Queen Sized - Jessa Kane Page 0,6

him, he might think I’m considering the proposition. But I most certainly will not. My parents raised me to demand respect. To believe in myself. And I won’t let them—or my sisters—down by accepting a position as the king’s paramour.

That isn’t to say it isn’t an occupation that doesn’t deserve respect, but it’s less than I’m personally willing to accept.

That being said…

Is he becoming more and more attractive as time passes, or did that cup of wine from earlier affect me in unexpected ways? Or perhaps it’s the slow, winding burble of the loch. The full moon and endless scattering of stars. The lonely call of the wind and drums beating low in the distance. The scene is romantic. That has to be why I’m so anxious to slide my fingers up into his unruly dark hair and invite his mouth down to mine.

Corbet of Fallstrom is a warrior.

Already a legend and he can’t be older than thirty.

He’s called me beautiful—meant it, too—and his palm on my cheek, it’s stirring a cauldron of new sensations beneath my belly button. He did bring me out here with the intention of taking his male relief between my thighs. Am I wicked for being sort of…excited by that? I remember the way he approached me, as if he couldn’t believe his eyes. As if he was compelled to get as close as possible. Even now, his ample body heat penetrates the thin material of my dress and warms my skin, makes my nipples tingle.

I’ve thought of what it would be like to make love to a man. Sure. It’s natural to picture it. But because I’m rounder of hip and curvaceous, I’ve always imagined the man being equal in size or slimmer. Never larger. Never much, much larger. There is something very tempting about the idea of lying on my back and having this giant block out the world. To feel…overpowered for once, instead of constantly in charge. Making decisions.

To feel like a prize for the taking.

I’m not so desperate that I will give physical liberties to the first man who calls me beautiful, however. No, I have more confidence in myself than that. In fact, I’m a catch.

And so this kiss is on my terms.

I’m deciding to kiss a king on this magical evening.

I’m doing it because I want to. Because my body is begging for his contact.

Tomorrow, I will have the memory to lock deep inside me while I go hunt for a husband.

“Speak your thoughts out loud, woman.”

“You couldn’t keep up.”

Again, my ribbing only brings appreciation to his chiseled features and I like that. I like it too much that he doesn’t take himself seriously at all times. “Is that so? Try me.”

“I’m thinking that…a kiss would be acceptable.”

A muscle clenches in his cheek. “A kiss.”

I hum quietly, my gaze settling on his mouth quite shamefully. “That’s right.”

His black brow wings upward toward his hairline. “You think I will be able to stop at tasting your mouth?”

Moisture gathers between my thighs so abruptly, my lips part on a shaky intake of breath. “You’ll have to manage somehow, Your Majesty.”

Gripping my hair, he tips my head back and examines the line of my throat, his attention sliding down to my breasts where they threaten to spill from the neckline of my dress. And he makes a rumbling sound deep in his chest that causes me to arch my back, without a command from my brain. Letting him look. “Let’s amend this plan, shall we?” he rasps.

Danger. Turn back. “How so?”

“If you want me to stop after a kiss, I’ll stop.” His tongue traces the seam of his mouth. “But if you want more, you’ll say the word…”

“Jester,” I supply, breathily.

He chuckles quietly, his mouth lowering to mine. “That’ll do.”

I brace a hand to his chest to slow his progress. “Just so I know exactly what you mean…what does more include?”

I only observe the slightest jump of his lips before they’re on mine.

He presses our mouths together, the contact firm, like a stamp. The sides of our noses touch, his beard tickling my chin. Already it’s the most intimate I’ve ever been with another person and I sink into the sensations. The flavor of ale, the way my curves mold around his muscle, my tiptoes pushing me up so I can get close, his arm slung around my lower back possessively. And then he licks into my mouth with a growl—and the kiss takes on new life. A life I’ve never lived