Awakened by the Vampire Prince 2(13)

The princess sat straight up, her eyes wide. Her hair a thick mass about her shoulders. Xavier swallowed thickly as the sheets pooled around her hips, she wore a barely there silken gown held on by thin straps.

When his eyes snapped back up, hers were filled with anger. “How dare you come unannounced into my chamber?”

“How dare I? Easily, princess, earlier today you practically begged me to give us a chance and now I find out that you asked York to take you as your mate just yesterday. According to him, you went about it like a business proposal listing all of the benefits should he decide to go ahead.”

Her eyes widened and she sucked in a shuddery breath.

It hurt to see that he had hit the mark. He knew York hadn’t been lying even though there was a secret part of him, deep down inside, that had hoped he had been. “You told him that if he wasn’t interested that you were going to proposition one of the other vampire males, was that what today was all about? Was it all one big come-on because you needed a mate so desperately? I just happened to be in the right place at the right time? Did you let any of the others touch you?” He growled the last through clenched teeth, feeling his hands knot at his sides.

“Did one of the others touch me?” She made an incredulous noise while yanking the sheet off of her. “You didn’t just ask me that, Xavier?”

“I sure as hell did. I cannot believe that you played me for a fool. What was your plan? Ask everyone and maybe that way you would get a taker? I have genuine feelings for you. I—”

She leapt up off the bed in a graceful move that had his jaw dropping. Using the tip of her finger, she prodded him in the chest repeatedly. “How dare you? How dare you?” She repeated again this time more forcefully. Her whole body vibrated in anger “Yes, you son of a bitch.” Her eyes were wide and her breath came in pants.

It irritated him that the only thing he could think of in this minute was how damned beautiful she was. Her hair was wild, her cheeks flushed. He had to work hard to stop his gaze from dipping to her cleavage. Lord help him, out of the corner of his eye, he could see how her lush breasts swayed and bounced with each elaborate move she made.

“I did ask York if he would mate with me. Yes, I was desperate and would’ve propositioned one of the others if I had to. So there, you heard what you wanted to hear and you can get out.” The finger that had been aimed at his chest swept to the door.

Xavier shook his head. “Not so fast, princess. I think you owe me an explanation. We agreed to see one another…we agreed we would give our relationship a chance. When you looked at me earlier…” His voice softened. He took a small step towards her. “The way you looked at me earlier was with genuine feelings. I don’t buy that it was all an act. Then again, I have to ask myself why you are going along with this whole charade? I need you to explain.”

Her eyes narrowed and her nostrils flared. “I owe you nothing. I didn’t see you speak up for me in that meeting earlier. It was York that stepped forward.”

“I was trying to buy us time. You didn’t want to mate me out of necessity all those months ago and nothing has changed. We would always have it hanging over our heads and I didn’t want that. If you hadn’t propositioned half the vampire guard then maybe my plan would’ve worked.”

Esral stepped back as if he had struck her and his first instinct was to try and soothe her but he held back.

She sucked in a deep breath before making a sound of frustration through clenched teeth. “If you hadn’t tried to rut with half the elven females then maybe I would’ve been thinking a little more clearly.”

Xavier felt his brow crease. “Come again, princess.”

“You heard me. Cheri mentioned how big your root is and warned me to stay away from you. She told me how you tried to get her to rut you. I never thought I would say it but I plan on taking her advice.” Her eyes welled with tears and her bottom lip quivered until she sucked it between her teeth and bit down.

“You’re still losing me here…Cheri…oh Cheri…” He realized who it was Esral was talking about. “Wait a minute…”

“So there have been a few then…tough for you to remember them all?” Although tears spilled, she narrowed her eyes at him.







His gun metal grey eyes lined up with hers. “There aren’t any other females. Cheri—”

She didn’t want to hear it. “So it was only Cheri then? Look, you don’t have to explain anything to me. I propositioned half your guard and am to be mated to York in three days. I have no hold over you…I never did…so just go.”