“Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure?”
Words kept coming out of Grace’s mouth and I knew they were important to her, but I couldn’t figure out what they actually meant.
“Does that involve puppets?” I asked.
By the way her mouth curved and her nose flared, I suspected it didn’t involve puppets at all. Was I that badly mistaken? It did sound like a kids’ show. Maybe it was a cartoon?
“No. It involves Keanu Reeves.”
“I don’t know him.”
She gasped. I had no idea if she was more upset that I hadn’t heard of this Excellent Adventure or had never met this Keanu guy.
Grace held up her hands. “Okay, okay, I’ll let that one pass.”
She didn’t seem like she was letting anything pass if you asked me.
“Back to the Future?”
I blinked.
“Goonies?”
This time I stared.
“Raiders of the Lost Ark?”
Taking in a breath, I held up one finger. “Now, I have heard of the arc of the covenant. Did these raiders find it? That I haven’t heard and would be a boon to archeologists.”
Grace turned her back to me. She made some noises. Were they good or bad sounds, I had no idea.
“Who are you?” she asked in a whisper.
I was afraid to answer. Not that I worried about mentioning I was the future Prince of Cambria. That I knew she could never find out about. It would cause too much damage to me, my family, and I knew Grace would never look at me the same way.
To her, I was just a guy working at her diner, not a duke. She treated me as an equal, and I couldn’t afford to lose that.
“It would be one thing, Nico, if you didn’t like these movies.” She finally turned to face me. “But to not have even heard of them isn’t normal. Did you grow up in a cave raised by wolves?”
In a way . . .
“No, of course not. I had a mother and father like everyone else.”
Her lips thinned. “Not everyone grows up with a mother and father.”
I shook my head. “No, of course not.” I feared I hurt her after what she had told me about her past. “But you know what I . . .” My words faded from my lips. What I said about my parents affected her far greater than I had expected. “I didn’t mean—”
She held up her hand to stop me. “Save it, Nico. So, you were lucky enough to have parents, yet every classic eighties movie I mentioned you’ve never heard of.”
“I wasn’t even born yet. How could I know of these films?”
I no longer cared about the movies. There was something more going on with Grace. I had limited knowledge of what happened to foster kids, but what I did know wasn’t good. Grace’s eyes looked past me, and I feared she was remembering something awful from her youth. I hated that she had to experience any of that. I wanted to wrap her in my arms and take the pain away.
“The Wizard of Oz or Dr. Strangelove or The Graduate came out decades before I was born, but I heard of them. I’ve even seen some of the movies. And I could name a bunch more I haven’t seen but heard of.”
With her arms folded in front of her in what appeared to be anger or frustration, but I suspected was something more, I took a step closer. While I didn’t like seeing Grace upset, it never distracted from her beauty. I suddenly understood the saying my mother always said about finding a woman who took my breath away.
That was Grace.
Standing in front of her, I could barely breathe. Spending the past few weeks with her, seeing how hard she worked, and watching her laugh and smile, I wondered what it would be like to have her by my side.
To call her my princess.
Just as the thought bloomed in my mind, reality squashed it just as quickly. My parents would never accept someone outside a royal family. I always knew I was to marry a royal or at the very least, someone from an aristocratic family.
While Grace seemed to be doing well financially as she was a Hawthorne, she wasn’t from royal stock. While my parents had never said anything out loud, it was expected that I marry a woman from a certain type of family. Someone of noble blood.
Maybe that was part of the reason I was here. Not just to live like the other ninety-nine percent of people in the world and be free to do what I please, but to be free to love as well.
“Why don’t we change that?” I asked.
“Change what?” Grace’s brow puckered so adorably I had to stop myself from tracing my finger over it.
“My immense lack of movie knowledge. You be my teacher. What should we watch first?”
Her brown eyes widened and she relaxed her arms. I surprised her. Good. I wanted to astound her every day with happiness.
“Okay. I guess we should start with . . . Wow, I never had to teach someone about movies before. There are so many good ones.”
She bit her lip, and I licked mine as I watched.
“I know!” She grabbed my hand causing me to smile. Pulling me onto the blue velvet couch, she said, “Now stay there. I want it to be a surprise. In fact, close your eyes.”
“Of course.” I closed my eyes.
She giggled and warmth bloomed in my chest. As long as I had known her, I had never heard her laugh like that. It sounded youthful and carefree and it made me want her more.
Perhaps kissing her wasn’t the best idea if I wanted to keep working at the diner, but I had promised Cali and Tiber that I would leave with them for Texas.
One night of bliss with the woman who had taught me more about life than my many tutors and professors growing up ever did, wouldn’t be a mistake. I don’t think I had ever wanted a woman as much as I desired Grace.
“Okay, I pulled it up. You can open your eyes.”
I did as she said and glanced up at the large screen that had come out of nowhere, which covered the mantel and most of the fireplace.
“Where did that—”
“Again, my brother. He had a screen installed. It comes down from the ceiling when I want to watch something.” She came and sat beside me on the couch.
I nodded and my eyes adjusted to what was playing.
“A Princess Bride,” I read the title.
