I hesitated outside Shildreth’s door, the dark wooden panel rough-hewn and worn. I raised my knuckles, dropped them, raised them again, and then turned my back on the door entirely before crossing my arms over my chest.

I cursed under my breath.

Then I worked up my nerve. I’d never had trouble wooing women before. Not even Helen. We were so destined that we’d fallen in love easily, our souls already familiar with each other.

Somehow, Elena was different. She’d been told for millennia that she was a warrior maiden, untouchable, above any man who thought to claim her. She’d warmed to me over the past few days, but that bond hadn’t snapped fully taut. I smiled at the memory of her in my bed, wanton and panting. Mine. The way she should always be.

I sighed. There was more. More I needed to tell her. About me, our past. About the coming battle and how I could never risk her in the fight to win my kingdom. No matter how powerful, she could still be hurt, killed. My face fell at the memories that threatened on the edges of my mind. Memories of death. Her blood. So much blood.

“So, are you just going to stand out here all night?”

I whirled to find Elena behind me, a smirk on her beautiful face. She wore only a long t-shirt. Did she have panties on under there? My cock sprang to life in my pants, instantly hard. But her sexy smirk faded as soon as she saw my face. She stepped toward me, and I took her in my arms.

“What is it?” she whispered.

“Nothing. Just…memories, is all,” I said into her hair.

“Bad ones, I take it.” She was so warm against me; her breaths calm and even. So alive.

I stroked a hand down her back. “Yes.”

She pulled away and looked up into my eyes. “You won’t lose me.”

How did she know what my inmost soul needed to hear?

She put her hand on my cheek, and I leaned into her touch. “I can’t, Elena. I couldn’t bear it. Not again.”

I smoothed her hair behind her ear and bent to her mouth, our breaths mingling. She pushed up on her toes and made the first, perfect contact. Her lips were so soft, like rose petals. I kissed her gently until she wrapped her arms around my neck and pressed her breasts into me.

I deepened the kiss, slanting my mouth over hers and stroking her tongue. I bent her back, her body safe in my arms as I made every inch of contact between us. Magic began to bubble in the air, a whirl of effervescence in the dark. Relinquishing her mouth, I licked up her neck, enjoying how her heart beat faster under my touch. When I moved my hands lower, I discovered she did, indeed, have panties on. Just thin fabric between me and the sweetest skin I’d ever tasted.

She made a throaty noise. I rubbed my fangs along her neck, and she let out a sultry moan. I couldn’t imagine a sexier sound. When I scented her arousal, it was all I could do not to sink into her, taking her blood and everything else she had to offer.

I pushed her back through the door, and we tumbled into a heap on the floor. I studied her face, now flushed and luminous, before kicking the door shut behind us.

She pulled my face down to hers and resumed our kiss. I tasted her fully, deeply. Her magic swirled faster around us. We were in the eye of the maelstrom, as we always had been.

She opened her mouth. I relished the fast beat of her heart, the warmth of her skin, the hard tips of her nipples crushed against my chest. I wanted it all. Our tongues warred as the magic increased.

I slid a hand down her side and to her stomach. She trembled at my touch, and the eruption of goosebumps along her smooth skin pleased me. My fingers dipped even farther, tucking beneath the fabric of her panties. Her warmth only increased the lower I went, drawing me to the vee of her thighs.

She made an mmm sound into my mouth as my fingers ghosted against her curls, already wet. I sat back, pulled my shirt over my head, and tossed it aside. Elena’s gaze raked down my chest, my stomach, and lower. She let out a hard breath when her gaze strayed to my pants. Then her hands were on me and her mouth was on my chest, sucking and biting.

I put my hands on her shoulders, barely clinging to control. I wanted—no, needed—to claim her. To make her mine again. When she circled my nipple and her hot mouth clamped around it, I sank my fingers into her hair.

I wrenched her head away—though it hurt to lose the contact—before stripping her shirt. No bra, thank the gods. Her perfect breasts begged for my touch, my mouth. She unbuttoned my pants and reached in. Her small hand wrapped around me, and my hips bucked forward at her touch.

Pushing her back to the floor, I took her mouth again, worshipping her as she deserved. When my length hit her hot core, separated from me only by the thin material, I lost control and ground my hips into her. She latched on to my shoulders, her fingernails cutting and marking.

She was wet, the fabric drenched with her sweetness. I needed to sink into it, to feel it coating me, owning me. I edged my fingers to her core and moved the fabric aside. Her folds were slick, hot. When my head teased her opening, she lifted her hips to me. Her magic grew brighter at the contact.

