by Virna DePaul
She didn’t know where he was taking her, nor did she care. She had no idea how they could ever be together, what their future would be like, or what troubles were going to come her way after this. But at that moment, it didn’t matter. She was riding into the distance with Kyle Young, her lover, her hero, to be with him every moment of every day.
Nothing else mattered.
Blasting down a country road, they soon entered the capital city, its cobblestones making the ride bouncy and uncomfortable. Kyle shouted for her to hold on, and she gripped him tightly. They arrived at their destination, a small inn on the outskirts of the city. It certainly wasn’t fancy, but it was pretty in a quaint way. Brick and with a slanting roof, the inn had probably been in business since the late 19th century. Bright flowers grew from window boxes, and a sign with a faded The Swan Inn swung lightly back and forth in the breeze. Arabella smelled beer and rye bread.
Kyle kissed her briefly. “Stay here. I’ll bring you in through the back, okay?”
He hid her in a nearby alcove. Luckily, it was late at night, and most of the city had already gone to sleep, if they hadn’t gotten an invitation to the ball. A man walked down the sidewalk, startling Arabella, but he didn’t notice her in the darkened corner. She prayed that Kyle would be quick and that no one would find her here.
“Okay, this way,” Kyle whispered in her ear, tugging her by the hand.
She jumped, covering her pounding heart with her hand. “You scared me again. Stop doing that!”
Kyle laughed. “Duchess, you need to chill, babe.” In the dim light of the lamppost, she could just make out his grin.
They entered the inn through the kitchen, where a dish washer haphazardly washed dishes without paying the least bit of attention to anything around him. Kyle put his finger to his lips, and they tiptoed to the back stairs. The middle stair squeaked ominously, but at least there was no one there to tell her to turn back.
At their room, Kyle fumbled with the key, while Arabella asked him to hurry up. She was both nervous about being caught by someone in the royal family, but also excited to get behind closed doors with Kyle. At last, he opened the door with a whoosh and shut it, locking it behind her.
Inside the modestly furnished and decorated room, they stared at each other, breathing hard. Arabella knew her cheeks were probably flushed and her forehead was shiny with perspiration, but she didn’t care. She was finally here, alone with Kyle, an amazing turn of events from the way the night had begun.
He stared at her with adoration. “We did it,” he said, closing in on her and taking her hands. Then, he wrapped his arms around her waist and lifted her. “I can’t believe we made it.”
She squealed, as she slid down his chest, landing on her feet again. Kicking off her heels, she fell another three inches lower and suddenly felt tiny next to him. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me,” she said. “All I know is I can’t live that way anymore.”
He brushed his fingers across her cheek. “You sure about this?”
“I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life.”
At that, Kyle led her from the door to stand in the muted light. Their room held a queen-sized bed with a charming quilt and wooden furniture. The sound of old music played from somewhere downstairs, but otherwise it was quiet. Quiet except for her breathing, that is, and the roaring in her ears from her pounding heart.
Kyle’s fingers glided down her face, down her throat, brushing against her pulse before brushing against her collarbone. She swallowed and closed her eyes. Yes. Her and Kyle, alone again. She’d waited a long time for this. A royal lifetime, in fact.
His finger made a figure eight around her heart, right above her cleavage. “Tell me one more time,” he said. “Tell me you want this.”
“I want this. I want you.” She knew she sounded desperate, but she didn’t care at this point. “Kiss me, Kyle.”
“Anything my duchess wants.” He curled an arm around her and kissed her, her breasts pressing up against his chest, his warmth and scent completely enveloping her. As if kissing Kyle weren’t chill-inducing enough, this time he wore a tuxedo and felt bigger, more masculine, and more commanding than ever.
His mouth was relentless, so much that Arabella could only tip her head back and surrender. His hands followed suit and mauled her desperately—on her ass, her breasts, skimming her belly, anywhere he could put them. She unbuttoned his shirt, threw off his jacket, and exposed his ridged abdomen, pulling his dress shirt from his trousers so she could touch his bare skin. He groaned through his kiss. She felt him growing harder against her belly and loved the fact that she drove him as crazy as he drove her.
