His Forbidden Princess (Dirty Royals Book 3)

by Vivian Wood

  I look around, wondering where everyone is. It is, after all, a school day.

  Father Jean steers Nika through a set of wooden double doors to the left. I am right behind them, my eyes opening as I step into the huge room.

  WELCOME FUTURE ST. XAVIER’S STUDENTS AND PARENTS is hung on bunting at one end of the room. In between, there are a number of priests speaking with several dozen pleased-looking parents and their bored or nervous looking children. A table is set up by the window offering coffee, tea, croissants, and fruit.

  They all turn to look at Nika when we walk in, bursting into a light smattering of applause. I notice that Nika’s free hand makes a fist, clenching. But when I move around to her side, she is smiling pleasantly.

  There is obviously some cognitive dissonance going on here.

  Father Jean raises his voice. “Everyone, if you would gather around. Princess Annika is here today to talk to you all about how important her education at St. Xavier’s was. Annika, if you would just say a few words? Why did you decide to go all the way to a Swiss boarding school?”

  Her fist clenches again. “Thank you, everyone. If you don’t mind, I have written down some of my thoughts…”

  I step forward, handing her a piece of paper straight from the royal press office. She clears her throat and begins to read it aloud.

  “My time at St. Xavier’s was the most fulfilling experience…” she reads.

  I move to the other side of the room, trying to figure out just what is going on with her. She smiles on cue. She laughs at the father’s jokes. She answers a few questions from the audience.

  She even signs some autographs.

  But her vibrancy, her almost catty sense of humor… it’s just missing. It’s almost like she’s been sedated or something.

  I frown, keeping a close eye on her. And as soon as the questions have been wrapped up and the autographs signed, I get her the fuck out of there.

  I tuck her into the backseat of the limousine myself, feeling strangely protective. When the limo pulls out, I look at her.

  “What is going on?” I demand to know.

  Nika looks at me with a little yawn. “Nothing. My psychiatrist gave me something to calm my nerves in situations like this. I think it worked well, don’t you?”

  “What situation? Will you please just tell me why the hell you hated St. Xavier’s so much? Because it’s obvious to me that you did.”

  She closes her eyes, leaning back into the cream-colored leather of her seat. “I did hate it. You are right about that much. But my grandmother made it clear to me that I shouldn’t talk about my feelings. It’s bad for the royal brand.”

  A strange feeling blooms in my chest. “Did… did somebody at the school hurt you?”

  She opens her eyes and chuckles. “No. Nothing like that, Erik.”

  I sigh, letting out a breath I didn’t know I held. “What’s your issue, then?”

  She rolls her eyes over to me, then turns her body toward me, shifting her knees up onto the seat. “Being Princess Annika is great. Except for rare instances… like being trapped at a Swiss boarding school with seventy other twelve-year-old girls. Almost everyone had pedigrees, lineage, and all of them had already decided before they even met me what I was like. They read the tabloids and they decided that I was cold and aloof. So, they treated me like an outsider.” She crinkles her upturned nose. “Except Kal, of course. If there is a god, I seriously have to thank him for assigning us to live together. She was my refuge.”

  I tilt my head. “But everyone else… didn’t warm up to you?”

  A bubble of laughter escapes Nika’s lips. “That would be putting it mildly. The whole time I was there was wretched. My locker and gym clothes were trashed once a week. I would find huge blown up pictures of myself eating pasted all over the school, with and without pig ears and a pig snout. I’ve lost count of how many times I was intentionally locked out of my dorm building or came back to my room find that all of my clothes were gone.”

  I give my head a soft shake. “So, you are saying… your classmates bullied you? You’re the princess of Denmark, Nika. You should’ve been able to snap your fingers and put them all in their place.”

  She sighs, looking away from me. “The girls at St. Xavier’s were cruel. And no amount of adult attention or intervention did anything to put a stop to it. I figured out quickly that when I went crying to the house mother or even the dean, that just told everyone that their tactics worked.”

