I let out a bark of laughter. “King Henry knighted your dog?”
“Indeed,” Alexander confirmed. “It was hilarious.” He took on a far-off expression. “Come to think of it, I can’t remember a time since then that we’ve had as much fun.”
The royal family always looked happy in photos, but it struck me that I never saw Alexander and King Henry laughing together like I did Edward and his father. Victoria, who was around my sister’s age, was hardly present.
“You guys aren’t very close.” I immediately clapped my hand over my mouth. “I’m sorry, that’s none of my business.”
Alex shook his head. “No, it’s fine. Most of the people around us know, even if the public doesn’t.” He swirled his glass in contemplation. “My father was never the best at connecting with us, and my mother often acted as a bridge between him and me especially. My sister, too. Edward is more like my father than anyone else I know, so it was easier for him to rebuild that bridge after her death.” He took a sip from his glass, looking more serious than I’d seen him. “I guess we never did. After a while I think we all stopped trying.”
“That’s horrible.” My forehead wrinkled in genuine dismay. “I don’t see my parents all that often, with my schedule and all, but I can’t imagine not talking to them.”
“Oh, we talk,” Alexander said with a bitter smile. “We just don’t say anything.”
I found myself reaching across the table to hold his hand, squeezing and staring him deep in the eye. “I hope it’s not like that forever.”
He squeezed back but changed the topic. “Now you’ve heard all about the struggles of my privileged life, I want to hear something about yours. Let’s start with your sister.”
It was only a few minutes before that Alexander had tried to swing the conversation in this direction and I’d all but stonewalled him, but I already felt more at ease. He took a risk telling me all the things he just did. If I were a reporter, or even a greedy loudmouth, I could make a killing selling the scoop on royal family dynamics. It meant a lot that he trusted me.
“Joanne is a lot to handle at times,” I said, taking a sip of wine and thinking about that morning. “But she’s good. She cares a lot about the people around her, sometimes too much.”
“What do you mean?”
“She cares too much about what other people think,” I explained. “Rather than just living her life, she’s always looking behind her back to see who’s watching and wondering what they think. I worry that it’s all going to get too much for her one day, but she hasn’t snapped, yet.”
Alexander smiled and lifted his glass in the air. “To not snapping.”
“To not snapping.”
We clinked glasses and drank, and Alex kept his eyes on me the whole time in a way that heated me to the bones.
The rest of the evening flowed smoothly—steady, uninterrupted, and calm. Alex was just as easy to talk to as he was the night we met, which was a relief. I worried before that without masks I’d find him cocky and arrogant, but he was lovely. He was genuine. When he smiled, I basked in it, and when he laughed I laughed too.
As we finished off our dessert, I realized I wasn’t ready for the night to be over. All evening his smile had been sending bolts of electricity between my thighs. I had a feeling he knew it. Joanne made a big deal about clearing out of my flat in case I wanted to have a “royal rendezvous”, but I didn’t think at the time I would use it. She probably didn’t either, but it was a good excuse to spend the night at Tristan’s.
Screw it, I decided. I gave Alexander the benefit of the doubt before and it paid off. Time to let the last of my inhibitions fly away and reward myself.
“I have an etiquette question,” I said, drinking the last of my glass.
Alexander smiled. “I’m listening.”
“How does one invite a prince back to one’s flat?”
Chapter 9
Alexander
The drive to Tamara’s flat could not have been longer. Electricity buzzed a symphony under my skin, and the waves of desire that had been beating against me all night threatened to tear me to pieces.
I more than wanted her. I needed her. And I was so close to getting another taste of the body that had been haunting my every waking thought for the past week.
My driver dropped us off on a quiet street lined with rows of red-brick buildings that stretched far up into the night. Tamara grabbed my hand and led me up to the front door of her building, then inside to the stairs.
It felt like forever until we stopped at the door to her flat, where she rested her hands on the lapels of my jacket and looked deep into my eyes. I thought she was going to say something but she didn’t. The moment passed and she let us into her flat, though I made a silent promise to get those words from her eventually.
