When Katarina reappears at the door, she’s slightly pink and breathing hard. No one else at the ball seems to notice, but then again, we’re the only ones who’ve seen her in her post-orgasmic glow like this.

I recognize it instantly, and it fires me up. Somehow, I don’t mind the thought that Dom just had her alone. Probably because I’m about to have her alone, as well, and there’s no point in being jealous when she obviously wants us both.

Besides, while they were gone, I slipped back up to my room and grabbed a little something I think will help my chances.

She glances at me, then looks away. I swallow the last of my expensive Scotch and begin making my way, through a crowd of other nobles and hangers-on, toward her.

Katarina does the same, casually sidling my way, and I grin.

Good. Dom’s told her what’s going on, about our competition, and now she’s coming to see what I’ll give her.

“Princess,” I say when she’s in front of me.

“Prince Bruno,” she murmurs, still blushing faintly, and offers me her hand.

“I saw you dancing with Prince Dominic,” I say, kissing her knuckles. “Did you enjoy his company?”

Katarina clears her throat, a little nervously.

“I did,” she says softly.

“You’re turning pink,” I say, straightening up but not letting go of her hand. “It is quite warm in here; would you care to take a quick stroll outside?”

“That sounds lovely,” she says.

I offer her my arm and she takes it, my cock already stiffening in my pants. We leave through a grand hallway, and stroll out onto a terrace. Several people nod their heads and say hello to her, but we keep walking.

There’s a path along the side of the castle, up against the wall, and we walk along that. Soon the noise of the ball fades and we can see the lights of the capital city below us.

“I assume Dom told you about our wager,” I say to her.

Katarina just nods, silently.

“And you’re still here, alone, with me,” I say, stopping on the path.

I turn to face the princess, taking her face in my hand.

“How far ahead is he?”

“Two.”

I grin and kiss her, slow but hard, and it feels like she melts under me, totally soft and yielding. I didn’t think my dick could get harder, but it does.

I push her back against the castle wall, my mouth still on hers, one hand drifting down her body. I squeeze both her perfect, small-but-full breasts in my hands and she moans quietly into my mouth, her hands on my chest, running over the muscles there.

They drift down, to my waistband, and then her delicate little fingers find the hard length of my cock, and she gasps.

I pull back and look at her, eyes wide, mouth a perfect pink O. She’s still carefully feeling my erection, looking more alarmed with every second.

“Is that...” she trails off, and I grin.

“The cock I’m going to bury inside your tight little pussy tonight?” I ask.

“Bruno, you know I haven’t... I’ve never been with a man before,” she whispers.

I grab both her hands by the wrists. She gasps as I pin them over her head, then hold them there with one hand.

“Princess,” I murmur in her ear. “I promise that you’re going to take every single inch of my thick cock, and you’re going to be begging me for more.”

I press my mouth to hers again and take the fingertip vibrator out of my pocket, slipping it onto my thumb. It’s tiny but powerful — perfect for travel.

Then I pull her skirt up and duck my hand underneath, finding the spot where her thigh meets her hip, and then I stop.

She’s not wearing panties, and she’s soaking wet, her pussy engorged. I run my fingertips along her slit and she moans, her back against the wall, her hands still above her head.

“I should just fuck you right now,” I say, slipping my finger between her folds. “Though that would be unsporting, and I want to hear the way you moan when we’re both taking you.”

For a moment, I let her hands go, grab her ass, and hoist her against the wall. She wraps her legs around me tightly, hands on my shoulders, but then I pin her again and flick on the vibrator, pressing it instantly to her clit.

Katarina groans with surprise, her eyelids fluttering shut. I circle her clit with the toy and stroke her lips with my fingers, squeezing her wrists with my big hand, watching her writhe with pleasure.

“Bruno,” she whispers. “Oh my God, Bruno, what is that?”

“It’s my secret weapon,” I murmur, grinning.

“I’m gonna come,” she breathes. “Bruno, make me—”

She doesn’t finish the sentence, just throws her head back and moans, her knees gripping my hips as she comes, and it’s fucking beautiful. There’s absolutely nothing like the moment when you make a gorgeous woman totally lose control and give it over to you.

I don’t take the tiny vibrator off her clit, even as her muscles jolt under me. Instead I slide two fingers into her tight pussy and she moans again. I kiss her neck, making sure I don’t leave a mark even though I want to.

