Heroes Ever After Boxset: Books 1-3

by Alana Albertson

  I pushed that image out of my head. “Then why aren’t you married?”

  “Because that life’s not for me. I don’t want to be tied down to anyone. I want to be free to come and go as I please. All I care about is being a SEAL. Nothing else matters.”

  “Well, that’s depressing. At least I’m giving love a chance. Your life sounds lonelier than mine.”

  He bared his teeth at me but didn’t speak, instead downing his glass of wine like it was a shot of whiskey.

  Gotcha. This bad boy Navy SEAL was just as messed up as I was.

  The waiter brought our meals, and we ate together in tense silence.

  This was ridiculous. What had I been thinking when I’d agreed to go to dinner with this man? Our worlds couldn’t be more different.

  Despite the awkwardness, we shared a delicious dessert of figs, pralines, and ice cream. When the bill came, Ryan quickly paid, I thanked him, and we exited the restaurant.

  We walked a few blocks, the moonlight guiding our steps. For a second, I pretended this wasn’t a pity date, and we on our honeymoon, newlyweds who were madly in love. What would that be like? To marry someone I was truly crazy about, someone who couldn’t keep his hands off me?

  I would never know.

  The wine had relaxed me, and I forced myself to live in the moment. I turned to him under the stars. “Thank you for dinner.”

  “It was my pleasure. I find you fascinating.”

  My heart raced. “How so?”

  “You lead an interesting life. You’re nothing like the women I’ve met before.”

  I was pretty sure that was a compliment, but he had been so hot and cold with me that I had to make sure. “Oh, really? How am I different, other than the ‘I’m a princess’ thing?”

  He brushed a stray lock of hair back off my face. “You’re beautiful, classy, and sweet.”

  Woozy from his words, I pulled back from him. I had to end this night before I did something I would regret.

  “That’s very kind of you to say. I had a great time as well. You are very . . . dynamic. You really didn’t have to wine and dine me. I’m sorry I put you in the middle of this situation.”

  He took my hand, and heat filled my core. “Don’t apologize. I could stare at you all night.”

  He pulled me to him. His wine-spiked breath blew hot on my neck, and my pulse quickened.

  What was he doing? Was he going to kiss me?

  My legs wobbled. Our faces were so close. There was a burn mark on the side of his neck, possibly from a cigarette. Who had left that mark on him? When? Was it during a battle? Somewhere else? Had he been tortured?

  He’d said my life was interesting, but what type of life had this handsome stranger lived? I wanted to know everything about his past, but for now . . . all I wanted was to be kissed by this man.

  Just when I didn’t think I could stand the tension of being this close to him for another second, his hand cupped my face, and his lips took mine.

  His mouth was rough, not soft like those of the boys I’d fantasized about in my youth. His other hand traveled farther down my back, landing on my bottom as adrenaline coursed through my body. I pressed my palm against his chest, feeling his hard pecs, imagining seeing him with his shirt off.

  Was he trying to seduce me? Did I want him to?

  All I knew was that I wanted this kiss to last forever.

  But seconds later, he pulled away, a sly look on his face.

  I caught my breath. “What was that for?”

  He laughed. “You’re a princess. I’m a frogman. I thought if I kissed you, I’d turn into a prince.”

  Ryan

  HER DELICATE AND MANICURED hand swiftly smacked my jaw. “So much for that theory, Ryan. You will never be a prince. You’re still just a vulgar SEAL.”

  My face stung after she slapped me, but it was okay—I deserved it. Hell, I enjoyed it. Damn, if she had that fire in the bedroom . . . A bolt of electricity shot straight to my cock. I imagined tying up this princess, talking dirty to her, and fucking her hard until she could do nothing but come and come for me.

  But before I could seduce her, I needed to get her to agree to stay with me. Yes, I wanted her, but I also wanted her to feel safe.

  Her sweet taste lingered on my tongue. I meant everything I’d said to her earlier. I couldn’t stop staring at her angelic face and banging body. Giselle was a bombshell. She was unlike any girl I’d ever met. Well, that was the understatement of the year. She was a fucking princess.

