I grunt and finish the set, my muscles straining at the weight. Sweat drips down my skin and although I’m exhausted from the workout, I feel damn good.

Yesterday’s meeting with my mother went great. Afterward, I went to some nobles that I know and started testing the waters, seeing how loyal they are to Julian over me. So far, things seem like they’re going fairly well, though I know I have an uphill battle.

And then there’s Hazel. She nailed it with my mother. And although I didn’t see her much the rest of the day yesterday, since she was busy with her tutor, I couldn’t get her out of my head. I still keep thinking about that kiss, and how badly I want another one.

I grab my things and head out of the gym. I decide to shower back in the apartment. Maybe I’ll even run into Hazel on the way, which could be fun.

As I turn the corner, my mind a little distracted, I almost stumble directly into Julian and his two stewards.

He stops a few feet from me, his eyebrow raised. “Hello, cousin,” he says.

“Julian,” I grunt. “Fancy seeing you here. I figured you didn’t go within a mile of a gym.”

He gives me a dirty look. Julian is slightly rounder and always has been. “It’s not going to work, you know,” he says.

“What isn’t?” I ask, almost sighing.

“Your little game. This coup you have going.” He steps toward me, eyes narrowed. “I’ve worked a long time to get these nobles behind me.”

“Yes, well, too bad you didn’t choose a less pure agenda.”

That surprises him, I can tell, but he quickly gets himself under control. “I see that the court is talking.”

“They always talk. Especially about ideas they don’t agree with.”

Maybe I shouldn’t have tipped my hand like that, but I couldn’t help myself. The look on his face is almost worth it, actually. He clearly thought his little purity law thing was still some kind of secret, but the whole fucking castle knows. They aren’t talking about it out in the open, because everyone is afraid of Julian. They all worry that if he gets power, he’ll take revenge on people who didn’t support him.

And he could, of course. He can’t exactly jail people, but he can give them bad assignments, send them into distant provinces, take away titles, that sort of thing. Nobody wants to risk the wrath of a pissed off king.

But nobody wants these fucking purity laws, either, and I have to use that to my advantage.

“Unfortunately, you don’t know what you’re talking about. The rumors are unsubstantiated.”

“Maybe, but I think this rumor has some truth to it. What are you cooking up, Julian, and how did you convince my father?”

He hesitates for a second. “This country is in decline, or can’t you see it?”

“We’re richer than we’ve ever been. The people are thriving, or at least as much as we’re willing to let them.”

“Depravity everywhere, sin in the streets. Polovia used to be a moral bastion, the shining beacon of truth and enlightenment for all of Europe, but now we’ve lost that. I want to give that back to our people.”

I narrow my eyes and shake my head. “Sounds like bullshit. Just your way of fooling people into believing your fucked up agenda.”

“Think what you want, Prince Player,” he sneers. “But this marriage of yours won’t work. Your father agrees with me, and that’s all I need.”

I grunt, looking away. “We’ll see.”

“Yes, I think we will.” He nods to his stewards and they hurry off. I watch him go, trying to contain my fury.

That bastard really wants to bring this country back to the dark ages, but I’m not letting that happen.

I walk back to my apartment. Instead of getting into the shower, I head into Hazel’s room and get a drink from her refrigerator.

“What are you doing here?” she asks, coming from the bedroom.

I smirk at her. I’m annoyed and I want to work some of that off on her. I know I’m dripping wet right now, sweaty and not wearing many clothes. I step toward her, eyes sparkling. “Just came to see my wife,” I say.

She’s wearing a pair of cut-off jean shorts and a tank top. She smiles slightly but I notice the look she’s giving me. She’s looking at my body, and I know that she likes it.

“Well, I just finished my tutoring. Your mother wasn’t kidding when she said she’d help.”

“She doesn’t do anything halfway. I hope they’re not working you too hard.” I pause a second. “Since that’s my job,”

She rolls her eyes. “It’s fine. It’s a lot of work, but I’m picking it up. Knowing German helps.”

“I’m sure you’re a model student,” I say, watching her as she moves toward the kitchen. She’s so fucking gorgeous, and suddenly I’m almost overwhelmed with how badly I want her.

If that little run-in with Julian threw me off at all, being in the same room as Hazel fixes that immediately. It’s like she rights me, puts me back in my place, reminds me what I am. I’m not some pussy that’s going to roll over and let Julian do whatever the fuck he wants to the country that I love. I’m going to stand up to that piece of shit and stop him.

I follow Hazel into the kitchen. She opens the refrigerator and takes out a seltzer water, and when she turns around, I’m right there.

Her eyes are slightly wide. “Sorry,” she says, a little surprised to see me so close.

“Nothing to be sorry for,” I say softly. “I just wanted to ask you something.”

“What’s that?” she asks, looking up into my eyes. She doesn’t step away, and I notice that she’s breathing a little faster.

“How do you like your life as my wife so far?” I ask.

She shrugs a little bit. “Everyone is really nice to me.”

I smirk at her. “Of course they are. But are all of your needs taken care of?”

