I didn’t know we could both be quiet for so long. I didn’t know what to say. Corbin tossed what was left of the condom in the trash and returned to the bed.

“I should go.” I tried to sit up, but he climbed on top of me, kissing me urgently.

“You’re not leaving this bed.”

“Royal proclamation?” I teased.

“Exactly.”

He adjusted his body next to mine and I nuzzled against his chest. Was any of this real?

“Sorry about the condom.”

I raised my chin to look at him. “It wasn’t your fault.”

“I got a little carried away.” I could see the regret on his face. I just hoped it wasn’t because of sex.

I wasn’t on birth control. It always made my face breakout. I didn’t have time to grab my diaphragm. It was all the way in my apartment. And I thought the condom would hold. I’d never seen one break before.

“You weren’t alone.” I smiled.

He chuckled. “No. I definitely wasn’t.” He ran his finger under the quilt to my breast. He circled my nipple. “I didn’t know this side of you existed, Elena DuBois.”

I blushed. I didn’t know whether to be embarrassed or complimented. Maybe I should be both.

I gasped when he pinched my nipple between his fingers.

“Seems you have a sexual appetite that I have been ignoring.”

I nodded. He had no idea what kind of power he had over me.

“We don’t have to talk about this.” I closed my eyes. I wanted this to be my new reality, but I was a practical person. We were going to have to face the world we lived in. We had roles and duties. “I’ll get my things and we can just go back to normal. Or the new normal,” I added.

He tilted my chin. “You’re the one who wants to dissect every step I take. Who I speak with. How I address a crowd. Did I wear the right military medals? Did I remember my mother’s birthday? And now that we have had the most epic fuck, you want to pretend it didn’t happen? Not to mention the little condom mishap at the end.”

I pushed up on his chest. “Epic? You thought it was epic?” I tilted my head to study him. He was always gorgeous, but I was in his bed now and he looked like every fantasy I had had come true. I traced the line of ink on his arm. I loved the sexiness of the design.

“How would you describe it? I’d love to hear your take. You’re the analytical one.”

He was teasing me, but my heart beat wildly. Maybe this conversation was the real thing I had wanted all this time.

“Of course it was epic,” I admitted. “I never thought you saw me that way. I’m surprised. I don’t want to be confused, but I think I am.”

He brushed the hair away from my face. “You’ve always been here, Elena. I know that.” He paused. “Life is clearer now. Brighter even. And I know you’re the reason for that. You didn’t give up on me. You believed I could become sober. And I did.”

I placed my hand over his heart. “I never doubted you. You should know that. Even on those dark days.”

“And now, princess?”

“I don’t doubt you.”

“Good. Because we’re up against a lot.”

“What do you mean?” My eyes studied his.

“I have to find my daughter. And I want you next to me to do it.”

“Of course I am. I’m always here to do whatever you need.”

His hand landed over mine and he pulled my palm to his lips. It sent a shiver all the way to my core.

“You don’t get it, princess. You aren’t going to be my royal manager anymore.”

I yanked my hand away as if he held it to a burning flame.

“What are you talking about?” Was he firing me?

“I decided somewhere between that closet and this bed, that you’re mine, baby.” He grinned. “And I think you said it too.”

“We were having sex. I said a lot of things.”

He laughed. “I thought I knew everything about you, but now I know so much more,” he growled. His arms circled my waist as his fingers dug into the soft flesh of my ass.

“You are not making any sense,” I protested, but he pulled the covers over our heads. His lips landed on my neck.

“It makes perfect sense. Complete sense. The most sense.”

I gasped when his mouth covered my nipple, pulling it between his teeth. My breasts were already tender and sensitive. This felt like the most sensual torture. I pressed his head closer to my chest while he sucked.

A tiny cry escaped my lips.

“But, I’m not leaving my post,” I challenged. “This was a…” I struggled for words while he roamed my body with his tongue. “…an impulsive weakness.”

“Weakness?” He bit my stomach and I squealed.

“Ok, not weakness.” I tried to fend him off. “Impulsive lapse of judgement.”

He pushed a finger inside me and a groaned. “Lapse of judgement?” he taunted.

His release had begun to pool between my legs. There was something insanely beautiful and magical about what we had done, and I was ruining it by trying to categorize it like a drunken one-night stand.

I tried to find my breath, but he pumped his finger, adding a second. It was intense as he stretched me wider.

“Admit you think we’re making a mistake,” I begged.

He rolled on top of me, positioning his cock at my pussy. He slid it back and forth torturing me with the promise of satisfaction, only he wasn’t giving it to me. My body burned for him.

I looked in his eyes. They raged with hunger and lust.

“We’re going to fuck the rest of the night, princess. And in the morning if you want to talk about our proper positions, I’ll let you. But only after you try all my dirty positions tonight.”

He started to push inside me. His mouth moved to my ear. “I didn’t want that condom to break, but I’m going to make the most of it. That means feeling how incredible your pussy is when I’m buried inside you. With nothing between us. Just for this night.”

I nodded. “Please.” There was no way our first time together would make a baby. And he made a good argument. He already came inside me—there was nothing we could do.

He grinned. “I think I can convince you to quit your job.” He thrust until the thickest part of his cock was inside me.

I shook my head. “You can’t.”

He chuckled. “I can. And I will.”

“Oh shit.” My head rolled to the side when he reared up on his knees and lifted my ass in the air with him. He drove into me. I reached for the headboard. I needed something to hold on to.

“Have you forgotten I’m your prince?”

“No, never,” I whispered.

His cock sliced inside me, blazing with control. Every move was intentional and deliberate. He knew how to render me speechless. He tilted my hips slightly upward so my clit rubbed against him. The friction sent me over the edge. The harder he thrust, the more vibration echoed to my core.

I couldn’t prevent the inevitable. I braced myself for an avalanche of an orgasm.

He grinned with satisfaction as my body began to shake.

“Fuck you’re gorgeous, coming on my dick.”

I writhed against him, riding his thick cock harder. I wanted more. I needed it. I was exploding from the inside out. He pushed inside me, giving me exactly what I wanted.

I gripped his shaft inside me with violent force as the waves crashed through me.

“Oh fuck, princess. You’re going to make me come.”

“Please,” I begged.

We were idiots, having sex like this. We had lost all common sense. We were playing with fire. I ground into his pelvis, screaming as the flames licked my veins.

He pumped harder and faster. I knew he wanted to match my pace. He wanted to come with me. I yelped when he clutched my bottom and his climax hit him. The sweat dripped down his chest. And my eyes locked on his.

I’d never felt anything like this. I’d loved this man longer than I should have. I loved him when I should have been on dates with other guys. I loved him when his demons were ripping him from his family. I loved him despite all the reasons I shouldn’t have, but I’d never loved him like this.

He grunted as his release spilled inside me. With a final shudder, we both exhaled and then collapsed into sleep.