window, I suppose.
Behind me, a four-poster bed swallows half the room. It’s covered in red satin covers and pillows, and the wooden frame is as dark as the night. In front of it stands an enormous fireplace made of dark gray stone, the mantle carved to resemble a cluster of feathered wings. It's beautiful. A vase with fresh flowers sits on top, and above that there's an empty spot that once held a painting. The dust lines are obvious against the white wall, and I'm surprised there are no paintings here of the prince. I'm sure he loves to look at himself all the time. I take off Eryk’s coat and place it on the back of a chair.
I turn and jump into the bed, purposefully messing it up before I sink in its softness. I can easily imagine myself sleeping here. My bed back home is a thin mattress that offers no support and hurts my back. I kick off my shoes, then shuffle under the blankets with my clothes still on and curl in on myself.
What a crazy day. Maybe when I wake up, I'll find this whole thing was a terrible nightmare.
I don't bother snuffing out any of the candles, because the heaviness of my eyes slide closed of their own accord. I want to pretend I'm not caught in this situation and that everything is back to normal. Yet when sleep evades me, it's Eryk’s image that greets my mind. In his presence, heat encases me and burns between my thighs with intensity. I want him, crave him, and I shouldn't encourage my thoughts, but I let them drift anyway. It isn't every day I meet a prince who's tall, mysterious, and so sexy that my underwear might melt away.
Maybe something is wrong with me that the thought of him sends sparks of arousal through me. I must be broken and dirty and utterly confused. But I shove those ugly thoughts away and instead embrace the ones that include Eryk as I trail my hand down my body and under the band of my underwear.
We're back in the woods and he has me pinned to the tree, his mouth on my neck. The way he licks me again and again has me moaning. I grasp onto his broad shoulders as his hands fall to my hips, fingers already yanking the dress to my waist. I'm not wearing anything underneath, and he finds that amusing, whispering in my ear, "You want this, don't you?"
I moan a 'yes' and kiss him, our mouths clashing as his fingers dip and find my heat. They slide over my swollen lips and to my opening where he presses one finger inside me. I can barely breathe. A delicious ache builds inside me unlike anything I've ever felt. He fingers me, and I'm crying with pleasure. But he never relents, never stops kissing me. I fist his shirt, drawing him closer to encourage him to keep going. I lose myself to him, only focusing on the way he pushes a second finger into me.
I shudder, and with it comes a wave of pleasure that splashes over me and drags me into its depth. I squeeze together my thighs, riding the euphoric ache as the pressure builds persistently.
A sudden, stupendous orgasm crashes into me, coming so fast I only see white blinking lights behind my eyelids. I stay still, tingling all over, and smile to myself, loving how incredible it felt to forget everything. Even if for a short moment.
Rolling over onto my side, I pull my hand from my underwear and tug the blanket up to my chin yet still the excitement thrums through me. I squeeze my eyes shut and wait for sleep to claim me. All the while, all I can think about is Eryk. Though at the back of my mind, I remind myself he doesn't really care about me. He's not on my side; he only wants to use me.
And if I'm not careful, I might fall for him.
9
Licia
A putrid stink of dung and barn animals floods my nostrils. I scrunch up my nose and turn on my side, praying it goes away. Rin must have left her dirty farm clothes on the floor again. But when something digs into my hip, I groan as my eyes slide open.
I freeze at the sight of a wooden wall with a stack of hay, sacks hanging off hooks, and loose hay coating the floor I'm lying on.
My heart bangs in