“Isla,” she said quietly, “Princess Isla Morningstar.”
I barely heard her, since every part of me was fixated on those perfect,plump lips forming the words. But then, I did hear those words, and they rang a bell. For four years, I’d removed myself from the “who’s who” of the royal families. I’d just stopped giving even a remote shit about that. But then, Morningstar rang a bell. Morningstar, as in, King Lucian Morningstar.
As in, tonight’s host.
Those lips of hers curled into a small smile, her cheeks flushed as she realized I wasn’t saying anything. My finger was still on her chin, and I could feel the heated throb of her pulse in her neck.
I ground my teeth, barely containing myself. Barely holding back the beast that wanted nothing more than to yank her against me, claim those sweet lips as mine and mine only, and then take the rest of her, right here on the ballroom floor. My cock lurched inside my tuxedo pants, my pulse hammering like a drum, and my balls feeling heavy with need for her.
I wanted her. The need for her snarled and roared inside. I wanted to claim her and breed her, and run away with her, keeping her as my own.
All insane thoughts. All totally insane.
I didn’t care.
She blushed, and I realized I hadn’t said anything since she’d told me her name.
“I’m Prince L—”
“Logan,” she said quietly. “I know who you are.”
I started. No one ever interrupted me. My personal staff knew to never question me, or stop me, or cut me off. My council knew the same. Hell, my goddamn friends knew it.
Everyone knew it.
Well, everyone except Princess Isla, apparently. And I kind of liked that.
“Are you afraid of me, Princess Isla?”
Her lip quivered, her eyes darted across mine.
“No.”
Liar.
She gasped as I suddenly moved right against her, her tiny body tumbling right into me as her eyes went wide and her cheeks went bright pink.
“Then you won’t mind if I ask for this dance,” I growled into her ear.
Her breath caught.
No, not ask.
“I’m taking you for this dance,” I said, less a question this time as I took her hand, wrapped one arm possessively around her tiny waist, and whirled her way from her stunned friends.
“Do I get to say yes or no?” she finally tumbled out, turning her head to blink up at me in shock.
“No.”
I swear I saw her smile out of the corner of my eyes.
Chapter 5
Isla
I felt weightless, like my feet didn’t even touch the ground.
…Mostly because, they barely did.
I shivered at first when his huge hands went to my waist, holding me tight. But I slowly, let go of the fear. Slowly, I started to ignore that part of me that was terrified at this dark, brooding man and the fierce reputation he carried, and started to warm to the part of me that was drawn to him like a magnet.
He was beyond strong - his thick, muscled arms, broad shoulders, and powerful chest enveloping me as he pulled me close. But the minute his hands held me, I knew I was safe. I knew he wouldn’t hurt me, despite the rumors.
Actually, I’d never felt so safe.
I could feel his muscles rippling as we danced, the power in those arms, the way his chest bulged under his tuxedo. My pulse raced faster and faster as the small string ensemble in the corner waltzed us around the ballroom. I knew Ilana, and Imogen, and Adele, and really, lots of people were looking at us, him being who he was and all, but I stopped caring.
He made me forget.
We twirled, moving closer, his hand tightening on my body, and I delighted in the thrill that brought with it. I allowed myself to let go and move close to him, feeling the way his muscles rippled and inhaling the masculine scent of him.
The way my head spun.
The way my pulse fluttered.
The way the heat pooled slick and forbidden between my legs.
Maybe it was the danger. Maybe it was that everyone said he was such a beast. Maybe it was how big and strong he was, or maybe it was the darkness surrounding him.
Whatever it was, it sparked something inside of me.
Big time.
One song moved into another, and I realized my eyes hadn’t left his for at least three of them. He flashed his teeth at me — half a grin, half an animalistic smile, and I felt something forbidden flutter inside of me
I wanted him to kiss me so bad it hurt — as much as I knew that couldn’t happen. Besides him being him, of course it couldn’t happen here, in my father’s castle at the ball.
“You’re not scared of me,” he growled, not so much a question as it was an observation.
I wet my lips with my tongue, watching the way his jaw tightened as I did.
“Should I be?”
“Perhaps a little,” he said softly, his voice edged enough to make the butterflies go nuts in my belly. I gasped as his hands tightened on me, pulling me close to him. Actually, we were far closer than we should have been, just dancing like this at a formal ball, but I didn’t care. I felt my breath catch as I felt his thick, hard body press against mine, my breasts pressed to his abdomen, my eyes level with that muscled chest.