Page 97 of The Ballad of the Vampire Prince

This is cruelty.

“Eight.” His teeth scrape against my nipple and I gasp at the thrill skittering down my spine.

He ceases the assault on my breast, only to grind his body against mine.

“Seven.” It’s impossible not to whimper at the feel of his massive length, pressing on my core. I am overwhelmed by how good it feels. Everything feels like it’s too much and not enough at the same time.

“Six. Tell me I shouldn’t do this, Rhianelle,” he says. “Tell me I shouldn’t touch you. Five.”

I know he’s not himself at the moment. This will be nothing more than a lie. And yet I want to live in this beautiful lie. It feels so good to be wanted. His touch is muddling any clear thought in my head. My body is shaking with need.

“Four.” Another sensual thrust and I can’t fight the sound that escapes my throat. But I don’t have his venom in my system like that time in the tower. I need more friction to get off.

Svenn seems to be able to read my mind because his hand drifts lower, slipping underneath my dress to give me what I want. He slips a finger between my legs, feels the pool of arousal there and growls.

“Three.” He starts stroking that bundle of nerves in smooth circles with his thumb. I feel something building up inside of me. My lips tremble with another sigh. “Oh gods.”

“Two.” He plunges another finger and a desperate moan escapes from my throat. My hand instinctively grips his and I lift my face to look at him.

“Svenn, please.” I don’t know if I’m begging him to release me or if I’m begging for release.

“I know, I know, sweetheart,” he croons, soothing me. I latch onto to his tunic, using it as leverage to bring him closer, deeper.

His fingers thrust in and out until I’m bucking against his hand, arching my body against him. He curls his fingers deep inside me, just at the right spot, and I erupt into flames. My head hangs backwards from the pleasure and I’m soaring, levitatingright out of my body. I can never bring myself to this height on my own. This is stronger than anything I’ve ever experienced before.

He withdraws his fingers slowly. I’m melting against him, but he holds me in place, making sure I don’t fall.

“One.” He kisses the column of my throat.

I hate how easily my body caves in to his touches. Like it’s not mine. Like it belongs to him and only him.

Heat flushes my cheeks when I realize I’m still gripping his hand. I release it slowly. I’m not proud of what I just did, but I’m not exactly ashamed of it either.

Some kind of realization enters his eyes when he looks at me.

“You chose me…” he mutters, disbelief lacing his voice.

“Take me back,” I finally squeak out.

“A little too late for that.” He gives me a soft smile.

I bite my lower lip in frustration.

“The bond was right. You want me,” he says, sounding a little delirious. “Well, you made the right decision, Nel.”

What have I done?

I try to get out of his arms but he holds me tighter. “Unlike the bond, I’m not that cruel. You’re free to walk in the castle during the day and night. I’ll give you your private time to bathe, to garden, to bake. You can do whatever you want, as long as we stay together,” he says like a well-planned maniac. Something tells me he has thought of this often. “In time, you will learn to want me.”

Hope litters the last part of his plan so much that it almost breaks my heart to say, “I don’t want that.”

His jaw clenches as he exhales the word. “Fine.”

“Let’s start over. Ten. Nine. Eight…”

“I…” My voice trails off into nothing.

We both know what my answer would be by the end of that countdown. He watches me with an arrogant smirk playing onhis lips. “Give me your answer anytime you want. I’ll honor your wish.”