“Well, here it is,” she said airily, dropping her keys in a bowl by the door. “It’s no palace, but—“
I cut her off, slamming my mouth down onto hers. She tasted of wine and…Tamara. I sucked on her bottom lip, drawing out a sigh of pleasure that made my cock stiffen.
My hands found her hips and pulled her tight against me. Tamara’s fingers dug into my pecs, her lips seeking mine desperately. Tonight, I had something that I didn’t have that first night.
Tonight, I had all the time in the world.
I started pressing Tamara back, toward the open door at the far end of the room that looked to be her bedroom. Her heels clicked over the tile of the kitchen, then the living room laminate, until we reached her doorway, still connected. Her fleshy curves felt sensational in my hands, but I needed more. I needed her skin.
We entered the bedroom and I flicked on the light, illuminating Tamara in all her dark-haired beauty. The tasteful dress she’d chosen for our date looked sinful as she stood before the bed, tight to her body and creased where my hands had touched her.
I kissed down her neck, soft at first. I pressed feather light brushes under her jaw, over her pulse, feeling it jump with my touch. Then I scraped my teeth down her throat and she moaned. It was a deep, throaty moan. The kind of moan that made my cock throb.
“I can’t believe this is happening,” she murmured. I wasn’t sure whether she meant to say it out loud or not.
“Believe it.” I nipped her jaw, then further down to the junction of her shoulder. “I’ll make you believe it.”
I ran my hand up her back until I found her zipper, then began to tug. The zipper parted easily, revealing her graceful back to my wandering fingers inch by inch.
I pushed the fabric down her shoulders, and the dress fell to the floor with a whisper. Tamara stood before me in nothing but a matching black bra and panties and her black pumps. I licked my lips and took her in.
“You’re perfect,” I said. This time I wasn’t sure if I meant to say it out loud.
Tamara gazed up at me, a fan of black lashes around her amber eyes, and smiled. She set to work on my shirt buttons, popping them open one at a time. I held her hips, sliding my hands up and down her silken body. Parts of her were soft, parts were hard, but all of her felt like heaven under my fingertips. I bent down to kiss her as she finished the last button and guided my shirt from my shoulders.
Soft fingertips brushed down my back, bringing up goosebumps in their wake. I shivered.
“It feels so strange that we’re here,” she said between kisses. “In my apartment. No masks. No fake names.”
I chuckled and sucked on her bottom lip. “Don’t worry. You’ll always be my Kitty Kat.”
I slid a hand under the hem of her panties and into her slick heat. Whatever retort Tamara had poised on her tongue came out as nothing more than a gasp, and I probed further inside until my index finger stroked her inner walls.
She was just like I remembered. Molten hot. Wet. Tight.
I grabbed a handful of her ass and continued pleasuring her with my fingers, rubbing my thumb in circles over her clit as my finger found her g-spot. Tamara’s head fell back in pleas
ure and I kissed down the front of her, sucking on the top of her exquisite breasts.
A deep hunger hollowed me, burned me from the inside out. I knew only she would satisfy it. My Kitty Kat. My Tamara.
I pushed her back to the bed and lay her down with her head on the pillow and her long legs parted. She watched me with half-lidded eyes as I pulled off her panties, her beautiful pink pussy now out for my inspection. My cock pressed insistently against the front of my trousers. I ignored it. Right now, there was only one thing I wanted—the taste of her.
I crawled up the bed, blowing hot air over Tamara’s calves, thighs, as I went. Tamara’s tits heaved, spilling over the cups of her bra with every panting breath. I stopped at the cleft between her legs, inhaling her musky feminine aroma with a groan of pleasure. I couldn’t wait any longer. No more taking things slow.
I hoisted a leg over each of my shoulders and dove in, sucking and licking at her clit like a starving man at a feast. Tamara cried out at the sudden onslaught of pleasure, bucking up at my face. I grabbed her ass and pulled her ever closer, holding her in place, licking up and down her sex with the flat of my tongue.
