“Hey,” I said with a smile on my face. I leaned down to plant a soft kiss on those delectable lips. She smiled back at me.
“Hey, yourself.”
“What are we doing today?” It was a Saturday, and we were done with regularly scheduled classes for the quarter.
“Studying for finals next week.”
I frowned. I hated studying and rarely did it. I wasn’t graduating no matter how hard I tried. I was too far behind, and I couldn’t afford to attend college after my scholarship ran out. I’d be attending the combine, working out, and hoping like hell I could get an NFL team to notice me. I hadn’t given much thought as to what I’d do once the quarter ended. I’d probably drop out, get a job somewhere, and work my ass off on my fitness, speed, and accuracy with Tanner once his season ended, which, for his sake, I hoped was later rather than sooner.
I had hope. That dark cloud surrounding me for the past year had lifted, and the world looked so much brighter. I had Alisa to thank for my positive outlook. Everything looked great with her naked body next to mine.
“What are we going to do about us?” I asked, hating that I sounded so worried and pathetic.
“Gage, let’s live one day at a time, get through finals, and then we can talk about things. Right now, I can’t deal with anything but finishing up my bachelor’s requirements.”
I nodded, having to agree with her. We really did need to get through finals, or at least, she did. I was going through the motions, knowing there wouldn’t be a degree at the end of the tunnel for me. Still, I’d be smart to pass as many classes as possible in case I ever did get the opportunity to finish my degree, which was laughable.
“I’ll let it go as long as we can take a break later and get a pizza.”
“You and your pizza. You’d eat pizza three meals a day if you could.”
“Yeah, it’s got all the food groups and then some.”
“And loaded with carbs.”
Alisa had been obsessed with her weight lately, and I didn’t understand why. She’d always had a great figure, and she hadn’t put on a pound.
I quickly flipped her on her back, despite her feeble protests, and straddled her body. “We’d better get some more exercise in before we have another pizza then.”
She giggled and gazed up at me with sparkling blue eyes full of adoration. Her dark hair fanned out on the pillow. She looked like an angel sent from heaven to save my soul. She’d been saving it one fuck at a time for the past few weeks, and I couldn’t be happier.
Alisa wrapped her arms around my neck, and she rose up to kiss her way down my jawbone to my neck and shoulders. I groaned and pushed her legs apart with one knee. I was so hot for her and her for me, I didn’t think much foreplay would be necessary. Her hot body rubbed against mine, causing my dick to spring to attention.
“Fuck me now, Gage.” Her voice was throaty and sexy and so fucking irresistible I’d have done anything she asked. Before I could respond, she’d reached for a condom stored in a small box on my end table, torn open the package, and begun to roll it on my cock.
Her hands on me felt so good, so very good. I shuddered with pleasure. When she finished, she guided me toward her wet opening, and I sank gratefully inside her. I was home, where I was meant to be, with the one female I was meant to be with. Her body welcomed me, wrapped me in warmth, and embraced all that I was.
I moved inside her, loving how she arched her back and pressed her hips into mine. I changed my angle to touch deeper places. She whimpered. Her fingernails dug into my back, urging me on, not that I needed encouragement. I pumped into her, my strokes growing in speed and intensity until both of us fell over the edge with frenzied abandon and floated into blissful oblivion.
Life could not get better than this. She was mine, and I was hers. Once finals were over, I would make a commitment to her, one I should’ve made a year ago. I wouldn’t repeat the same mistake twice. Alisa would know she was my one and only.
~~Alisa~~
On Sunday evening, I was studying at the living room table, books spread out all over. Wayne rose from his sprawled position on the huge sectional couch that dominated the entire living room and was big enough to sleep the entire football team. I watched as he went to the window and parted the blinds. He stared for a long moment, then turned to survey the room.
We were all present in various states from studying to eating to lounging. Gage was deep into a new video game. Easton was leaning forward on the ottoman with his eyes glued to the television screen. Logan was furiously texting, probably to five different women at once. Mason was the only other one cracking the books. He sat at the other end of the table highlighting his chemistry textbook.
“Is anyone here in trouble with the FBI?” Wayne’s face was puzzled, drawing the attention of everyone.
“FBI?” Gage snorted. “Logan, have you been stealing tape from the locker room again?”
“Fuck no,” Logan retorted with annoyance, but he stood and walked to the window and peered out. He turned to Wayne. “How long have they been out there?”
“A few days at least.”
“A few days?” Gage was frowning.
“Check it out, dude,” Logan pointed toward the window. “Dark sedan and guys in suits wearing sunglasses. It’s like something from the movies.”
Soon all the guys were gathered at the window peering at their stalkers. I was the only one who remained seated, because I already knew what they were looking at, and my mind was racing with plausible explanations that wouldn’t blow my cover.
Gage glanced over his shoulder. His blue eyes narrowed, and he regarded me suspiciously. I shrugged.
The speculation continued, and I knew I wouldn’t get any studying time in until I came clean—partially. I wasn’t at liberty to spill the entire story yet, not until the family gave me the go-ahead after the preparations for the big announcement were completed. I was responsible for making sure the story didn’t leak ahead of time.
