“There’s a curse on me, that’s no rumor.”
I stared at him, my mouth slightly open, my eyes wide. “A real curse?”
“Yes. One that’s darkened my days and turned me into the shadow of a man who stands before you today. But the second I saw you, Princess…”
His voice was strained.
“The second I saw you, I knew you might be the key to breaking that curse.”
His hands tightened on me, my pulse beating like a drum in my ears as I felt myself falling into him.
“My curse will only break with one woman, Princess,” he growled, his eyes burning right into mine. “And I’ve spent four damn years convincing myself she didn’t exist, until I stepped into this castle tonight and saw you.”
“Me?” I squeaked out, hating how stupid it sounded as it left my lips. But Logan didn’t seem to even notice, only pulling me tighter against him, and bringing his lips even closer to mine until I could feel my head swim with the nearness of him.
“There’s just something about you that shatters me. There’s something about you that breaks the chains I use to hold back the beast inside.”
He growled the words, his body tensing and his voice rough.
“I can’t control myself around you, Isla,” he whispered. “And that’s how I know you’re that one woman.”
He dipped his head, his lips almost touching mine, and I wanted so badly to kiss him — more than I’d ever wanted to kiss anyone in my whole life, but part of me was still scared of what might happen because of it. After all, this man was cursed — as in a actually cursed. And there was that darkness that shrouded him, the menacing black cloud that followed him everywhere.
There were the rumors of his anger — his unbridled temper and his ferocity. And yet, there on that terrace, held so delicately in his arms, I couldn’t imagine him hurting me.
…I could imagine him doing all sort of other things to me though.
“I’m going to ask you one last time, Princess,” my beast of a prince husked into my lips, his hand cupping my jaw.
“Are you scared of me?”
I swallowed thickly, feeling the heat pulsing through my body, feeling his nearness, and the thickness of his body pressing into me, and feeling the intensity of those eyes as they burned into me.
“Only a little,” I answered truthfully.
“Too scared for me to kiss you?”
“I—”
He didn’t wait for an answer, he just pulled my mouth to his, crushed his lips to mine, and claimed the kiss as his own.
Chapter 6
Logan
I kissed her fiercely, feeling everything else shatter and fall away. I could feel the beast breaking free of its cage inside of me — the animal tearing its way out.
I scooped her tiny body up in my arms, her feet actually off the ground as I clasped her to me and kissed that sweet mouth like I’d never kissed anyone before. I growled into her mouth, claiming her, yanking her hard against me. I wanted to devour her. I wanted to feel and taste and consume every fucking inch of her. Her soft lips parted for me, the sweet taste of her tongue making my blood boil as I slipped mine into her mouth, my hands tightening on her body.
I pulled away, gasping, blood roaring like diesel in my veins.
I wanted more.
I wanted all of her.
I ditched my jacket, half tearing my shirt off as I pressed her into the ivy-covered wall behind her, her legs going to either side of my hips. She whimpered, trembling under my ferocity, and I had to remind myself not to hurt her. She was going to get the beast, but I couldn’t let it all out — not all at once at least.
My mouth bruised her lips before moving down to her neck, my hands clawing at the front of her dress.
“Wait, don’t—”
I paused, pulling away and frowning.
“I mean don’t rip it is all,” she whispered, her eyes wide.
I growled, reaching instead up to the soft material hanging off her shoulders and yanking it further down her creamy skin. Her dress loosened as my mouth traveled lower, sucking and biting at her skin, leaving marks.
Marking her as mine.
I growled as I buried my face between the valley of her breasts, biting and sucking at her tender flesh, feeling her gasp and moan beneath me. I could feel her heat, right there between her legs, even through the bunched up dress, searing against me. My cock lurched at the thought of burying itself deep inside of her — of feeling her tight little royal pussy cream for me.
Fuck, I hadn’t felt this in years.
I hadn’t wanted to even touch another woman for four fucking years. And all of that was coming back now, all at once.
For her.
My hand slid up her thighs, pushing the dress higher and higher, skimming over her stockings. I found the tops of them, growling at the garters holding them up. She whimpered as my hands moved higher, gasping louder and louder until my fingers found the molten hot, soaked cotton of her panties. I almost roared like the beast I was, feeling how wet and ready she was for me. I held her fast with one hand, clawing at my own belt and zipper.
I had to take her — right here, and right now.
I yanked my cock out of my fly, and her eyes went wide at the feel of me pulsing hot against her bare thighs.
“Wait, Prince—”
I silenced her with a kiss, swallowing her moan as I deftly pushed her soaked panties to the side and ran a finger up and down her slit. I pushed forward, feeling my cock tremble and my balls tighten as I moved to— “I’m a virgin!”
Her words hit me like a bucket of cold water, stilling me. I froze, my eyes dragging to hers.
“What?”
Her face fell, her eyes dropping as her brow crumpled. “I’m— I’ve never—”
I was suddenly furious. And not at her, at myself. I was furious that I’d let the beast get too far — that I’d unchained it enough for him to almost hurt her like this.
I set her down quickly, whirling and tucking my cock away, the self-hate roaring through me like fire.
“Wait, Prince Logan—”
“Forgive me, Princess,” I choked out. “I’m— I’m broken-it’s—”
“It’s the curse, I know.”
I felt her small hand on my arm, and I turned slowly to see her standing before me.
Not running away.
Not screaming.
Not furious.
No, her face was full tenderness. And it almost broke me.
“I know it’s the curse,” she said again, softer.
“I can’t—” my voice caught. “I can’t control it around you,” I growled. “You make the animal inside just want to break free.”
“I’m sorry I said anything.”
“No,” I shook my head, pulling her close. “No, don’t be. You mean you’ve never—”
She shook her head. And fuck if my cock didn’t get even harder.
“I wanted you to,” she whispered quietly. “I did, really. I just—”
“I scared you.”
“Maybe a little,” she whispered.
“I’m so sorry,” I growled, hating myself.
“Don’t be, you didn’t— I mean…” She trailed off and looked away before glancing up at me. “Is it that hard to control?”
“Around you? Apparently.”
She smiled, her dark eyes twinkling, sparking something fierce inside of me.