Chapter Eleven
Charlotte
It was happening again.
I was falling too hard and too fast, and I didn’t give a single fuck.
“More?” he asked, a bemused smile stretched across his face.
I was free falling into Ash harder than ever before, and I didn’t care, not when he held my gaze with that amalgam of curiosity, amusement, and desire. Not when I was just fucked like that. Nope, I’d fall just as fast and hard as I like, as long as that meant more of Ash.
“Yes. More,” I said and tugged him into the bedroom. “You see,” I said, taking off my dress in a single fluid motion. “As magnificent as that was, and it was absolutely fucking brilliant, I didn’t get to enjoy the sight of you fucking me.” I worked away at the buttons on Ash’s shirt, then his pants. “Take off your clothes. I’d like to see that body of yours, Your Highness.”
He shrugged out of his clothes in a heartbeat, and to my amazement, not only was his cock one of the nicer examples of the male form, it was also rock hard again. I smiled, pulling my bottom lip in as I did. “Now that’s what I like to see,” I said as I knelt to the floor and took him, or as much of him as I could, in my mouth.
He braced against the wall as I worked my way up and down his shaft, lapping and sucking at him like he was a popsicle.
“Holy fuck, Charlotte, you have to stop,” he groaned as I sucked on the head.
I pulled away and asked the question I already knew the answer to. “Why?”
A darkness filled Ash’s blue eyes. “That mouth of yours is about to make me come again, but I want another go at that sweet little pussy.” Before I knew it, Ash had me off the ground and in his arms. He laid me on the bed and stood over me, staring at me for so long, I had to fight the urge to squirm away. His eyes roved over every inch of me until at last he sighed and said, “By all the gods in all the realms, Charlotte, you are the most perfect woman I’ve ever come across.”
I sat up, locking eyes with him as heat spread across my cheeks. “That’s maybe the most wonderful compliment I’ve ever gotten.”
Ash smiled, kissed the top of my head, and pressed me back down on the bed.
“I’m going to take my time with you,” he said as he pushed my knees apart and knelt between them. “I’m going to savor every last inch of you, Charlotte.”
His touch was magic on my skin, electric and hot and divine. He tucked his hands beneath me and brought me to his mouth, enjoying me like a ripe piece of fruit, running his tongue along every crease and fold, gorgeous eyes locked on mine until that delightful pressure became too intense, and my eyes fluttered closed.
I came as he held me tight against his mouth, back and hips rolling into the sensation, drawing every last moment of pleasure I could.
“You taste so sweet,” he said when he finally set me down. “Are you ready for more?” he asked softly.
I nodded, and Ash smiled as he ran the head of his cock up and down my pussy. I cried out each time he slid over my clit as electric pleasure shot through my whole body.
Ash pushed into me, slowly, deliberately, watching me react to his girth. “This is my favorite position,” he whispered as he stroked in and out. “I love seeing you come. I love watching your body react to mine, and I fucking love seeing my cock disappear into your perfect little cunt.”
I’d never been one for dirty talk. It usually made me laugh or roll my eyes, but the way Ash did dirty talk—with a hushed growl and fiery look—made my insides clench in very, very nice ways.
I wrapped my legs around him, pulling him so close and deep his body rubbed against my clit. I was going to come, soon and hard, and oh fuck, right now.
I wailed, my back and neck arched upward as each wave of staggering pleasure pounded into me. I gasped and panted, trying to catch my breath, trying not to drown in the sensation, trying not to die of rapture.
Ash growled as he spasmed within me. Arms shaking, he collapsed on top of me for a moment before he rolled over next to me. With a single arm, he pulled me close, and I fell asleep totally sated, spent and content for the first time in a very long time.
The next morning, I woke in an empty bed, the smoky delicious smell of bacon wafting through my bedroom. I grabbed my silk kimono-style robe and went to see what Ash was up to.
“Holy hell, you’ve been busy, haven’t you?” I said when I saw the veritable feast laid out on the kitchen island. Pancakes stacked high, a mound of bacon, sausage, fried potatoes, and in the center of it all, an artfully sliced pineapple wearing its stem as a garnish.
Ash smiled at me, a sheepish, embarrassed smile that made him seem boyish and cute. “I may have gone a touch overboard.”
“My kitchen has never seen so much action or food for that matter,” I said as I sat down at the island and piled my plate high with foods I hadn’t eaten since childhood.
“I figured everyone likes breakfast, but I wasn’t sure which breakfast foods you liked, so I made a variety.”
I nodded as I cut into the fluffiest pancake I’d ever seen. “Mmmm. Wow. That’s like eating a cloud,” I said as it melted in my mouth. The bacon was perfectly crisp, and the sausage tasted both spicy and sweet. “Jesus, Ash, if you weren’t a prince, you’d have a fine career as a chef,” I said, shoveling the best fried potatoes in the world into my mouth.
“I’m glad you’re enjoying yourself,” he said as he munched on a strip of bacon. “I enjoy cooking and rarely get the chance, but if I’m being honest, I was hoping that filling you with carbohydrates and fatty meat would perhaps soften what I have to tell you.”
I stopped mid-bite, zillions of things racing through my head, each one worse than the next. I tried to push them away, tried telling myself that whatever he had to tell me didn’t matter because I’d already decided I couldn’t have a relationship. Not now at least.
But the fact that my stomach dropped and my palms were sweaty told me exactly how much I believed I could make good on that promise.
“Unfortunately, I must return to Tresia today. I’ve extended my trip as long as I dare, but I would like to see you again, Charlotte. I can fly you out this weekend, if you’re free that is. I’d love to show you my country, my culture, my home.”
My breath caught in my throat as his words settled within me.
Ash leaned against the island. “We’ll have to maintain a certain amount of discretion, at least at first,” he said casually. “But when we do go public, I know the people will adore you. You’ll be our first American royal.”
My heart pounded, head spun, and my pancakes threatened to make a second appearance. How could he speak so casually about potential marriage? And after one night together?
That was faster than even I could handle.
“Charlotte?” Ash was at my side in an instant, pushing the hair from my sweaty face. “Are you all right? You look like you’re going to be sick.”
I swallowed the lump of nausea and tried to clear my head. It was a lot to take in. I cleared my throat and tried to put words to the sickening dread turning my stomach inside out.
It was happening again, faster and with more consequences than ever. If I said yes, I’d be on the fast track to being a Trisean princess. I knew he was speaking hypothetically—priming me for what could happen if things did work out. I knew it, but that didn’t keep my body from reacting like it was in danger. I wiped my palms on my thighs and tried to calm myself.
But I had to wonder. Hypothetical or not, was that what I wanted? Did I want to spend my days attending goodwill events and having my clothes picked out for me? Did I want my whole life revolving around someone else’s nation? Would I even be able to run my own charity?
I could barely handle Hollywood. How was I supposed to handle a whole nation looking to me as a role model? “Ash, I need to be honest. I don’t think I truly considered what having a relationship with you meant. I don’t know if I can play another role, if I can be a princess to your people. It’s hard enough being in a public relationship, but adding the royal aspect isn’t something...” My words trailed away as Ash’s expression grew cold.
“I see,” he said, crossing his arms and pulling away from the island counter.
“I’m sorry,” I said. “I don’t want to hurt you. One of the reasons I left Hollywood was so I could have a normal life again. A relationship with you is exactly the opposite of a normal life.”
Ash nodded, eyes darkening to the deep blue of a stormy sky. “I think I should be going,” he said quietly. He collected his things quickly and left, closing the door gently behind him.