I leaned over and kissed her full lips. “Well, we must get going if we're going to make our trip,” I said as I started the car and backed out.
“Where are we going?” she asked as she buckled her seat belt.
“Oh come on now, you know I can't tell you that. It's a complete surprise.”
I could feel the anticipation in the air as we talked about our trip. Although traveling was nothing new to me, my reasons for feeling euphoric were far greater than she realized. Watching my brother jet off to exotic places with women during his bachelor days was something that I could never understand. Why would he want to drag whiny women on holiday with him? It seemed everyone he dated was always so into the whole “royal” thing and what he could do for them that it turned me off at an early age. I didn't want that lifestyle. I didn't want to be with women who only wanted me to buy them things. Little did I know as a youngster that Edward was getting something out of it his promiscuities as well. But even still, I didn't want someone who only wanted material things. I had found Eliza to be genuine months ago, and I was comfortable with going away with her.
***
After an hour passed, the plane arrived at our destination. Her eyes lit up as she looked around. “Drew, are we where I think we are?” she asked with a huge smile.
“Well, where do you think we are?” I was toying with her.
“Paris?” she asked, slightly grinning.
“Yes, we are in Paris? What gave it away?”
She giggled. “The Eiffel Tower, silly man.”
We deboarded the plane and into the car that was waiting for us. The look of sheer delight on her face was enough to cause me to smile. She was like a child who was seeing Santa for the first time.
“Oh my god, Drew, I can't believe that you did all this for me?” She seemed humbled by my gesture.
“I love you and I want to give you nice things, sweetheart,” I said as I kissed her forehead.
I meant every word I said. I wanted to be good to her, to open her up to experiences that she'd never had in her life.
“Come on,” I said as the limo pulled up to the hotel. I looked around to see a hoard of paparazzi out front. “Stick close to me and don't answer any questions at all.”
“Oh god, Drew. Are you sure you want to do this?” she asked. Her face was full of fear and dread, and I could tell that she wasn’t anticipating them being there. Neither was I, for that matter.
“Liam,” I said to the driver. “What about the back entrance?”
Looking in the mirror, he answered me with a smile. “I can do that.”
“Okay, listen. This is our first time out in public and your first time dealing with those swamp rats. So, instead of just pushing you in front of them, we're going in the back way. The hotel has a private entrance that Mum uses, so we'll go in there.”
“I hate that you have to go to all this trouble for me.”
“It's no trouble. I don't know why I didn't plan for this. I was just so happy to be coming that I didn't think about it.”
My bodyguards, in the car ahead of us, did a perimeter sweep.
“All clear,” I heard James say.
“Your Highness, all is safe you and Ms. Noble to enter the hotel now,” Liam chimed in.
“Come on,” I told her as I took her hand and walked with her to the elevator.
“This is both exciting and a little intimidating,” she said as the door closed.
I leaned over and kissed her as we ascended. “Drew, not here,” she whispered and looked at our guards.
I chuckled. “They don't mind. Trust me, Eliza, they protected Edward. They've seen it all.”
Connor, the tallest guard, turned and winked at me as he grinned.
I opened the door to our suite, and her jaw dropped. She was amazed as told by the look in her eyes. “Drew?” She gasped and put her hand over her mouth. “I've never seen anything like it in my life.” She walked toward the sofa. “Not even in books.” Her voice was full of astonishment and awe.
I couldn't help smiling. I was proud of being there with her and showing her how good life could be. “Well, it's our home for the next few days.”
She dropped her bag and ran to me. “Thank you so much. I don't know what to say,” she said through tears.
“Eliza, you don't have to say anything; just enjoy it all. I want these next few days to be a very relaxing and happy time for you.”
She walked throughout the large suite and examined everything from the bookcases filled with first edition works, to the oversized marble tub with real gold faucets. Over the next hour, I answered every question she asked me about it all. I was willing to let her soak in her surroundings and the new life that she was going to be exposed to.
“What would you like to do?” I asked after she settled onto the couch.
“I don't know.” She was blank, and I realized that she had no idea what to do.
“Well, we can go out and see the city; Paris is beautiful at night, you know. Or we can stay in and eat here. It's up to you,” I told her.
Bringing her finger to her chin and looking up, I could tell that she was earnestly considering her options. “Hmmm, I've always wanted to see Paris...” She paused. “But I think I'd rather stay here with you and have dinner alone. If that's okay?” she asked.
“That's more than okay. It's perfect. I'll have the chef fix something for us.”
“Chef? Wow,” she whispered to herself. It amused me, and I laughed softly.
Chapter 24
Eliza
As if waking up in the Royal penthouse at Hotel Etienne wasn't enough, there I was waking up next to the love of my life, Prince Andrew Harrington. I couldn't believe it. I had to pinch myself to make sure I wasn't dreaming. As I looked out and saw the bright sunlight coming through the large windows that separated us from the world, I felt a sense of security knowing that nothing could touch us or tear us apart. All was right in our world.
