Standing in the winding stone stairwell, I read Declan’s note again.

A note. Like we’re courtly lovers or something, not an innocent virgin and the man who’s about to deflower her.

Or not. I’m honestly not even sure what’s going to happen, and I’m well aware that virgins can have plenty of orgasms without penetration. Besides, there’s no guarantee that Declan’s going to get the job done. God knows I’ve tried myself before, and that didn’t go anywhere.

I think back to the catwalk today, to his hand on my ass, the shiver it sent down my spine.

The way I felt like I was turning to liquid in his arms, molten fire dripping through me.

Yeah, I’ve got a feeling he’ll be able to make it work just fine.

The note reads:

Meet me in the bedroom in the west tower.

I want you naked.

My heart thumps in my chest as I climb the stairs, winding up the tower. No one has ever talked to me that way, not even close.

I want you naked.

And... for Declan, I want to obey. I want him to do unclothed things to me. I want to be naked on the bed, spread out for him.

For the entire banquet, all I could think about was his erection, pressing against me. I’ve never really fantasized like this before, but for some reason, imagining him fucking me makes me feel almost lightheaded, a throbbing ache in my core.

The second I read his note, it was all I could imagine — that monster, filling me up, penetrating me deeply.

I get to the top landing of the tower, take a deep breath. There’s nothing up here but a small wooden table with a plastic plant on it and a heavy wooden door, so I grab the door knob and push it open.

Inside is just a round, stone bedroom. We use it as a guest room, but it’s so out of the way and hard to get to that we only use it as a last resort — no one likes having to climb all these steps just to get to where they sleep. The curtains are open, moonlight streaming in, and from high above, I can see the forest stretching below us for miles.

I step to one of the windows and put my hands on the cool stone, wondering if what I’m doing is a good idea. I’m so nervous that my stomach feels like a tornado, twisting and spinning, my palms sweaty.

I can’t believe I’m doing this. This is insane, it’s crazy, if we get caught Grayson will kill us, and then my parents will kill us again...

There are footsteps outside the open door, and I whirl around, my breath caught in my throat.

“I thought I said I wanted you naked,” Declan says, his voice a low purr.

I don’t know what to say, but he’s sexy as hell standing there in just his button-down shirt and pants, tie partly undone, sleeves rolled up past his elbows. He’s got one tattoo on his forearm, the royal crest of Floronia.

“That’s step one,” he says, walking forward. I’m frozen to this spot, and he walks forward until we’re inches apart, nearly touching. “You do as I say, and I’ll reward you.”

I steel myself, even though I’m practically trembling again.

“I needed someone to undo my zipper,” I whisper, reaching behind myself, even though it’s not true. “Can you help me?”

“Turn around,” he growls.

I do.

This is your last chance, I think wildly. You can change your mind, leave this bedroom, keep your family happy and your life scandal-free...

Cool air on my back, and my zipper’s undone. Declan’s hands slide inside my dress instantly, before the long, silver silk affair even falls off, grabbing me by the hips and pulling me against him.

“That’s better,” he growls into my ear.

I’ve still got on lace panties and a strapless bra, and without hesitating, he slides his hands up my body, over my bra-covered breasts, his fingertips whispering over my neck and through my hair.

Before I realize it, his hand has curled through my updo, pins falling to the floor, the rest a knot around his thick fingers as he pulls my head backward. I gasp, my body suddenly rigid.

“I thought all day about the best way to make you come for your first time,” he growls, his lips brushing my ear, sending shivers down my spine. “And I decided that what I really wanted was for your very first orgasm to be with my cock buried inside you.”

A cold wave moves through my body, followed by a warm glow, because I have no idea what to say to that. I don’t think anyone’s ever said the word cock out loud to me before, and here’s Declan — my brother’s best friend — telling me what he’s going to do with his.

“You like the thought of that, don’t you?” he goes on, his lips making their way down my neck, to my shoulder.

His other hand palms one breast, then suddenly tugs at my strapless bra and in a flash, it’s around my waist, pink nipples puckering against the sudden coolness.

Declan pushes forward, his thick erection against my back, and he moves until the hard length is nestled between my buttocks, the thin layer of his pants doing nothing to hide it as he rolls one nipple between his fingers.

“Declan, I haven’t— I’ve never—” I manage to whisper.

“You’re a virgin, you’ve never had sex before, I know. You told me already,” he says, a smirk in his voice. “That doesn’t change what I’m going to do to you tonight.”

He lets my hair go, the other hand deftly undoing the hook on my bra. It falls from where it was stuck around my waist, and Declan finally pulls me from my puddled dress, and draws me close to him. He tilts my face up to his, the cloth of his suit rubbing against my sensitive skin, my already-hard nipples.

My eyes close as my chin goes up, his other hand pressing into my back, demanding even more from me.

There’s something intoxicating about this, something wildly vulnerable about being naked while he’s clothed.

Something irresistible about being told when and how I’m going to come. Being told what he’s going to do to me, even as every sinful word dripping from his lips makes my core burn hotter, throb harder.

“Aurora,” he murmurs, so quietly I can barely hear him over my pulse. “When we’re in this room, you’re mine, do you understand?”

I swallow hard, willing myself to answer.

“Your body is mine,” he goes on. “Your luscious lips, your sweet little tits, your pussy that’s practically dripping with anticipation.”

As he says it, he reaches his hand between my legs, and I shudder at the violent jolt that goes through me, a quiet moan escaping my lips.

“Your clit is mine,” he murmurs. “Every orgasm that shakes your body like an earthquake is mine.”

He rubs me through my panties again, my breath coming in uneven, ragged gasps.

“Your ass is mine,” he whispers into my ear, one finger delving into the secret space between my cheeks, still rubbing me through my panties.

My eyes fly open, and now I gasp. Declan just chuckles.

“That thought only makes you wetter, doesn’t it, Aurora?”

I close my eyes again.

No, I lie to myself. No, that sounds dirty and filthy and I would never dream...

I can’t even finish that sentence in my head. It does sound dirty and filthy, but when Declan whispers it like that, the thought makes my knees nearly buckle.

“Say it, Aurora. Say that when we’re in this room, you belong to me.”

“Declan,” I breathe, intensely aware of what I’m promising.

I’m telling him that he can do anything to me. I’m telling him that the hold me has on me is immense, unbreakable.

Even if it’s only in this room, I have a feeling I’ll be coming back here every night.

“Say it,” he growls.

“I belong to you,” I whisper.