I swirled my tongue, then sucked hard on her clit and made her scream.
“Fuck, Alex,” she cried out. “Yes!”
Finally, she was calling my name. Not Dennis. Me.
I attacked her with renewed vigor, inserting a finger into her and stroking her g-spot with each lick of my tongue. Tamara was shaking now. Her hands scrabbled against the blankets, holding them in a white-knuckled grip as her moans grew louder and louder. I could tell she was close.
I lapped up her sweet nectar and thrust in another finger. I twisted them around. I moved them in and out. I swirled my tongue over her clit and then, like a starburst, she broke.
Her pussy squeezed my fingers but I didn’t let up. I kept licking, kept thrusting, even as she cried out in ecstasy and sank against the mattress. This effort ensured that the moment her first orgasm subsided, a second hit rose up and hit her full force. Tamara quaked and mewed softly. Finally, I let her legs down and sat back on my heels.
Tamara looked up at me, panting. I smiled and licked her juices from my fingers. She bit her lip.
Slowly, giving her time to breathe, I kissed up her body. I snaked a hand under her back to release her bra and tossed it across the room. Her fleshy globes bounced free. They were full, soft, with pert dark nipples that begged for my mouth. I sucked one nipple into my mouth, massaging her other breast and flicking my thumb over her sensitive bud.
“I wouldn’t expect a prince to be quite so...generous,” Tamara joked with a pleased sigh.
I moved to her other nipple, grazing my teeth over it. “You’ve got it all wrong, Kitty Kat. I take what I want, when I want.” I bit down, just enough to make her jump in surprise. “I’ve been wanting to eat your pussy since that first night. I’ve been dreaming of these gorgeous tits.” I ground my hard bulge against her thigh. “And now I want to fill you so full of my cock that you can hardly breathe.”
Tamara’s breath caught.
I chuckled. “Yeah, a little bit like that.”
I moved to the edge of the bed and stood, grabbing a condom from my wallet and removing my pants and boxers. My cock jutted imposingly, a glistening bead of precum leaking from the tip. Tamara’s eyes widened in appreciation.
She looked so beautiful, spread out before me like that. Her long, shapely legs, round hips, peaked breasts, a mane of black hair splayed over the pillow. I took a snapshot in my mind. I never wanted to forget her like this.
Then I ripped open the condom and slid it down over my length before crawling overtop of her.
Tamara kissed me long and deep. She ran her hands down the muscles of my chest, cupping my balls in her hand and massaging them gently. Fuck, it felt good. Warmth spread through my bottom half, quickly chased by fire. My meat ached. I needed to get inside of her, and I needed to do it now.
I pressed Tamara flat against the pillow with a hand on her throat and lined my cock up to her entrance, using every ounce of my willpower to take it slow so I wouldn’t hurt her.
Tamara cooed as the first inch stretched her wide. I bent down to capture her mouth, releasing her neck and holding her face instead. Her pussy was tight. It gripped me like a vice, and my eyes rolled back in pleasure. Tamara grabbed my ass and urged me deeper, faster. It was a touch that said she wanted all of me and she wanted it now. I was only too happy to oblige.
I grunted and thrust in the rest of the way. Tamara moaned against my lips, biting my lower lip and sending electricity shooting down my spine.
Oh fuck.
She wrapped her legs around me and squeezed, holding me deep inside of her while she adjusted. I reveled in the sensation.
Had sex ever been this good? It was like the first time all over again, each sensation fresh and overwhelmingly good. I pulled out and sunk in again. Then again. Each time faster, more powerful. My long, hard strokes made my balls boil with pleasure.
Tamara was wild beneath me. She scratched my back, thrust up toward me, kissed every inch of skin she could reach. She was a wildcat, my Kitty Kat, and I’d conquered her.