  Her hands close into fists. I look at her, at how angry she still is. And that anger echoes around inside of me, finding the darkness in my heart.

  I know what being told that you’re not good enough is. I have been told that practically my whole life, although it was more subtle than what Nika is describing.

  I want very badly to touch her. Embrace her, tell her I’m sorry. Tell her that it’s over.

  But I don’t know that I can do that and still maintain the distance between us.

  “I’m sorry,” I grit out. “That shouldn’t have happened to you. And you shouldn’t have to sell the school after the experience you had.”

  She gives me a humorless smile. “I couldn’t get out of there fast enough. But I did get out. And now I’m just trying to look forward.”

  Her eyes sink closed. It’s just as well, because I’m not sure what to say.

  Annika being bullied for simply existing? That doesn’t sit right with me. It makes me wish that I could draw her close and protect her.

  That’s not my job, of course. But it has to be someone’s duty to look out for her… doesn’t it?

  I look at Annika as she falls asleep. Her wavy hair is coiled like a mass of snakes. Her long, dark lashes rest on her cheeks, her skin looking as smooth and clear as skimmed cream. Her button nose is sprinkled with a few freckles. Her lush lips are just below, begging to be touched.

  Not by me. I know that. We are from two different worlds, just by virtue of being born. But someone will come along someday…

  Someone worthy of her.

  Someone that’s not me.

  I try not to think about the vague unsettled feeling that stirs within me at that notion.

  Annika’s head falls down, gravity doing what it does best. And I can’t help but catch her as she slides toward me, cradling her like I’ve just been handed a delicate bird.

  Nika’s eyes open for the merest second, their innocence pinning me in place. Then she stretches out in my lap, closing her eyes once more. She murmurs something.

  It might be, “I hoped it was you.”

  I go stiff and frozen, feeling very much like the new owner of a kitten who has fallen asleep in their owner’s hands. I shouldn’t be touching her like this, nor should she be touching me. And yet… I can’t wake her up.

  Not just yet.

  Even though her body is warm and pliant, pressed against mine. And it’s giving me ideas.

  Very, very bad ideas. Flashbacks to the afternoon that she sassed me, and I lashed out at her. I kissed her and touched her hot, wet pussy…

  For that moment, she belonged to me. She was mine to do with as I wanted.

  She murmurs again, snuggling against my lap. I have an erection the size of the Eiffel fucking tower that she presses against, causing me pleasure and pain all at once.

  That can’t be comfortable to lean against. But she doesn’t seem to notice or mind. I lean my head back, blowing out a breath and blanking my mind.

  Still, it’s a long ride back to the palace… and Nika being curled up on top of my cock doesn’t make it any shorter.

  14

  Annika

  Friday morning, I am stuck inside while outside, the weather is glorious. I am listening to a much older man with a purple striped bowtie tell me that there are important things that his generation can pass to mine.

  “You see, it’s just a matter of you young people paying attention.” He tuts, winding up for what seems like a long diatribe. “If you would put down your phon
es and your internet for just a few minutes, you would really be able to learn.”

  I smile, not quite understanding how I became this man’s unwilling prey.

  More than anything, I wish I had brought the entire bag of hard candies with me. I feel no shame in front of this old man, who is lecturing me rather than trying to engage me in conversation. My attention wanders to the other people that are milling around at this charity luncheon. I am the youngest person that’s here by a mile, although Erik is a close second. My gaze trips over him.

  Tall, fair haired, and handsome as all get out. I can just make out the shape of his muscles beneath his tightly fitted sleeves. That light gray tweed suit he’s wearing ought to be outlawed. It’s unfair to me, especially when his green-brown gaze wanders over my way.

  His eyes lock on me. I feel my cheeks growing warm. He cocks a brow, as if to ask if I need to be rescued.

  God yes. I nod subtly, then refocus my attention on the man in front of me. “You know, when I was a young man, we had principles!” he wheezes.

