Page 39 of Slaying the Shifter Prince
“Thank you, Sepher,” he said as his touch trailed down my spine, “for so generously sharing such a great view.”
Goosebumps flooded my skin. I wasn’t sure if it was at his words or his touch, but it was definitely athim.
Amid the sounds of eating, I caught the faint noise of fabric tearing. The pinprick of claws traced over my skin. He’d torn my dress, and his hand showed no sign of slowing in its descent.
With a deep breath, I continued spooning food onto his plate. The temptation to spit on it bubbled in my veins, but the prince watched me, unblinking, his meal forgotten, knife and fork still in his hands.
Roark reached my arse and squeezed, fingers cupping right under the cheek. I gasped at the five points of pain shooting through me where his claws broke my skin. A second later, I mastered myself and plastered a smile back in place, but it was too late. He was already laughing.
It spread through the group, skipping Celestine and only lightly touching Cadan.
The prince held very still. That muscle in his jaw twitched, and for a moment I thought he was going to reach across the table and kill me, but his lips curved slowly.
No one had told his eyes that he was smiling, though. They remained blank as he straightened and put down his cutlery.
Roark’s laugh faded to a chuckle, and he squeezed my flesh again. “And here I was thinking she wouldn’t react toanything. Shame, I was going to try somewhere else next. Maybe I still should.” He turned his hand, fingers straying between my legs, his target unmistakable.
Teeth creaking together, I placed a slice of beef on his plate and waited.
The prince huffed and slammed his palm onto the table. Every plate and platter leapt. A glass toppled over, sending crimson wine seeping across the white tablecloth. Roark stilled a hair’s breadth from my pussy.
“This is taking too long.” The prince flicked a finger at Cadan, but his yellow eyes remained on me. “Bring back the servants. Little bird, come here.”
I tried not to let my relief show as I straightened and stepped out of Roark’s space.
But my relief was short-lived, because the prince gave a slow, slow smile, and this time it did reach his eyes, glittering and wicked. “I should’ve been more specific.” He leant forward, fingers steepled over the table. “Crawl to me on your hands and knees.”
This again? As if it would bother me.
“Of course,Your Highness,” I said with a theatrical bow.
A couple of fae jerked upright. Other than at my “collaring,” this was probably the first time they’d heard me speak.
Like this was a stage rather than just a dining room, I sank to my knees with a dancer’s grace and crawled the length of the table. Head up, I batted my eyelashes at my audience until I rounded the corner and could see the prince. Then I kept my focus on him with a rigid smile.
Break me? Impossible.
I was going to crush him into pieces and fucking devour him.
17
The prince’s smirk didn’t waver as he held my gaze, but there was something brittle about it.
On my knees at his feet, I spread my hands and presented myself.
“Such a good pet.” But there was a gritted edge to his voice that told me he wasn’t happy. Perhaps he didn’t think I’d do this in front of so many people.
He watched me a long while, calculation in his predatory eyes.
“What are you going to do, Sepher?” Roark leant forward, and although I didn’t break from the prince’s gaze, I could feel those black eyes boring into me. “I have a few suggestions.”
The prince lifted his chin as though preening under the attention. “I know you hate me. You tried to kill me, after all. But…” He held my throat and slid his hand up until I was forced to tilt my head back. “I’ve seen how you look at me, little bird.” He came close, breath hot in my ear as he murmured, “And I scented your arousal during our hunt yesterday. How deliciously twisted.”
He sat back with a grin, and I fought to master myself. But with his hand there, he must’ve felt my thick, slow swallow. Maybe even the burning flush of my skin.
“So, I think it will be best for you to admit the truth. Nice and loud for everyone to hear. A cleansing, if you will. Tell me I’m the most handsome man you’ve ever seen.” He sat back, one eyebrow arching in challenge.
My teeth fused together.
