Free To Charm a Prince by Patricia Grasso Page B

boots. She felt a familiar melting sensation in the pit of her stomach at the sight of his bared chest.
    “I apologize for my curtness,” Rudolf said. “However, I do not wish to speak about my father. Please do not ask about him again.”
    The prince was a man unused to apologizing, but he was making a good attempt. “I will respect your wishes,” she said.
    The prince nodded and seemed to relax.
    Thank You, Lord, for the prince’s apology . Samantha climbed into bed and pulled the coverlet up.
    Rudolf climbed into bed beside her. Without asking permission, he drew her against his body, saying, “Come up here, Princess.”
    Samantha leaned over him and stared into his black eyes. She studied his face, admiring how the flickering candlelight played across his features.
    “Kiss me good night, Princess.”
    Samantha smiled and lowered her head until her mouth hovered above his. Her lips touched his, tentatively at first, and then grew bolder, deepening the kiss.
    She flicked her tongue across the crease between his lips, as he had done to her and heard with satisfaction his sharp intake of breath. When he opened his mouth, she slipped her tongue inside, their tongues swirling and caressing.
    Rudolf entwined his arms around her body and held her firmly, gently. Without warning, he rolled over, and she lay beneath him. He kissed her lingeringly, not giving her a chance to think or protest, planting feathery light kisses on her eyelids, temples, nose, and throat.
    “I want to touch you,” Rudolf whispered. “Only touch.”
    He didn’t wait for permission.
    Rudolf kissed her again, his tongue seeking and gaining entrance to her mouth. His hand lightly caressed her cheek and then drifted down to her throat before crossing to her delicately boned shoulder. He ran his hand down the outside of her arm and then raced two fingers up the sensitive inside.
    A languorous feeling slowly seeped through Samantha’s veins, and she yearned for him to touch and caress every inch of her virgin flesh. Her young body moaned instinctively, pressing into his hand wherever it roamed.
    Rudolf moved his hand down her chemise-clad body, and Samantha moaned softly as he teased her by sliding his hand across her breasts without stopping. Lower, his hand moved, caressing the softness of her belly and then tracing the curve of her hip before gliding down and then up the inside of her leg.
    “ Krusseevy ,” the prince murmured, his lips hovering above hers.
    He kissed her deeply, passionately, and then drew the straps of her chemise down. Ever so slowly, he slid her bodice down, freeing her breasts to his dark, intense gaze. She opened her eyes. His gaze locked on hers and held it captive while he cupped her breast and then kneaded it gently.
    Samantha pressed herself against his hand—wanting, needing his touch. His fingers stroked the soft flesh, and then he brushed the palms of his hands across her nipples. Closing his thumb and forefinger around one nipple, he squeezed it into arousal.
    Samantha thought she would die from the pleasure, and then she felt his mouth on her breasts. She moaned as he locked on a nipple, suckling upon her, and she arched herself toward him, wanting . . . wanting . . . she didn’t know what.
    With a groan, the prince moved to one side. She opened her eyes. He was staring down at her, a look of yearning on his face.
    “Sleep now,” Rudolf said, pulling the bodice of her chemise up. He lay back on the bed and gathered her into his arms. “We have another long ride tomorrow.”
    Samantha moaned, more from embarrassment than the thought of another day in the coach, and buried her face against his chest. And then another, more alarming, thought occurred to her. How would she face him in the morning after her wanton behavior tonight? She would pretend it never happened and demand separate chambers tomorrow night.
     

Chapter 4
    “Rudolf?”
    “Yes, Princess?”
    Cuddled beneath the fur in the coach the next