I kissed her fiercely, feeling everything else shatter and fall away. I could feel the beast breaking free of its cage inside of me — the animal tearing its way out.

I scooped her tiny body up in my arms, her feet actually off the ground as I clasped her to me and kissed that sweet mouth like I’d never kissed anyone before. I growled into her mouth, claiming her, yanking her hard against me. I wanted to devour her. I wanted to feel and taste and consume every fucking inch of her. Her soft lips parted for me, the sweet taste of her tongue making my blood boil as I slipped mine into her mouth, my hands tightening on her body.

I pulled away, gasping, blood roaring like diesel in my veins.

I wanted more.

I wanted all of her.

I ditched my jacket, half tearing my shirt off as I pressed her into the ivy-covered wall behind her, her legs going to either side of my hips. She whimpered, trembling under my ferocity, and I had to remind myself not to hurt her. She was going to get the beast, but I couldn’t let it all out — not all at once at least.

My mouth bruised her lips before moving down to her neck, my hands clawing at the front of her dress.

“Wait, don’t—”

I paused, pulling away and frowning.

“I mean don’t rip it is all,” she whispered, her eyes wide.

I growled, reaching instead up to the soft material hanging off her shoulders and yanking it further down her creamy skin. Her dress loosened as my mouth traveled lower, sucking and biting at her skin, leaving marks.

Marking her as mine.

I growled as I buried my face between the valley of her breasts, biting and sucking at her tender flesh, feeling her gasp and moan beneath me. I could feel her heat, right there between her legs, even through the bunched up dress, searing against me. My cock lurched at the thought of burying itself deep inside of her — of feeling her tight little royal pussy cream for me.

Fuck, I hadn’t felt this in years.

I hadn’t wanted to even touch another woman for four fucking years. And all of that was coming back now, all at once.

For her.

My hand slid up her thighs, pushing the dress higher and higher, skimming over her stockings. I found the tops of them, growling at the garters holding them up. She whimpered as my hands moved higher, gasping louder and louder until my fingers found the molten hot, soaked cotton of her panties. I almost roared like the beast I was, feeling how wet and ready she was for me. I held her fast with one hand, clawing at my own belt and zipper.

I had to take her — right here, and right now.

I yanked my cock out of my fly, and her eyes went wide at the feel of me pulsing hot against her bare thighs.

“Wait, Prince—”

I silenced her with a kiss, swallowing her moan as I deftly pushed her soaked panties to the side and ran a finger up and down her slit. I pushed forward, feeling my cock tremble and my balls tighten as I moved to—

“I’m a virgin!”

Her words hit me like a bucket of cold water, stilling me. I froze, my eyes dragging to hers.

“What?”

Her face fell, her eyes dropping as her brow crumpled. “I’m— I’ve never—”

I was suddenly furious. And not at her, at myself. I was furious that I’d let the beast get too far — that I’d unchained it enough for him to almost hurt her like this.

I set her down quickly, whirling and tucking my cock away, the self-hate roaring through me like fire.

“Wait, Prince Logan—”

“Forgive me, Princess,” I choked out. “I’m— I’m broken- it’s—”

“It’s the curse, I know.”

I felt her small hand on my arm, and I turned slowly to see her standing before me.

Not running away.

Not screaming.

Not furious.

No, her face was full tenderness. And it almost broke me.

“I know it’s the curse,” she said again, softer.

“I can’t—” my voice caught.  “I can’t control it around you,” I growled. “You make the animal inside just want to break free.”

“I’m sorry I said anything.”

“No,” I shook my head, pulling her close. “No, don’t be. You mean you’ve never—”

She shook her head. And fuck if my cock didn’t get even harder.

“I wanted you to,” she whispered quietly. “I did, really. I just—”

“I scared you.”

“Maybe a little,” she whispered.

“I’m so sorry,” I growled, hating myself.

“Don’t be, you didn’t— I mean…” She trailed off and looked away before glancing up at me. “Is it that hard to control?”

“Around you? Apparently.”

She smiled, her dark eyes twinkling, sparking something fierce inside of me.

“It’s a bit flattering.”

I grinned, my jaw tight. Her hands slid up my arms, making me freeze.

“I’ve never felt like this,” she said quietly.

“Princess—”

“I liked you touching me like that.”

“I shouldn’t have put my hands on you like—”

“I want you to put your hands on me like that,” she husked.

The beast growled inside and out.

“Careful,” I hissed, the thundering of my pulse coming back. “Staying around me right now might not be good for a princess like yourself.”

“Can I tell you a secret?”

I raised a brow.

“I’m pretty bad at being a princess anyways.”

“Be careful,” I growled.

“Of?”

“Me.”

“I’m bad at being careful, too.”

Her lip trembled. She was scared of me, but damn if she wasn’t trying to hide it. And damn if that didn’t ignite something in me.

That fierceness.

That sass, and that fire.

I liked it and I wanted it.

I yanked her against me again, loving the way she gasped.

“I won’t take you that way, Princess,” I growled. “Not yet. But that doesn’t mean I’m letting you leave this terrace without tasting you.”

