Page 39 of The Ballad of the Vampire Prince

“Good gods…” I mutter. Tears spring to my eyes as a scorching heat convulses through my body, unravelling the knot in my very core.

I don’t get to recover from the aftershocks of my quick release as he drives into my dream version in a ferocious, almost feral rhythm. The heavy long table beneath her thumps on the floor with a sound that matches the rhythmic flutter in my chest.

“You’re taking my cock so well, Nel,” he praises, his voice harsh and gravelly with the exertion. Listening to him saying those crude words while pounding into me just heightens every sensation.

He pulls her arms, slamming her into him again and again in a savage thrust. There is no escape. I can’t do anything but takethe pleasure he gives me. My muscles tighten as flame courses through my body like a storm of fury once again.

“Nel, have you come yet?” He doesn’t slow his pace while he asks me that.

Of course, I did. Twice.

But wait… he doesn’t know?

Time freezes for a brief eternity. My body is still numb from the pleasure singing in my veins. But through the thick fog of desire and lust, a wicked idea enters my head. The thought seems to cross to Dream Nel too.

That’s right… there’s no way for him to know unless we tell. This is our chance to outsmart his game.

“I haven’t come!” She shakes her head. “I haven’t come.”

The lie doesn’t sound the least bit convincing with her husky voice, but Dream Svenn halts mid-thrust.

He releases her arms, retreating just a little.

“You haven’t…?” he mutters, pausing for a moment. A light surprise filters through his expression as he studies her.

“That’s… too bad.”

Heavens above. He believes it.

We might just win this.

“Let’s give this another go, then.” My mind scatters when he drives into her once again. Tension builds, coiling with every plunge of his hips. The pleasure weaves dangerously faster through me this time.

Dream Nel is trying to hold on as much as I am. A moan gathers in her throat, but she swallows it down, refusing to surrender just yet.

He keeps pounding into her, fast and hard. Each desperate, erratic thrust has me writhing and bucking my hips. This is no longer a game. It’s a savage claiming.

Pleasure hits me with the force of an erupting volcano. This time Dream Svenn follows me over the edge. He pounds into herone final time before he lets out a long bellowing groan, rattling the windows.

He rests his weight over my dream version and I am drowning in his presence. His scent. His strength. I feel every shuddering breath as he shivers out the rest of his orgasm.

“Nel?” he asks after a while, removing his muscular body from hers.

“I… haven’t… come… yet…” my dream version repeats our lie despite being utterly wrecked by the agonizing wave of desire and bliss.

His perfect eyebrows, slicked with sweat, shoot up at her mumbling.

“I can’t fuck you properly like this.” He gathers her trembling body from the table into his arms. “Up we go.”

The corded muscle of his arms carry her as if she weighs nothing at all.

Svenn settles at the edge of the bed, positioning her so she’s straddling him on his lap. He smooths his hands over her twitching feet. I feel the soothing sensation of his touch on my own skin. “Hey, you’re all right. You’re all right.”

It feels nice and perfect to be held in his arms like this. I’m too overwhelmed by the pleasure singing in my veins to remember the chant to protect my heart.

What was it again? Walls of straw, not of bricks?

He looks at her with a pensive expression on his face. “You’re still not there, sweetheart?”