Having royal bodyguards follow me everywhere wasn’t exactly discreet. I’d tried to discourage my father from assigning a security detail to me, but this past week had been a tense one at the palace with a few death and kidnapping threats. He wasn’t taking any chances that his only child might be a target if there was a leak among trusted palace staff. I’d spent the summer at the palace as a distant cousin of the family, but there were staff who were privy to my identity. A person never knew when money won out over loyalty.
“They’re here for me,” I said so quietly I was surprised when every head turned toward me.
“For you?” Gage scratched his blond head and scowled, as if this was too much for him to fathom.
“Yes, for me. My father hired them.”
“Why?” Logan asked.
“They’re bodyguards.” I gave them a wry smile.
“Are you in danger or something?” Easton asked.
“My father is a little overprotective.”
“Your real father?” Gage’s eyes narrowed. He was onto me. He knew I was being evasive.
I sighed. They weren’t going to let this drop until I gave them a half-truth explanation. “Yes, my birth father. He’s somewhat of a celebrity in his own country. There’ve been some threats this year, and he’s not taking any chances. His company is handling a sensitive contract for the government for some controversial weapon or something. I don’t know what it is.”
“What is he? An aging rock star?” Easton joked.
“Maybe he’s a Saudi prince,” Logan added to the speculation.
I rolled my eyes. “Just a guy with a lot of money and clout in Europe.”
The guys exchanged glances with each other, and I knew my lie had crashed and burned. Gage was the most skeptical of all.
Time to make a less-than-graceful exit and get out of here before they fired the next question at me. “Oops, gotta go. Mother Nature is calling.”
I ran from the room and up the stairs, sequestering myself in my bathroom with a
good book.
Gage was waiting for me when I came out of the bathroom a half hour later, hands on hips and determination etched in the square line of his jaw. The long wait had frayed his patience even further.
“I don’t even want to know what you were doing in there.”
“You should’ve joined me.” I winked at him, lowered my head, and gave him my best sultry look. He wasn’t falling for it. He wanted answers.
“Spill it, Lis. Why the bodyguards? What aren’t you telling us?”
“It’s just a precaution. Nothing to get your boxers all twisted over,” I tossed back flippantly, hoping to diffuse his indignation and buy some time. I should’ve known Gage wasn’t that easily distracted.
“Your stepdad was the CEO of a coffee-roasting company. I don’t know anything about your real dad. It’s odd you don’t talk about him.”
“You don’t talk about your family either.” I lifted my chin in a silent challenge. Gage was closemouthed and never talked about his family. What little I knew were bits and pieces, mostly rumors and gossip. He was a private guy, and I had to respect his privacy. We’d never had the kind of relationship where we spilled our guts to each other.
“My family doesn’t hire bodyguards to keep an eye on me.”
I had to laugh. “You have a good point.”
“Your father’s a celebrity?”
“You could say that. In his own country.” I hadn’t wanted to have this conversation with Gage yet, but now was as good of a time as ever. Finals started tomorrow. I flew out to London on Saturday, first class no less. The announcement would be made on Monday. It was all happening too fast. Especially my relationship with Gage. We’d wasted an entire year dancing around our emotions, waiting until the last few weeks of my tenure at Tyee to actually realize we meant something to each other. At least, I thought we did. I knew Gage meant something to me.
I’d been in denial for so long, I couldn’t deny what I felt for one minute more.
I loved him. Really, really loved him.
I’d been crazy in love with him ever since we laid eyes on each other.
By the look in his eyes, I dared to dream he felt the same way.
Only what did it mean? What could it mean? I was a princess. I had royal duties, a role to play, responsibilities to fulfill. My future wasn’t mine anymore. The cold, hard facts of royal life been pounded into my head over the summer. I was determined to fit in and make my father proud of me.
I had no time for a love interest thousands of miles away. Nor was saddling Gage with my baggage fair to him. He had his future to concentrate on. Making a team would be daunting, and he had to devote one hundred percent of the next several months to that task. He didn’t need the impending drama caused by my newly announced royal status muddying those waters.
I wasn’t ready to tell him the truth yet. Even though I trusted him to a point, I couldn’t take a chance on the story leaking before my new family had a chance to put their royal spin on everything.
“Listen, I can’t tell you the details right now. Once we’re through finals, I’ll explain everything.”
His eyes narrowed, but he relaxed slightly.
“Please, humor me on this. I have to do well on finals in order to make the dean’s list. I can’t add any drama to my life right now.”
He nodded and sighed, pulling me into his arms. “You sure you have to go to London after finals?”
“Positive.” My heart wanted to stay right here, but my life had become much more complicated than it had been a year ago.
He put a finger on my chin and lifted my face to his. His mouth touched mine with the gentlest of touches, as if I were a rare treasure to be treated with the utmost delicacy. Our faces were a few inches apart, and we gazed into each other’s eyes. I saw so much there, I panicked and drew back, breaking the connection.
“Lis?”
“It’s nothing. I have to get back to studying.” I pulled out of his arms and turned away, not wanting to see the confusion and disappointment I knew would be there.
“Are you sure?”
“Gage, please, don’t pressure me. I have to study. I’m especially worried about this last final on Friday. My hardest class of all.”
