Page 25 of Some Like It Scandalous (Going Royal #2)

Armand

H e couldn’t get enough of her mouth. He devoured the sweet flavor of her, the wine lingering on her tongue, the hint of her shampoo teasing his nostrils and that inescapable flavor of Anna —the lushest, sweetest fruit in the world.

Somewhere in his mind, the knowledge that they were supposed to be talking out their differences, baring their souls, ripping open their wounds—whatever she wanted to call it—poked at him.

But she still loves me… Loves—not loved.

His heart raced. He didn’t realize just how desperate to hear those three words he was until she hesitated.

They flooded through him like water in the drought-starved land, filling in all the cracks that formed in her absence.

He dragged his mouth away and drank in the sight of her.

He should let her go—put some distance between them and be reasonable and rational about everything.

The way she gazed at him erased those good intentions. Her pupils were large and dilated. Her breath came in swift pants. Her breasts smashed against his chest, her leg thrust between his. Awareness hummed through him. Locking on to her gaze, he pushed all of his doubts aside.

“I want you.” He picked her up and carried her over to the bed.

He set her down gently, refusing to just toss her on the bed and fall on top of her no matter how long he’d wanted to do exactly that.

He ran his fingers up and down her bare legs, savoring the silken texture of her skin.

Her curls tousled around her face. The T-shirt rolled up at the waist, giving him a good view of the blue lace panties.

Sliding his knee onto the bed, he nudged the shirt upward, revealing the smooth plane of her belly.

Blessed with generous curves, she was magnificent and the slope of her hip to her abdomen was a glorious thing.

He dipped his head down to kiss the skin of her tummy just above the waistband of her panties and smiled. “Your skin is so soft.”

Her fingers caressed his cheek and he looked up to see her staring at him, a private, sweet smile on her lips.

Turning his head, he kissed her fingers once before continuing to push her— his —shirt up her body until the warm mounds of her breasts appeared.

He let his gaze roam over her, stroking his hands up and down her sides, barely allowing himself the pleasure of cupping those sweet curves.

The feel of her—the taste of her—she was in his blood. He just wanted to enjoy the beauty of her. She began to move and he pushed her back into place, nudging the cotton up and over, helping her only long enough to pull the fabric free and toss it away.

The dark beauty spot on the curve of her right breast that so allured him stood out in stark relief against her creamy skin. “You still don’t tan topless.”

“Well, no…” She laughed and her skin went pink as a delightful blush suffused her. For all her sass and intelligence, she’d always possessed an inherent shyness—a modesty that was as attractive as it was charming.

She bumped her hips up at him, impatient, and her fingers plucked at his shirt, but Armand caught her hand and planted it on the bed. He stared at her sternly. “Behave.”

“Behave?” Her eyebrows shot up and she narrowed her eyes.

“Yes.” He leaned down and nipped her lower lip, drawing it between his in a hint of a teasing kiss. “You have to behave, because I want to play.”

“But I want…”

He cupped her breast and flicked a finger over the nipple and she swallowed her words in a gasp.

“Behave.” He repeated. “I’ve waited a long time for this present and I want to play.

So you’ll indulge me.” It wasn’t a question or a request. Her gaze sparked with rebellion, but her lips curved up and she relaxed her wrist under his hand.

Nodding to himself, he went back to framing her sides, stroking the contour of her shape.

He dreamed of this, the way they used to play—waking up to find her sprawled across the bed next to him. Teasing her awake with hot kisses.

So many wonderful memories… He leaned in and took one erect nipple into his mouth, sucking on it.

The pebbled skin tightened under his tongue.

He ran his hands up and down her body, hooking his thumbs into her panties until they scooted down her legs.

He kissed a path between her nipples, showering both with kisses.

Her hands flexed against the bed, clenching into fists and releasing.

He released her nipple only long enough to pull the panties down and toss them away.

Sprawled on his bed was the most beautiful woman he ever knew—no top model in the world could compare with her lush curves or come-hither eyes—a siren who called to him across the world and the years.

