Page 61 of Royal Trouble

Maybe they hadn’t known one another long, but it didn’t matter. She saw him in a way no one else did, not just his flaws but also the man he wanted to be. He’d meant what he said earlier. The past was the past, and he didn’t give a damn what she’d done up to this point.

After all, he was no bloody saint.

The only thing that mattered was the future and what they chose to do with it. He didn’t deserve her—knew that a guy like him would have a hard time satisfying a woman like her long-term—but fuck, he wanted to try. The realization was both terrifying and exhilarating.

His spine stiffened, and he knew his orgasm was close, but he couldn’t come without Everly. Her eyelids were half closed and her breath was coming hard and fast. She just needed a little push to get her over the edge. He slipped a hand between their bodies, his thumb circling her swollen clit.

“Yeeesss,” she moaned, back bowing off the couch as he increased the pressure.

The added stimulation and change of position were more than enough to send her spiraling, and she cried out as the orgasm racked her body. Her muscles clamped down on his cock, and he thought he’d died and gone to heaven as the pressure at the base of his spine exploded, scorching his nerve endings and sending shockwaves through his system that left him shaking in the aftermath.

When he collapsed next to Everly on the couch, he couldn’t feel his toes, but who needed toes anyway?

“That was…” Everly curled into him and draped one of her legs across his.

“Yeah.” He pulled her close, fitting her sweat slicked chest to his as he dropped a kiss on the top of her head. There were no words for what they’d just experienced, and his brain was too fried to even try.

He’d known from the beginning that they had explosive chemistry, but he’d never imagined the sex could be that good. Would it always be like this between them?

Fuck.

He was getting ahead of himself. Just because it had been the best sex of his life—which, if he was being honest, was rather high praise—it didn’t mean there would be a next time. For all he knew, Everly would hop on the next plane back to New York. She’d come to Valeria for a story, one she no longer planned to write. And now that the stag night was done, there was nothing to keep her.

Even if he wanted her to stay—which he did—he couldn’t ask that of her. Everly’s life was in New York. If she stayed in Valeria, it had to be her choice, and he wouldn’t try to sway her one way or the other.

Chapter Fifteen

Everly blinked against the rays of early morning sunshine that poured through the window, a feeling of deep satisfaction warming her tired limbs. She’d had sex—with Xander. It had been incredible. The best sex of her life for sure. Not that she’d expected anything less than toe-curling orgasms from the cocky royal, but…well, she knew as well as anyone that not all rumors were true.

A contented sigh escaped her lips as she turned to Xander. At some point during the night—morning?—they’d moved to the bedroom. He was stretched out next to her, a crisp white sheet covering the lower half of his body while he kept one arm hooked possessively over her hips.

Who’d have pegged the royal rogue as a cuddler? Not her, that was for damn sure.

But she had to admit she enjoyed the weight of his arm slung across her body as if, even in sleep, he didn’t want to let her go. He looked younger, more innocent like this. His hair was mussed from sleep or, more likely, sex, and the cynicism that usually lined his eyes was nowhere to be seen, as if the burden of being royal could be lifted only by unconsciousness.

Or great sex.

She grimaced. It was probably the former. Might be a little bold to assume her vagina had magical stress-reducing properties.

Then again, the sex had been pretty damn hot.

She laughed silently, her shoulders shaking lightly.

“What’s so funny?” Xander asked, his first words of the day coming low and gravelly. His eyes fluttered open, and a grin stretched across his lips. It wasn’t his usual smirk, but a gentle smile that spoke of the intimacy they’d shared.

Oh, you know. Just pondering the transformative effects of a magical vagina.

“Nothing,” she said quickly, because no way was she going to admit the truth. She’d never hear the end of it. “But I was just thinking you should probably get back up to the main house before you’re missed.”

“Trying to protect my reputation?” He pulled her close and captured her mouth in a languid kiss. Heat radiated from his skin and—oh!—his abs weren’t the only part of him that was hard. “I appreciate your concern, but the sun’s barely up. I’m sure the other guys are still crashed out.” He quirked a brow. “Which means we can stay in bed a while longer.”

Yes, please.

Except…they’d used up all the condoms.

Damn. He’d probably forgotten, but no condoms meant no morning sex. The last thing she needed was her own royal love child burning up the tabloids.

Hard pass.