  My princess.

  The princess and the SEAL. I liked the sound of that.

  I had spent every day of the past seven months looking forward to this vacation. Dreams of sex, sins, and sunsets had filled my fantasies. I had wanted nothing more than a string of hedonistic indulgences with any women who caught my fancy. And when it was over, I’d planned to return home and go back to my normal, familiar life. Alone.

  But after one date with Giselle, I wanted something a little different.

  I wanted to spend my entire trip with this princess.

  I embraced the challenge she presented. I’d seduce her, make her fall for me, and leave her with the lasting memory of how important sexual chemistry was. Then maybe someday she’d find the courage to leave her loser fiancé for a fulfilling life with a man who truly loved her. A man who wanted to be a husband and a father and was suitable for stuffy royal life.

  A better man than me.

  She might even find me one day and thank me.

  Time to tell her.

  “Change of plans, babe. You’re staying with me tonight.”

  A look of horror registered on her face. “What? No. I would never.”

  I knew that look of fear; I’d seen it on my enemies many times right before taking their lives. But I wasn’t used to seeing it on a woman.

  The last time I saw that look was on my foster sister’s face. That night.

  I closed my eyes and forced away my past. Never go back. I was now a man, a skilled warrior, and no one could hurt me. I will never be that scared, helpless little boy again.

  I pulled myself back to the present and looked at Giselle. She was fidgeting. I didn’t want to make her uncomfortable.

  Fuck. I had come on too strong. I needed to dial it back. She was nothing like the women I usually met; she was clearly sheltered. I couldn’t blame her for being afraid. She knew nothing about me, and I had to admit I’d been giving her a hard time since I met her.

  Be a gentleman. It was hard to model a behavior I never saw growing up, but I’d give it a try. For Princess Giselle.

  I took her hand and kissed it, relieved when she didn’t pull away. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you. Let me try again. I think it’s in your best interest to stay with me tonight.”

  She eyed me suspiciously. “You do, do you? Does every girl you meet just hop into bed with you?”

  Yes, actually, but she didn’t need the details.

  I dropped my smug smile. “I’m not trying to seduce you, Giselle,” I lied. “You’re a princess, and you have the paparazzi stalking you. Have you already forgotten that you were mugged today? You don’t have any ID or money. You’re not safe. I’ll be your bodyguard tonight until you get your affairs in order if you let me.”

  Peach blossomed across her cheeks. “That’s a very kind offer, Ryan. I do appreciate it, but I don’t think it’s a good idea. I’m engaged, as I said, so it wouldn’t be appropriate.”

  Right, the lame playboy fiancé who didn’t even want to fuck this beautiful woman was cockblocking me. What was wrong with him? It would be one thing if he was gay, then I’d get it, but she herself said that he was sowing his wild oats. What a dick. It didn’t make sense.

  “You said he was hooking up with people. Why would he care if you spent the night with me?”

  She threw up her hands in disgust. “Because I’m a lady. I’m sure you are aware there is a double standard about what is acceptable for men and women in the public eye,
especially royalty. But it’s not even about that or him. He’s not the reason I can’t stay with you.”

  I would never, ever understand women. I shouldn’t even bother trying. “Then what’s the reason?”

  She cast a downward glance, and her voice lowered to a whisper. “You will laugh at me.”

  I took her hand. “I promise I won’t laugh. Just tell me.”

  “Fine.” She let out an audible exhale. “I’ve never stayed overnight with any man.” She shrugged her shoulders and looked down again. “Or even been alone with one. I usually have a chaperone, but I didn’t let her come with me on this trip.”

  Laughing wasn’t even an option as my jaw dropped in full shock and disbelief.

  Was she for real? Had never been alone with a man?

  “How old are you?”

  “Twenty-two. And a half. You?”

  “Twenty-seven.” I lifted her chin to stare into her eyes. She didn’t look away. “Babe, are you telling me you’re a virgin?”