He ached for her so bad, it hurt.

Stripping off his clothes, he joined her on the bed and pulled her into his arms. She flowed into them, fitting everywhere she was supposed to—softness to his hard, nails digging into his shoulders, her mouth open beneath his and devouring him in a kiss that was equal parts demand and surrender.

Their breath mingled and he lost track of everywhere her body touched his.

The control he fought to hold on to slipped away.

His imagination and desire were his worst enemies.

Their hips rubbed together and his dick slid against the warm dampness of her cunt, her sudden moan matched his and he buried his face against her throat, licking and nipping little kisses to her ear.

He drew on the lobe, sucking it as he tortured himself, rubbing the length of erection along the damp slickness of her entrance.

If he just positioned his hips…

“Condom,” he murmured into her ear, tracing the whorls with his tongue.

“I don’t care.” She bit his shoulder and ran her foot up and down against the back of his leg. The action only served to grind his cock against her pussy. His eyes crossed in pleasure.

“It wasn’t a request,” he reminded her and cupped her breast, tweaking the nipple just hard enough to elicit another gasp. “Next to the bed, your side—condoms. Put one on me.”

She let out a whimper of complaint and slid against him as she stretched out to open the drawer, she fumbled in it and came back with a foil package. He took advantage of the stretch to slide down and kiss her nipples again, massaging her breasts until she let out another long, low moan.

The foil package ripped and he smiled, sucking her nipple against his teeth and drumming it with this tongue before releasing her.

He rolled onto his back and watched her beneath half-lowered eyelids.

Pink and flush, her hands actually shook as she trailed a caress down to his cock.

His dick twitched, as if eager for her touch, and he held his breath as her fingers shaped him, stroking up from base to tip.

He hissed out a breath between his teeth and her smile grew. He might be giving the orders, but she wasn’t without power.

“Be careful,” he warned. “I’m ready to come right now.”

She bent and kissed the tip. His balls tightened up at the action, but so did the fist around his heart. It was a teasing kiss—she didn’t swirl her tongue or try to suck on him. It was just the barest of caresses—her soft lips against the slit of his cock—a greeting, a lover’s affection.

What little control he had left frayed. She rolled the condom on and he flipped her over, sliding between her thighs.

He was wound tight, sweat dotted his arms and rolled down his chest. He settled his cock into place and stared into her eyes as he slid home.

She stretched to accommodate him before she arched against the pillows.

Her hair spilled out around her like some goddess receiving her due and damned if she wasn’t one.

A ripple of pleasure raced out from his core as he pushed deeper—the slow penetration maddened him, but he didn’t want to hurt her.

His mind raced and his lungs burned, but finally he slid in to the hilt.

She sighed and he closed his eyes, savoring the moment.

Her arms wound around his neck and her mouth found his.

They began to move together, rocking in a motion so familiar and heart wrenching that it shook him to his core.

She kissed him, tongue dueling with his, but it was so Anna—as much giving as taking—and then it was her turn to suck and bite at his skin as she trailed kisses down his throat.

He focused on holding the rhythm, driving her to her pleasure—she had to come and come soon or he would fly apart at the seams.

Her fingers dug into his ass, driving him deeper, and her whispery sighs turned to little cries as he ground against her with each stroke.

He slid a hand between them, forcing his own eyes open to watch as he stroked two fingers against her clit.

Her whole body arched as though electricity shot through her.

She clamped down around his cock and cried out.

He shook from the unrelenting pleasure pounding through him so fiercely it was almost painful.

He drove harder, thrusting until the world faded to the motion of her body wrapped around him, and when she cried out a second time, he pitched over the edge with her.

Collapsing against her, he held her tight.

Face buried against her throat, he couldn’t think beyond the sensations rippling down his spine.

It went beyond physical intimacy—he’d never been this connected to another person.

Her heart raced, matching his beat for beat, where her breasts rubbed his chest.

“I love you,” she whispered against him and he squeezed her close.

He loved her too.

How the hell am I ever going to keep her safe?

ANNA