Her eyes went wide, her cheeks flushed. And before she could say anything else, I spun her around, pressing her against the stone balcony that looked out over the gardens. Her hands went to the top of the carved stone barrier as I bent her over, my hand running up and down her sides, loving how she trembled.

My hands found the edge of her chiffon dress, and I yanked it up her thighs, making her gasp. My eyes traveled up to her garters, up higher as I pushed the dress over her ass.

My eyes landed on the little, dark, wet spot there in the middle of her panties.

I roared inside and stroked my cock through my tux pants.

I could fucking smell her — her sweet scent, her desire, her need for this. My mouth watered as I pushed that dress the rest of the way up and grabbed her ass. She whimpered as I pulled her back, arching her back as my lips found the backs of her thighs.

“Oh, Prince,” she cooed.

I growled as I let my teeth graze her skin. I pushed her legs apart, eyes locked on that little spot growing damp on her panties. I leaned in, inhaling her scent, my head spinning. She moaned, loudly, and that was it.

I moved my mouth forward, and covered that wet spot with my lips.

Isla moaned, arching her back as my mouth pressed against her sweet little virgin pussy through her panties, I groaned as I pushed my tongue against her through the cotton, tasting more of her sweetness, sucking on her panties and feeling my cock about to tear a fucking hole in my tux.

I needed more.

I reached up, and she gasped as I grabbed hold of her panties, and ripped them right off of her body. I growled at the bare, slick, pink pussy bent over for me. My jaw clenched, my hands tightened on her ass, pulling her back towards me.

The beast inside roared, and I dove in.

She cried out as my tongue dragged over her slit, pushing deep as I growled and tried to drink every drop of her. Her cute little ass fit into both of my large palms, and I held it fast, pulling her into me and spreading her wide as I tongued her tight little pussy for all it was worth.

I dragged my tongue higher, loving the way she squealed and almost tried to pull away from me when I pushed my tongue against that tight, puckered little asshole of hers.

“Oh, God—” She arched her back, almost pulling away. But I held her fast, pushing my tongue wetly against her ass and teasing her clit with my thumb as she trembled for me.

I dove back down to her pussy, my tongue curling over her clit and making her gasp as I pushed her higher and higher, feeling her slick juices trickle down my chin.

I stood suddenly, my whole body on fire as I loosened my pants. I knew I couldn’t fuck her — not yet, or at least certainly not like this. But goddamn I needed to feel her.

She gasped as I scooped her up, her back against my chest, one arm under her knees, the other over her chest. I cupped her jaw, turning her head to claim that mouth and let her taste her own sweet juices. She whimpered, kissing me right back as I strode across the terrace to one of the benches overlooking the gardens below. I pushed the front of her dress down, exposing her breasts and those fucking perfect nipples to my fingers as she moaned into my lips.

I sat on the bench, her back still to my chest and her legs spread wide on either side of my legs. I growled into her neck, yanking her dress up until her tight little pussy was bared to my gaze as I hungrily looked over her shoulder. She was so small compared to me, so tiny against my huge form.

I teased her nipples with one hand as I dipped one between her thighs. She cried out as I found her dripping slit, running a big finger up and down her tight opening and teasing her clit before I slowly began to push inside. She moaned deeply, trembling against me as my finger parted her slick folds, inching inside her impossibly tight little cunt. I curled my finger up, stroking her as I rolled her clit with my thumb, my mouth sucking and biting at her neck.

I dropped my hand from her breast to my fly, finishing unzipping it. I could feel her tremble, gasping as she looked down to what I was doing.

“Are you going to—”

“No, Princess,” I purred. “Not here.”

The zipper pulled down, and I reached inside.

“You’ve heard the rumors.”

She whimpered.

“And do you believe them?”

Isla moaned as I stroked my finger in and out of her pussy.

“Should I?” she husked.

“This one, you should.”

I pulled my cock out, and I swear I could feel her pussy tighten on my finger.

“Oh. My. God,” she barely whispered.

I grinned, fisting my thick, pulsing cock. I started to finger her again, loving the way she whined those moans out. I began to stroke myself in time with my finger in her slit, letting my cock throb hot against her thigh. Isla whimpered, panting as I teased her clit with my thumb.

The beast started to take over.

I let go of my cock and reached for one of her hands. Slowly, I brought it down, and she trembled as I wrapped her fingers around my dick. Her little hand barely got halfway around it, and she whimpered so sweetly I almost wanted to just take her right there.

But no, patience.

This creature was making me feel things I hadn’t felt in four years. I’d never been one to think there was “the one” out there, but she had to be it. I’d known it the second I walked into the ballroom that evening and laid eyes on her. This princess was it for me, and I knew it. I also knew that I’d be damned if was just going to fuck her out here during her father’s party like some cheap date.

When I fucked her — and I would fuck her — I’d do it in a bed. I’d take my time. I’d make her come until she couldn’t stand it. I’d make her mine, but not out here like this.

…Just the same, that didn’t mean I was done with her.