Page 55 of Slaying the Shifter Prince
I grunted and snuggled deeper into the cushions. Itwasa nice feeling, a bit like the cloudy softness of his bed. “Where was the sun when my toes nearly froze off?”
“Well, perhaps notalways. Now, hush.”
I managed about five minutes, picking at the trim on the cushions. It was unbearable lying there doing nothing. Too still. Wasted time.
Beside me, the prince’s chest rose and fell slowly. So relaxed, he’d fallen asleep. Tiredness did shadow his eyes today—he must’ve been kept up late in meetings. Or had he taken the opportunity of my absence to call Anya or someone else to his bedroom? I’d ruined sex, apparently, but with me away, maybe he’d found it enjoyable once more.
That thought scraping through me, I sat up and took in our surroundings. We had the wide, white beach to ourselves. Towards the headlands on either side, it became rocky, and light glinted on rock pools. Out to sea, no sail interrupted the horizon’s perfect line, just as no cloud marked the clear sky. The path up the grassy valley was narrow but well-trodden, disappearing inland over the brow of a hill.
Whatever had happened while I’d been asleep on his stag—I suspected some kind of magic—we’d left his lands. His ruined estate was far from the sea. If I crept up there and over the hill, I could run. I only needed to head south and I’d reach the Queen’s Wall that separated Elfhame from Albion. I’d be free.
I had warm clothes and food if I stole his bag. Hells, I could even take his stag. How hard could it be to ride?
“You’re welcome to run, if you want me to hunt you again.”
25
He said it without anything other than his lips moving. Eyes closed. Chest still rising and falling slowly. “I won’t be as gentle when I catch you this time.”
“I don’t recall you being especially gentle last time.”
“Oh, that was gentle. Trust me.” He grinned, and it was an odd comfort, because it hinted at the cruel prince I’d grown used to. “Maybe I’ll sit on my throne and bend you over my knee and spank you. I could make you count the strikes and thank me for every one.”
My mouth went dry. Fear mingled with the warm comfort of his cruelty, tightening deep inside me. With much effort, I swallowed and lifted my chin, like I wasn’t afraid. “What if I want you to spank me?”
His eyebrows squeezed together as he caught his lip between his teeth. “You play a dangerous game, little bird. You shouldn’t tempt me like that or I’ll need to think up new and unusual punishments for you. Ones you won’t enjoy.”
My heart sped at the challenge. I would smile and take it all. And the smile would be genuine, because I’d know it was breaking his enjoyment of his toy. “Don’t be so sure,Your Highness.”
His eyes flicked open. Inevercalled him that. Truth be told, I’d only done it to set him off-balance, and it was a joy to watch him frown, trying to work me out.
He jerked to a sitting position and shoved his hand into the picnic basket.
The smell of food wafting from inside stirred my appetite, even though it only felt like a couple of hours since I’d eaten breakfast. Though the sun was almost at its height. How long had I slept for on the ride?
We ate in silence. Not only was the bag enchanted to fit so much inside, but the basket had to be magical, too. The food was fresh and hot, like it came straight from the oven. I savoured slices of herbed lamb and little spheres of potato that had been breaded and fried, so they crunched as I bit into them.
Fucking fae and their incredible food. It was something I’d miss in the Underworld after his guards or friends killed me.
He lay on the blanket after eating, like a sabrecat sated after a kill. But his breaths didn’t settle to that slow rhythm of sleep, and a short while later he stood and tugged off his shirt. “I’m going for a swim. You’re welcome to join me, if you know how.” He shucked off his trousers and stretched every inch of his naked body.
I didn’t even try to keep my gaze off him this time.
It might’ve been impossible.
The sunlight burnished the gold of his skin. The stripes on his arms and side flexed as his muscles stretched and bunched and created all kinds of interesting shadows. The deepVover his hips pointed my attention down to the trimmed auburn hair at the base of his dick. Even soft, it hung much further down his muscled thighs than any other cock I’d seen. The stripes didn’t continue around it, but it was a deeper shade of gold than the rest of him.
I was an awful person.
I was going straight to a pit of punishment in the Underworld.
Because for a second—the briefest, worst, most delicious second—I wondered what it would feel like. Smooth? Or would the skin be velvet soft, catching a little on my grip? Would I be able to tease moisture from his tip and spread it over the crown with my palm, allowing my touch to slide over him with ease? What sound would he make as I did that?
It was only that I wanted to conquer him. Unman him. Bring him to his knees, admitting that he wanted me, the pathetic little human who’d tried to cut his throat.
I dug my nails into my palms, not looking up at his face to check exactly how smug his smile was. “Of course I can swim.”
Standing, I peeled off my chemise. I still didn’t deign to look, but I could feel him watching me. I removed my jewellery and unbuckled my collar—the saltwater would ruin the leather. The blazing sun caressed my bare skin as I pushed down my undergarments and stood before it and its prince naked.
