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It’s just as dark and silent as the sitting room.

As quietly as possible, I tiptoe over to the big bed only to find it empty.

No crown prince dozing between the silky sheets.

He’s nowhere to be found.

“Sterling?” I peer at the door leading to the bathing chamber. “Are you in?—”

Strong arms latch around my waist from behind.

A surprised shriek tumbles from my mouth, and every muscle in my body tenses in preparation to attack…until the familiar scent of leather, soap, and a hint of spice envelops me.

“Ziva’s flames!” The tension seeps away, though my heart continues to pound as if it might gallop right out of my chest. “Are you trying to shorten my life? I’ve lost count of how many times you’ve snuck up on me and yanked me into dark caves or rooms. I’m starting to think it’s some sort of kink.”

Sterling pulls me into him and presses a lingering kiss to the side of my throat. “If memory serves, you always enjoyed what I did to you in those dark places.”

Tension returns to my body, this time for an entirely different reason. “Wicked man.”

His lips curve into a smile against my neck. “Is that a complaint, Duchess?”

“No.” I lean into him, reveling in his strength. “Never.”

“Thought as much.” His fingers splay around my waist, the other hand skimming its way down my stomach. “I missed you. Don’t ever stay gone so long again.”

“It was only a couple days.” I quiver when his hand drifts lower. “But I missed you too. Can’t say that I envy you being shut in with the royal council. The guards wouldn’t let me see you when I first got back a few hours ago.”

He freezes a moment before his hand resumes its trajectory and dips lower, stoking the flames of my desire. “The council. What a clusterfuck. But I won’t bore you with all those details tonight. Tell me about your trip.”

“It was good. Really good.” I twist in his arms until we’re chest to chest and gaze up at him. “But maybe we can talk later?”

That’s all the invitation he needs.

Sterling lowers his mouth to mine, claiming me with a voracious kiss that brims with pent-up desire.

As we devour each other, my body becomes liquid and my worries melt away. Thoughts of phoenixes, my grandfather, Leesa, drachen, and everything else disappear. Plenty of time to deal with that later. Right now, I want to lose myself in the man I love.

It’s so damn good to be home.

His grip tightens around me as I tunnel my fingers through his silky hair.

“Careful, or you’ll squeeze the life out of me,” I tease, pulling back a few inches to drink in the sight of him.

I can barely make out his features in the dim light, but what I do see takes my breath away. A dark lock of hair falls over his sculpted cheek, and the flames pick up the gold flecks in his eyes while turning the rest obsidian and shadowed.

My prince is fierce and rugged and more than a little terrifying.

He will always be the most beautiful man I’ve ever known.

Sterling smiles as the pressure around my waist and ribs increases. He lowers his head again, teeth scraping my throat over my pulse.

Someone is enthusiastic this evening.

I try to draw a full breath, but it catches in my throat. “Sterling?” In the stillness of the room, my wheezed chuckle comes out strained. “I kind of…need…air.”

His arms tighten even more, constricting like iron bands. My amusement fades, and the first wisps of fright flutter in my chest.

His teeth clamp down on my skin, biting hard.