Grace shrugged with a curve of her lips. “I figured you would want to see who you’re dressing up as at work.”
She thought of me when picking out the movie. If my heart had warmed to her before, it was about to burst now. Something hurt in my chest as I gazed up at a pretty girl with long blond hair boss around a handsome guy on a farm.
I realized that no one in my life thought about my feelings, my cares, when deciding what I would be doing. My father never asked if I would prefer to do something because he knew I enjoyed it. My mother never once thought that I would want a say in who I took as a bride.
Yet Grace, who had only known me for a few weeks, picked out a movie that she knew I would be curious about. It wasn’t a grand gesture but those weren’t the things that stole hearts.
I had learned over the last few weeks that it was the little, everyday things that caused change. The simple acts were the ones that produced a smile or warmed a heart.
“Thank you,” I said.
She turned her head from the screen to me and nodded. Though she had darkened the room for the movie, I couldn’t help but notice the pink on her cheeks.
“Everyone deserves to see a fairy tale. And this is the best fairy tale ever written and made into a movie.”
I was starting to agree. I watched how the woman in the movie gazed at the farm boy. In that moment, I would do anything to make Grace’s fairy tale come true.
Even if it meant never going back home.
THIRTEEN
Grace
A Room with a View
“Now I know why you had me wear the Dread Pirate Roberts costume.” Nico’s lips turned devilish with a curve as he faced me.
The movie ended less than a minute ago and already he hadn’t stopped talking about the reasons I put on the movie.
Because I wanted him.
His words, not mine.
“Why is that?”
“Because you wish me to kiss you like that. The most passionate. They said there were only five, I bet we could add a sixth.” He wiggled his eyebrows and I couldn’t help but laugh.
No matter what happened at work—if a customer screamed at him or he was forced to clean the bathroom—he never complained. He did remind me of Cary Elwes’ character. I half expected him to bow and say “as you wish” every time I asked him to do a chore at the diner.
“You believe your lips have what it takes to make the list?”
“Oh, I know they do. But if you don’t believe me, you can always see for yourself.” He leaned forward and made a kissing gesture.
I threw my head back and chuckled so hard I was afraid I’d snort. As much as I kept denying it, I liked Nico. More than just attraction. He was funny and genuine. And after dating so many man-babies, it was refreshing to meet a guy who didn’t whine about life. The way Nico lived was as if every day was a gift and all he wanted to do was enjoy it.
He scooted closer and I knew what was next. The question was, did I want that kiss? I studied Nico. He was model good-looking, like he stepped out of a fairy-tale playbook. The word dashing came to mind when I thought of him.
But it was more than that. Looks could only get you so far in the world. What lay beneath that genetic golden goose was the thing that caused the heat to grow between my legs.
It wasn’t the supple touch from his fingers as he glided them over my shoulder that sent my clit a-twitching. It was what he did with those fingers. His touch was light like a warm breeze, instead of rough and grabby.
He hadn’t kissed me yet and already, I realized he ruined me for all other men. Well, men I was used to. The guys who fumbled with their zippers and pressed a little too hard when they kissed.
I suspected Nico hadn’t fumbled a day in his life. And the kiss? Perhaps he could be number six on that all time The Princess Bride list.
“Okay,” I said and leaned forward before I lost my nerve.
He didn’t react the way I suspected. I thought his smile would grow and turn a bit smugger. Instead, his eyes widened and he opened his mouth to say something, but I was too fast for him.
My lips landed on his lower lip and tongue just as he tried to speak. He mumbled something that was swallowed by my lips, and not in a sexy way.
I should have pulled back. My mouth and part of my nose were wet from his mouth, and I feared that I had slobbered on him from our ill-fated kiss.
Turning my head, I did my best to fix the awkward kiss, but it was too late. Nico leaned back, breaking our uncomfortable and very wet bond.
He pulled out a cloth handkerchief with the initials NC and a crown embroidered above. His last name was Aster. That would make his initials NA. He must have picked that up from someone else.
I used it to wipe my face.
“Thanks. Never used a real handkerchief before. Super fancy.” I kept my eyes glued to the ground out of sheer embarrassment.
The kiss would wind up on a list, all right. The most embarrassing kisses of all-time. I’m sure ours would make the top three.
“Look, Grace, I hadn’t expected you—”
I held up my hand. “Stop. Just, stop right there. I know what you’re going to say. You hadn’t actually expected me to follow through with the kiss. You’re just a flirt and I’m not the type of woman you normally date.” I shook my head and couldn’t look him in the eye. “At least you didn’t hit me in the face with a paper airplane.”
“What does a kiss have to do with a paper airplane? Is that in a movie I should watch? Because if so, I’m up for it. And possibly, another kiss.”
“What?” I hadn’t expected him to say that.
“The kiss. I was surprised you agreed so quickly. I expected more resistance because I work for you. I know that makes it awkward.”
“As awkward as our kiss?” I asked because it had to be said.
His chuckle came from deep in his chest and rumbled around me. It felt like a warm blanket in the autumn—cozy and delightful.
“I don’t think there’s anything that can compete with that kiss.”
