I’ve brought Prince Crispin back to share a bit of his tale…enjoy.

**Warning: He’s rude and completely wicked. Spontaneous combustion of panties is possible. NSFW. **

 

As he eased himself into the scalding water, he sighed and his body immediately relaxed, soothed by the heat. Crispin leaned his head back, closed his eyes, and for the first time in more than a day, was able to indulge in the peace.

The sound of a door slamming startled him and he wrenched his eyes open. Ruby stood in his room, her back pressed against the door, her finger to her lips, pleading for his silence. He sat up, the tepid water sluicing around him. Her eyes widened as she realized that he was naked in the bath. She didn’t move. He grinned as the soft glow of a blush stole across her cheeks. So she wasn’t the ice queen she appeared to be.

A knock at the door broke his thoughts. “Just a moment,” he called. Crispin braced his hands on the sides of the wooden tub and lifted himself from the water. Without grabbing a drying cloth, he padded to the door where Ruby was standing, her jaw askew and her eyes as large as the full moon. He moved her against the wall and opened the door, hiding her behind it. A soldier stood in the hallway, his expression stern.

“I pray this is of great importance,” Crispin asked, boredom and irritation lacing his words.

“I beg your pardon, my lord,” the soldier stammered, taking notice of Crispin’s state of undress. “Have you seen a woman come through here?”

“I wish I could say I have. A woman to warm my bed might cure my ill temper after this. But sadly, I have not.” Crispin fixed his most intense princely glare on the soldier.

The man stammered and took a step back. “I am sorry to have disturbed your bath, my lord.” He turned and walked down the hall as though the hounds of hell nipped at his heels.

Crispin closed the door and locked it. He met Ruby’s gaze. “Can’t stay out of trouble, can you?”

Ruby shrugged, her gaze skimming across his face, daring to look lower, but hesitating at the last moment. He chuckled.

“I will leave you in peace, as soon as I’m sure they’ve gone,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “I thank you for not betraying my presence.”

Crispin pinned her against the wall, his hands on either side of her hips, his thighs brushing against her skirt. “Did you know I was in this room, or am I just the poor bloke you stumbled upon?”

“I knew you were here,” she said, tilting her chin up and meeting his gaze squarely. “I hoped that you would show a little compassion.”

His gaze narrowed. “Don’t mistake my interest in you for compassion, Ruby. I’ve never been a thoughtful or compassionate man.”

“What do you want from me?” she asked. “I have no coin, no wealth, nothing that would satisfy your greed.”

“Is that so,” he whispered, reaching up to brush his fingertips across her jaw and down her neck. She was softer than he’d imagined and his cock hardened at the solitary touch. “I think you underestimate your own value, my lady.” His hand stills instantly at the cold press of steel against his inner thigh.

“One more move, bastard, and I send an entire kingdom of whores into mourning.”

 

❤ Jen