The Prince's Gift

Chapter 14.

The warm water ran over me, surrounding me in warmth. I hadn't realized how dirty I'd gotten from my cave dive, and I was glad to have the shower to wash away the layer of grime from the day. There were so many unanswered questions, but for now, I could let myself be lost in the warm cloud of steam surrounding me, and in this gorgeous man in here with me.

He ran the soft sponge over my back, rinsing away the last traces of filth. I turned around and took the sponge, dropping it down into the corner. His large hands immediately wrapped around my hips, pulling my body against his as his lips came down to kiss my forehead. "You have no idea how worried I was today. After everything that happened, you can't just go running off without someone with you Ana. It's going to be dangerous here for a while."

I nodded against his chest, trailing light kisses down his skin. "I know. I didn't mean to but it just happened."

His hand reached for my chin, tugging it up slightly to make me look at him. "I mean it. Promise me you won't do that again."

"I promise Zane. I'm sorry."

I pushed up on my toes to brush my lips lightly across his, but as I pulled away, his own followed me, deepening the kiss as his hand tangled into my hair and gripped at the base of my neck. His tongue licked the seam of my lips and they parted willingly for him as his tongue dove between them. My hands snaked around his neck, pulling him closer down to me and I felt his hand pushing against my hip firmly, guiding me backward until my back bumped against the cold tile wall.

Goosebumps broke across my flesh, but it lasted only moments as he suddenly pulled my mouth away. His eyes searched mine and I could see emotion swirling in his eyes, but he quickly pushed it away before his mouth collided back in to mine, hungrier than before. His hands smoothly ran down my body before gripping the backs of my thighs and pulling my legs around his waist. I gasped as his suddenly hard manhood was at my entrance. He slid into me in one smooth movement and my hands clutched into the back of his neck at the sensation.

"Fuck Ana." He growled as his breath hitched.

I moaned as he began to thrust in and out of me, slowly building a rhythm. My hips began to rock with his movements and a moan escaped my lips as my fingers gripped hard into his hair. He pulled me tighter against him and buried his face into my neck, sending pleasurable chills down my body as the energy quickly built between us. His teeth gently nipped at my skin and I knew I should be afraid he'd bite me, but I wasn't. I wanted it.

Every thrust became harder and he pushed deeper inside of me until I could feel myself beginning to come undone. I was nearly there, and my breaths came out as shallow pants. I moaned loudly as his movements began to become more purposeful, jerking. His breathing was erratic and I could feel he was close too.

"Zane...I..." I moaned through a gasp as he thrust again, sending me completely into oblivion.

His mouth crashed into mine and he growled loudly into the the kiss as he thrust once more before following me over the edge. My body tingled and I felt as if I was floating, pulling him along with me. I couldn't tell where he began and I ended, and I didn't want to.

He rested his head against mine as we began to try to breathe slower, coming down from our high and I could see that his eyes had those same mixed emotions returning to them. Before I could ask him, he placed me down on to my feet and rinsed the two of us off and quickly hopped out of the shower.

He seemed withdrawn, like he was holding something back and I suddenly felt a disconnect, like he was conflicted. I couldn't put my finger on it, but something in his eyes had changed and I could feel it when he looked at me. My heart ached at the thought that he may not want me the same way I had begun to want him. How could he? In reality, I was just a slave. Just a human given to him for pleasure and distraction until his true mate came along. Which she was. Next week.

I slowly followed him out of the bathroom, toweling off my wet hair and slipping into my silky robe he'd given me. He'd thrown on a pair of grey sweats hung low and collapsed on to the bed, his hands resting beneath his head and his eyes closed.

I crawled on to the bed, pulling the covers over my legs as I moved closer to him, sitting up against the pillows to face him. "Can I ask you something Zane?" I asked quietly, nearly a whisper.

His eyes slowly opened and his face turned to me but he didn't answer, waiting for me to continue.

"What do you plan to do with me when...she gets here?" I couldn't even bring myself to say her name. It sent an ache through my chest just thinking about her.

He sighed and faced back to the ceiling. "I honestly don't know Ana. I've been trying to figure that out, but I don't have any answers that seem right. She won't want you here. That much I know."

I nodded and felt the stab in my chest pinch tighter. "Are you going to give me to another then?"

His eyes flashed to me, anger quickly appearing as he leaned up and reached for me, resting his hand on the side of my face. "I will not give you to anyone else. You are mine."

I sighed and leaned in to his hand. As much as I didn't want to admit it, I could feel myself falling for this man already. I couldn't imagine being forced to be with another after him. But I knew it was my role in this place and I'd obey what he commanded. I lost those rights a long time ago.

His hand dropped to rest on my leg as he leaned back on to the pillows. He ran a hand down his face and grunted in frustration. "I don't know what I'm going to do Ana. I'm still figuring it out ok?"

The stab in my heart lessened only slightly and I nodded slowly. "Ok." I said lowly before pulling away.

His hand reached up to turn me back to him, leaning in to kiss me tenderly. His piercing blue eyes bore into mine and I froze. I could stare in to his gorgeous gaze all day if he'd let me.

"You've taken a hold of me in a way I hadn't expected. Ana I could never just give you to someone else. I can never just be finished with you. You have me and you don't even know it. I keep trying to pull away for both of us, but I just can't seem to do it." His voice was tight and I could tell he was fighting saying more.

The stab in my chest disappeared and was replaced with something warm, filling me completely. My hand floated to his chest and pushed him back on to the bed. My body followed, never leaving the connection as my legs split to straddle his waist. I slowly untied my robe and dropped it behind me before leaning forward to kiss him, deeply, trying to fill it with the emotions filling up inside of me. His hands trailed up my back as he returned the kiss, pouring himself into it in return.

I didn't know what would happen with us next week, but I knew now that he cared for me, deeper than I could have hoped for. I couldn't worry about next week. I had to focus on the now. On him.

*A/N: Sorry this chapter is short but I thought you'd all appreciate the glimpse into a little emotional night with them! Thank you for reading and enjoy the rest of the book!