“I need to be inside you,” he growled, and she couldn’t argue. She wanted him too after waiting two, long months. But instead of stripping her bare and thrusting inside, he massaged her breasts through her bodice, thumbing her nipples through her thin gown. Frissons of pleasure swam through her entire body, centering in her sex, and she felt herself pulsing, growing wet with every touch. She’d never wanted a man as much as she wanted Kyle Young right this second and knew it would always be so.
Kyle devoured the tops of her breasts before unzipping her dress and pulling back to watch it fall away. The fabric pooled at her feet, leaving her in nothing but her pair of skimpy lace panties. “Good God, you’re gorgeous, woman,” he said gruffly, leaning down to take one nipple into his mouth, then the other, leaving them red and swollen.
“God, yes, Kyle,” was all she could say. Any control she’d had, she gave up the moment she decided to run away. Now, she was his completely.
He continued to kiss down her impatient body, his mouth leaving a trail of heat. Arabella ran her fingers through his thick hair, as he knelt in front of her. When he gazed up her, his eyes were bright and sharp, like a hunter who’d finally found his prey.
“Part your legs.” His command sent thrills through her body, and she did as she was told without protest. He hooked a finger in the silk edge of her panties and pulled it aside, leaving her open and bare to his gaze and touch. He parted her with his tongue, and she moaned even louder, as he explored her soft folds. As she stood there, he licked and laved and tasted her naked flesh, the tip of his tongue massaging her clit. She had to bite her lip to keep from screaming.
“God, Arabella, I can’t wait any longer.” Kyle stood and began shucking his clothes, tossing them on the floor. One of his shoes hit a chair, and Arabella laughed aloud at the sound, relieving some of her nervousness. Reaching for him, she got rid of his bowtie, pulled the rest of the shirt off his back, and helped him undo his pants. As she stripped off her panties, they fell backward onto the bed, rolling across the sheets, kissing and touching and hardly able to get close enough to each other.
This. This was how love was supposed to feel. She couldn’t ever imagine feeling this passionate with Frederic, but with Kyle, it was like coming home. Like her entire life had been preparing for this very moment. Lying underneath him, Arabella reached up and brushed his hair from his forehead. The look he gave her was inscrutable. Did he feel the same way as she did? But before she could say anything, he reached for a condom in his bag. He was about to sheath himself, but she took the latex from him.
“Let me do it.” Taking his hard, hot cock in her hand, she could barely encircle it with her fingers, he was so large. He groaned a curse, and she couldn’t help but squeeze and stroke him. How could a man like him want her this much? She could only marvel at her own power.
“Duchess, I’m about to lose it. No more playing.” Kyle stopped her curious fingers, plucking the condom from her hand and covering himself. He pushed her back down onto the bed, kicking her legs apart, and something about his directness and having her legs wide open for him, and only him, put her close to the edge.
Arabella arched upward, moaned aloud when his fingers spread her wetness across her pussy. He kissed her, and as his tongue entered her mouth, his cock thrust inside of her with one, swift movement. She
was full of Kyle, up to the hilt, and she wanted him so completely, she could only kiss him wildly, scrabbling at his shoulders, arching her hips, and begging for more. Always more. She could never get enough of this man.
He took hold of her hips firmly and began thrusting, hard and relentless, making sure she knew she was his, in case there was any mistake. He gave her no quarter, and she loved every moment, every thrust as he brushed against her clit. Her legs fell open wider, fully submitting, never any question as to who owned her. He did, completely and openly. A voice begged him never to stop, only to realize it was her own. Sweat glistened across both their bodies, the headboard bounced against the wall, as they slapped together, and Arabella met him thrust for thrust.
“Fuck, Bella, I’m so close. Come for me, baby.”
