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Annalena knew he was deliberately diverting her. She was amazed he’d shared such intimate details. Amazed and horrified that it wasn’t just his father he viewed negatively, but himself.
Her heart felt raw. Remembering his stark expression as he spoke about darkness inside, she felt sympathy rise for the troubled boy he’d been and the man who devoted his life to others yet believed himself so flawed.
‘Benedikt, you—’
His mouth covered hers in a caress so potent it thickened the blood in her veins and the thoughts in her brain. She cupped his face in her hands, holding him to her as she opened for him, curling her tongue against his lips and inviting him in.
He accepted the invitation. His mouth was hard and needy, his hands too, though she felt the restraint he tried to impose on himself.
The air turned smoky with searing need, the sharp tang of arousal in her nostrils, the taste of desire and Benedikt in her mouth.
He was iron hard against her belly as he lifted his head enough to meet her eyes, his blazing like molten metal. She felt him tremble, this powerful man who was so much stronger and better than he believed. ‘I need you—’
Her fingers on his lips stopped his words, her heart curvetting against her ribs as she read his desperation. Her need quickened. ‘Then take me. I want this. I wantyou.’
She shuffled her legs wider, glad that she’d worn a skirt in today’s heat. Anticipation spiked as he settled lower. Minutes later she was naked from the waist down and his trousers were around his thighs, his erection sheathed.
She saw the tendons in his throat jerk as he swallowed. He nudged her entrance. ‘I can’t do finesse. I—’
‘Shh…’
She wrapped her arms around his neck, drawing his mouth to hers as she lifted her knees to cradle him. Benedikt drove home, slow and deep, impossibly deep. Nothing had ever felt so good.
A sigh wafted on the still air, followed by a deep groan as all the energy he’d leashed erupted. He bucked, his movements jerky and her attempts to match his rhythm more clumsy still. But within seconds she felt that telltale quiver, the spasm of muscles, the unstoppable force.
Annalena clutched him close, her hand on his skull holding his face to her neck. Hot breaths on her throat, his possessive hand at her breast squeezing with just the right pressure. And between her legs and deep inside, Benedikt, stealing her soul and flinging her into rapture.
He shouted, her name thrown up to the sky, his throat arching as he pounded into her and she met him with mindless abandon. Finally they collapsed, spent, and a wave of tenderness swept through her as she held him tight.
Much later, when she opened her eyes and looked into the blue sky above, the world looked different.
Benedikt pulled Annalena into a deserted anteroom, pushing the door shut and drawing her close. She came eagerly, eyes shining, smile alluring. She wore red lipstick to match the dress she’d worn to the lunch they’d hosted for charity volunteers. All through the proceedings he’d wanted to haul her to him and kiss the scarlet lipstick away.
His wife was tempting, gorgeous, sexy and clever. She was overcoming her hesitancy about taking on a royal role and he couldn’t imagine doing his job without her. She had a way of connecting with people that he wished he’d learnt. He was improving but he doubted he’d ever have the knack for it that she did.
The day she’d stormed into his office and made her ultimatum was one of the best of his life.
She made him feel… She made himfeel.
In the past he’d avoided emotion and what he had felt had often been negative, a trait inherited from his father.
Warm fingers stroked his cheek. ‘Why the serious face, Benno?’
Even after four months of marriage, his heart thudded when she used the diminutive so tenderly.
His mother had loved him but was often unwell, retreating to her rooms. His grandfather had shown his affection, but never through soft words. His wife, with her directness tempered with warmth, was a revelation.
His Lena. Did she have any idea how she’d changed his world?
‘I’m calculating if there’s time to ravish my wife before my meeting.’
Her gurgle of laughter flowed like warm honey through his veins. ‘You know there’s not. And I promised the research team I’d review the draft report this afternoon.’
He nodded, pleased they’d found a way to give her a couple of days each week to pursue the vocation she loved. His arms tightened, pulling her flush against him, torture for both of them, but impossible to resist.
Mischief sparked in her eyes as she pressed her hand to his burgeoning erection. Sheet lightning blasted his vision as she tugged his belt.
‘But we do have a little time.’ Her smile turned sultry as she sank to her knees. ‘I could—’