His Stolen Princess - MINK Page 0,36

harder. “I’d kill them again if I could.”

“So bloodthirsty.” I stroke her cheek. “As you should be.”

Her lips quirk to the side just a bit. “He told me something.”

“What?” I pull her higher, her breasts pressing against my chest through her thin top.

She looks away.

“Tell me,” I coax and lean up to nip at her jawline.

Meeting my gaze, she says, “He said we were supposed to be married. That our parents arranged it. Did you know about that?”

I try to gauge why that information would worry her, but I can’t see it. “That’s the first I’ve learned of it.”

She lets out a big breath and rests her head in the crook of my neck. “Do you promise?”

“Yes. I wouldn’t lie to you.” I wrap my arms around her. “Does it bother you that our parents planned our future for us?”

“No, that’s not it.”

“Then what?” I stroke her back and slide my hand under her shirt to feel her soft skin.

“I just...” She shrugs. “I thought maybe the only reason you wanted me was because your father made a deal for me, and you were trying to honor him by--” She yelps when I flip her onto her back and cover her body.

“Apollonia.” I stare down at her. “I want you. I always have. I always will. Not because of honor or duty or anything else. I want you because I feel you in here.” I thump my chest. “I’ve belonged to you from the start. Every twisted, ruined part of my soul is yours. I will never stop loving you.”

“Love?” Her eyes water.

I stroke her cheek and softly kiss her. “Yes, my lioness. I love you with everything I am.”

She twines her arms around my neck. “I love you, too.”

I luxuriate in the beauty of her words. “Say it again.”

“I love you, Cato. I’ve loved you from the moment you saved me that day so long ago. My heart has always been in your hands.”

“I will never break it.” I kiss her again, harder this time. My life is hers. By her word, I live and die. By her word, I kill and grant mercy. I will never give my lioness less than she deserves, and right now, she deserves every bit of pleasure I can give.

21

Apollonia

My eyes burn with tears. I wrap my arms around Cato. He loves me. I guess my plan worked. Part of it at least. I never thought he'd make me fall in love with him, too. I hadn't put up much of a fight in the end. I think my heart and soul knew what he was going to be to me. Hell, I think my parents might have known it, too.

Cato pulls his mouth from mine and tugs at my robe. I lift up, letting him pull it free. He tosses it away. I fight not to laugh at his anger toward the silky piece of cloth.

“Are you laughing at me, my lioness?”

“Never.” I drop onto the bed and run my fingers up and down his arms.

“You’re so damn beautiful. You know that, right? And all fucking mine.” He kisses me again.

I dig my nails into his arm as he deepens the kiss. I put everything I have into it, wanting to feel him all over me. He pulls his mouth from mine as he trails kisses down my neck. A prelude to the pleasure I know he’s going to give me.

He palms one of my breasts as he sucks my nipple from the other into his mouth. He swirls his tongue around before popping the nipple free and doing the same to the other. He lifts his mouth and grazes me with his teeth.

“One day, you’ll give me a daughter.” He kisses the inside of my breast. “I’ll have to learn to share these.”

I giggle.

“Are you laughing at me again?”

“Never.” I shake my head.

He gives me a wicked smile as he moves down my body. I spread my legs, welcoming him there as he kisses me. By the time Cato is done, there will be no part of me his mouth hasn’t touched. I plan to enjoy each and every second of him exploring my body.

His fingers dig into my thighs as his warm breath teases my clit. I reach down and run my hands through his hair. He looks up at me with that devilish smirk on his face. He knows what he’s doing.

“I love you, Cato, but if you tease me right now I will stab you with your own