Free Chosen By The Prince by Calyope Adams

and pulled her slip over her head.

    "Can we- can we just pretend that none of this is happening? Please, your Highness..."

    He crossed the room in an instant, wrapping his arms around her. He grabbed her face and stared into her eyes, sorrow and desire radiating out of him in waves. Her eyes filled with tears but she refused to let even one spill onto her cheeks. He loved her. She knew it. No matter what else happened she knew that he loved her back. She felt it in her bones.

    He kissed her then. Ever fiber of her being felt his worship as he tasted and soothed her. He pressed her backwards onto the bed and began making love to her. He lingered over her endlessly, caressing, tasting. He made her climax with his mouth and fingers over and over. She begged him to take her but he only shushed her, lowering his head to her apex again.  

    Finally he pulled his body up, pressing his shaft against her apex.

    "You're mine Jillian. You belong to me. Say it."

    "Yes. I'm yours."

    He drove into her sheath, his body filling her with his warmth.  

    "Forever."

    "Forever."

    He plunged into her again and again, making her cry out again with her release. He didn't tarry this time. He let himself go, taking his pleasure from her willing flesh. He stared into her eyes as he shuddered, his seed filling her belly. He held her in his arms, still deep inside her. Then he took her again. Jillian nearly forgot the truth under the tender siege he laid upon her that day and for the next nine. Nearly, but not quite.

    In ten days, his bride would come.

The Prince's Bride

Maximilion

    Prince Maximilian stood with his father and mother, waiting to greet his bride. His mother smiled at him sympathetically. He felt sick to his stomach if the truth were known. Anyone who knew him well, knew that he dreaded this.

    Because of her.

    Jillian.

    His beautiful concubine. She was all he could think about. He'd selected her years ago, one woman from amongst all the women in the Kingdom. She was a high born noblewoman. In the past all the chosen had been pretty peasant girls or the daughters of a merchants. He'd been encouraged to look over some women from the lower classes and he'd agreed,   just to pacify his father the King. But it was inevitable. It had to be her.  

    Growing up they'd often been thrown into contact. He was the Prince and she was the daughter of an Earl. Spoiled and beautiful, always knowing that she was adored. That she'd always be adored. When her family had finally mentioned her betrothal to the King's advisor, it had been time to take action.

    She had fought him. Once she'd been plucked from her former life and informed of her new responsibilities. Not overtly, she couldn't do that without risking her life or the lives of her family. But he had sensed her anger, her outrage at being forced to serve him.

    He had rejoiced the first time he saw her in her collar, the first time he locked the chain into place. Not that he'd ever used it. The chain was symbolic, like the collar. It was just a reminder to all that she belonged to him. It was a reminder to her .

    From the moment he'd known that he would want a woman someday, he'd known it would be her. Usually the Royal Concubine was selected from the farming class. One pretty and intelligent peasant girl was selected to rise to the highest position, the King's mistress, to ease and comfort him with her body. But he'd bucked tradition and chosen a noblewoman. One who was about to marry his former friend, Duke Henry.  

    All the same, he hadn't hesitated. Not for a second.

    The Prince could admit that it had given him pleasure to master her, to tame the girl who had tossed her head at him so many times, singeing him with her fiery eyes. She had never been the type to suck up. But now, she didn't have a choice. Both her life and that of her entire families' rested in his grasp.

    He knew it was unfair but he didn't care. He reveled in watching her fight her instincts, watching her