Propositioned By The Prince. Jennifer Lewis

her mouth as she saw the evidence of his arousal pressing against his zipper. She let her fingers wander lower until her knuckles brushed his erection.

      Judging from his languorous smile, AJ enjoyed her attentions. Encouraged by his sultry stare, she unbuttoned and unzipped his pants. They stripped off his clothes and underwear together, until they both lay naked on the embroidered blanket of Lani’s colorful sash.

      Shimmering droplets of sunlight snuck through the canopy to paint warm patterns on their skin. The peculiar fragrance of the jungle—thick, rich and almost honeyed—mingled with AJ’s raw, masculine scent to create an intoxicating cocktail of arousal.

      His thickly muscled body was a feast for the eyes. Lani eased herself closer to him until their chests bumped gently, then she let her fingers caress the rough skin of his thighs and the flat expanse of his belly. A mix of excitement, exhilaration and embarrassment stung her fingertips every time she drew near his erection. When at last she plucked up the courage to touch him, and to enjoy the feel of all that rigid passion in her hand, she almost cried out with relief.

      Her fingertips vibrated with excitement as she let them explore the long, hard shape, and she drew in a long breath. She’d never actually touched that body part before. Vanu would never have given her the chance to play with him.

      AJ leaned in and whispered, “I’m not even inside you yet and you’re already breathless.”

      “Look who’s talking,” she teased. He jumped and jerked under her touch, muscles flexing as she caressed his skin. Desire rolled between them like a jungle mist, licking their skin and heating their blood.

      On the one hand, Lani craved the feeling of him inside her. On the other, she loved the anticipation, the tension of the wait. She stroked his inner thigh with her forefinger and enjoyed the ragged groan that slipped from his chest. “You’re killing me.”

      “But softly,” she whispered, breathing her words into the hot skin of his neck before nibbling his ear the way he’d done with hers. His tortured response only heightened her pleasure. His skin tasted salty and delicious, and she let her tongue explore the chiseled line of his jaw, then probe between his lips.

      Their kiss grew deep as they pressed their bodies together. AJ’s hardness jutted into Lani’s side and for a second she felt a twinge of apprehension. He was so…

      big. So unlike Vanu. What if she couldn’t handle him? What if it hurt?

      “What is going through your mind?”

      She cracked open her eyes to find AJ’s fixed on her. An expression of amusement brightened his face.

      “Uh, nothing.”

      “That’s what I’d hoped for, but expressions keep fluttering across your face like a flock of birds.”

      “I guess I’m just nervous.” She bit her lip. “I’m not… experienced. I don’t want to let you down.”

      “Let me down?” AJ laughed. “About the only way you could do that is by standing up and getting dressed. Now stop worrying.” He feigned a stern frown. “In fact, I’m going to do my best to wipe all thoughts from your mind.”

      In an instant his mouth was between her legs. Lani gasped with shock as he sucked—quite hard—and caused her body to jerk as a sweet, sharp thrill ricocheted through her. He flicked his tongue back and forth over her sensitive spot, which made her muscles convulse and twitch in a way that was downright alarming. She writhed on the soft fabric of her sash, grasping first at the silky fabric and the ground beneath, then at AJ’s head and shoulders as he drove her further and further into a mysterious world of intense sensation and shocking pleasure.

      She cried out as a fierce ripple of sensation jolted her. Waves of heat rolled through her, emerging from her mouth as moans. She realized her fingers were fisted in his thick hair, and she pulled them loose, then groped for him as another alarming tidal wave surged through her.

      AJ’s hands roamed over her, stroking her waist and breasts as he rose up to meet her. Her eyes opened to see his dark gaze blazing just over hers. “Much better.” His wicked grin only stirred the fevered passion pounding through her.

      “Enter me, please.” She craved him inside her, ached for him.

      He chuckled. “You make yourself sound like Aladdin’s cave.” His words rasped hotly at her neck as he lowered himself over her. “I can’t wait to come in, but I don’t know the magic word.”

      Quivering with excitement, Lani lifted herself to meet him. “Please.”

      “That’s an easy one to remember.” He layered hot kisses on her face and neck. “Please may I come in?”

      “Yes, yes,” Lani gasped, almost shouting at the way he tortured her. She tilted her hips to him, begging with her body. She could feel his heartbeat through his skin, strong and insistent, like her own. His musky, male scent only added to her torment. She could tell he was every bit as aroused as she. Was he going to torture her forever?

      He entered her very, very slowly. First with his fingers, probing her slick depths. When he decided she was ready—and oh, was she ready—he probed her with the tip of his member. A tiny cry fled her lips as anticipation got the better of her.

      She pushed her fingers into his back, unconsciously urging him on. Warmth and pleasure filled her as he slid inside her and his chest lowered over hers. His throaty moan filled her ear as he started to move. She arched against him, taking him deeper, welcoming him into her body and into her life.

      I love you. She got an urge to say it, but something held her back.

      It was too soon for love; the circumstances were too strange and pressured. She didn’t want to seem too demanding, as if she expected him to love her back.

      And maybe it was just sheer madness, the delicious thrills cascading through her as AJ moved inside her.

      AJ pulled her upright until they were in a sitting position, legs interlaced, facing each other, with him still buried deep. A perfect position for kissing.

      AJ licked her lips, and she returned the gesture, tasting his smile, then enjoying the slight roughness of his cheeks. She could feel him inside her, slight movements, subtle throbs, letting her feel his arousal and the deep connection between them.

      When kissing—and barely moving—threatened to drive her completely over the edge, AJ lay back until she was sitting on top of him. Alarm flashed through her. She was supposed to be in control, and she had no idea what to do.

      “Anything,” he murmured, as if in answer to her question. “Whatever feels good.”

      She trailed her finger along the middle of his chest, eyes half-open to enjoy the view. She wriggled a little, and felt him move inside her. A smile spread across her face and his at the same time. “This definitely feels good.”

      Eyes closed again, she gently rocked back and forth, amazed at the new points of pleasure this position awakened. She found herself moving faster and higher, experimenting with rhythms to take herself right to the next peak, and then pulling back. Beneath her, AJ groaned, his hands stroking her skin, teasing her.

      “Let go,” AJ urged her.

      Could she? Something inside her kept holding her back. She’d never experienced this kind of arousal before. She could tell she was close to the brink of something big, and it scared her.

      “It’ll feel good, I promise.” AJ’s soft voice penetrated her thoughts.

      Living at the palace she’d grown used to being “on duty” all the time. Always polite and prepared and ready for anything—even the worst Vanu could dish out. “Letting go” was no longer in her vocabulary. She had been too busy shoring herself up.

      A bird chirped overhead and a warm breeze caressed her skin. She’d almost forgotten they were deep in the jungle. Apparently she’d let go quite a lot already!

      She quickened