I hesitated. Did she want this? Had I gone too far?

It took every bit of strength in me not to plunge inside her, but I wouldn’t hurt her. Never.

Her eyes were glazed with desire as she looked up at me, her rosy lips bruised and plump.

“Elena, do you want—”

She thrust her hips up, and I sank into her with a groan. The magic surrounding us grew bright as the suns, blinding me. But I was already blinded by my need for the temptress beneath me.

I could hold back no longer and began moving inside her, sliding into her snug heat. She rocked her hips up to me again and again, clawing at my back and wrapping her legs around me. Her body was euphoric, addictive. I had never stopped wanting her; I never would.

I claimed her in a smooth rhythm and retook her mouth, stabbing my tongue inside her to mirror our lovemaking. A fine sheen of sweat covered her body, and I wanted to lick off every drop.

Raising up on an elbow, I stared down at our joined bodies. We were perfect together, made for each other. I took her nipple into my mouth as she clutched my hair, squeezing until it hurt in the best possible way. Swirling my tongue around the rigid tip, I let my fangs graze her skin.

I took her thighs in my palms and pushed until she was spread, completely open to me. I had to see it all. Sitting back on my haunches, I plunged into her faster and faster, and took in her lidded eyes, surging breasts, and pink core. Her nub was desperately in need of attention. I would give it. Releasing one thigh, I ripped her panties away before pressing my thumb on her clit. She bucked, her gaze locked on me.

“Ah, gods,” I grated. “Look at me when you come.”

“Paris,” she breathed, the green of her eyes storm-tossed and needy.

She was panting as I rubbed my thumb over the tight little bud. The magic crackled even louder as she met my strokes with her own, rising to meet my thumb. She was getting close, her walls clamping down on me, her movements getting wilder. My cock begged for release, but I refused to give it. Not until she came, not until I satisfied her.

“I-I’m—”

I cut off her words by leaning down and sinking my fangs into her neck. She jerked beneath me, her sweet walls convulsing around me as she cried out. The magic in the air screamed, right along with Elena. Her blood poured over my tongue, coppery and sweet.

I wanted to make it last, to hold out until I’d made her come again and again, but she was too much. Her taste, her feel, everything was here for the taking.

My cock kicked inside her and lashed her with hot jets. I groaned into her neck as my release pounded through me. She milked me, her bliss continuing as I filled her with my seed and took her blood. I ground into her until I was spent.

I released her neck, licking the drops of blood that still escaped. She let out a small, high-pitched sound. I froze and rose up on my elbows.

“Did I hurt you?” I cursed myself. I should have gone slower.

She smiled, sultry and wanton. “No, my prince.”

Her words went straight to my cock, bringing it back to life. I gripped her hair. “You will ruin me, woman.”

A shadow crossed her eyes and then was gone. She ran her hand along my cheek and rested it there. “I only want to save you, you know?”

I didn’t understand the change in her. The sudden sadness. “I know. What do you mea—”

A noise came from the inner room.

Elena’s eyes widened. “Oh no. Shildreth!”

I came back to myself. We were in someone else’s home, making love on the living room floor. Elena scrambled out from beneath me, and I growled at the loss of her heat. Labored footsteps reached my ears, and I got to my knees, yanking my pants closed.

Elena dragged her shirt over her head and searched for her panties. It was no use; they were ruined. She gave me a cross look. I grinned and shrugged.

“Everything all right out there?” Thankfully, Shildreth hadn’t come all the way into the room.

“We’re fine,” Elena answered a bit too quickly.

“My lord, is that you?”

I coughed. “Yes, it’s me. Sorry to bother you, Shildreth.”

Shildreth laughed, a lovely wind chime sound. “No, it’s I who am sorry for bothering you. Carry on.” Her footsteps retreated.

Elena stifled a laugh. She was beautiful. Rosy cheeks and wild hair. Her T-shirt barely covered the flushed skin between her legs.

“You’d better leave.” Her voice was breathy.

“I’d better.” I didn’t budge.

“We need our rest.” She took a step closer to me.

“We do.” My muscles hummed with the need to take her again.

“Shildreth will hear,” she whispered.

I licked my lips. “She might.”

Elena took the final step and closed the distance. I kissed her as fiercely as my heart demanded. She answered and wrapped her arms around my neck.

“My lord?” Faren’s voice at the door.

I bit out one of the only curses I knew in the old language.

I held Elena’s gaze, pinning her to the spot like I wanted to pin her to the floor. Again. “Soon.”

She gave me a look that was even hotter than her fire magic. “Yes, my prince.”