“I understand.”
He didn’t stop me as I walked back to the dining room and sat down. A few minutes later, he slumped on the couch next to Easton, picked up a video game controller, and engaged E in a game.
Chapter 10—Black Clouds
~~Alisa~~
By Thursday afternoon, I had one more final, but I’d studied all I could without blowing up my brain. Instead of being relieved I was ready, this big black cloud hung over me and darkened all the good things in my life. In a few days, I’d be leaving for Europe.
I needed more time to explore this thing with Gage, but I couldn’t. Not now. Once again, the timing was off. We both had to concentrate on our futures, not our relationship.
I decided to take a break by cooking a pot roast. The dreary weather outside was perfect for comfort food inside. The aroma of meat simmering in my secret sauce filled the house and relaxed me somewhat. That dark cloud lifted, and I vowed to enjoy the next three days as best I could, once that last final was over.
The front door opened, and seconds later, Wayne had followed his nose into the kitchen, where I was checking the roast in the Crock-Pot. Gage wasn’t back from working out and the other guys were who knows where, though I doubted they were studying at the library.
“Your goons are outside,” Wayne noted.
“Oh, good. I’ll take them some roast when it’s done.”
Wayne narrowed his eyes and scrutinized me with a knowing gaze. “You’re hiding something. You’ve been different all quarter. Nothing like the Alisa I’ve known and loved from our freshman year on.”
“I grew up.”
He rolled his eyes. “Bullshit. Something’s going on. Those guys out there. Your tame behavior. Your avoidance of frat parties. You’ve even cleaned up your language.”
“Don’t you think that’s a good thing?”
“Maybe if it’s your idea to do so, but why do I get the feeling there are outside influences at work here?”
Wayne was shockingly preceptive for such a goofball. I poured myself a glass of wine. I was going to need it.
“It’s all me,” I lied and not convincingly judging by the frown on his face. I turned away and headed upstairs for my bedroom. If I thought that’d discourage Wayne, I was wrong. He was right on my heels.
“I’ve let it go for weeks, but now’s the time to give up the goods. Why do you need bodyguards?” Wayne made himself at home on my bed, propping himself up on my pillows and reaching for my glass of wine. I sighed and shut the door. I had to tell someone, talk to someone, and Wayne was trustworthy.
“I’m a member of the British royal family.”
“You’re a what?” He sat up, almost spilling the wine.
“I’m a princess. A real princess. My official title is Her Royal Highness the Princess of Cuthbert.”
Wayne narrowed his eyes. “That’s not funny.”
“It’s not meant to be. It’s true.” I explained the entire situation and how I came to know I was the only living child of my father, Prince Bennett of Cuthbert, second in line to the throne, and the only granddaughter of the king and queen. All their other grandchildren were male.
“Oh, my God. Oh, my God. Oh, my God. A real princess? Of England? Oh, my God.” Wayne was so excited, I thought he’d pee his boxer briefs, and I knew what he wore because he was so not a morning person and prone to staggering downstairs for coffee without taking the time to get dressed or even pull on a pair of sweats.
I nodded, amused by his over-the-top squealing.
“Can I be your gentleman-in-waiting?”
I laughed. “Of course you can.”
“What does one do as a GIW?”
“I have zero idea.” I laughed. Wayne had always had the ability to cheer me up n
o matter how bad the circumstances were.
“So your trip to London, that has to do with all this?”
“They’re making the official announcement on Monday.”
“Holy shit. Then all hell will break lose.”
“You could say that.”
“Does Gage know?”
I shook my head, feeling guilty I hadn’t told him before I told Wayne. “I’ll tell him before I leave. You can’t breathe a word of this to anyone. This cannot leak out before the announcement.” I shook my finger at him like a mother scolding a child. He merely laughed, then sobered and nodded.
“My lips are sealed.” He ran his finger over his lips to indicated how sealed they were. “You need to tell him.”
“I will. I will. I just—”
“You’re in love with him and don’t want to lose him,” Wayne guessed correctly.
“But I have to lose him. At least, temporarily.”
“The good thing is he’s not an ordinary guy. Doesn’t he have all that old-money wealth behind him? Doesn’t his family have a vacation home in the Hamptons and a century-old mansion in Connecticut? And aren’t some of his ancestors descended from British royalty?”
“That’s what the rumors are, but I’ve never heard him say anything about his family or his background.”
“But he doesn’t deny it either. He’d be worthy of a princess.”
At least there was that, but right now, I had to sever our relationship or put it on hold until I had the lay of the land in my new homeland.
“Alisa? Are you going to break up with him?”
“I have to. For now. He and I have our futures to contend with before we can tackle a real relationship.”
“I suppose that’s fair. He’s dealing with life after college football, and you’ll be dealing with the life of a princess.”
“That’s it exactly.” I didn’t have to like it, but such was my reality.
~~Gage~~
As the date for Alisa’s departure loomed closer, my improved attitude began to deteriorate. I was confused, frightened, and out of sorts. I hated not knowing where my future was going. It’d been planned out for close to two decades, and now those carefully laid plans brimmed with uncertainty.
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