Page 37 of The Accidental Prince (Accidentally in Love #3)

H e moved across the room and found her sitting up in bed. Though her face was shadowed, he could hear her hushed breathing.

“What are you doing here? You were supposed to stay on the island,” she whispered fiercely.

“Then who would protect you?” He moved in and rested both hands on either side of her body. The clean scent of her skin held a hint of crushed grass, reminding him of the afternoon they’d spent together. He wanted to lie in her arms this night, no matter what the danger was.

Captain Feldmann had led him to Serena’s room, but all else was up to him. If he were caught, Karl knew that there was no escaping the retribution.

He didn’t care. Serena had given herself to him, allowing him to love her. No woman had ever wanted him, save this one. He’d walk through a storm of bullets if it meant being with her.

“Did you think I would give up on you that easily?”

“Someone could come in at any time. It’s not safe for you here.”

He knew it. But the rush of danger only made him more intent upon seeing her. “I locked the door when I came in.”

She tried to protest again, but he covered her mouth with his, cutting off her arguments with a kiss. “I know you don’t want me here. But I won’t allow him to hurt you again. I’ll be damned if I stand by and let it happen.”

“Instead, you’ll risk being caught?” Dismay and worry mingled in her voice, even as she pulled him into an embrace.

“You’re worth any risk, Serena.” She let out a soft gasp when he lowered his mouth to the soft place between her nape and shoulder.

Gooseflesh broke over her, and he grew aware that she was only wearing a thin nightdress.

He tasted the pulse of her heartbeat, and promised, “I’ll take you away and no one will see us. ”

“And we’ll be caught before we even get to the end of the hall,” she said. “They’ll take you below and lock you away. My father will condemn you to death, no matter what your family might do to interfere.” Her voice quavered, and she insisted, “You have to go. Let me make my own escape.”

He leaned in and pressed her back against the pillow. “Don’t ask me to abandon you.”

“The way your family did?” she whispered. “Is that what this is about?”

For a moment, he rested with his face against her hair. She held him close, winding both arms around his neck, and he gripped her fiercely.

A tightness rose up within him, for how could she ever understand? When she’d admitted that she loved him, it was as if the earth had cracked beneath his feet. If something happened to her, he might as well be dead.

“You’re all I have left to fight for, Serena. I don’t belong anywhere anymore. Not in Lohenberg. Not here.”

“You belong with me,” she said. “Just as I belong with you.”

Before he could speak, her hands were moving over him, loosening his shirt. When her palms touched his bare chest, he couldn’t stop the crashing wave of desire that started to push away common sense.

“There isn’t time for this, Serena,” he protested.

They needed to get away now, while most of the castle was abed. But when she took his hands and moved them beneath her nightgown to her bare breasts, his mind went blank. She wrapped her legs around his waist, pulling him so close, he lost himself to her.

“Touch me,” she pleaded. “Let me remember what it was like.”

His brain reminded him that this was foolish, that she ought to be getting dressed and fleeing with him while they could. But he wanted her as badly as she wanted him.

He kissed her, their mouths mingling with heat and the forbidden fear of discovery. His hands moved over her skin, caressing her. Against his better judgement, he raised the hem of her nightgown and exposed her to the waist. Between her legs, he found her wet and swollen.

“Please, Karl,” she begged.

He shut his eyes tightly, trying to gather the control he didn’t have. But she moved her hands to his trousers, unfastening the buttons. When her hand moved over his erection, he reached in to touch her womanhood, finding the place of her own arousal.

Knowing that anyone could walk in on them at any time seemed to drive his arousal even harder. But he wanted to make this moment good for her.

With his thumb, he pressed against the area of her pleasure, slowly circling as he coaxed her to welcome his intrusion. He kissed her hard, and against her mouth, he demanded, “I’m not letting you go, Serena. You belong to me, and our kingdoms can go up in flames for all I care.”

Serena took him in her palm, guiding him to her slick entrance. Her breath caught when he settled there, gently probing.

He bit hard against his lip, tasting blood as he fought to keep from plunging deep inside.

He entered her slowly, feeling her wetness sheathe every inch of his shaft.

Lowering his mouth to the curve of her breast, he penetrated until he could go no further.

He held steady, not moving as he raised himself up above her.

