“I’ve wanted to touch you for fucking weeks,” he muttered. The vulgar oath only made her burn hotter. “Teach that tart mouth a lesson, grasp this tempting arse.” His hand left her briefly, reaching around to grab a handful of her derriere, and she squeaked. Oh! She saw his mouth curve into a dissolute grin before he returned his palm to her core. “Discover all of you.”

When his fingers began to move again, aided and abetted by a disconcerting amount of wetness between her legs, Sarani nearly fainted. Sensation built and built, his free hand reaching up to pinch and roll her nipple while his clever fingers toyed with her damp flesh, until it almost became too much, blindingly bright, before shattering. A scream gathered in her throat, but then Rhystan was standing and his mouth was there, kissing her and swallowing her soft cries as her sated body settled into a boneless state against his.

They stood there, breathing hard, his forehead resting on hers.

“That’s also been on the list of things I’ve wanted to do for weeks,” he whispered.

She licked her swollen lips. “There’s a list?”

“A rather long one, considering I started it five years ago.” He brushed his mouth over hers. “All the debauched, wicked things I wanted to do to Princess Sarani Rao.”

Gracious, her body twitched with need as if she hadn’t just had the orgasm of her life. But as sanity replaced stupor, Sarani drew away and sucked in a horrified breath. It was a miracle no one had seen them or happened upon them. Though Rhystan was right. The alcove was concealed by an outcropping and the nearby plant, which had afforded them a modicum of privacy.

But still…

Sarani’s body heated, her fantasies of the duke on his knees well and truly met. Thank the heavens she hadn’t been too loud. A ferocious blush filled her cheeks, and she was glad for the darkness. Hastily, she put her bodice and skirts to rights, checking the intricate coiffure that Asha had insisted on, but thankfully that felt like it was still in place.

“We should go back inside,” she said, jostling out of the nook and past his big body. “You will undoubtedly have been missed.”

Rhystan’s hand darted out to grasp her arm and tug her back in toward him. “Sarani, wait, I—”

But whatever he’d been about to say was cut off as his eyes went wide, a frown pinching his lips. She didn’t dare look behind her, but she knew someone stood there. They’d been discovered, and while she was scandalously crushed against his chest, no less. Sarani bit her lip. At least it hadn’t been while his hand had been up her skirts. Small mercies.

“Good God, Embry,” a drunken male voice cawed loudly. “Leave some for the rest of us, will you?”