Drake moaned. Julianna rolled and eyed him. But a few minutes ago, she had been wrapped in a lovely dream that involved Drake moaning—but in a very different way. Her body still ached from the memories of that all too real dream.

Dawn cast its gray ribbons of light into the cabin, illuminating the creases etched into Drake’s forehead. Despite the scowl on his face, her mouth dried at the sight of her husband. Sinew and muscle stretched out before her. The sheet and blankets barely covered him, lying lazily over one leg. She traced the lines of his stomach with her gaze, pausing at the track of hair that led down...and down...

Julianna smiled to herself. Perhaps he was not having a bad dream after all.

Curling up closer to him, she ran a hand down his arm and linked her fingers with his. The crease between his brows eased, and he murmured her name. She closed the gap between them and kissed his forehead and then his nose. He stretched, the sheet slipping to reveal the scar from the pistol shot. It had been many months since Drake had been shot but it still made her heart freeze when she considered what might have happened had the pistol shot hit true.

Drake squeezed her fingers, forcing her gaze up. “Good morning, Princess.” He peered at the dull light slipping between the curtains. “If this even counts as morning?”

“You were moaning,” she explained. “I thought you were having a nightmare.”

He shook his head, his lips slanting. “All good dreams, I promise.” He loosened his hold on her hand to draw her close to him, his fingers tickling along her bare spine and curving over her rear. “Very, very good dreams.”

Fire followed his touch, making her ache anew. But she would not let herself be distracted.

“Do you promise?”

“Promise what?”

“That your dreams were good? That fighting John did not make things worse for you?”

“Have I ever lied to you?”

“Yes. You never told me you were a smuggler, remember?”

“That was an omission.” He tickled his fingers over her hip and up her ribs making her squirm. “Not a lie.”

“There is no difference and you know it.”

“Well, I would not lie to you about this. All is well, and my dreams are always, always good now that I share a bed with you.”

“Good.”

“Stop worrying about me, Princess. I’ve never felt better.”

There was no hint of a lie in his gaze. Since their marriage, she had seen little evidence of his terrors. It seemed as though fighting John—and not killing him—had helped Drake. That, and her company at night, she suspected. Though she doubted he was completely cured, it made her heart lighter to think she might have helped somewhat.

“In fact, I’m feeling really quite well indeed. More than well, one might say.” He nudged her with his arousal, his grin turning wicked.

“Oh really? And how well might that be?”

“I’ll show you.”

Pulling her tightly against him, she felt his hardness pressed against her delicate sex and his name shuddered from her. In response, he claimed her mouth with hot and demanding kisses. He rolled her onto her back and bit his way down her neck, pushing his hands under her back, and holding her tight against him. Julianna released a moan.

“How could I ever suffer when I have you next to me, Princess?” he murmured against her skin.

Julianna latched her arms around his neck in an attempt to close the tiny distance between them. Her breasts ached with the need to feel his taut skin against them.

“More,” she demanded.

He chuckled against her skin and lifted her up so that they were both sitting upright. She slipped her legs around him and sucked in a breath at the feel of his heat against her juncture. She rocked into him and he groaned.

“You’re trying to kill me.”

“Never,” she replied.

Drake nibbled his way down her neck before pressing his face between her breasts, forcing her up on to her knees. As he took one nipple, then the other into his scorching mouth, Julianna’s head lolled back and her eyes clamped shut as she pulled at his hair, clamping his head to her chest.

Emboldened by the heat spreading through her, Julianna moved her hands down between their bodies until they brushed at the sensitive skin of his arousal. When she wrapped fingers around his cock, a shudder wracked his body.

“You are definitely trying to kill me.”

“Not yet.” She grinned and darted her tongue out over her bottom lip.

Sliding out of his embrace, she dropped to the floor in front of him and urged him around. The need to taste him consumed her and she caught Drake watching her as she dipped her head to touch her tongue to the soft tip, licking at the salty heat. His body trembled, and he tangled his fingers through her hair as she took another taste, this time taking him into her mouth. His hips jerked, and she smiled at his response, continuing to lick and taste.

With a muttered curse, he pulled her to her feet and they stood skin on skin. Drake ran a hand down her side then back up to take her face in both hands. His rough palms cupped her face and she gripped his shoulders. He kissed her deeply, tangling his tongue with hers until she could hardly think nor breathe. They stumbled backward until her back met cold wood, forcing a gasp from her which he absorbed with the gratifying warmth of his mouth.

His hands roamed her body, and she whimpered as his fingers worked their way through the dampness between her legs to increase the feelings building within her. Her legs quivered but he kept her pinned with the honeyed torment of his touch until she feared she could take no more.

“Drake,” she begged.

Callused hands grabbed her rear, lifting her as though she weighed nothing until her legs encased his hips. He sank his teeth into her flesh, sucking and drawing in the skin as he pushed against her. He stilled once embedded fully in her. Julianna drew in a long, shuddering breath, relishing the sensation of him hard inside of her.

He moved against her and when she clenched in response he quickened the pace. He drove himself hard into her as she tracked her lips across his face and neck. Thrusting with unflinching power, he drove her up and over the edge with such speed that she was hardly able to catch her breath. A moan fluttered over her skin and his muscles bunched beneath her palms.

Once he’d gathered his breath, he slowly released her. Cradling her against him, he took her back to bed, laying her down and brushing a gentle kiss down her nose. Julianna beamed up at him.

He brushed her hair from her face and grinned back. “See, Princess, how can I possibly suffer bad dreams when I know I will awake to moments like that?”

“Don’t expect that treatment every morning,” she teased.

“Ah, I knew it was too good to last.” He gave her ribs a tickle and she squirmed beneath him, giggling.

“Behave.” She gave his arm a light tap.

“Never.”

Julianna rolled her eyes. “You always were a rogue.”

“And you always were a Princess.”

“I’m only a lady, you know.”

“Only a lady,” he mocked. “Well, to me you will always be a Princess. My beautiful...” He kissed her nose. “Stubborn.” Then her cheek. “Passionate Princess.” He finished with a kiss to her mouth. “And you are my world.”

THE END