Page 69 of Royal Trouble
Everly turned back to him and laughed, determined not to let him slip into a solemn mood. They should be celebrating his success with the Blue and Gold Foundation. “I’ve got the easy job. All I have to do is make a quick run to the lab. Pretty sure you had the harder task, swiping your father’s toothbrush. How’d you manage it anyway?” She poked him in the chest playfully. “I thought you said the palace was crawling with servants and courtiers and whatnot.”
Xander grinned. “I have many talents you’ve yet to experience. Play your cards right and perhaps you’ll discover one or two new ones tonight.”
“Promises, promises,” she teased, grabbing her wineglass and taking a long sip. The glass was nearly empty when she returned it to the counter, a warm glow heating her skin.
So much for pacing herself.
“Would you mind lighting the candles in the dining room?” He pulled a box of matches from a nearby drawer and offered it to her. “It’s just through there.”
He pointed to a doorway on the opposite side of the kitchen as Everly grabbed the box of matches from his hand.
“On it,” she said, more than happy to explore the cottage a bit more.
The dining room was dark when she entered, but even with the scant light filtering through the heavy curtains, she could tell Xander had gone all out. The table was set with fine china, and there was a bouquet of fresh peonies on the table. Everly brushed the tip of her fingers over the pink blossoms, inhaling their sweet scent. She’d never been big on flowers—it seemed a shame to spend so much money on something that would just die in a few days anyway—but she was quickly becoming a fan of the fragrant pink peonies that grew on the palace grounds.
“Everything okay in there?” Xander called.
Shit. How long had she been hovering over the table, sniffing the flowers?
“Yeah, I’m good.” She opened the box of matches and struck one against the side. It took two tries for it to catch, but once the match flared to life, she quickly lit the candles. The soft glow of candlelight warmed the room, softening the harsh edges of the contemporary furniture and creating a cozy escape for two.
She bit her lip and smiled. She’d had no idea the prince was such a romantic. No one had ever gone to so much trouble for her, and the realization made her want to skip dinner and head right to dessert.
When she returned to the kitchen, Xander was refilling their wineglasses. “Dinner should be ready in a few minutes.”
“You did all of this yourself?” she asked.
He quirked a brow and gestured to the mess piled up around him. If she didn’t know better, she would’ve sworn it had grown since her arrival. “Is that so hard to believe?”
Everly winked—actually freaking winked—at Xander. Why had she done that? It was something the cocky royal would do, not her.
Who am I anymore?
“I was being gracious,” she said with a laugh. “You should try it sometime.”
“Is that right?” He crossed the kitchen in two long strides, backing her up against the island. Before she could protest, he lifted her onto the counter and wedged himself between her thighs. Then, gripping her ass, he pulled her to him, letting her feel the hard ridge of his erection. “We’ve got a few minutes before dinner. How about I show you just how gracious I can be when properly motivated?”
Everly lowered her mouth to his, taking his lower lip between her teeth and tugging gently.
With a low growl that could’ve been approval or pain, Xander hitched her skirt up around her waist and stripped off her panties.
Well, that escalated quickly.
The counter was cool against her ass, but it anchored her in the moment, a stark contrast to the blaze roaring to life between them.
“I need to taste you, love,” he said, eyes heavy lidded and unfocused as he massaged her thighs. “Need to taste that sweet little pussy of yours.”
He had such a filthy mouth, and she was all for it. She’d never been with a man who was so bold in stating his intentions, and goddamn was it a turn on. She felt sexier and more in control than ever when he looked at her like he wanted to devour her whole.
“So what’re you waiting for?” she asked huskily, raking her fingers though his thick hair.
His eyes went dark with desire as he dragged a finger through her slick folds. A shiver of pleasure raced up her spine, and when he brought the finger to his mouth and licked it, she nearly orgasmed on the spot.
Sweet baby Jesus.
She had no words, which was just as well, because she doubted her mouth would cooperate anyway. Xander dropped to his knees, and she watched his tongue dart out to lick her, a slow drag right up her center. She threw her head back and closed her eyes, planting her hands on the counter to brace herself.
“Is that how you like it, love?”