45

We’d turned into my driveway and were approaching the house. “We’re both lucky she was there,” I said.

I couldn’t have forgiven myself if something had happened to Leia on one of my properties while I’d been upstairs looking to advance a war. Territory and politics and revenge weren’t as important as Leia’s life, and that warning, that reminder, had nearly come too late.

I brought her hand to my lips. “I’ll take you up to bed so you can sleep.”

She nodded.

Jenkins drew the car to a stop. “I’ll dispose of this—” He waved his hand regally around the car. “This evidence, sir.”

I half chuckled. Chef’s hurt feelings or hot kitchen temper were really the last things on my mind, but there was no good reason to annoy him. “Thank you.”

I helped Leia from the car, and lifted her against my chest again.

“I can walk, you know.” But her protest was lackluster, and I grinned.

“I might never let you walk again. I’ll just carry you all the time, everywhere. Just like this.”

She laughed. “I think that would become a chore.”

“Never.” I paused at the top of the steps as Baldwin opened the front door and Mrs. Ames hovered anxiously behind him, wringing her hands. Then I dropped a kiss into Leia’s hair. “This is an honor.”

She smiled at me, mischief warring with sleepiness as they played through her eyes. “Then you’ll take me anywhere I want to go?”

I paused. “Only if the place you want to go is bed.”

For a moment, she looked disappointed, then her slow smile was back. “Bed with you? Always.”

I chuckled as I climbed the stairs, my movements effortless even with Leia in my arms. Maybe because Leia was in my arms. She made my world complete, and she was here with me. I’d almost lost her, and even that idea felt like final death.

I wanted to reign as king, but I couldn’t do it without Leia at my side. And that wasn’t because of the power she sparked inside me.

Her bedroom was dim and soothing as I carried her inside, but Mrs. Ames had already turned on one of the lamps, which glowed warmly. I walked straight to her bed to sit her at the edge so I could remove her shoes and help her to be more comfortable.

I leaned over her to undo the zipper at her back, and she pressed her hand flat against the front of my pants.

“What are you doing?” I murmured, even though my body reacted to her right away, and I pressed my lips together to maintain my focus on simply helping her.

“I don’t want to be alone.” Her words were almost a command. “I don’t want a headless body to be the last thing I remember about today.”

I closed my eyes, trying to ignore her hand as she stroked my cock, coaxing me to full arousal. My gums aches as my fangs threatened to descend. “We can’t.” I’d made up my mind. I couldn’t take advantage of her right now by taking my own pleasure from her body.

“Please, Nic.”

I let loose a shaky breath. My name on her lips always undid me.

“Please,” she whispered again, a teasing curve to her mouth. “Make me forget.”

Desire rumbled through my chest and I slid my hand into the gaping neckline of her dress. Because I’d undone the zipper, access was easy now, and I cupped her breast before flicking my thumb over her nipple. “I can make you feel better.” The words dropped from my lips before I even gave myself permission to think them. I bent and captured her mouth beneath mine, moving my body to slowly press her back against the bed.

She worked her hand against me, stroking and gripping my cock through my pants, and I groaned before grasping her fingers and drawing her touch away.

“Not that,” I muttered, as I sank to my knees and pushed her skirt up to her waist. “Let me please you.”

I looked up her body, watching her as she nodded. Then I lowered my face to her right thigh and pressed a soft kiss to her skin as I slide my hand up the left. She trembled beneath my touch, but the sweet scent of her arousal invaded my senses, and I breathed deeply.

She parted her legs, a silent subconscious invitation, and I nuzzled higher, creating a trail of open-mouthed kisses and quick, soft laps of my tongue. I hesitated over her femoral artery, aware of the blood and life coursing through her body.

I wanted her very badly, but I contented myself with the merest of grazes and she thrust her hands into my hair as I did.

“Yes, Nic.” The words were a breath and I kissed higher, until I nudged my nose against her thin panties, already damp as her body readied for me.

I slipped my finger inside and withheld my groan. “You’re so wet,” I muttered. My cock jerked with the desire to be buried inside her, but this moment wasn’t for me. Still, I reached down and stroked myself… Once… Twice. Just enough to remind myself to be patient. Just enough to make me so hard I ached.

I drew her panties aside, revealing her glistening pussy. Mine, all mine. I bent forward and touched her gently with my tongue, and she gasped softly.

“These are going to be in the way.” I spoke softly as I lifted her hips and slid her panties down her legs, crumpling them in my hand before dropping them into my pocket.

With one hand, I gently parted her lips so I could lay a long lick between her entrance and her clit, and she writhed a little beneath me. I grasped her hip in a gentle hold, helping to position her just as I wanted while I lavished her with my attention.