Drew had told me about everything that had happened with Clayton, how he had turned his back on him and his social circle. I felt horrible for the lost friendship, but I was proud of Drew for confronting him. I could make Drew much happier than his so-called friends could with their snobbish attitudes toward others.
I rolled over to see that Drew was still sleeping soundly. The sight of his strong arms and muscular chest made me tingle with desire. Making love with him was more wonderful than I ever could have imagined, and I was pleased that I had saved myself for him. Mum was right, it was a magical time that you could never get back, although she had no idea that I'd already had that time.
“Good morning,” I whispered as his eyes fluttered a bit.
“Mmmm,” he said as he slowly opened them to look at me. “Good morning.”
I brought my lips to his and softly held them there for a few seconds. He returned the gesture and opened his mouth. We kissed passionately and gently for a while before he pulled back.
“I love you, Eliza.”
I smiled. His warmth touched my very soul. “I love you too.” I caressed his cheek as he looked into my eyes. Drew had a way about him that saw through to my soul, it seemed. It was a bit unnerving because I had never experienced such intense feelings before. But it was magnificent at the same time because he truly understood who I was as a person. He got me. He appreciated the fact that I only wanted him and not his money or status in life. Drew was satisfied with the fact that material things meant nothing to me.
Sliding his hand under the sheet, he began to slowly trace the line of my hip. I felt a tingle at the touch of his gentle hand. Running it up my waist and to my breast caused me to shiver.
“Cold?” he asked with a smile, knowing full well that it wasn't the temperature of the room that had affected me.
“No, I'm actually kind of hot,” I replied with a slight grin.
He realized that my words along with his actions implied what we both wanted. Drew moved atop me and kissed me tenderly. All the while, he
moved two fingers inside me until he found my g-spot.
“Mmm,” I moaned in a low voice.
After pulling out his fingers, he pushed my leg aside, opening my body up to him. He slowly moved down on the bed and used his tongue to entice me more. I felt his warm breath against my naked flesh as he blew on me before plunging his tongue into me. Taking a deep breath, my back arched immediately at the touch of his mouth. My hands instinctively grabbed his head as I pulled him to me tighter. Drew continued to work his magic on me until I couldn't stand it any longer. I tried to move my body away from his mouth so that I could please him, but he wouldn't let me. He held me in place until he was finished with me.
“Oh, Drew, I'm gonna come if you don't stop,” I said between breaths.
He shook his head and kept going. It was one of the things I loved about Drew—he gave me his all, uninhibited. He sat up and grabbed a condom. Slipping it on, he moved atop me and slid his hard dick into me.
“Hey, wait, don't you want me to give you oral too?” I asked.
He laughed. “Oh, Eliza, I love how you call it that. You're so innocent.”
“What should I call it?” I asked, a bit embarrassed that I was so childish.
“Well, you can call it blow job, head, or sucking my cock; whatever you want.”
I shrugged. “Okay, would you like for me to suck your cock?” I asked.
Drew chuckled. “Yes, I would. But later. Now I want to feel you wrapped around me. I love it, Eliza. I love how I feel inside of you. There is no time when two people are closer than this right here.”
I let go and enjoyed this moment between us as Drew cradled my body close to his, his thrusts slow and calculated. Sweat dripped from his brow as he made love to me.
My tummy tightened and my knees quivered, the feeling all-consuming as I fell over the edge. As his rhythm increased, I knew he was on the verge of climax too. He moved my hips in a circular motion then stilled, his back rigid and taut as he released.
I was breathless to his touch, in awe of such a sensation between two people. Completely mesmerized by the things he did to me.
“That was ... wonderful.” I kissed him after he fell to his back beside of me.
“You're wonderful,” he replied.
“You know, I could stay like this forever.”
He smiled. “Me too.”
Sitting up in bed, he ran his hands through his thick hair. “What would you like for breakfast?”
“Oh, I don't know. How about some fruit and a bagel?”
“Done,” he said as he got up and put on his pajama pants.
He left the room, and I took a shower. The suite had been stocked with all my favorites. I wondered how anyone knew what I liked, but I figured that Drew had taken inventory of my bedroom and bathroom and had arranged for me to have what I loved most. There was one thing that was there that I had never seen before—a wonderfully sweet smelling lotion that felt glorious on my hands. I had seen it the night before and thought I would sneak a bit. I figured it was either his mum's or Maggie's since they all stayed here on occasion.
“Okay, breakfast will be ready after your shower,” he said as he came into the bathroom.
“Alright.”
“I have something very special planned this evening,” he told me with an excitement that I had never heard out of him.
“Oh?” I replied.
“Yes, but you can't ask for details or where we're going.”
“Okay,” I said with trepidation. I knew it would be wonderful, but I wasn't a fan of surprises.
***
After breakfast, Drew and I got dressed and spent the day out in the city. He took me shopping then we dropped into a small cafe to eat croissants and drink wine. I must admit that it was odd seeing the city from his point of view because everywhere we went, we had to enter the back and try our best to stay out of the paparazzi's view.
“Look, Eliza, I'm sorry for not being able to walk down the street with you like a regular couple. But this is what comes with being a Royal or a celebrity.”
