A Rakehell's Heart: a novella

By Annabel Joseph

Arranged marriages are the worst, especially when the rakehell prince and his convent-raised betrothed have only just met. Even so, their royal marriage must be consummated—by law—within the first night.
As Gideon works to romance his tense princess, he finds his own well-hardened heart melting beneath her curious, innocent gaze...

• Language: English
• Publisher: Annabel Joseph
• Release date: Jan 31, 2018
• ISBN: 9781370870943

Annabel Joseph

Annabel Joseph is a NYT and USA Today Bestselling BDSM romance author. She writes mainly contemporary romance, although she’s been known to dabble in the medieval and Regency eras. She is known for writing emotionally intense BDSM storylines, and strives to create characters that seem real—even flawed—so readers are better able to relate to them. Annabel also writes non-BDSM romance under the pen name Molly Joseph.You can follow Annabel on Twitter (@annabeljoseph) or Facebook (facebook.com/annabeljosephnovels), or sign up for her mailing list at annabeljoseph.com.She's always working on something new, so stay tuned!

Book preview

A Rakehell’s Heart

Annabel Joseph

Copyright 2017 Annabel Joseph

Smashwords Edition

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Smashwords License Notes

This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be resold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons living or dead, is entirely coincidental. This book contains rough sex, breath play, and other edgy forms of sensuality that should not be attempted by the uneducated or inexperienced. In other words, don’t try this at home.

All characters depicted in this work of fiction are 18 years of age or older.

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This novella was previously published as part of the ROYALLY MINE anthology.

Chapter One

In the faraway kingdom of Hastings, long ago

A crisp knock sounded from the door of Gideon’s dressing chamber. Your Royal Highness, I beg you, time is of the essence.

I know, old man. Prince Gideon of Hastings looked down at Adele’s bouncing, honey-colored curls as she slid her mouth up and down his cock. Timing is everything.

Unfortunately, his new princess had arrived at the exact moment his former governess was feeling amorous. Whenever Adele sought Gideon out, he did what he could to satisfy her—and oh, how talented she was at satisfying him.

Yes, my darling, he said, stroking her shoulder. You mustn’t rush. The rest of the world can go to the devil.

Bertram’s gruff voice sounded again from the other side of the door, a concerted effort of throat-clearing and coughing followed by the harshest warning his valet dared to give. Your Highness, if you do not appear below, your mother and father will come upstairs to see what detains you.

They can come if they wish, he sang out with no shame. I won’t greet my princess until I’ve come too.

Your Highness, please.

Bert sounded desperate. Out of respect for the elderly retainer, Gideon tried to muffle the growls of pleasure rising in his throat. He took Adele’s head between his hands, stilling her—momentarily—so he could find the wherewithal to speak.

Tell my parents I’m too ill to come down at present. Some bad fish at dinner, and I’ve taken to my bed. Have them offer some flowery compliments to my bride on my behalf, and tell her I’ll greet her tomorrow at breakfast.

Bertram sighed so loudly he could hear it through the door. As you wish, Your Highness.

Gideon released Adele’s head as the old man shuffled away. He’d had a younger valet once, but that one had resigned his job because of an excess of debauchery in the prince’s life. In truth, Gideon had been a bit of a hellraiser at that time, but youth will be youth. He was twenty-six now, and done with sloppy, drunken antics.

Well, mostly.

Yes, just like that, he sighed. He pushed away a half-empty glass of wine and leaned back near the window as Adele bathed his shaft with her avid tongue. Her enthusiasm was unmatched, so he was glad she’d stayed on as a Lady of the Chamber once her governess duties were no longer necessary. Oh, my pretty, you know so well how to please me.

As she serviced him, he saw the first of several carriages roll up to the palace’s main courtyard. The one at the front was a behemoth contraption staffed by a dozen or more grooms and porters, all wearing the livery of the King of Carlisle, the most powerful monarch west of Hastings’ kingdom. His bride must be inside, the dark-haired, dark-eyed Princess Cassandra. Gideon had never met her, only seen paintings and miniatures that her family had sent when the betrothal documents were signed.

Christ on the cross! he moaned as Adele located the sensitive bit of skin behind his balls. What was worse, taking the Lord’s name in vain during an enthusiastic bout of fellatio, or wallowing in that fellatio when he ought to have been greeting his future wife? You’ll kill me, Adele. I think you want to kill me.

No, Your Highness, she murmured against his cock, peering up at him. I only want to please you.

She set about doing that so well that he forgot about the window, the carriage, and the royal princess who rode within. He much preferred common women, with their simple, sensual appetites. Besides Adele, there were a few other palace maids who enjoyed his company for the price of a few coins and an extra portion of silk or wine. He supposed those dalliances must come to an end, at least temporarily.

He pushed such thoughts from his mind to draw the last few shudders of bliss from this lovely, if ill-timed, tryst in his bachelor bedroom. In a few days, he’d move into the east wing with his new bride, into a suite of rooms with nurseries for children, and a salon

Reviews for A Rakehell's Heart

[Sarah Hutchis · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Beautifully written seduction of the body as well as the emotions!