Excerpt of The Reluctant Prince by Candice Gilmer

"So what time is your first class in the morning?" Hadrian
asked

"Nine. There’s a, uh, registration starting at eight, with
donuts and stuff and uh, where I get my papers and promo
material." As I spoke, he ran his fingers up my back, one
hand sliding up to the back of my head into my hair.

"You really should get to bed soon." He didn’t release me as
he spoke. Instead, he stared at me with those amber-
whiskey-sexy eyes of his.

"I know."

He leaned closer, his lips mere millimeters from mine.

"It’s, uh, been a, uh, long day." I went up on my toes,
holding onto his shoulders.

"Yes, I should let you go to bed." His breath grazed my
cheek, and my insides screamed with desire.

"Yeah."

Hadrian leaned down, his lips meeting mine. And I have to
give him credit—the fire burning between the two of us was
powerful. Heck, the energy burned my skin. He had to be
feeling it as well.

So when he kissed me with a restrained, soft kiss, I was
impressed. I was ready to throw him down and have my way
with him. His lips grazed mine, a slight part, more like he
was tasting me rather than kissing me.

Or he was waiting for permission to do more.

Which I gave.

Instantly.

I opened my mouth wider. He answered in kind, his lips
opening enough so his tongue flicked out, grazing me.

That was about all we both needed.

Whatever he was holding back, he released, and the soft,
tentative kiss was gone, replaced with fire, passion, and
those things found in the pages of romance novels. I ran my
hands up and down his back, lacing in his hair. Our tongues
danced with each other, mating in primal ways that made no
logical sense.

One of his hands slid down my side, caressing the edge of my
breast, and I moaned, arching forward to bring his hand in
contact with my ever-so-needy nipple.

Our lips didn’t part as he started guiding me backwards to
the bed.

My heart rammed harder and harder, like it could explode in
any second.

Wait a minute, what the Hell was I doing?

I didn’t know this guy.

And I was about to go to bed with him?

Had I lost my ever-lovin’ mind?

I was beginning to think so.

When my knees hit the bed, I landed with a thump. My worry
must have shown on my face, because Hadrian paused.

"Are you okay?"

"I don’t know."

He knelt in front of me. "I don’t want to do anything you’re
not comfortable with." He stroked my legs. "I can go, if
you’d like."

I bit my lip, reaching up to feel his soft hair. "I don’t
know." Everything inside me was torn. In my head, I had
every logical reason why I should have him leave. And my
body was screaming for release from the sex tension building
between us both all night.

He tipped his head to the side, and I ran my hand over his
cheek. "You feel amazing, Sydney." His eyes shut, and he
tilted his head into my hand, placing a soft kiss on my palm.

"So do you."

He let out a sigh. "I hear a ‘but’ coming."

I tried to paint on a nice smile. "As much as I want you—
and I know you can tell I want you—I’m afraid. It’s been a
long time since I was with someone besides my husband…" my
words trailed off. There was more within me, but I didn’t
have the words to articulate it.

Surprisingly, he smiled back at me. I half expected him to
call me some kind of name, a dick tease or something to that
effect.

"I understand." He glanced around the room. "We could watch
television. Talk a little more."

I felt guilty. I couldn’t help it. I felt like I was leading
him on in the worst way. "I wouldn’t want you to feel like
you—I don’t want you thinking…"

"This isn’t your only night here, is it?"

"No."

"When they make wines, the wine has to age in order to get
that perfect flavor. They let it simmer, if you will. I have
no problem letting you simmer for a bit, to make sure your
wine—" he glanced down my body, "—is ready to savor."