I pounded into her mercilessly. My orgasm was on the horizon and I couldn’t wait to cum deep inside of her. I sat back on my knees and gripped her by the hips with her legs over my shoulders, getting deeper than ever before. Tamara moaned and held onto the headboard. The sight was so erotic, so fucking hot, that I nearly came right then—but I wanted to feel her pussy spasm on my dick first.
I started rubbing her clit. Not fast and hard, just gentle circles to tease her, to build up that pressure inside of her. Tamara met my eyes and the look on her face was almost pleading.
“Cum, Kitty Kat,” I told her. “Cum on my cock.”
I slammed in harder. Her tits bounced, and the tension in my balls built until I knew I was only seconds away from exploding. Tamara’s head fell back and her mouth fell open in a silent scream.
Tamara came hard. The force of her muscles squeezing my cock brought me to climax instantly, and I shuddered as I spilled stream after stream of cum. The sensation was intense. Satisfying. I fell forward, sweat prickling my brow, and buried my face into the sheets as I recovered.
Tamara stroked my back, still catching her own breath. A moment later, I rolled to the side and pulled off the condom, then took her into my arms.
“So,” I said, kissing the top of her head, “do you want me to leave and never return, or will you permit me to take you out again?”
“I’m not sure I’ll ever get used to how sometimes you can be a total gentleman and other times there’s nothing gentle about you.”
“That’s not an answer.”
Tamara rolled onto her stomach, resting her chin on my chest. “I’m leaving in a couple of months, Alex. I have to go back to the States.”
“So?” I reached up to smooth her hair back, gliding my thumb down her cheek. “Let’s just have some fun together.”
She licked her lips, thinking, then nodded. “Okay, but I want to keep things as quiet as possible if we’re going to keep seeing each other.”
She kissed my chest, then bit gently. I flinched.
“That means no visits on set,” Tamara said in a low voice.
I chuckled. “Your wish is my command.”
“Good.” She sighed and slid down against my side, pulling my arm over her shoulder. “Sometimes I feel like the media controls my every move, you know? My successes, my failures, nothing matters until somebody reports it.”
“I know what you mean,” I replied, beginning to tell her about my current frustration with my charity project.
I left out the part about Clarissa’s pregnancy, since that was a classified secret for the time being, and was also careful not to mention any Swedish princesses while I was at it. It felt good to relieve some of my anxiety. Tamara was a great listener.
“You know,” she said quietly. “You’re so much different than I
thought you were.”
“I’m not,” I said, but she didn’t believe me. I left it at that.
Chapter 10
Tamara
I slept in the next morning, awaking to a heavenly soreness in my limbs. I wished that I didn’t have to wake alone, but I understood why Alex had to jet off back to the palace last night. Maybe someday down the line we would actually sleep with each other.
The sheer curtains covering my window glowed with mid-morning light, and everything was still. I took that to mean Joanne wasn’t home yet.
I stretched in bed and then rose, pulling on a robe and heading to the kitchen to make some coffee. I had the day off from shooting but had to go in for a costume fitting later in the afternoon, which was fine with me. A morning off was the same as a day off to me. All I needed was a little time to recharge and relax and I was ready for the next adventure.
Joanne practically crashed through the front door as I filled the pot with water. I jumped and some of it splashed over the sides.
“What the hell?” I asked, spinning to confront her.
Joanne wore a dazzling grin, her hair a splendid mess of red. “Sorry! I wasn’t sure if Mr. Prince Charming might still be here. Wanted to give you guys some warning.”
“Fair enough.” I turned back to the machine. “Coffee?”
“Oh, please.” She fell onto the couch, sighing. “Buckets of it.”
“Long night?” I asked.
“In the best way possible. Tristan and I stayed up until the sun rose.”
I set the coffee machine to brew and joined Jo on the couch, moving her legs so I could sit. She sat up and pushed herself into the corner of the couch, facing me.
“You need to tell me everything about your date with the prince,” she demanded. “Every little detail.”
I smiled. “Not sure you want every detail.”
Jo’s mouth fell open. “I can’t believe you! I would ask if we could switch lives but I’m pretty happy with my son of a duke.”
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