Page 58 of Claimed By the Crown Prince

As if reading her thoughts, Dax put his hands on her waist and shifted her slightly. ‘Sit up...put your hands on my chest.’

She did. Dax looked at her with such heat and desire in his eyes and his expression that Laia wanted to take a mental screenshot. He cupped her breasts, rubbing his thumbs back and forth over her nipples, making her shiver. Her hips felt restless. She wanted him. Deep inside. He put his hands back on her waist again and encouraged her to come up, before bringing her back down onto his hard body.

Laia’s head fell back at the sensation. She sat for a long moment, savouring the feeling of his body in hers. And then she started to move in an instinctive dance, watching as his control started to fray and come apart at the seams. He was holding her, sweat on his brow, begging her to let him move under her, but she didn’t allow it. She felt merciless as she punished him for ruining her for all other men, and it was only when he lost it under her that she allowed herself to fall behind him, collapsing onto his chest.

It might be a victory, but it felt hollow.

‘Dax, wake up...’

Dax cracked open an eye. Laia was hovering over him in a robe. Hair loose. It was still dark outside. His body felt heavy.

He lifted his head. ‘Is something wrong?’

She shook her head and pulled back the cover. ‘No, everything is fine. I just want to show you something. Put on a robe and a pair of shoes.’

Dax got up, wondering if he was still sleeping. He pulled on the robe that Laia held out and put on some sneakers. She took his hand and led him downstairs and out of the villa, switching on a powerful torch.

They were walking down the path that led to the beach when he stopped in his tracks. This wasn’t a dream. The air was warm and very still around them.

‘Laia...where are we going?’

She shone the torch in his face, momentarily blinding him. ‘Just follow me and wait and see.’

He did as he was told, letting her lead him all the way down to the beach. It was a clear night, with the moon sending out a milky glow. They walked down close to the shore.

At first Dax saw nothing—then he did. A bluish light coming from the waves as they crashed to shore.

Laia, beside him, said, ‘It’s phosphorescence...a natural phenomenon.’

It was beautiful. ‘I’ve heard of it, but I’ve never seen it.’

Laia put the torch down and started taking off her robe.

‘What are you doing?’

She backed away towards the water. Naked. Gorgeous. ‘Skinny-dipping. Come on!’

Dax didn’t need any encouragement. He threw off the robe and followed Laia into the glowing water. A blissful contrast to the humid night. The water shimmered and glowed around them as they moved. It was magical.

They didn’t go far from shore, just deep enough to go under water. Dax caught Laia by the legs and she came up spluttering and laughing. He felt an acute pain near his heart, knowing he’d never experience this again with her. But she might with someone else. With her children. He imagined bringing children to see this amazing spectacle. The excited squeals. Dark heads. A girl and a boy.

To drown out the pictures, he caught Laia to him. ‘Wrap your legs around my waist.’

She did. And they were joined flesh to flesh. Breasts to chest. He kissed her there in the sea, under the moonlight in the glowing water, and for the first time in his life he found himself yearning for something he couldn’t even name—because he’d never allowed himself to believe it could be possible.

Laia lay awake after they’d returned from the sea and made love. Again. There was a sick sense of dread pooling in her belly. The first fingers of dawn were evident in the sky outside.

It was time.

She could drag it out for another few hours. They could have breakfast together. Maybe even make love again. But it would be the desperate actions of a desperate woman.

A few hours ago in the water...the magical glowing water... Laia had known she was in love with Dax. A man who had told her in no uncertain terms that he had no interest in settling down. Having a family. And, after what he’d been through, she could understand it.

Dax could never be hers. All she could take would be this experience. This knowledge he’d given her of herself as a sensual, desirable woman.

No man would ever make her feel the same. He’d ruined her years ago and he’d ruined her again. But this time fatally. Emotionally. And she’d let it happen. Invited it. Asked for it.Begged.

He moved minutely in the bed and Laia held her breath. When he didn’t wake she let her eyes rove over his naked body. She’d known what it was like to lie with this man and have the freedom to touch him, to know he was hers. However briefly. But that was over now. She could never touch him again.