  Her cheeks flushed. “Not that it’s any of your business at all, but yes, I am. It is what is expected of me. Actually, I think it’s quite romantic, saving myself for marriage. It will make my wedding night special. I’ve only ever wanted to sleep with one man—my husband. Give myself completely to him and him alone. Forever.”

  What the—?

  My stone-cold heart skipped a beat.

  A virgin? A princess? A virgin princess? Had I won the lottery? Was this really happening to me?

  How was this even possible? I’d never met any woman in her twenties who was still a virgin.

  But Giselle was royalty. Standard rules didn’t apply.

  Maybe I was on some type of hidden camera show. Or maybe this was some sort of cruel joke my buddies had set up to prank me. Tonight was too good to be true.

  But I knew there were no cameras around; I had already scanned my surroundings. And my buddies were way too wrapped up enjoying their own lives to pull off something like this, especially in a foreign country with a real-life princess.

  Maybe this was just my lucky day.

  And this night was getting better and better.

  Virgins usually held no appeal for me. I’d always been drawn to sexually confident and free women—women whom I could fuck and forget. The responsibility of taking a girl’s virginity would weigh too heavily on my conscience. At least that was what I’d always assumed up until now.

  But I’d never been with a virgin, and the more I thought about it, the more I liked the idea. An innocent girl whom I could teach. A girl who I knew had only been touched by me was surprisingly attractive.

  My cock became rock hard in anticipation.

  I would be her first lover. She would remember me forever.

  What would it be like to be the first man to suck on her nipples? Be the first man to lick her pussy, fuck her, make her come for me and only me?

  I’m going to find out.

  Time to lay out my cards. There was no holding back; I was all in.

  “Sweetheart, I’m not going to touch you unless you want me to. I’m not that kind of guy. I won’t take advantage of you.”

  And I meant it. If she didn’t want me, I’d back the hell off.

  If.

  “Why should I trust you? You’ve probably been with hundreds of women.”

  I wasn’t going to lie. “My past doesn’t matter. I live my life by a code—I serve with honor and integrity on and off the battlefield. If I have to, I’ll stand watch outside your room, so you feel comfortable. I don’t need to sleep—during Hell Week, I only slept four hours in a total of five days.”

  “Really? That’s insane.”

  “Yeah, it was. But worth it. I survived and became a SEAL. And now I know I can do anything I put my mind to. Right now, that’s protecting you. I’m not walking away until I know you’re safe. I’ll never forgive myself if something happens to you.”

  Her eyes widened, and she softened toward me. She rubbed my shoulder, her fingernails tracing my muscles.

  Yup, I was in.

  “Wow. You would really do that for me? Why?”

  I nodded. “Yes, I would. It’s my duty to protect you because tonight you have no one else to do it. Look, I’m booked into a bed-and-breakfast a block away. I’m sure your château is some fancy five-star hotel, but that’s not how I roll. I don’t feel comfortable having you stay somewhere else alone until I know you’ll be traveling with someone who can protect you. You’ll be safe with me, safer than you will be by yourself. So, what’s it going to be?”

  She swallowed hard. Those lips could suck on my cock, swallow down . . . Damn, I couldn’t wait. I’d been deployed for seven months and hadn’t been with a woman since before I went to Iraq. Just sleeping in the same room with a beautiful woman would be a welcome change from camping next to my Teammates, even if she made me stay on the floor.

  “Okay, but only because it’s late, and I don’t want to call and wake my father.”

  Score. “Good choice.” That was easier than I’d thought it would be.

  A small part of me knew I hadn’t invited her to stay with me just because I wanted to seduce her; I truly wanted to make sure she was safe. But now that she’d agreed, I was going to have some fun.

  I put my arm around her shoulders. “Come on, Princess, let’s go check in.” I looked around the cobblestone street. “Do you think there’s a market open?”

  She tilted her head. “Why? Do you need something?”

  “Just peas. I’m going to place some under the mattress to verify your identity.”