  Erik cuts in, taking my elbow. “I’m sorry. May I borrow the princess for just a moment?”

  The older man’s face darkens. “Bring her back when you’ve finished, young man. I could tell you both a thing or two about common decency— “

  Erik just pulls me away from the older man, tucking me beneath his arm and escorting me out of yet another bland gymnasium. My heart beats a little faster at Erik’s touch.

  As soon as we escape into the hallway, I look around. Spotting an exit door, I take his hand and tug him toward it.

  “Nika,” he warns. “We have only been at this engagement for half an hour…”

  But there is a distinct lack of concern in his voice. I look up at him, wrinkling my nose. “You know you want to come outside with me. Just do it for once, rather than putting up a front.”

  His gaze tightens on my face and his lips turn down a fraction, but he just shrugs. “Whatever you say, princess.”

  Grinning wickedly, I push out of the doors. I exit into sunshine and immediately start beaming. I raise my hands up high toward the sun, not caring that the hem of my short white silk dress might show off more than I had planned.

  “Yesss,” I say. “This is already so much better than inside the gymnasium, don’t you think?”

  His gaze is heavy on me as he smirks. “I can’t disagree with you there.”

  I grin over my shoulder at him, wiggling my eyebrows. “Where should we go?”

  His lips quirk. As he scans the fields just outside the doors, he tilts his head. “There is a playground over there, way to the left.” He points it out. “It probably has benches. Or we can just walk…”

  My eyes widen. “Umm, or we can swing.” I grin at him, unrepentant. “That’s my vote.”

  He rolls his eyes, but he can’t stifle the smallest smile that appears ever so briefly on his lips. “Okay. Lead the way.”

  I take a moment, leaning against Erik’s muscular form, to take off my six inch heels. Standing next to him barefoot is a little funny; without my heels, I’m basically tiny compared to him.

  Holding my stilettos in one hand, I skip along toward the little park that Erik pointed out. It turns out to be pretty nice. There are several big, shady trees. Underneath those is an oversized swing set, a seesaw, and a large dark wooden jungle gym complete with a bright blue plastic slide. All of it is enclosed in a giant sandbox, well-tended yet vacant.

  I jog over to the swings, dropping my shoes behind me in the sand. I perch on one of the swings, giving Erik a huge grin. He hangs back, watching me.

  It’s a little frustrating sometimes, seeing Erik not just dive into things. He’s so careful about everything. Then again, I could learn a little restraint, I guess.

  “Come on!” I urge him. “At least come over here and push me.”

  His eyes tighten on mine. For a second, I think that he’s going to say no. But eventually he shrugs and comes into the swings area.

  I smile as he awkwardly makes his way around me. “Hey.” I stop him. “Here.”

  I stand up, reaching to ease the knot of his tie. He goes still and expressionless under my hands. But his eyes study me intently, the green brown standing out to me just now.

  I smile up at him. “What are you thinking?”

  He shakes his head. “Nothing.”

  I unknot his tie, slipping it off. I scoff. “Seriously? I’m willing to bet that isn’t true.”

  He tilts his head. “Maybe it’s just private. Ever think of that?”

  My expression turns teasing. My fingers undo the top button of his shirt. “I definitely have thought about that. It only makes me more curious. What does Erik Moen think about that is private? Hm?”

  He stills my fingers by grabbing my hand. “Most of my thoughts are private, Nika.”

  My lips quirk. “Even from me?”

  He releases me, letting out a bark of laughter. “Especially from you.”

  I shoot him a pouty face. He just rolls his eyes and walks around the swings. “Sit down.”

  I seat myself against the black rubber of the swing, gripping the silver chains that rise all the way up to meet the top of the swings. Erik grips the chains too, just a little below where my hands are. He pulls me back gently and lets go of the chains.

  I glide forward gently.

  I send Erik a look over my shoulder. “You’re terrible at this. Push me harder!”

  He smirks at me. “That’s your response to everything.”