“I want every night with you. Every morning.” He began to move, punctuating his words with the rhythm of his thrusts.

Serena arched her back, pressing deeply against him.

He could feel her body squeezing his manhood as he entered her.

When he increased the tempo, she lost every inhibition, her body trembling as she climbed closer to her release.

She was achingly close to her climax, and her nails dug into his back. “I won’t let you die, Karl. I promise I’ll come to you. But you have to leave.” She was half-sobbing, when he covered her nipple with his mouth, sucking hard while his hand stroked the other breast. “I love you.”

Karl closed his eyes, never ceasing his rhythmic penetrations. It didn’t seem possible that anyone could love him, but he needed her. More than anything else.

He held her close as he continued pumping into her, until she shuddered in her climax. As she came apart, he groaned, releasing his seed inside her.

He lay atop her, still mostly clothed, his body damp with perspiration. She lay motionless, not looking at him. Karl adjusted his clothing, fastening his trousers and turning her over. “We need to leave, Serena.”

She stood and took him by the hand. With slow steps, she walked with him to the door.

“Do you need help getting dressed?” he asked.

She shook her head. “I can’t go with you at this moment. It would attract too much attention. Let me meet you just before dawn. Wait for me beyond the gates where you first kidnapped me.”

Her voice held an emptiness, as if she were trying to make him leave her behind. He drew her into his arms, holding her close. “Don’t surrender, Serena. Fight for what you want.” His hands threaded through her hair, and he felt the dampness of her tears against his shoulder.

She gripped him hard and whispered, “I’ll come…as soon as I can.”

He didn’t believe her. The bleakness in her face held the shadow of tears. “If you don’t, I’ll come after you. I swear it on my life.”

At first light, Serena went to visit her mother.

Queen Clara looked slightly better than the last time she’d seen her.

There was color in her face, and she was seated in a chair instead of resting in bed.

The silvery gown she wore accentuated Clara’s light brown hair, and a light filled up her smile when she laid eyes on Serena.

“I’ve missed you, liebe Mutter ,“ Serena said, kneeling at her mother’s feet and embracing her.

Frail arms came around her shoulders, and Clara touched her cheek. “I understand you were kidnapped by a prince.”

Serena nodded. “Anna sent him to protect me, believing that it would save my reputation if anyone learned I was traveling alone. But things…turned out differently.”

Her mother reached out and took her hand. “You have feelings for this man, don’t you?”

Though Serena lowered her head in a yes, there were no words she could express. She loved Karl enough that she had to protect him from her father’s wrath.

Last night, when he’d come to her room, she’d been both elated and terrified that he was here.

Though she’d wanted nothing more than to flee, she knew that Freiherr Albert von Meinhardt, had positioned two dozen guards all around the palace—men loyal to her father.

She didn’t know how Karl had managed to get inside her room without being seen, but it was impossible for her to escape a second time. Not without leading him into danger.

Better to love him while he was still alive than to bring about his death from her own selfish wishes.

Clara patted her shoulder. “I am sorry that you cannot marry him any longer.” Her mouth drew into a taut line. “But I understand you are to wed Freiherr Meinhardt in two days.”

“I won’t wed him,” Serena said. She told her mother of the Freiherr’s decision to imprison Captain Feldmann’s wife and child. “Not a man who would stoop so low.”

Her mother looked aghast. “What will you do?”

“I’m going to abdicate my throne to Anna.

” A quiet resignation filled her up inside, and she felt at peace with the decision.

Running away would not solve anything. If she was to live her life as a commoner, she didn’t want to be constantly looking over her shoulder for soldiers. She wanted to be free.

And that meant facing the king’s fury.

“Serena,” her mother continued, “your father has ordered you to meet with him, once we’ve finished talking. Shall I come with you?”

“It would be better if you remained here,” she answered, knowing that her mother was not strong enough to defend her. “I will face him alone.”

And I won’t cower before him , she promised herself. Though she didn’t believe that he would let her go, she was ready to face the worst of his temper. She had her own reason to fight, a reason that was waiting for her beyond the gates.

She rose from her mother’s side and nodded to her ladies. “I will see my father now.”

As they walked down the hallway, Katarina came to her side and offered her hand. Serena took it, and though she wore gloves, her fingers were icy cold.