Rumpel's Prize (26 page)
And she did. She released it all. Everything she always held inside. The power that roiled like thunder beneath the surface of her flesh, she blasted it out and it poured from her like a blinding, glittering wave of golden light that crashed against his own dark splendor.
The force of it slammed into them, taking them beyond the heavens, beyond the stars. There was sex, and then there was this.
And it was so much more.
Tears burned from her eyes and he was there kissing her, kissing them away, thrusting deep and making her body flare to life like a supernova ready to implode.
“Trust me, my love. Trust me and let go. Whenever you’re ready, let go. I will catch you. I will always catch you.”
Biting her lower lip, she approached the yawning, dark chasm, the pinnacle of that rising orgasm that threatened to obliterate her. Then he was kissing her, shoving his tongue into her mouth and she accepted it with a delirious moan of desire. He tasted of cherry, of cinnamon. Of heat and fire.
“You’re so beautiful.” His jaw clenched. “So damn beautiful.”
Her head swam, her pulse raced, and her blood resonated with song. “I’m dying,” she cried.
“Then take me with you.”
And with one powerful, final thrust of his hips, she spilled into the little death, taking her dark prince with her.
His howls echoed like thunder, and she trembled into it. Lost, but not alone. He was holding her and he brought her back. His touch, his whispers, his love…
Then she blinked open her eyes and they were present in one another’s arms. She laughed, hugging him tight, and so did he.
“Was that even possible?” She blinked up at him. “No one ever told me it would be that way.”
“It’s not that way. Only for us, Carrot.” He twisted a hank of her hair around his finger as he nuzzled the side of her neck, breaking her out in a wash of goose bumps.
Gasping, feeling as though she’d run a mile, she slapped a palm over his chest. Straight over the spot of his heart.
“I adore you.”
“I will work the whole of my life to ensure you say that to me every day.”
His ruby eyes gleamed and she had to frame his face.
“My dark prince, I vow it.”
He sealed that vow with a kiss.
Euralis, under the guidance of Danika and Rumpel, was beginning to grow out of his shell. They allowed Shayera twenty minutes each day to go into his cell. The first day was not fun. The boy tried to attack her and might have succeeded if not for the cage.
But weeks had passed and now his son smiled at Shayera. Her charms, which had once been such a curse, were now a miracle.
Today he allowed his siren into the cage.
She was a vision dressed in white with flaming red hair curling wildly down her back. Euralis was in boy form and had his head in her lap while she read a storybook, a tale of a boy who cried wolf.
The child never took his eyes off her, his look adoring, and Rumpel could understand. She’d bewitched them all.
They’d gotten married in the traditional binding ceremony of Kingdom denizens, trading the stones of Veritas, but in his heart, their wedding had happened the night before. In the quiet, peaceful darkness of a storm, he’d pledged his soul to her.
She glanced up then and smiled.
I love you
, he mouthed to her.
Her cheeks heated to a bright pink.
He loved everything about her. Her spunk. Her intellect. Her body. But mostly he loved the purity of his siren’s soul.
Rumpelstiltskin had discovered the greatest prize of all was the love of a good woman. And while this interlude was wonderful, he could only hope that Giles would return soon.
Euralis was stronger, but he was still too weak.
That amulet had to work; there could be no other option.
She joined him back in their chambers ten minutes later. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she kissed his cheek. “Become who you really are, my darkness.”
Smiling, he transformed for her and then slipped his arms around her waist.
“No regrets, Rumpel?” Her blue eyes gleamed.
“None.”
“Euralis will be okay.” She sighed. “I believe it with all my heart and soul.”
And so did he—he believed in magic when she was with him. Believed that good would come to those who waited.
“I love you, Shayera. Always.”
Her smile sank into his soul and no matter what the future held, they had each other, and that was enough.
It was always enough…
“No regrets, my dark prince. None at all. Believe in Giles, in Danika, and the strength of my love. He will be saved. Have no doubt of that.”
“Is that a deal?”
“Do you want it to be?” She quirked a brow and wore a sultry smile. “Does that do it for you, love?”
“Always.” He pinched her bottom.
“Rumpel, you’re incorrigible.”
“Would you have it any other way?”
“No.” She kissed his lips. “Absolutely never change.”
And for her, he never did.
Want to learn more about Kingdom and all its sexy villains? Then make sure to start at the beginning with
Kingdom Collection: 1-3
The books included in that set are Her Mad Hatter, Gerard’s Beauty, and Red and Her Wolf!
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Giles and Lilith’s Story will be the next book, already titled Hood’s Obsession. That story will pick up where this one left off. The journey to find Euralis’ cure. Currently the book is slated for a July, 2014 release. But make sure to sign up for my newsletter to get an accurate release date!
Keep scrolling down to see a listing of all my books!
Kingdom Series (Fairytale Romance)
Her Mad Hatter
(Free everywhere! Book 1 based on Alice and the Mad Hatter)
Gerard’s Beauty
(Book 2 based on Beauty and the Beast)
Red and Her Wolf
(Book 3 based on Little Red Riding Hood)
The Kingdom Collection
(Books 1-3 with bonus deleted scenes)
Hook’s Pan
(Book 5, Based on Peter Pan)
Danika’s Surprise
(Book 5.5, novelette and first introduction to the upcoming Dark Princess Series)
Moon’s Flower
, (Book 6 based on the legend of The Man in the Moon)
Huntsman's Prey
, (Book 7 spinoff Dark Princess Series)
Rumpel’s Prize, (Book 8)
Hood’s Obsession, Book 9 (Coming July 2014, Giles and Lilith’s Story)
Moments Series (NA Contemporary Romance)
A Moment
, Book 1 (Ryan and Liliana’s Story)
Right Now
, Book 2 (Alex and Zoe’s Story)
Tor and Jaime’s Story, Book 3 COMING May, 2014
Night Series (Urban Fantasy)
Crimson Night
,- Book 1
All Hallow's Night
- Book 2
Howler’s Night- Book 3 COMING AUG 2014
Chaos Time Serial
Eternal Lover’s Series
Death’s Lover
(Book 1) From Grand Central—Forever Yours—Publishing
Previously published under the title
The Witching Hour
Death’s Redemption (Book 2) Coming JUNE, 2014 from Grand Central!
Marked by Temptation by Deanna Chase
Shattered Web by Crista McHugh
Table of Contents