  She laughed. “You’re quite the comedian, Ryan. What I want to know is if you’re going to slay any dragons for me?”

  I pulled her into my arms, her scent intoxicating. “I’ve slain men far more dangerous than dragons, sweetheart.” And I had. “I’ll do anything for you.”

  I kissed her again, probing her fiery mouth with my tongue, drunk on her sweetness.

  Her soft lips welcomed me, and I was lost in her. She pulled away, and my heart raced. I couldn’t wait to get her alone and see how far she’d go with me, but I would not force myself on her. I wouldn’t touch her if she didn’t want me.

  But judging by the way she’d just kissed me, I was confident that she already did.

  I grabbed our luggage, and we walked toward the bed-and-breakfast.

  The thought crossed my mind that a few centuries ago if I’d met a princess, I would’ve just kidnapped her, claimed her as mine, killed my enemies in battle, and been crowned king.

  Ah, the good old days.

  Who said I couldn’t turn back the hands of time? I was a SEAL, the ultimate warrior. No one would stop me from getting what I wanted.

  And I wanted this princess.

  Giselle

  MY LIPS BURNED HOT. HIS mouth, his tongue, his heat. I had never in my life known that a kiss could ignite me like this.

  But the cool breeze dampened the flame.

  As we walked down the street, the desire to flee threatened to overtake me entirely. My heart pounded, and sweat beaded on my forehead. What if Ryan was a serial killer? Or a rapist? How utterly naïve was I? Even though he had tackled the man who’d mugged me, and shown me his military ID, that didn’t mean he was a good man.

  But when I was with him, I didn’t worry about my safety. As stupid as that sounded, I would rather be with him than be alone at the château. And the thought of checking in now without any documents and money was dreadful. I did not want to call my father and have him say he told me so.

  It was only for one night.

  Ryan had correctly guessed that I’d been booked into a five-star hotel. I’d considered arguing with him, insisting on having him stay there with me, but then gossip would start about me spending the night with a handsome stranger. That was definitely publicity I didn’t need. Though I didn’t love my fiancé, I had no desire to disgrace him, my father, or my country. The press would never let me hear the end of it.

  He
easily found the entrance to the bed-and-breakfast as if he had stayed here before. La Maison Chantal was on the outskirts of town. Before we went inside, he took my hand in his. A jolt surged through my body at the stark contrast of his rough, tanned skin against my delicate, pale hand.

  “Do you need to wear a disguise? Or I can give you some cash, you can check in alone, and I can sneak up to your bedroom later.” He playfully tugged on my hair. “You’re a princess—I could climb up your hair.”

  “Charming. No, I should be fine, since this bed-and-breakfast is tucked away. I’ll just use my best American accent. If we tell the owners we’re married, I doubt they will question it.”

  He stroked my arm. “Married? I haven’t even fucked you yet.”

  The hair on my arm prickled my skin. The way he said yet riled me, as if sleeping with him was inevitable, which it most certainly was not. His voice was so deep and dirty, raw, and masculine. So unlike that of the men I’d been around my entire life. “Nor will you ever, sir. You can introduce me as Audrey.”

  He didn’t seem to get my Roman Holiday reference. He’d probably never seen or heard of that movie, my personal favorite.

  I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that I may have even prayed to meet some handsome stranger and travel uninhibited on my final trip as a single woman. One memory of a passionate affair to last me through what would most likely be a loveless marriage. But in my fantasies, the object of my affection had been a cultured gentleman, well read and worldly, not a crass Navy SEAL with an incredible body, dirty mouth, and a filthy mind.

  He led me inside the white doors. The walls were made out of brick, and a gold chandelier hung low from the ceiling, almost hitting Ryan’s head. A vase of fresh-cut flowers was perched on an entry table, and there was a crackling blaze in the hearth. A small sitting area was filled with books. It was as if I was walking into an old family friend’s home. I adored this charming place on sight.

  An older silver-haired lady wearing a white scarf greeted us. “Bonjour.”