by S. L. Scott
“Of course not. You’re my sister. If we can’t trust each other, we can’t trust anyone.” I hug her. “I have your back.” I do too, but my gut twists all the same.
“I have yours, too.” She hugs me tightly. “I love you, but you need to shower. You really stink.”
My smirk returns. “I’m going. I’m going.” Right back to Hutton. Before I close the door, I say, “Just enjoy that kiss and the innocence of it. And nothing is going to happen. If you like him, kiss him again. If you want more . . . do what you want. When I’m queen, I’m getting rid of those stupid bylaws anyway. Be happy, sister.”
When she touches her lips again, a sweet smile graces her pink lips. “Thank you for taking me out tonight.”
“I’m glad you came. Night.”
“Good night.”
I don’t rush in the shower. My skin feels raw and alive, his fingerprints still searing my body. It’s easy to wash away the memory of what we did earlier when I know we’ll be making more tonight.
I’m not sure how fate worked her magic, but she managed to bring us back together. Should I be looking at this differently? Believe a future together might be possible?
The laws are stupid and sexist, and I can’t believe my mom has kept them in place. She’s had thirty years to change them and hasn’t. Why? What bothers me more is if I bring the subject up to her, they’ll question why I care. Basically, I’d be busting myself.
My father would see it as giving us permission to do the deed. Who cares if I have if the man I marry doesn’t? And I have no intentions of marrying a man who I haven’t been with like that. One thing Hutton has taught me is that chemistry in the bedroom is vital. I have it in spades with him, so why would I settle for less?
Duke Dick floods my thoughts. Ugh. He makes me feel dirty, but not in the fun way Hutton does.
I’m quick to dry off and get dressed. I don’t bother with underwear or a bra. They’ll be off again as soon as I step into Hutton’s room. I work my way back down to his quarters and knock lightly. Maybe I should have texted him first. When there’s no answer, I slowly turn the knob. “Hutton?”
No response.
My hope falls until I see him asleep in the bed. I close the door, lock it, and tiptoe around to the side of the bed I remember him always choosing, even when he has a king-sized bed to spread out on. Kneeling beside the bed, I watch him sleep for a few seconds before kissing his forehead, keeping it light so I don’t wake him up.
His eyes slowly open anyway, and a smile appears. “Hi,” he says, his voice caught between sleep and awake. Deep and sexy.
“Hi.”
“You came back.”
“I didn’t want to stay away.”
“You smell good.”
I smile. “I took a shower.”
His heavy-lidded eyes take me in. “Come to bed. Stay with me.”
Checking the clock on the nightstand, I calculate the latest I can stay before the staff wakes and moves about the palace. “Maybe three hours?”
He lifts the covers, opening his arms for me. I take off my sweatshirt and then pull down my pants, stepping out of them. “You are a very dirty princess.”
“Maybe.” But everything about being with you feels right, not dirty. His arms pull me in as soon as I lie down. He’s wrapped in the blanket. I’m wrapped up in him, loving it. My heart beats to let me know he’s close but is steadily soaking in the peace he provides. The back of my neck is kissed, but his hands don’t roam. Not yet. His warm breath covers me, and he asks, “Do you want to rest or . . .”
As much as he always turns me on, I feel like we’ve turned a corner. We have time. We’ll make sure we do as long as he’s here, if I can make my parents see how amazing he is, then we can possibly have the rest of our lives together. If they approve of him, we won’t have to live every second like it’s our last. I close my eyes and snuggle in his hold. “Maybe I can sneak in a little catnap.” I mean, I still want him. I’m not going to say no to sex with him or anything. He’s damn incredible.
“Get some rest, princess.”
He can’t see since he’s behind me, but I’m smiling because I hear the tease in the title. I’ll take it.
* * *
I’d normally blame exhaustion for my foul mood, but I know the truth. I don’t want to leave Hutton. His arm is heavy like a weight, but one I don’t want to lift. I like how strong he is, how big he is, hiding me from the rest of the world while in his embrace. But the sun is coming up over the fields in the distance, so I need to go.