“Drew, it's okay. I don't care about how we do things; I just want to do them with you.”
I hoped he knew how much just being around him meant to me. I would have agreed to stay indoors all day and night if it meant that I could be with him. “You know that all of this isn’t why I'm with you,” I said as I raised my hands and moved them around.
“I just feel that you're not getting the true Parisian experience when you're with me. I can't just go out and walk around. There's so much I want to see with you, but we have to do things the absolute worst way because of scum like the tabloid reporters.
It was as if he'd suddenly realized what he had said as soon as the words left his mouth.
“Eliza, I'm so sorry. I'm not calling your father scum. It's just that...”
I stopped him before he could go any further. “Hey, shhh. It's okay. I understand where you're coming from. I hate those rag mags too.”
I hoped my words reassured him and made him feel better. I knew what it was like to put your foot in your mouth and say the complete wrong thing. But the truth was, I did get it. I hated the tabloid too, even if my father was one of the paparazzi; maybe more so because he was.
Chapter 25
Drew
Life was perfect. That was my only thought as I sat and watched Eliza nibble on her croissant in Corentin Cafe. “This is my favorite spot to just drop by and grab a coffee,” I told her as she continued to be lost in the pastry.
“I can certainly see why,” she said. “The food is simply divine.”
I smiled as I looked at her. She had stolen my heart, and I didn't think she realized just how much I truly cared for her.
“Are you ready?” I asked when she had finished the last bite.
“Uh, yeah, are you in a hurry?”
I laughed. “Kind of. I have a huge surprise for you.”
“Oh, Drew, you know that I don't like surprises very much,” she said as she wiped her mouth and stood.
“Well, you've not complained about anything so far, have you?”
She grinned. “No, it's been fabulous. But with you I'm never sure what's next.”
“My dear Ms. Noble, you'll have to wait and see and just be surprised.”
As we walked toward the back of the cafe, I realized that all of this was nonsense. I didn’t care what the tabloids would write about Elizabeth and I. I simply wanted to be with her and for everyone to know that I was head over heels in love with Eliza Noble. I had already denounced my friends for her; I may as well show her off to the world if they wanted to see her.
“Come on,” I said as I took her arm.
Upon turning to the front of the cafe, my bodyguards moved toward me.
“It's okay, we're going out the front,” I told them.
“Sir, let us make sure that it's all clear first.”
“What's going on?” Eliza asked.
“We're going to do things differently today. We are going to leave by the front door and take a stroll down main street.”
She smiled, telling me that she was pleased. “Only if you're sure you want to do this.”
“I do. I'm ready to tell the world that you're my love,” I replied. I felt a sense of relief knowing that we could finally be open with everyone. Who cared what others thought of her standing in the community or which “class” she came from. I certainly didn't care that she wasn't royalty or some heiress, and neither should anyone else.
When it was clear, my guards surrounded us and out the front we walked. Immediately, things seemed different. I felt free for the first time. Though we were surrounded by huge men whose only job was to keep me guarded, I still felt free. At that moment, I felt as though I could conquer anything, as if our love made us stronger.
People attempted to crowd around us, shoving cameras in our faces and shouting as my bodyguards built a wall of muscle round us. I glanced in Eliza’s direction to see that she had a look of sheer
panic on her face. “Are you alright?” I asked her.
“Yes, I'm just not used to all of these people who want your picture,” she said as low as she could so that I could still hear her above the men and women shouting at me.
“Prince Andrew, who is this young lady?” I heard one man ask.
“Andrew, is this your new girlfriend?”
“Does your mum know?”
“What's her name? Where is she from?”
They were all shouting questions amid the clicking of the cameras.
“Just ignore them, Eliza,” I said as I clutched her tightly.
It suddenly dawned on me that this wasn’t going to be an easy afternoon stroll by the Seine. Why did I do this? Why was I subjecting her to all of these cameras and hungry photogs who cared nothing about her but who only wanted a good story. Had I gone too fast by taking her out in public?
For the next ten minutes we tried our best to walk down the sidewalk, but the noise of the cameramen wanting a quote or an answer was just too much. Connor saw the frustration on my face. “Your Highness, Liam is driving alongside us. Anytime you want to get into the car, we can take you back to the hotel.”
I was relieved when he told me that we could be whisked away from it all in a second. “Yes, that would be perfect, thank you.”
I watched them as they formed a large circle around us, clearing the way for us to enter our car.
“Thank you, Liam. It was getting a bit hairy out there.”
“Yes, sir. You may want to rethink things for the next few days.”
“That was more intense than I expected,” I said to Liam and Eliza.
Eliza was visibly shaken. “Hey, you okay?” I asked, worried about her.
“Yeah, I'm fine. Just a bit shocked at how close they get and how loud they scream. Does it always feel as if they are going to just attack you at any moment?”
“Unfortunately, yes it does.” I had to be truthful with her even though her father was a paparazzo.
She hung her head and took deep, calming breaths.
A quick kiss on the lips seemed to calm her down tremendously.
Royal Academy Page 17