Her face contorted with pleasure as he drove in and out of her with increasing speed. “You can be my live-in boy toy.”
“You’ll”—hard thrust—“say yes”—deep plunge—“very soon.” His vision started to blur. Fuck, he was close to exploding already. He slowed for several moments, not wanting to come until she’d cried out her pleasure. “Admit it. I’m your dream man. Handsome. Exotic. Rich and powerful. Not to mention, large-dicked with the stamina of a god.”
She tried to look unimpressed with his little speech, but her face soon broke out in a smile. “Stamina of a god, you say?” A second later, she contracted the inner walls of her pussy, clamping down so hard on his cock he almost choked from the pleasure. She did it again five more times, in rapid succession.
Confused, he stopped thrusting and tried to gather his self-control.
“How are you doing that?”
“Doing what?” she asked with a faux innocent look, squeezing his cock once more.
“I’ve half a mind to turn you over my knee and redden your little bottom, you minx. Now answer my question.”
“I take it Ismallian women don’t do their Kegel exercises?”
“I don’t understand,” he said, holding her tighter.
“I’ll explain later. Now finish making love to me.” Her eyes turned serious. “I’m really overjoyed you followed me, by the way. It was so bold and unexpected. Like something out of a movie
.”
“When I watched you disappear in the security line, it was as if my whole world went dark. I couldn’t be without you. You’re mine. You’ve been mine since the night we first met.”
Her eyes turned dreamy and she reached for him. He gathered her closer, pressing her head to his chest and embracing her as his release approached.
When she gasped and jerked in his arms, coming undone as she undulated her center against his, the final threads of his control snapped.
Growling his pleasure, he erupted within her tightness and held her close to his heart.
Right where she belonged.
Epilogue
Five months later…
Cora knelt on the floor, her heart racing as Akeen circled her with slow, deliberate steps. She was stark naked, while he was fully dressed. He was holding a crop in one hand that was similar in appearance to the one he’d used to interrogate her in the dungeons several months ago.
“Do you have anything to say for yourself, young lady?” The firm tone in his voice sent a shiver down her back.
She cleared her throat and peered up at him from under her long lashes. “You-you kept me waiting. I didn’t think it was a big deal to get things started without you.” By get things started, she was referring to his discovering her stroking her own pussy in bed and bringing herself to orgasm. He’d walked in just as she’d cried out her pleasure.
“You vowed to obey me, my little sunflower, did you not? I specifically told you to wait for me, yet you deliberately disobeyed me.” He dragged the tip of the crop across her breast. “Ismallian wives answer to their husbands, as you well know.”
