Promised to the Swedish Prince - Sasha Cottman Page 0,56

feelings for you for quite some time—even before you left Sweden. Trying to understand the depth of my emotions for you was one of the main reasons why I came to England,” he replied.

“Christian?”

“What I thought I felt for you then, is nothing compared to what we have now. Every moment spent with you is pure magic. Remember at the betrothal ball you said you felt like you were in a story from folklore? Well I did too."

His hands settled gently on her shoulders, his thumbs tracing light strokes over the skin at the base of her neck. Erika shivered at the thrill. So many times, she had longed for him to touch her this way, to be this close.

“Yes. I am certain of my love for you, but I need to hear how you feel about me. Is there a chance that you could ever be mine or are you already his and my quest is in vain?”

She closed her eyes and smiled, letting his declaration sink in.

He loves me.

“I have never been his, and your quest is not in vain,” she whispered.

A warm hand drew her hair to one side and a soft, tender kiss was placed on the nape of her neck. It was followed by a second. Erika luxuriated in the heady sensation of Christian’s touch.

“Are you mine?” he asked.

His hot breath on her skin had her swallowing deeply. She nodded.

“Say it.”

“I love you, Christian. I cannot remember a time when I did not.”

Fingers speared into her hair and gripped. Erika lay her head back as Christian loomed over her and took her mouth in a heart-stopping kiss. She shifted on the seat, allowing him a better position in which to hold her.

His tongue delved between her lips and tangled with hers. It was clear Christian was holding nothing back.

She groaned. This was a kiss. Raw, savage and powerful. The moment between a man and a woman where all the barriers of social niceties were torn down and naked passion was laid bare.

Her hands sought his jacket, holding tight—anything to anchor herself in the swirling maelstrom.

Christian pulled back, his breath coming hard. “We had better stop. I’m not certain I can keep control if we don’t.”

She twisted out of his embrace and got to her feet. He had taken the chance in coming to her room, knowing that she may well reject him. That bravery was not going to go unrewarded.

“Don’t stop anything.” Without further ado, Erika made straight for the door. After double-checking that it was secure, she pulled the key out of the lock and put it in a nearby drawer. She returned to his side and slipped her arms about his waist. “Have I made myself clear enough?”

His gaze searched hers. There was a sense of hesitation about him. Her message had got through, but he was still unsure. She huffed as his brows knitted in obvious concern.

“I want you to lay with me tonight. Make me yours in every way possible.”

“But what about Magnus? I should be speaking to him first, making a formal offer of marriage before you and I become one,” he replied.

Erika shook her head. “The only way my father is going to yield and agree to our union is if he has no other option. He likes you, Christian, but he will still feel duty bound to send me home. We have to make this decision for him—for us.”

The English had a word for it. When a young woman had been scandalously seduced and was therefore no longer pure in the eyes of society, she was considered ruined.

Reaching up on her toes, Erika placed a soft, seductive kiss on Christian’s lips.

“Take me to bed. Ruin me. Then my father will have no choice other than to let us marry.” She pressed herself flush against his body, stilling when the hardness of his erection poked into her belly. Good. He wants me.

“You are just like the goddess Hnoss tonight, full of desire and lust,” he murmured.

Erika held her hand against the placket of Christian’s trousers and gently squeezed. She had read books and listened to enough gossip at parties and balls to have a good idea as to what she was doing, how touching him this way would get her what she wanted. “Enough talking,” she whispered.

He reached for the row of tiny buttons on the front of her gown, flicking the first of them undone. She wasn’t going to stop him.

One by one, the fastenings were opened. His