As I slip from his hold, he continues to slumber peacefully, which makes me smile. Maybe he can be happy here with me in Brudenbourg, in the palace, living his days without the worries of his work while he sits on the throne next to me.
He can’t be king, but he can be my prince just like he’s been my Prince Charming all along. This could work. He loves me. And I love him, so much that it hurts to have to leave. I’m about to lean down to kiss him, but I stop myself this time. He woke up last night when I did, so I kiss his shoulder instead, hoping he stays asleep.
I return to my room without running into any staff and shut the door. I lean against it smiling, never feeling happier. Today is a glorious day. Best day ever.
“Where have you been?”
I jump, but with my hand over my heart, I say, “You scared me, Margie. What are you doing here?”
“I work here.”
“Not at five fifteen in the morning.”
She gets up from the chair by the window and holds her phone out. “My phone was blowing up.”
“Wiiith?” I start to get annoyed. It’s way too early for this. I’m grumpy and tired.
“See for yourself.”
I look at the screen, and read, “Reckless Royals Cause Bar Brawl.” Defensively, I screech, “We did not! We got out of there as soon as it broke out.”
“Who’s we?”
Rolling my hand in the air, I reply, “It’s the royal we.”
“Very funny, Belle, but for real. I don’t know how to get ahead of this if I don’t know what I’m covering up.”
A yawn escapes. “I’m really tired. There’s nothing to get ahead of. We didn’t do anything wrong.”
“You being there was wrong. Why did you go out?”
I enter the bathroom and shut the door for privacy. “I’ve been good the whole time I’ve been back. I wanted one night of fun. Is that so bad?”
After washing my hands, I open the door to find her sitting on the bench at the end of my bed. She says, “Yes. Your party days are over. We can’t have stories like this coming out. Your parents were very direct when they told you how they expected you to act.”
Walking a wide berth around her, I climb into bed and lie back. “It was one time, Margie. That’s it.”
She turns around and leans on the mattress. “Swear to me, Belle.”
Damn her. “Whose side are you on anyway?”
“Yours. That’s why I’m here.”
“And here I thought you were my best friend.”
Grabbing my foot over the covers, she says, “I am.” Her voice is less professional, and I start to hear my friend in there again. “I’m always your best friend, and I’ll always look out for you—personally or professionally—Belle. But when it comes to my job, I work hard. Work with me and make it a little easier.”
I start thinking about the bar and going with my sister. Propping up on an elbow, I ask, “Are you upset I didn’t invite you?”
“No,” she replies, shrugging. “But since when did Marielle start partying?”
Thinking about my sister and how she had her first kiss, I know she doesn’t. “I promised to spend more time with her, and she promised to wear a pair of my jeans.”
It’s the first time I’m really getting a good look at Margie. Her hair is pulled back in a pretty chignon, and she’s wearing a pearl necklace. She says, “Wow, really? That girl is never casual. How did she look?”
“Sexy. Caug
ht every guy’s eye who was there.” Thinking of Hutton, I add, “Almost every guy.”
“Almost? Who wasn’t looking at her?”
“My brother.”
“Jakob went?” She looks confused and sits up. “He was at a business dinner last night in the Village with Everest Media. Oh. Tell me you didn’t see him, Belle.”
“Why would I lie? I did see Hutton there, but it was pure coincidence. I had no idea he would be there. That was all Jakob.”
“So you didn’t hook up with him?”
“No, there was no hooking up. We were all hanging out one minute, and then the next, there was a full-on fight. We escaped and came home.”
“Where have you been since you clearly haven’t been in your room?”
“In the kitchen getting food.” At least my bed looks ruffled from where Marielle threw herself across it at one point, but the high of my cuddle session with Hutton has completely worn off. “I’m going to sleep. You’re welcome to get a few more Zs if you want.”
She stands, and I’ve never been happier to see my friend go. “I have a long list of things to get done. I’ll see you in a few hours.”
