CHAPTER FOUR | England 1891

CHAPTER FOUR

England 1891

KATE ALLOWED THE KING to walk her back to her room. Just the feel of him under her hands had been intoxicating. And not because he was the king.

Because he was Vincent.

She knew she was falling in love with him. In her heart, she believed the king was her mate. It was such a strong and all-encompassing feeling, yet she could tell no one lest she look like a fool.

Worse, from Vincent, all she got in return was a bundle of mixed messages.

One minute, the king was being possessive, dragging her out of an orgy and staring at her like she was the most desirable female in the race; the next, he would dismiss her coldly. It had her head in a spin.

Every day, Kate would see him as they went about their lives. He would send her a smile and she’d blush. She had caught him watching her more than once during their main meal. And not just a small glance either; these were long moments where she could see him in a reflection or out of the corner of her eye. Kate would wait before eventually giving in and turning to him. He was never bashful about it. Vincent would give her a discreet wink and grin as she blushed.

He thought no one noticed, but they did. The prince would be watching them and give her an odd, small smile which felt like pity, but Kate was so sure Vincent was her mate, so she could be patient.

Because the thing was, Vincent Moretti was gorgeous. She loved talking to him and found him endlessly interesting, educated, and funny. But he was so goddamn sexy she had to stop herself from jumping him most days.

His tall, strong body was just calling her to touch him. Tonight, when he’d lifted her in his arms, saving her from tripping over a branch, had been swoon worthy. And she was not a female who swooned. Yet, when her hand had landed on his chest and she’d felt the layers of solid muscle, her panties had moistened. A low-level buzz remained running throughout her body, warm and needy.

“Are you okay?” Vincent asked as they arrived at her door.

“Mm-hmm,” she replied, nodding.

He tilted her chin to make her look at him. Hope sprang within her as she glanced at his lips, waiting for him to lower his head and finally claim her.

A small groan left them instead, and Vincent moved an inch away. “Good day, Kate. May you rest well.”

Goddamn him.

She needed his hands on her. Or they would need to be her own.

“It shall not be restful, my lord. I will tell you that,” she muttered.

Kate didn’t know what had come over her. The words had just fallen out.

Vincent frowned and stepped forward to open her door before all but pushing her inside. “Good day, Kate,” he mumbled again and crossed his arms.

She mumbled good day and walked into her room. Flopping on the bed, she let out a long, loud groan.

Oh, how she ached for him.

That damn male had no idea how sexy he was.

Oh, those long, solid limbs of his. How she would love them between her own.

Vincent was tall and broad chested, as a king should be, with a strong jaw and dark, wavy hair. Though he kept it short, it was long enough to run your fingers through. Or so she imagined. His deep brown eyes saw everything, and when they weren’t narrowed at her for one reason or another, they sparkled when he was teasing her.

And that damn wink of his.

Kate closed her eyes and imagined Vincent lying over her, heat enveloping them both as he stared down at her full of lust. With his shirt off, she could only imagine his round, solid shoulders and powerful arms on either side of her head as he made his way down her body to begin pleasing her.

Kate’s hand bunched up her skirts, and she moaned as her fingers found the wetness that had been building. She circled her clit, imaging it was Vincent’s hand instead of her own, and spread her legs.

“Oh, God,” she quietly moaned. “Touch me.”

She increased the speed, pulling her bodice down, exposing her breasts. As soon as the pink bud was pressed between her fingers, she let out a groan.

Would Vincent suck or bite her nipples as he tucked her legs up, widening the space for his big thighs so he could thrust inside her?

Kate rubbed and squeezed, seeing only the king as he fucked her pussy, totally filling her.

Heat flushed throughout her body as she arched into the imagined force of his touch.

“ Ohyesyesyes .”

As her orgasm crashed beneath her fingers, she heard a bang. Sitting up, her fingers still in her wet flesh, she heard voices.

“ Vince, man, what are you doing? ”

“ Nothing. Fuck. Get out of here. ”

What in the blazes? Was the king outside her chambers?

Kate crossed the room and yanked open the door.

Vincent turned, and his eyes burned into hers. Her mouth dropped open as embarrassment burned on her cheeks.

“What—?” she began, but the king flew across the space between them, pushed her into the room, and slammed the door shut. The next moment she was up against the wall, and Vincent’s lips slammed down on hers. His mouth possessed her while his hand ran up her body and took hold of her breast.

“I can smell you,” he growled against her lips, then plowed his tongue in deeper.

Kate felt him hard against her stomach and knew he was ready for her. She began to reach for him, but he grabbed her wrist, pulling her a few inches away.

“Don’t do that again,” he said.

When Kate glanced at her hand, Vincent shook his head. “No. Not that. Well, yes, that. But I mean...” He looked over at her bed.

He wanted her to stop masturbating?

She narrowed her eyes at him.

“Now you are being ridiculous, Vincent.”

In here, he was Vincent. Out there, he was the king. Only the two of them knew the distinction.

“I know. Just... fuck , I need to go.” He stared at her mouth for a long moment, cursed again, then left.

Kate sighed.

Eventually, he would realize she was his mate. Wouldn’t he?