Jace smiles as he finally pulls off his boxer briefs. A new wave of trepidation courses through me as he sheaths himself with the condom, and I hope it’s not clear on my face.

“Was that an order?” Jace asks, brushing a hand against my stomach. I clench my abdominal muscles in response to the sensuous touch.

I raise my eyebrows, confused by his question.

“This may come as a surprise to you, but I’ve never fucked a future queen before,” Jace adds, giving me a sexy smirk. “I’m not sure how it works.”

Love, pure and unadulterated, courses through me as I realize what Jace is trying to do. It’s exactly what I need right now. I roll on top of him and begin kissing him again, fueled by the feel of his entire body naked beneath mine. He returns my passion and then some. His hands roam over every inch of my exposed skin as he rolls us again, so he’s back above me.

I’m a needy, writhing mass of limbs by the time Jace finally begins to ease inside of me. My slick walls part easily for him at first, but I feel a sharp twinge of pain as he pushes farther inside.

Jace immediately stills. “Are you okay?” he asks, hesitating.

I raise my hand and trace the side of his stubbled cheek. “Keep going,” I urge.

He slides forward another inch, and then another, and keeps going until he’s fully seated inside me. I shift slightly as my body adjusts to the foreign sensation.

Jace’s eyes never leave mine. The connection between us feels tangible. The outside world has ceased to exist as I lie beneath him, vulnerable and exposed. The house around us could collapse and I don’t think I would even notice.

Jace moves, and the motion creates a delicious friction inside me. I moan loudly, and he moves again. He quickens his movements, and I wrap my legs around his waist to pull him even closer. He shifts deeper within me, and I cry out in pleasure. Jace begins whispering in my ear, and the sound of his deep, rough voice is all it takes to send me over the edge.

Every cell of my body lights up as I experience wave after wave of pleasure, while my inner muscles convulse around him. Jace thrusts into me a few more times before he lets out a low groan and stills. He remains hovering above me for a moment longer, resting his weight on his forearms on either side of my face.

He slowly slides out of me and reaches over to the bedside table to grab a couple of tissues. He pulls off the condom and wraps it in one, then uses the other to wipe gently between my legs. He drops the tissues in the trash and then lies back down in bed next to me. Only our arms are touching now, and my body immediately grieves the loss of contact.