Yes. She wanted to, she was there and ready. Kyle reached down and began rubbing her clit with his thumb. Just a few strokes, and she was done, off like a firecracker, bursting into flames and crying out. He moaned, loving the sound of her groans, and covered her mouth with his own as he began to come, too. She felt his cock throbbing inside of her, filling her. She kissed him and bit at his lower lip, her orgasm dancing throughout her body.
Eventually, his breathing slowed down, as he panted and lowered his body gently onto her. She had no idea how long Kyle stayed inside of her, kissing her, stroking down her sides and murmuring soft words against her skin, because she wandered in and out of a daze, or maybe a light sleep, she wasn’t sure. He rolled onto his side, his cock still half-hard inside of her, and when he hitched her leg over his hip, she shuddered against him.
Even as exhaustion washed over her body, she couldn't let go of him. What if she awoke to loneliness again? What if he decided she’d be better off without him and left as she slept? She couldn’t take that risk. After a lingering interlude of touching and laughing and light kissing, she felt him hardening inside of her again.
“Damn, Bella, I can’t stop wanting you,” he muttered against her throat. “You’re like some kind of drug.”
She kissed him, licked his lips, and pressed her hips against him for more. The thought of parting with Kyle again was so painful she couldn’t even consider it. The only way around it was to drown her worries with more Kyle. More kissing, more touching, more thrusting deep inside. And after he sheathed himself in a new condom and pushed inside of her again, all thoughts of him leaving melted away. Was this how it would always be between them? Making love to erase painful thoughts of separation? She could live with that. When he thrust into her again, pulling her hips against him, she moaned and rocked and pulled his hips into hers and wished he could stay inside of her forever.
Chapter Twelve
Arabella was asleep next to him, long, dark hair strewn across her pillow. Now, there was a sight he thought he’d never see again. The formal hairstyle of last night had fallen apart ages ago, a few pins sticking out at random from the glossy curls. Her rosebud mouth was slack, as she slept deeply, her chest rising and falling slowly. He couldn’t help but kiss her cheek softly, but she didn’t wake, instead snuggling deeper into her pillow.
He grinned. He’d worn her out last night, that was for sure. After they’d made love that first time, he’d taken her again more slowly, drawing out her pleasure until she’d begged him to let her come. He’d teased her and whispered dirty words in her ear, and she’d become mindless with pleasure. The perfect evening. The perfect woman. An addiction from which he’d never recover. Nor did he want to.
Now that the morning light shone across her fresh, tight body, everything she was—and he wasn’t—came roaring back. It didn’t matter that she was asleep in bed with him in this little inn, she was still royalty, and her family was probably frantic looking for her. They couldn't hide forever, and yet he stupidly hoped he could keep her hidden as long as possible.
Couldn’t they just enjoy each other, the world be damned? Was that such an impossible thing to want? He watched her sleep until her lashes fluttered. When her eyes finally opened, green and full and well-rested, she seemed surprised to see him.
He smiled. “Hi. Remember me?” he asked, kissing her quickly.
She buried her face in his shoulder with a long groan. “How could I forget?” she mumbled. “I’ll be walking bowlegged for weeks.”
He laughed. “I think someone was as insatiable as I was. I remember somebody—not gonna say who—crawling down my body and taking me into her mouth—”
Her hand shot out to stop his words, but he kissed her fingers. Still, she managed to sniff disapprovingly. “A lady never discusses the night before,” she said in a snotty voice.
“Luckily, you defected from the palace last night.” Kyle spanked her lightly on the ass, and she yelped. “So ladies who try to act like that get spanked now.” He bent her over until she was on her stomach, then he slapped her ass again. Nothing hard, but enough to get her to wiggle that delectable behind.
“Hmm, I think somebody likes this. Want more?” When she didn’t respond right away, only writhed her ass underneath his hand, he gave her another sharp sting across the left cheek, loving how she moaned into her pillow. “Does the duchess like being punished?” Again, she didn’t reply, and he spanked her again. “I asked you a question…”
She looked at him over her shoulder, emerald eyes glazed with desire. “I do like it,” she finally whispered. “Kyle.”
His stomach flipped at hearing his name together with what she liked. “You didn’t say the magic word,” he teased.