“Yes, I’ll be right on it.” My eyelids grow heavy, and I finally close them. I wish I still had the weight of Hutton wrapped around me. “Talk later.”
“Yes, Princess. Have sweet dreams.”
I plan on it.
17
Hutton
After the contract contenders have toured the palace and the grounds, they load in an SUV to head to the castle. We’re being shown possibilities for the filming of movies, news coverage, tourism commercials, and everything royal—from births to marriages to deaths. I try not to let the simplified sales pitch bother me. This contract has ballooning to cover other events over a twenty-five year period.
It’s an incredible opportunity worth a fortune, one that would net the company billions. My other work has been put on hold until this deal is secured, but I can only afford another day before I need to return. I won’t let the current clients suffer if this gets dragged out.
The princess hasn’t been seen around this morning. Not at breakfast and not in any of the places we’ve been visiting.
I already miss her.
She’s easy to get addicted to. When she smiles, it’s genuine. Her laughter comes from the inside as though she can’t contain it. She’s flirty and so fucking sexy. When we talk, she listens—really listens. She doesn’t always agree with me, but that’s because she knows her opinion is important too. Our games were never about who we were, so I know she never set out to hurt me. I didn’t know about the life she was trying to hide, but at least I know she never hid the real person from me.
The combination of her determination, strong will, and intelligence is a mental turn-on. Feisty and frisky. Those might be the best words to describe the contradiction that is Ally Edwards versus Princess Arabelle Sutcliffe.
But with the breaking of a new day, the problems come out from the darkness that nighttime cloaks and become clearer. What happens next for us? We really need to talk somewhere that allows us to talk about something deeper than the weather.
When we arrive at the castle, I see Dick standing in full Duke regalia next to a horse. He shoos away the stable boy, who leads the horse away, while he greets us. Asshole.
I’m still not sure what part he plays. He says one thing when it comes to Ally, and she says another. I need to dig a little deeper.
As he explains the history of the castle and the moat, we cross the bridge that leads to the drawbridge. Inside the castle walls, Yamagata leaves the group to take a call. I tell Bennett, Jakob, and Dick that I need to make a call, and I’m given permission to wander the grounds without them.
I walk down a corridor and then down a rounded stairwell. Intrigued into the darker recesses of the underground, I look for a cell signal but realize I lost it when I came down here.
“Are you lost?”
Turning around, my beauty stands near a lamp with a flickering bulb that needs changing. “Endlessly without you.”
After closing the distance between us, she caresses her hands over my head and then wraps her arms around my neck. “You’re found now, my love.”
I kiss her quickly, and then say, “You say such sweet things when I know the bitterness of fate will soon come from those very lips.”
“Am I that cruel, sir?”
“Crueler, but that’s just to my heart.”
“It’s strong and handles anything little ole me can throw its way.”
I take a moment to look at her in the dim light. “What about others?”
“You’ve never had trouble handling yourself before, Mr. Everest.”
In case we have to leave before I get another chance, I kiss her. This time I’m not quick or thinking of time. I’m just feeling, taking in, and savoring what this is like. “Explain to me how the marriage thing works.”
A sly smile slips into place. “Well, sometimes when one person meets the person they’re meant to be with, they get married, strengthening their bond under the law of that land.”
“You’re cute. A comedian. But I’m talking about you and how things work here in Brudenbourg. Dick is here, and by all appearances, he looks confident in his role as duke. He treats your employees like they’re beneath him.”
When her arms begin to loosen, I grab her to keep her in place, and say, “I’m not letting you escape. We need to talk, Ally. I need to know the real situation and what’s going on. I can’t fight against the unknown.”
“You need to understand that anyone who works for us is an employee—paid and free to leave at any time.”
“I sense a but coming.”
“Let’s walk down here.” She takes my hand and leads me farther into the bowels of the castle. The women I’ve dated in the past would be scared in such a dank, dark, and dingy place. It gets colder the farther we walk. “The but is, they are beneath him in title only.”
