Cursed by the Phantom Prince (Once Upon A Curse)

Chapter 25

25

RHAN

L arek mentioned he was meeting Toren in this courtyard. I’d gotten a wild idea to come instead and confront the prince. I’d had three weeks to convince myself that it had all been a show. What I was feeling was one sided. Period. I’d fantasized that it had been more but that was just a silly girl’s wish to love and be loved in return. This was contractual, nothing more, and I had to make that crystal clear to him going forward.

I’d stepped into that courtyard determined to set boundaries but that was before I saw him practicing with his sword. All Fae were breathtakingly beautiful, but Toren was on a completely different level. While the norm was tall with lean muscles that sculpted the body making them seem ethereal. Fantasy-like, but Toren was the complete opposite. I remembered saying that he was a Fae contradiction and the truth couldn’t be any clearer.

His muscles bulged and moved under his skin in a controlled, sensual way that I’d half convinced myself that he was made entirely for me. Everything about him drew me in. As a guard I’d been drawn to him but now that I could see his whole face whenever I wanted there was no denying that he was exactly what I thought I’d never need. But I did need him. This very moment in fact, coincidentally, he’d stopped practicing and walked to a water jug that had been left in the corner.

I couldn’t take my eyes off of him. The need I felt grew steadily until it felt like I might burst with want. He touched me first, drawing me into him and I went even though there was a possibility that I could get burned. I didn’t care. There was something building inside of me that only he could satisfy.

He’d said some things, I’d said some things, but none of it mattered. When he’d pulled me in I didn’t fight it and when his lips caressed my jaw I thought I would combust. I touched him, needing to feel his skin under my palms. He nipped my lips and my heart beat wildly in my chest; need spurred me on until he’d moved his hand to the small of my back, pushing my pelvis into his.

My breaths were coming in gasps as I tried to wrap my head around these feelings he was eliciting from me. My fingernails pressed into his skin as his chest vibrated against me. His hand cupping my cheek tilted my head to the perfect angle before his lips pressed to mine. I kissed him back, the heat in my core reaching a point that made me wonder if it was possible to burn from the inside out.

His arm lifted me, his other hand held my face in place so our kiss wouldn’t break. Something hard pressed against my back, pulling a gasp from me before I realized he’d carried me to the wall. From the waist down we were pressed together and I moaned when he shifted, causing friction where I didn’t know I needed it, but now that I did, I couldn’t stop the need pulsing from the junction of my thighs.

“More,” I demanded, between kisses, unsure how else to tell him what I needed.

He chuckled, then his mouth moved to my neck where he sucked and nipped at the tender flesh. I writhed against him while also trying to pull him closer. His lips were at my collarbone, where he did what he’d just done to my neck. I groaned when his hand cupped my breasts, kneading it until I was gasping and begging him not to stop.

His head moved lower, his mouth closing over the nipple of my breast, the fabric creating delicious friction that had me crying out with every movement. While his head remained at my chest, his hands were caressing my upper thighs, his fingers bunching the fabric of my skirt around my waist. When his hands touched the skin of my thighs I couldn’t help my hips rocking forward seeking that incredible friction that I wanted so desperately. I felt ready to demand what I needed.

Toren was breathing hard, his fingers gripping my thighs like he never wanted to let them go. Suddenly, his mouth was gone from my breasts and I cried out at the loss. Blind with need, I reached for him in order to pull him back to my chest.

I felt a soft kiss on my inner thigh that made me freeze as my mind tried to figure out what was going on.

“I need them wider, Dove,” Toren said, his voice deeper than I’d ever heard it. My thighs were trembling and it was all I could do not to collapse right there. “Put this leg on my shoulder,” he instructed but I hesitated so he ran his hand down my leg until he’d reached my calf and with firm direct movements, guided my leg so the back of my knee was resting on his shoulder.

“Good, Dove, good,” he praised, making me feel incredible. “I'm going to put my mouth on you now. I need you to tell me it’s okay. Use your words.”

With his encouraging words I was somehow able to breathe out a ‘yes’ before I felt his hand moving upward. My hips jerked when his fingers touched the thin fabric of my underwear.