She hesitates. “I’m very comfortable,” she says.

I smirk at her and run my fingers through her hair, stopping to grab it in my fist. She gasps softly but doesn’t try to move.

“That’s not what I meant, princess,” I say. “You’re all alone in a strange country, married to a strange man. I want to make sure that you’re… happy.”

She stares at me for a second. I pull her closer and slowly kiss her full, soft lips.

God damn, the girl tastes so good. She wraps her arms around my neck and presses herself against me, apparently not really caring that I’m still slightly damp with sweat. I pull her hair tighter in my fist, and her soft moan tells me everything about what she wants from me.

I kiss her deeper and harder, pushing her back against the counter. She gasps as I lift her up and place her sitting on the granite. Her legs wrap around my waist as I kiss her, hands teasing her breasts, roaming her body.

This is what I’ve been dreaming about since I first spotted Hazel. That feels like so long ago, though it was hardly just a few days. Now though, I’m finally feeling that tight body, tasting those perfect lips, and I know I can’t stop.

I reach forward and unbutton her jean shorts. I yank them off her, throwing them down onto the floor. She’s wearing these little pink panties, barely covering her perfect pussy. I spread her legs wide and kiss her again. I love the noise she makes as my fingers find her soaking little cunt. It’s half gasp, half moan, like she’s being strangled with pleasure.

My fingers press her panties aside and I slowly work her clit. Her moans get faster and I pull her hair again, tipping her head back. As I do it, I press my fingers deep inside of her, making her grip the edge of the counter.

I fuck her pussy with my fingers as I kiss her neck, savoring every gorgeous moan she makes. I’m so fucking hard I can barely stand but I know what I really want in this moment.

She’s a stranger here, acclimating to a new life, and I need to help her. I need to make her feel good before I start taking what I really want. She needs me to be firm but gentle at first, and then I can be as rough as I want.

I work her clit again and kiss her neck. My lips slide up to her ear. “This is what I’ve been thinking about since I saw you,” I say to her.

“Exactly this?” she asks.

“Not exactly. In my fantasy, you’re down on your knees, my cock down your throat. But not today.”

That makes her moan even more as I fuck her pussy faster with my fingers. Her legs are spread wide for me, obviously wanting it, needing it even a bit. I bite her bottom lip and look into her eyes as I take her panties and slide them off her body. I drop them on top of her jean shorts.

I slowly move down toward her bare, soaking pussy. She’s so pink and fucking perfect, I don’t know how I’m not fucking her right now. It’s taking every ounce of my willpower. I spread her legs wide and kiss her inner thigh before finding her clit and licking it in slow, firm circles.

She gasps and grabs onto my hair. I smirk to myself as I suck and lap at her clit, not afraid to taste every drop of her soaking pussy. I love her taste, love her tight little pussy, and I feel like my cock might burst out of my fucking shorts.

I slide my hand down and tease her pussy before plunging two fingers inside of her.

“Oh god,” she gasps. “What are you trying to do to me?”

I smirk at her and gently kiss her lips. She doesn’t seem to mind tasting her own pussy on my tongue. “You know what I’m trying to do,” I say. “I want to make you come, girl. You’re my wife now. And I want to taste it.”

She gasps, clearly not used to a man talking dirty to her. I smirk and press my fingers deep inside of her. I kiss her neck and drop back down, finding her clit with my tongue and lips. I suck and lick her, fucking her pussy with my fingers, moving faster and faster.

Her moans get louder as I keep pushing her. I want to make this girl sweat. I want to make her fucking drenched, until she finally comes in my mouth, and I get to taste exactly what she’s like. I can hardly control myself and I’m fucking impatient, but I’m persistent. I won’t stop, not ever, not until I get what I want.

But I don’t have to wait long. I fuck her pussy with my fingers faster, deeper, all the while working that clit with my tongue. She grabs onto my hair and starts wiggling her hips, pressing me harder, and I can tell she’s getting close. Her fingers tense as I gently nibble and suck her clit.

“Oh fucking shit,” she groans. “Nolan. Prince Nolan.”

That makes me so goddamn excited I can barely breathe, but I don’t stop. She’s on the edge. I need to tip her over. I suck faster, fingers pumping that pussy, and she gasps.

I can practically feel the orgasm washing over her. She tenses, her whole body a mass of energy, and it just releases in one deep shiver of explosive force. I taste her as she comes and I don’t stop, not for a second. I’m relentless, and I take her orgasm to the next level.

Slowly, she comes down. I pull my fingers from her and lick them clean. She watches me, an astonished and pleased look on her face.

“Perfect,” I say to her. “That’s exactly what I wanted.”

She blinks, a little dazed. I don’t wait for her reply. I give her another kiss on the lips before leaving her there on the counter. I head back into my apartment.

I couldn’t stay there another second. If I did, I was going to burst. I was going to make her suck my cock until I came down her throat.

Instead, I’m going to take a cold shower. I have a lot of time with my new princess. I can’t rush things. I don’t want to push her away, make her run. Just one thing at a time until she’s down on her knees, begging to give me what I want.