“I don’t know. I’ve had some pretty awkward moments in my life. One time I went to school with my shirt tucked into my bra. And I’m not talking the back of my shirt . . . it was the front.”
He laughed again and it felt good to see him enjoy himself. I wanted to keep telling embarrassing stories so I could spend the night watching Nico smile.
The way the corner of his eyes wrinkled and a faint dimple appeared on the apple of his cheek, it was worth humiliating myself for those little gems.
“That’s nothing. I once gave a speech and when I bent over to pick up a pen that I dropped, I farted and my pants ripped at the same time. The entire audience heard,” he said with a chuckle.
“I bet they exploded with laughter. Was this during high school? That would be the worst.”
His smile faded. “Yes, uh . . . school. It was for school.”
I wiped the tears of laughter from my eyes and noticed he wasn’t amused anymore. Perhaps he had bad memories of high school. Unlike most teenagers, that was the best time of my life. At least, the family I stayed with were great . . . until they left.
“Did I say something wrong?”
“No.” He shook his head and scooted closer. Nico’s hand lifted until he was flipping a lock of my hair in his fingers. “Can I kiss you now?”
His eyes darkened and fell to my lips. I thought it strange his mood changed so quickly. One minute we were laughing at embarrassing memories, and now he wanted to kiss me.
And I wanted that, too. The silly moment we shared seemed to turn this kiss into something more. At least, that’s what my vagina thought. Heat radiated between my thighs and Nico was only playing with my hair.
What would happen when he touched my lips?
“Yes,” I said in barely a whisper.
Thankfully, my mouth was closed when his lips lowered to mine. They were soft and brushed against my own. His breath tickled my neck and when I smiled, it wasn’t to laugh—it was to thank him for living up to his word.
Perhaps, I was horny from going so long without sex. Or maybe it was the first time a guy kissed me that I hadn’t felt as if he was using me in some way. Whatever it was, the kiss could easily make The Princess Bride list.
It was how he did it that made it list-worthy. Nico didn’t devour my lips or force his tongue down my throat, he leaned down, cupped my face in his hands, and pressed his lips in the sweetest way possible. Light, fluttery, but there was intent behind it, as if the kiss was serving a purpose. A kiss that needed to happen between us so something much deeper could come.
And that deep, heated thing did come. I parted my lips and he slid his tongue inside, just enough to tickle and urge me forward. I arched my back when his hand slid from my neck to my chest.
He was teasing me. Not much, but enough that I almost couldn’t stop my body’s reaction to him. I decided two could play that game. My hand reached up for his neck but before I could touch a strand of his hair, he stopped me.
A growl escaped his lips and he pulled away. I felt dazed and I sucked on my swollen bottom lip. It was only a kiss, but that didn’t stop me from feeling thoroughly fucked.
I whimpered from the loss and looked up at him. My eyes pleaded with Nico to continue because my mouth hadn’t been able to produce speech yet. He kissed my ability to form words right out of me.
“If we continue, Grace, I will want more. Much more. I will want to kiss you in many places. Especially, between your legs.”
A noise escaped me. Something that sounded like surprise and desire rolled into one.
The kiss we just had was incredible and if his lips could do that to my mouth, I could only imagine what he could do to my pussy. My clit twitched at the prospect.
“Okay,” I said, fin
ally able to speak.
It wasn’t much of a response, but it was enough for Nico. He smiled and something told me that he wore the lion mask tonight for a reason. Maybe I was his prey and he was ready to eat me.
I sure hoped so.
FOURTEEN
Nico
Some Kind of Wonderful
Grace was stunning tonight, and she was all mine. She was only wearing a loose pink sweater and jeans, yet I couldn’t take my eyes off her. When I saw her on the street heading to the shop, I had to follow her. While I had planned to tell her I needed to leave in a few days, I hadn’t expected to see that journalist.
I recognized him from Cambria. He must be here covering our trip. If he took my picture with Grace, I knew it would end badly. Much worse than if I told her the truth about me being the future Prince of Cambria.
Grace surprised me with her hospitality—taking me to her home and wanting me to watch that movie with her. My heart craved those small doses of kindness more than I thought it would.
And then she went along with my flirting. It was too much. So here I sat with my hand on her wrist, admitting that I wanted to kiss every inch of her body.
It wasn’t just me who wanted that. Grace wanted it, too. For weeks I fantasized about this moment. My hands on her hips, pinning her down as I buried my face between her legs. Her squirming but pulling at my hair because she couldn’t get enough of how I made her feel.
“If that’s what you want, then take off your clothes,” I said. I expected hesitation at best, and outright refusal at the worst.
But Grace was my dream come to life. She didn’t delay pulling at her sweater to reveal a lovely white lace bra. As much as I wanted to reach down and suck on her nipple through the lace until it was a hard, little pebble, I waited.
The anticipation of what she would do next was almost as good as our kiss. I may have exaggerated my ability to kiss when I first mentioned it. I considered myself a decent kisser, but I wasn’t so conceited to think I was the best.
Royal Disgrace (Cake Love Book 5) Page 8