  I laugh, leaning my head back. He does push me harder though, making me glide a little higher each time his warm hands touch my back.

  I beam at him. “Admit it. This is way better than talking to people about serious issues back there at the school.”

  “I will never concede to it,” he says, feigning seriousness. “You know that’s my motto. Never admit to anything so that no one can be mad at me.”

  I put down a foot, slowing my swing by dragging it along the ground. “And how would you say that’s going, Erik?”

  He flashes a smile. “Perfectly okay. Absolutely bland.”

  I stop the swing, leaning back to look at him. “Want to sit on the jungle gym for a little while?”

  He offers me a small smile. “Your wish is my command, princess.”

  Rolling my eyes, I stand up and bite my lip. “Race you there.”

  I take off at a sprint, not waiting for him to catch up. I head for the solid wood structure only thirty yards away.

  “No fair!” he cries.

  As it turns out, I don’t need to wait for him. He’s so tall and has such long legs that he has no problem catching up to me.

  I give him a glinting look as I climb up to the top of the jungle gym. The floor beneath me is made of sturdy slabs of wood and there is a view of the school from here that is actually quite charming.

  Erik climbs right up beside me. I sprawl out on the slab, patting an invisible seat. He sits down more carefully than I did; he’s all knees and elbows for a second before he settles down beside me.

  He heaves a sigh. I arch a brow.

  “What?” I ask.

  He shrugs. “I don’t know. Don’t you ever get tired of being a princess on parade? I’m sick of it and it’s only been a few weeks.”

  My lips lift at the corners. “Of course.”

  His eyebrows lift. “Really?”

  I nod. “Yeah, definitely. I just don’t know how else I am expected to behave. If I just went by Momse’s set of moral codes, I would just do this cheerfully. Every single day for a couple of years. Then I’d marry some suitable boy, pop out a couple of great-grandchildren, and sort of fade away.”

  Erik frowns. “That’s what you think is expected of you?”

  Shrugging a single shoulder, I pull a face. “I know that it is. It’s what my dad’s sisters did. And the generation before that… and the generation before that…”

  “But you don’t want that, I’m guessing.”

 
I smile a little ruefully. “No. I mean… do I want kids someday? Yes, absolutely. And I don’t want to sacrifice my life for theirs. But I also don’t want to be…” I pause, hesitating. “I don’t mean to sound selfish. I just don’t want to repeat either my mother or my grandmother’s mistakes.”

  His eyes narrow. “What do you mean by that?”

  “I just mean I don’t want to raise children that are complete strangers to me. But I also have no desire to control every single aspect of my unborn children’s lives. I’d like to find a balance, I guess.”

  “Ah.” He nods, looking off. “Yeah. It’s hard to even think about being a parent right now. Like… how do you know for sure that you’re not completely screwing them up?”

  I try to think of the best way to phrase my question. “Is that what you think your father did? Screwed you up?”

  He scrunches up his face ever so briefly. “It’s hard to say,” he says, avoiding the subject neatly. When he looks back at me, he smiles. “It’s time for a change of topics.”

  I look at him, at his golden hair and bewitchingly fiery eyes, at his cheekbones and jawline carved of rock. Raising a hand to his face, I gently trace my fingers along the length of his jaw, up the side of his face to feather along his temple.

  He allows my light touches, closing his eyes briefly. God, he is insanely gorgeous just now.

  “You’re not at all what I imagined,” I murmur.

  He opens his hazel eyes, smiling a little. God, I would do anything for him to keep looking at me with that expression on his face.

  “Is that so?” he asks.

  I trace my touch back down to his jaw, trailing it along the skin outside his mouth. Shaking my head, I smile. “No.”

  He bites his lower lip for just a second. “Nika,” he rasps. “What are you doing to me right now?”

  I move closer to him, pressing the gentlest of kisses against the very corner of his mouth. He stiffens, going still.

  I grab his hand and put it around my waist. “Kiss me, Erik,” I beg him softly.