for my million dollars.” Her sigh this time was more solemn. “I suppose I’ve taken care of one problem tonight.”
He stiffened. “Problem?”
“That pesky virginity,” she clarified. “Now instead of auctioning it off to the highest bidder, I can say it was stolen by a wicked dragon.”
He knew she didn’t mean that as it sounded. She wouldn’t tell anyone about dragon-shifters—besides, who would believe her? But if she thought he’d stolen something from her… Dragons took what they wanted—gold, gems, the skulls of hapless knights—but he had wanted more than that from her.
The reminder that, rich as he was, he couldn’t afford to want anything from her ached in his bones. He kissed her temple as she snuggled a little closer. “And I will say I was slayed by a beautiful, innocent princess.”
“Not innocent anymore.” She chuckled to herself. “Now I’m not the girl who hasn’t , but the girl who hell-yeahs .” She let out the word on a long, satisfied breath that breezed across his bare skin like the touch he wouldn’t allow.
He had never been innocent. But his time alone in the silent dark had made one truth shine as clear and bright as a starlit diamond: he wasn’t wicked enough to claim the solarys power that was hardly more than a glint in her heart.
***
When Esme woke, Bale was gone.
She blinked at the bright sunlight beaming between the panels of the heavy curtains. It had been so dark last night. She couldn’t conjure up a single image in her mind.
Oh no. Had it all been a dream?
Much better than the nightmares that had plagued her before that. But still, she didn’t want it to be a random conjuring of her sleeping mind.
She traced one fingertip down her body to the sparse curls on her mound. She paused then feathered her fingers through the hair to touch her clit.
A shudder wracked her, not just at the delicate touch of her own hand but at the sensual memory of a more masterful stroke. Oh god, he had broken her.
And she…let him. More than let him, she had made him. She was remaking herself.
The idea felt almost as good as his touch. Almost. She’d have to compare to be sure…
Drowsily, she traced around the outer petals of her labia. He’d said she would be sore, but though she felt a twinge of that strain—she quivered again at the memory of him stretching her legs wide, of thrusting herself onto his long, thick shaft—her lazy circles roused a soft stirring in her core.
Why hadn’t he stayed?
Her exploration slowed. Had she been too needy? Too pushy? She didn’t know the right way to have a one-night stand…one night that she wanted to be longer. He’d left without waking her, as if it had never happened.
And really, what had changed? She certainly wasn’t going to look any different on the outside. It was about feeling different. And if he didn’t feel anything…
With a grimace, she pushed back the covers and found her clothes strewn around the bed and floor. She peered at the scraps. The white silk had never been exactly sturdy, but now it was…shreds.
He hadn’t merely taken her clothes off.
He’d cut them.
The white silk was mixed with black scraps. His clothes. Everything had been shredded.
But she didn’t see the cape. He’d left her room stark naked except for a cape?
What happens in Vegas…
She went to the windows to throw back the curtains. She winced a little at the glare. And at the fact she was stark naked.
She didn’t usually sleep that way. It felt…weird. Weird but nice. She stretched in the window. Nobody’d be able to see her with that glare…
A loud chime interrupted her thoughts, and with a yelp she jumped back into the bed, clutching the covers to her chest.
Her phone chimed again and she laughed self-consciously.
So much for being brash.
She grabbed her phone from the bedside table. Her heart pattered a little harder. Maybe he had sent a message…
She checked the texts. Piper, asking how she’d
He stiffened. “Problem?”
“That pesky virginity,” she clarified. “Now instead of auctioning it off to the highest bidder, I can say it was stolen by a wicked dragon.”
He knew she didn’t mean that as it sounded. She wouldn’t tell anyone about dragon-shifters—besides, who would believe her? But if she thought he’d stolen something from her… Dragons took what they wanted—gold, gems, the skulls of hapless knights—but he had wanted more than that from her.
The reminder that, rich as he was, he couldn’t afford to want anything from her ached in his bones. He kissed her temple as she snuggled a little closer. “And I will say I was slayed by a beautiful, innocent princess.”
“Not innocent anymore.” She chuckled to herself. “Now I’m not the girl who hasn’t , but the girl who hell-yeahs .” She let out the word on a long, satisfied breath that breezed across his bare skin like the touch he wouldn’t allow.
He had never been innocent. But his time alone in the silent dark had made one truth shine as clear and bright as a starlit diamond: he wasn’t wicked enough to claim the solarys power that was hardly more than a glint in her heart.
***
When Esme woke, Bale was gone.
She blinked at the bright sunlight beaming between the panels of the heavy curtains. It had been so dark last night. She couldn’t conjure up a single image in her mind.
Oh no. Had it all been a dream?
Much better than the nightmares that had plagued her before that. But still, she didn’t want it to be a random conjuring of her sleeping mind.
She traced one fingertip down her body to the sparse curls on her mound. She paused then feathered her fingers through the hair to touch her clit.
A shudder wracked her, not just at the delicate touch of her own hand but at the sensual memory of a more masterful stroke. Oh god, he had broken her.
And she…let him. More than let him, she had made him. She was remaking herself.
The idea felt almost as good as his touch. Almost. She’d have to compare to be sure…
Drowsily, she traced around the outer petals of her labia. He’d said she would be sore, but though she felt a twinge of that strain—she quivered again at the memory of him stretching her legs wide, of thrusting herself onto his long, thick shaft—her lazy circles roused a soft stirring in her core.
Why hadn’t he stayed?
Her exploration slowed. Had she been too needy? Too pushy? She didn’t know the right way to have a one-night stand…one night that she wanted to be longer. He’d left without waking her, as if it had never happened.
And really, what had changed? She certainly wasn’t going to look any different on the outside. It was about feeling different. And if he didn’t feel anything…
With a grimace, she pushed back the covers and found her clothes strewn around the bed and floor. She peered at the scraps. The white silk had never been exactly sturdy, but now it was…shreds.
He hadn’t merely taken her clothes off.
He’d cut them.
The white silk was mixed with black scraps. His clothes. Everything had been shredded.
But she didn’t see the cape. He’d left her room stark naked except for a cape?
What happens in Vegas…
She went to the windows to throw back the curtains. She winced a little at the glare. And at the fact she was stark naked.
She didn’t usually sleep that way. It felt…weird. Weird but nice. She stretched in the window. Nobody’d be able to see her with that glare…
A loud chime interrupted her thoughts, and with a yelp she jumped back into the bed, clutching the covers to her chest.
Her phone chimed again and she laughed self-consciously.
So much for being brash.
She grabbed her phone from the bedside table. Her heart pattered a little harder. Maybe he had sent a message…
She checked the texts. Piper, asking how she’d
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