“Shhh,” he soothed, pushing the material aside to expose my tender flesh to his eyes. “Just a taste. I promise. Just a little taste.”

I wasn’t sure if he was talking to me or himself. His face drew closer to the most sensitive part of me. I could feel his breath as he inched even closer, so close I felt his stumble graze the skin high on my thigh.

I’d never done this with anyone but I’d overheard enough guards and maids to guess what he was about to do. It gave me a thrill that I’d get to experience what most had said was the best tasting part of a woman. I was incredibly curious to see if this was as mind blowing as they’d all said it was.

I felt his tongue slide between my folds, making me moan at the feel of him down there. Every bit of nervousness left me as I moved so he could get better access. He growled, the sound vibrating against my core as he dipped back in for another taste. His hands moved, bracing my hips so that I couldn’t close them even if I wanted to. Licking turned into sucking as he dove deeper, exploring me with his mouth.

The edge was close. I could feel it coming with every lick, suck, and flick. My hands were in his hair, pushing his face into me as my hips moved with him. My face was scrunched up, my eyes closed as I rode his face like I’d done it before.

“Toren,” I begged, crying out when his mouth latched onto the bundle of nerves at the front.

I cried out as he ignited my body, jerking as I rode wave after wave of pleasure. Toren continued his ministration, prolonging my climax until I was seeing stars.

When my body relaxed, I felt like I’d run an incredible distance. My legs were wobbly like a newborn fawn and I was certain I’d have fallen over if Toren hadn’t been holding me up with his strength.

While I was still reveling in the aftermath the Phantom Prince carefully returned the fabric to where it had been, completely soaked through now, and slowly rose until he was looking down at me with absolute satisfaction. I felt lighter than I had ever been. I wanted to laugh and cry all at the same time.

Toren leaned in and kissed me, I opened for him a clear invitation and he flicked his tongue into my mouth just like he’d done between my thighs. I shivered at the memory; tasting myself on his lips and tongue gave me an erotic thrill that I couldn't get enough of.

“You taste incredible,” Toren whispered huskily behind my ear, making me squirm with desire.

“Thanks,” I replied with a small laugh unsure how to respond. “I want to do that again.”

Toren groaned then wrapped his arms around me and spun us so his back was to the wall now. I leaned into him, letting him support me as I basked in the after effects.

“I’ve never…”

“Me either,” he interrupted, nuzzling my neck before sucking in a breath. “Not gonna lie…I’d love to do it again with you but I’m trying to be a gentleman.”

“I appreciate that,” I giggled, wondering where his manners went when he was on his knees before me begging for a taste.

I remembered how powerful I felt and I couldn’t deny that I couldn’t wait to feel that way again. I wanted to see desire in Toren’s dark gaze knowing I was the only one he looked at like that.

Leaning closer, I pressed my lips to his, emboldened by the fact this was the first time I’d initiated a kiss. Toren groaned into my mouth and I swallowed every sound, reveling in the power that I had over him. It was intoxicating.

I wanted more.

I slipped my hand between us, intent on reciprocating, when several things happened at once. My hand was on the waistband of his trousers when I heard a shout followed by a horrible screech that reminded me of a bird.

I whipped my head around, my hand flying to the small dagger I had hidden in a secret pocket at the base of my spine. First thing I saw was Larek running toward us both, his hand outstretched and he was yelling something while his falcon was in a dive. Something as dark as a shadow came into my field of vision and my heart clenched in my chest. My first thought was that dark presence I’d felt in the mind of the boy from the Sun Court, but this was different. The black color had a distinctive shape that shimmered like oil on water.

Something sharp pierced my side and I cried out, looking down to see a feather sticking out of my side. I stared, shocked at the shimmering feather lodged just below my left breast. I expected there to be blood. Rivers of it, but it never happened. Instead, my body seemed to absorb it. I screamed, horrified as it sank deeper and my skin knit together. I could feel the feather slide between my organs as my body healed itself, trapping the thing inside of me.

My vision swam. The edges grew fuzzy as my mind retreated from reality. I didn’t fight it. I let my mind succumb to the darkness that existed behind my eyelids, hoping to stave off the panic that was quickly taking over my body.