“Come for me again, Princess,” I whisper. “I know you like it when I finger-fuck you.”

“Yes,” she whispers as I work her pussy, my thumb and fingers moving together. “Fuck me harder, please.”

My cock just about jumps out of my pants, but I move even faster. In seconds her muscles are spasming around me again and then they clench, so hot and tight I can’t even move my fingers.

“Bruno,” she whispers, head back, eyes closed. “Please fuck me, please.”

I slide a third finger into her pussy, vibe still on her clit, and she whimpers with pleasure.

“You like it when I’m inside you?” I murmur into her ear, biting it gently.

“Yes,” she says, gasping for air. “But I wish it was your cock.”

I can barely contain myself when she says that. I fucking love the dirty, filthy things that come out of her sweet, innocent mouth. Things that are only for us, Dom and me.

“Soon, Princess,” I whisper.

A few moments later, she comes again, her whole body shaking like she’s being electrocuted. When it’s over I release her hands, take my hand out of her pussy, my thumb off her clit, and kiss her.

Katarina wraps her hands around my head and holds me close, my tongue in her mouth, her back still against the wall. After a moment, I pull back and stroke her cheek, a little afraid that the entire masquerade ball’s just heard their Crown Princess shout my name as she came.

“Tonight,” I tell her.

“There’s a secret passage,” she whispers. “It goes into the fireplace in my sitting room from the solarium in the west tower.”

I grin, then lick off both my fingers, slowly, as she watches in fascination.

“Good,” I say. “We need to head back, and you need to tell Dom that he’s one point behind.”

Katarina looks down, like she’s embarrassed, but then looks back at me, eyes dancing.

“Of course,” she says.

I think our princess might be quite enjoying herself.

* * *

We’re only back inside the ballroom before Dom disappears with Katarina again and she reappears, ten minutes later, looking happy, relaxed, and flushed again. The night’s wearing on and everyone is getting tired and drunk, no one paying much attention to anything anymore.

I dance with Katarina one more time, then pull her to a table and sit her down. She sips champagne, and I wait until no one is watching and disappear under the table, the floor-length table cloth hiding me.

Then I eat her out until she comes twice in full view of everyone. My only regret is that I can’t see it.

Finally, the night’s nearly over. The last dance is announced, and the King, Queen, and three princesses all gather near the dance floor. Dom and I exchange looks, but as we do, Prince Sven walks up to our princess and takes her hand, leading her onto the dance floor.

My blood fucking boils, and Sven looks over at me, a stupid smug look on his stupid fucking face.

He’s not a good dancer, and he practically jerks Katarina into a starting position. I turn to the girl next to me — some cute-enough duchess — and ask her to dance, just so I can be closer to Katarina and that asshole.

In the corner of my eye, Dom does the exact same thing.

The dance starts. I manage to make pleasant enough talk with my partner, who seems nice, but the entire time I’m watching Katarina with Sven, practically daring him to try something. Kicking his ass in public like this would be an international relations nightmare, but God almighty I’d love to do it.

The song ends. Everyone curtsies and bows to each other, and then it’s finally over. I bid farewell to my partner and watch as Katarina makes her way back to her family, standing next to her two sisters and her parents.

As she walks, Sven watches her blatantly. Like she’s already his fucking property or something, and when she ascends a few steps, he turns to one of his lackeys and whispers something.

The lackey bursts into obnoxious laughter, and my hands curl into fists. I take one angry step toward him, but then there’s a strong hand around my arm, yanking me back.

“Be fucking reasonable,” Dom growls at me.

“He just said something about the princess,” I say, jerking my arm from his grip.

“You’ve got no idea what he said,” Dom goes on. “But I’m damn sure that if you punch him, we’ll be leaving Tomassia with a heavily armed guard within the hour.”

I’m seething with rage, but Dom’s fucking right. That slimy motherfucker Sven could have said anything, and if I start a fight here, I’ll lose Katarina for sure.

So I weigh my options. I don’t fucking like it, but I turn my back on Sven and watch the royal family leave the ballroom. Then I turn to Dom.

“She tell you about the passage from the conservatory?” I ask, forcing myself to calm down.

He chuckles, nodding.

“I was about to tell you about that,” he says. “I got five, you?”

I sigh.

“Also five,” I say.

Dom whistles low.

“I guess we’ll just have to see what happens, then,” he says, and we wander out of the ballroom.