Free 3#Awakened by the Vampire Prince (Thorn) by Charlene Hartnady Page B

moved down her body to the juncture of her thighs. “Here you go,
princess.” He handed her the cloth.
    It
was becoming a common occurrence, yet it still irritated her as her cheeks
heated. Xavier dropped a kiss on her nose before turning. She got the distinct
impression that he was trying to give her some privacy. Really sweet
considering what had just taken place. He removed his shirt making a big show
of folding the garment and hanging it over the back of the chair. For a second
she felt spellbound as her eyes tracked the ink lines on his lower back.
Thankfully, she snapped out of it long enough to wipe between her legs and down
her inner thighs. She had to bite back a moan as the rough cloth abraded her
sensitive flesh.
    As
soon as she was done, Xavier turned towards her. He held out his hand, his eyes
on the cloth.
    She
shook her head. “I’ll take care of it.” Her cheeks must be glowing. They felt
like she had spontaneously combusted.
    “You
stay right where you are. Give it to me.”
    She
shook her head, feeling mortified. Esral had the irrational urge to put the
hand that clutched the cloth behind her back.
    He
smiled for a half a beat looking up to the ceiling before locking his eyes with
hers. “I have to insist, princess.” He clenched his jaw. “You forget that I’ve
had my tongue inside your pussy, I think I can handle that cloth.”
    She
swallowed hard, feeling parts of her respond to his words.
    “Don’t
do that, princess.” His eyes heated as his lids became hooded.
    “Do
what?”
    He
gave a half chuckle which spoke more of frustration than humor. “Just give me
the cloth. I’m trying to be a good male here. You need sleep and I’m seconds
away from touching you…again.” A low growl.
    Chest
heaving, she nodded once and handed him the cloth. Xavier gave her a half
smile. She gasped when he put the cloth to his nose and sniffed while groaning
in what sounded like pleasure. “Fucking delicious,” he growled as he strode
from the room.
    He
returned and kicked off his boots. Xavier slid under the covers with her,
leaving his pants on. He spooned her. His front to her back. The hard ridge of
his root dug into her.
    “Xavier?”
    “Yeah,
princess.”
    “Let
me ease you.” Her voice shook just a little.
    “No.
Go to sleep.”
    “But…”
    “No
buts. It’s late. You’re exhausted. I should never have taken your blood and I
definitely won’t let you…ease me.” He spoke softly.
    “You’re
really hard. It can’t be comfortable for you.”
    “I’m
fine,” a soft growl. “Goodnight, princess.” He kissed the top of her head.
    Esral
snuggled more firmly against him knowing that this was an argument she was
never going to win.
     
     
     

Chapter 7
     
    “Forgive
me, my lord, but you look like shit.” York said as Xavier exited Esral’s room.
It had been a huge gamble spending the night with the princess, but quite
frankly he didn’t give two shits. Chances were good that if they had been
disturbed, it would’ve been to report that her father was dying. In which case,
him sleeping with Esral would be the least of everyone’s concerns.
    Xavier
ran a hand through his hair and shrugged.
    “Hard
to sleep when you’re hard,” York said. “I can’t say I’ve ever been there but I
can imagine.”
    Lazarus
chuckled.
    York’s
smirk turned serious in an instant. “Did the princess get some sleep?”
    Xavier
shook his head. “Not much. Little bits here and there. She’s worried.”
    “Rightly
so,” York whispered. “His chamber smelled of death. I must be honest”—York sighed
deeply—“I’m surprised he made it through the night.”
    “Yeah.”
Xavier had scented it too. He clenched his jaw for a few beats. It killed him
to see Esral like this. If only he could find a way to make it all better. He wished
even harder that he could be there for her properly. In the cold light of dawn,
he was once again the vampire prince and Esral was to be mated to another. A
ruse he