Suddenly, the warm cabin feels intimate and romantic; I’m lying on a bed in a lacy sundress next to the man who is my husband.
It doesn’t seem as terrible as I made it out to be in my head, when I first took a peek inside.
Maybe it isn’t terrible at all.
Maybe it’s just right.
“Princess, you scared me half to death.”
“Really? I wouldn’t have guessed a man like you would scare easily.”
“A man like me, huh?” Garrick leans closer, close enough for me to feel his warm breath. “What do you know about a man like me?”
“I’m guessing I know as much about you as you know about me.”
“Oh, I know plenty about you.”
“Garrick, you’re so sure of yourself.” I shake my head, not letting him get away with thinking he knows best.
“It’s true, Iris. I know what you’re thinking right now. About what happens next.” He looks down at his cock, stiff in his jeans, and I admit that being in his bed—our bed—reminds me of what he told me he wanted to do, back in his childhood bedroom.
What he wanted to do to me.
On me.
I take a sharp breath, because the moment I opened my eyes I forgot about the reason I fainted.
“Why don’t you live in the castle?” I ask.
“Does it bother you, being alone in the woods with a mountain Prince?”
I roll my eyes, sitting up in bed. “I’m not scared of you. And right now, I honestly don’t care where we are tonight. I just want to....” I bite my lip, shocked at my desire.
I just fainted, but my body has quickly reminded me what it really wants right now: to be with Garrick again.
“Good, then I’m going to take your word for it.”
“I liked what we did in the castle. When you took control.”
His eyes are bright in the lamplight. “I can take control again, Princess.”
“That’s what I want,” I admit. “But what you said you wanted to do ... on me....” I run my hands over my breasts, thinking about how he said he wanted to spill his seed on them. “I need you to show me. How you want it. I need you to teach me.” My voice gets smaller then maybe it ever has before. Talking so intimately with a man I hardly know requires a bravery I’m not used to. But saying the words empowers me.
“Oh, I’ll teach you, honey. I’ll teach you right now.” Garrick leans over, kissing me hotly, kissing me with fire. Leaving me gasping for breath. His mouth covers mine and his tongue slips between my teeth, intertwined with mine. He kisses me long and hard and good.
My core is on fire, in a way I wasn’t expecting, as his hand lifts my dress, his fingers grazing past my thighs.
“I need to get you out of this,” he growls. “I need to see all of you.”
Understanding his request, I get out of the bed and lift the dress over my head, dropping it to the floor. He must have taken off my sandals earlier when he carried me to bed, because all I’m wearing is a pair of silky white panties and a lacy white bra.
“My God, Princess, you’re killing me.” His eyes look greedy from where he sits. I step toward him, and he wraps his arms around my waist, inhaling my pussy. “You’re fucking gorgeous, Iris. I am going to devour you tonight, you know that, right?”
“Then you’ll have to help me out of my panties first, Garrick. Help me become your woman for a second time.”
10
The moment her eyes fluttered open, I let out a sigh of relief. The last thing I wanted was to have my bride gone before our wedding night. I knew the moment she saw the cabin she’d be having second or third or fourth thoughts about this entire situation. About our arrangement.
About this marriage.
I’d seen the way she looked around my parents’ castle. The way she took in the party they offered her, showing her every decadent thing they could offer, as if wanting her to see what she was missing before she came out here with me.
In this cabin, there’s no need for fake grins or small talk. She may be from a place of summer breezes and soft smiles, but there’s no space for that here.
But when I took her hard and fast, the way we both wanted, something changed. Damn, I looked at her, so fucking pure and innocent, and wondered if bringing her out here was the right call.
When she fainted I was fucking sure it wasn’t.
But then, as I watched her rest, I thought about it.
I don’t want a Princess who can’t understand where I come from and why. Who can’t find the beauty in the life I’ve chosen. She and I will never work if we can’t find common ground.
And that’s why I didn’t toss her over my shoulder and carry her back to the castle.