She wiggled and moaned. “Please.”
He loved to hear her beg and slapped her right cheek again. “Good girl.” Then he parted her legs, slicking his fingers through her heat, and it was his turn to groan. She was already soaking, hot, wet, and begging to be fucked. After reaching for a condom and covering himself, he propped her hips on a couple pillows for leverage.
As his fingers danced across her clit, she moaned again and pushed against his hand. “Please, Kyle, please,” she begged.
Her sweet wetness coated his palm, and he gladly licked it clean before grabbing hold of her hips and slowly feeding his cock into her slick entrance. This angle would fill her up even more, and there were few things he loved more than watching Bella buck up against him. He held her firmly and slid completely inside of her, feeling her sheath pulsing, and he knew she was already on the edge.
Watching her perfect ass push back against him, Kyle had to spank her again before fucking her, alternating his slaps with his thrusts. She squealed and moaned and screamed, and just as he felt her begin to tense up, he slowed down and drew out the intensity of her climbing peak.
“You bastard,” she said, and he laughed.
He loved it—the way his princess lost all sense of propriety in bed. There was nothing sexier than watching this woman go from prim and proper to begging for more. He fucked her hard again, as he clutched her hips, and when she gave a long, sweet moan, he was too far gone. His orgasm was right there. All he had to do was use her to pleasure himself. She seemed to know it and moaned louder, urging him to fuck her harder. The sex was messy and intense and raw, and he was sure anyone close by could hear them, but he didn’t care. He just wanted to mark Arabella, make her his, fill her up and make sure she never forgot who had been inside of her.
As she bucked harder against him, he felt his balls draw up and knew this was it—he couldn’t wait any longer. He slapped her ass as she came for good measure. Lifting her at a slight angle, he made sure to hit her clit, and that was when she exploded without any warning, screaming and clawing at the sheets, her entire body shuddering and contracting around his cock. That was it. He couldn’t take it anymore and let go, bursting into flames, groaning and swearing. As he filled her up, his balls contracted, and spasms wracked his entire body. The ecstasy was almost unbearable. He breathed like he’d sprinted up a mountain, as little shivers continued to climb up Arabella’s body as he came. Finally, he thrust gently against her to draw out the last of the
waves, and then he collapsed next to her in a spent, happy heap.
He didn’t know what to say. He couldn’t speak. All he knew was that he’d never had sex that good in his entire life, and that alone was mind-blowing considering how many women he’d been with over the years. Turning onto his side, he stroked Arabella’s sweaty back, and she peeked out at him from beneath her snarled raven hair. Her ass was red from his spanking, and he rubbed it soothingly.
Kyle stared at this woman, this woman who’d upended his life so quickly and unexpectedly all for the chance to be with him. How could he ever repay her? He would spend a long time trying to make sure he was worth her time. Leaning forward, he kissed her forehead, then gathered her into his arms.
They snuggled for a while and nearly fell asleep, but when Arabella’s stomach began grumbling, Kyle laughed. “Let’s go feed the royal stomach before it sends everyone to the guillotine.”
She gave him a great, fake evil grin. “I’ll be in the shower. Could you do me a favor and run out to buy me a pair of sunglasses? I can’t exactly go out in a ball gown. I’ll have to borrow some of your clothes too.”
“Not a problem, my love.” He kissed her nose and sent her to the bathroom. My love. He’d just called her my love, though he’d never called anyone that before. While she was showering, he walked to a corner store and bought her a scarf to wear over her head and large sunglasses, plus a basic T-shirt to wear over baggy sweats of his. Also, he got her some bright pink flip-flops. No one would think a woman dressed like this would be royalty, he thought with a grin, and he couldn’t wait to see her reaction when he presented her with such stylish fashions.
“Are you joking?” she stammered. “I’ll look ridiculous!” Sexily wrapped in a towel, she stared at the items. Her hair was wet, and she smelled like hotel soap. Simple and pure, and Kyle had to restrain himself from taking her back to bed right then and there.
