Total pages in book: 163
Estimated words: 152616 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 763(@200wpm)___ 610(@250wpm)___ 509(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 152616 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 763(@200wpm)___ 610(@250wpm)___ 509(@300wpm)
“How— ” An unsteady rush of air left me as Claude’s hand folded over me. A sharp twist of pleasure followed. “How so?”
“No one in the Kingdom of Caelum is truly free.” He watched as Claude’s hand moved. “All are owned by the King.”
Claude chuckled. “He has a point there, pet.”
The Prince did, but I said nothing. My pulse was thundering. I felt a little dazed and maybe a bit crazed. I wasn’t sure how we’d gone from talk of an impending siege to this. I didn’t think it was even possible to figure out.
“I have another question for you,” Prince Thorne said. “When you were at the University in Urbane, did you spend any time at the Royal Court?”
“I did.”
“And what did you think of it?”
“It was an . . . experience,” Claude said. “Partly as I expected.”
“Partly?”
I was curious to hear the Baron elaborate. I hadn’t known he’d been at the King’s Court. Only the caelestias and a few aristo entered the Hyhborn Courts— well, them and those the Hyhborn collected. But I was finding it difficult to listen. I was now watching the Prince as avidly as he watched the Baron’s hand. His fingers traced the rim of his glass in nearly perfect synchrony with the ones between my thighs, and it was far, far too easy to imagine it was his fingers I felt.
My hips twisted restlessly as I focused on the Prince’s fingers, my breathing quickening. Could the Baron feel the rush of damp heat through the silky undergarment? Did he believe it was my body responding to his touches, or . . . ? I shifted in the Baron’s lap, chest rising sharply as he pressed into the lacy undergarment, but I . . . I didn’t feel him beneath me.
The Baron knew.
Claude was rubbing me like he sought to draw forth an answer from a crystal ball. Not the most arousing technique, nor what I knew he was capable of. He was . . .
He was putting on a show.
“It’s as opulent and beautiful as I believed it to be,” Claude answered after a moment. “But I didn’t expect it to be so . . .”
“So?”
I bit down on my lip at the sound of his voice, at the one word. It washed over my skin like heated silk, and my toes curled in their slippers.
“Cruel,” Claude said.
And that one word cooled some of the heat in my blood.
“I have a question for you, Your Grace.”
The Prince inclined his chin.
“Are you as cruel as the rumors claim you are?” he asked, causing my heart to turn over heavily.
Prince Thorne didn’t answer for several too-long moments, only watching as Claude’s fingers continued to move. “Only when necessary.”
Claude seemed to understand whatever that meant. “Would you like something other than whiskey to drink? You haven’t touched what you have in some time.”
“It’s not what I’m thirsty for.”
“I suppose not.” Claude had gone quiet, and that flipping motion repeated. “Pet?” he said against my flushed temple, his thumb sweeping over the throbbing juncture of nerves. “Why don’t you go to the Prince.”
My gaze collided with the Prince’s. The air stilled in my lungs as my body locked up, but my heart hammered.
“He does look lonely,” Claude whispered. “Does he not?”
Prince Thorne didn’t look lonely.
His entire body appeared taut, features sharper in the violently dancing flames. He looked . . .
Prince Thorne looked hungry.
“Go,” urged Claude, slipping his arm from my waist and his hand from between my legs.
I hesitated despite the stunning pulse of desire that echoed in response to the Baron’s . . . what? Order? Permission? I didn’t know which it was. I knew Claude liked to be watched and liked to watch, but this was a prince. Not one of his paramours and another aristo.
But I slipped from his lap and stood, placing my glass on the table. Prince Thorne said nothing, but he tracked me as I walked on legs that felt weaker than they should. I looked at the door, knowing I could leave. Claude wouldn’t stop me. I didn’t think Prince Thorne would. I could easily walk out and put a stop to whatever madness this was beginning to feel like.
I didn’t.
If this were anyone else, I would’ve, but it was him.
I went to the Prince’s side, heart pounding and hands tingling. He looked up at me, still silent, and suddenly I thought that it might have been a good idea to leave. Clearly, if the Prince wanted company, he would’ve said so. A different kind of burn hit my skin. I started to take a step back—
Prince Thorne extended his arm as he leaned back. I froze.
Swirling eyes met mine. “Sit.”
Feeling as if I couldn’t breathe deeply enough, I slipped between him and the table. That was as far as I made it. His arm came around my hips and he tugged me down into his lap.