Chatper 343


    Chapter 0343


    “I’m here.” Nichs walked to her, hugged her, and then joined in her game. I followed, eager for any


    moment of normalcy, no matter how fleeting.


    Later, I followed Nichs to the guest room he was using. We hadn’t finished our.


    conversation.


    As we crossed the threshold and closed the door behind us, I expected him to start arguing again.


    Instead, he pulled me into his arms and kissed me.


    The kiss stole my breath, and my thoughts, away. For a long moment, I was in and of bliss and


    contentment, surrounded by warmth and the man I admired.


    Too soon, it ended. Anything short of forever would have been too soon.


    “I’m worried about you,” he whispered.


    My heart ached. “I’m worried about you, too.”


    Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.


    “About me?”


    “I saw the flyers. Even Julian was upset. Things are bad, Nick. You can’t keep that from me.’


    “I don’t mean to,” Nichs said. “But Piper, I wasn’t lying before. As prince, my life is always in danger.


    There are always threats.”


    “Not dropped from airnes.”


    “No.” Nichs sighed. “That’s not asmon.”


    “Nick, if anything were to happen to you…


    “Stop that thought right there,” he said. “I’m here.” He took my wrist in his and brought my hand to his


    chest, palm t over his beating heart. “Feel that?”


    I did. The steady, sure pulse of his heart.


    “I’m alive, Piper. And so are you.”


    His eyes were earnest gold. The flecks of green within them shimmered in the red-orange light of


    sunset outside the windows.


    “The threats on my life don’t scare me half so much as the thought that Jane might try to take you from


    me,” he said.


    “She can try,” I said, feeling braver now. Bolder. I could feel his heart, and mine fell into rhythm. “She


    won’t seed.”


    Steady. Strong.


    1/2


    415 BONUS


    One.


    “Nick…”


    Nichs inched closer to me. He cupped one of my cheeks with his hand. Closing my eyes, I leaned


    into him.


    “Tell me what you want from me, Piper. Whatever it is, I will give it to you.”


    I licked my lips. Fear ebbed, and in its ce swelled a burning desire. I knew what I wanted. but I was


    too nervous to voice it. I wanted to hear his thoughts. Hear hismands.


    That always made everything so much easier.


    “What do you want?” I asked.


    He inched forward and simultaneously pushed me back until I bumped against the wall. Then he came


    in closer, pinning me there.


    “I want you, Piper, I want to taste you. And touch you.” He lowered his mouth to my ear. His voice


    dropped low, husky. “I want to have you writhing, beneath me. I want to have you beg for more, and


    when I finally give it to you, I want you to scream.”


    I pressed my thighs hard together, to give some relief to the ache in my core.


    Go d, that sounded so good. I wanted that too. All of that. Whatever he would give me.


    I wanted him to meld into me until we were one person with one heart, one breath, one soul.


    It couldn’tst. I knew that. It would neverst.


    But for now… I wanted to be his.


    “Your turn, Piper,” he said, and kissed the shell of my ear.


    I shuddered. “Please,” I said. It was all I could manage in my current state. My knees shook, my legs


    were sure to give out soon.


    “Say it, Piper. Say the words.”


    Desire was a wildfire under my skin. Any moment I might fully ignite.


    Go d, I wanted to.


    “I want… I-I…”


    He held my earlobe with his teeth. He didn’t bite down but the touch sent a jolt of pleasure


    through me.


    “I want you, Nick.”


    “Good,” he said and kissed me again.