the bottom of his jumper, and he begins to lift it up.
To take it off.
I suck in a breath as he does, and Xander abruptly stops kissing me.
“We,” he says, gasping for air, “don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do, Poppy.”
I study his face, illuminated by the light from the fireplace. I see concern and tenderness there as he misunderstood my quick intake of air.
“I like what we’re doing,” I say, cradling his face in my hands. “I want this. I was excited by the idea of seeing you without a jumper on.”
His large hands circle my waist. I shift my hips against him on instinct. He shudders in response. Xander takes a moment, then clears his throat.
“I don’t want you to do this because you think you have to.” He’s slowly rubbing my waist. “I know my past might make you believe this is all that matters to me. But that’s not true. Not with you. That’s changed with you,” he says, his voice growing thick.
I bite my lip to fight back tears. He’s so honest with me, so protective and gentle and vulnerable, I need to give him some of that back, too.
“I want to have sex with you,” I say, sliding my hands up to his hair and caressing it gently. “But I don’t want to disappoint you. I’ve only had sex twice, with two men, and it wasn’t very good. I … I’m not like other women you have been with. I’m …” I feel my face grow very hot, and I’m grateful he can’t tell that I’m blushing in the darkness. “I’m … inexperienced. I don’t even know what to do on top of you right now, let alone know what pleases you and I th—”
Xander cuts me off with a deep kiss. One that is long. Slow. Sweeping. I surrender to it, kissing him back with the same long strokes, melting into him as I do.
He moves his mouth to my neck, breathing a kiss there. “Do you know what is fantastic about great sex?”
Oh. My. God.
“No.”
He chuckles softly against my skin. “It takes two people. I’m not worried about what you know. Or don’t know. All I care about,” he murmurs, kissing my neck again, “is what we do together.”
New feelings within me are growing for this beautiful man. Wonderful, beautiful feelings. Ones I didn’t think were possible but now I know are real.
“Let me see you,” he whispers. “Let me see your body.”
With trembling hands, I move off him. I stand before him, and I carefully lift my blouse over my head, throwing it aside. Xander rises from the chair, his eyes roaming over my body.
I suck in a nervous breath. Now I feel stripped bare, although I’m still in my jeans and bra. To show myself to this man, to Xander Wales, is taking bravery I didn’t know I had.
Not because he’s a prince.
But because I have feelings for him. My heart is entangled now, upping the stakes to a level I never imagined possible.
“Take off your jeans,” he commands, his eyes blazing with heat.
Now he’s the alpha male, in the driver’s seat, taking control.
Oh, Lord, that is hot.
I unbutton my jeans and slowly unzip them. I slide my fingers with deliberation over to my hips, teasing him, watching his breathing hitch as I pause before oh-so-slowly lowering the fabric down over my thighs and stepping out of them.
I stand before him, my heart racing as his eyes move over me.
“My God,” he breathes.
“Do you like what you see?” I ask, feeling empowered.
He swallows hard. “Yes. Very much.”
“Good,” I whisper back.
“Now your bra,” Xander says, his voice hoarse. “I need to see more. Now.”
A thrill rushes through me as I hear the urgent desire in his request.
I reach my fingers around my back and unhook the clasp. Then I move my fingertips to the white straps of my scalloped push-up bra, gliding them down my arms.
“Shall I drop it?” I ask, holding the bra to me.
Xander steps closer. I swear, I can feel the heat radiating off his skin, he’s so close.
“Yes,” he says gruffly, his breath rushing across my cheek. “Let me see your breasts.”
I drop the bra.
Now, I’m nearly naked. His eyes grow large as he stares at my breasts. Xander’s lips part, and a gasp of desire escapes them. I lower my fingertips to my panties, ready to remove them, when his hands grasp mine.