MAID FOR A PRINCE: (Book 1) (Point St. Claire, where true love finds a way) by Robyn Grady Read Free Book Online Page A

again, her eyes were glistening. He tried to read the emotion there.
    Apprehension or anticipation?
    “Maybe the birds started singing here on this island first,” she said.
    His hand slid along the rail toward hers. “I wouldn’t be surprised.”
    Her gaze dropped to his mouth before she cast a look out over the surrounding trees again. “All the birds are asleep now though.”
    “Perhaps we should wake them.”
    “Wake them how?”
    His hand scooped around her waist. Bringing her close, he inhaled her lavender scent and murmured, “I’ll show you how.”

Chapter 6
    When Darius’s lips touched hers and lingered, Helene’s eyes drifted shut. A heartbeat later, he drew her closer, and she dissolved like a tablespoon of sugar in hot water. Then one warm palm cupped her nape and gently angled her head.
    As a kiss created in heaven deepened, Helene leaned in more. When the big warm hand on the small of her back slid lower, her pulse began to pound in a way that left her reeling. Was this really happening?
    Out of breath, she broke away. But his mouth found hers again and this time he held her so close, every cell in her body seemed to catch fire. Her breasts suddenly felt so heavy. Their tips so sensitive and hot. Through to her core, she was tingling. Everything, everywhere, sizzled and ached for his touch.
    Darius’s mouth finally left hers, but his arms remained, iron bands holding her close.
    “Listen.” His smile grazed her lips. “The birds are singing now.”
    The next kiss was even deeper. A thousand times hotter. With his mouth covering hers, his tongue parted her lips and a kernel formed, glowing and throbbing deep inside of her.
    When he finally drew away this time, she slumped. The backs of his fingers traced her hot cheek, gently lifted her chin.
    “Are you all right?” he asked.
    She managed a nod.
    He studied her face for a long moment. Did she look as dizzy as she felt?
    “You should sit down,” he said. “Eat something.”
    “I’m not hungry,” she got out. Just behaving like a schoolgirl who’d never been kissed.
    His slow, knowing smile left her feeling even more light-headed. “Perhaps I should kiss you again,” he murmured. “That’s what you had planned when you put on that dress, isn’t it?”
    “I didn’t think I was the kind of girl a prince would want to kiss.”
    He traced soft kisses over her brow before he whispered against the shell of her ear, “You thought wrong.”
    This time she kissed him .
    As his mouth claimed hers again, she coiled an arm around his neck and gave herself over to sensations she’d never known before. Nerve-endings fired, the world dropped away, and then she knew. Knew for sure. This was the emotion she’d wondered about all this time. This was the thrill that left a woman feeling both deliciously lost and finally found. 
    When his mouth left hers, she bit her lip to stop a sigh. She was trembling. On fire. But he didn’t sweep her up into his arms. He didn’t carry her to his bed. Instead, in the flickering light, his gaze seemed to have sharpened.
    He brushed hair away from her brow and then took one measured step back. 
    “You need some time,” he said.
    Time for what?
    She reached for him again, but he caught her hand, brought her wrist to his lips, and nuzzled halfway up her arm before he took another step away.
    “I’ll eat in my room tonight. In the morning, we’ll talk.”
    Helene held onto the rail. She wanted him to kiss her again, to hold her until she couldn’t think. Couldn’t breathe. She didn’t need more time. But…
    Maybe he did.
    She could admit that draping herself in silk had as much to do with getting a reaction as finding something different to wear. But Darius was already thinking ahead. Tomorrow he’d be focused on his future again, which was a royal light-year away from hers.
    “It’s okay,” she said. “You stay out here. I had something to eat before you came in.” She started off. “Think I’ll