“Not when it comes to humanity. I wouldn’t treat my employees how he so comfortably treats yours. Considering you’re in line for the throne, I’ve never seen you dismiss or treat anyone rudely. Even Sabine Rosalie. The ice was thick between you two at the pub, but you still weren’t rude.”
“Sabine Rosalie is . . . how do I say this? She’s very popular with men.”
“You know this for sure, or is this just gossip?”
Walking ahead of me, she’s almost far enough that I momentarily lose sight of her. “She and the senior dance king were caught in the back of his carriage getting it on.” I reach her, wrapping my arm around her waist and holding her close.
I say, “Two things. First, a carriage as in a horse-drawn carriage?”
“Yes.” She giggles. “That’s what we take to dances. It’s our version of limos.”
“Secondly, who cares who she was getting it on with?”
“I did.” When her lips purse, I think I’ve hit a raw nerve. “He wasn’t just my date. He was my boyfriend.”
“Wait a minute. Back up. He gave up being king of a country for sex in a carriage?”
She rolls her eyes, but it’s playful and followed by a laugh. “Pretty much, but let me explain how things work here in Brudenbourg. There are no kings. Only queens. So he might have been a crowned prince if I had kept him around.”
“Ah yes, Jakob told me.”
“To be honest, when I caught them, I was relieved. He was kind of an asshole. He’d been pressuring me for sex for months even though he knew the law.”
“What law?”
“The chastity law.”
“What the fuck is that?”
She spins out of my hold, catching my hand, and pulling me with her. “Not so loud.” Up ahead, I see where light sneaks in through a hole in the brick, and she whispers, “We’re almost there.”
Whispering, I repeat, “What’s the chastity law?”
“Just what it sounds like.” Her voice goes even softer. “I’m supposed to
be virginal, sacrificed for the first time at the altar of my husband.”
“That’s quite the visual.”
She giggles. “I have a flair sometimes.”
“Yes, you do. That law is utter bullshit. Only a weak man would subscribe to something put in place to protect a delicate ego.” So she’d be judged for sleeping with me. I mutter under my breath, “Bullshit.” Glancing at her silhouette, I don’t want what we’ve done to hinder her in any way. “How are you going to get aroun—?”
Fingers are pressed to my mouth. How can she even fucking see me? “Shhh. Don’t say anything more. The walls could have ears.”
Alert, I look around, willing my eyes to adjust better to the dim light. “That’s creepy as fuck.”
Standing close enough to see her shrug, I want to laugh that even the suggestion doesn’t seem to bother her. As far as the women I’ve known, she’s a true anomaly. No wonder I haven’t been able to get her out of my head.
Once we pass the light, it goes dark again. I don’t know how she can see anything more than a foot in front of us. My eyes haven’t adjusted, and I’m tempted to pull my phone out to use as a flashlight since it’s getting even darker the farther we go.
I’m pulled into a room and pinned to a cold wall built from stone. I can’t see a fucking thing, but I can feel. Ally presses against me, her lips lightly on mine. “I want you inside me, Hutton. Not your fingers and not your mouth, though it’s magical. I want your cock.” My dick is grabbed, halting my breath in my chest. Her hand feels good, so I release a heavy exhale. “I’ve missed the fullness. I’ve missed you so much. Make love to me.”
“Here?”
“Yes. No one even knows I’m here. No one knows you’re with me or where we are. It’s been too long. It will be fast and—”
“Ally.” I may not be able to see her, but I know her body well. I caress her face and lean my head against hers. “It has been too long, baby, but I don’t want it fast. I want to take my time with you. Not in a wet and musty dungeon, but on a bed where I can spend hours appreciating you without interruptions.”
“Hutton—”
“Ally,” I say again, taking her hand from below and bringing it to my mouth. “You’re so tempting, and I’m going to regret this as soon as we leave, but it wouldn’t be making love down here.” I kiss her wrist. “Tonight, I’ll make love to you all night because I want to do it when I can see your eyes, your gorgeous face, and those lips. Fuck, those lips are incredible. And whatever you want, I’ll give to you. I promise.”