The Proposal Problem: A Billionaire Royal Hangover Romance

by Natalie Knight

  The water slides down my back, and in here, within this privacy, I let the tears fall freely for all I almost lost.

  I cradle myself in my own arms and the warm water provides some assurance, like life is saying, You haven't lost yet, baby. You still have more to live.

  The shower helps to wash the wretchedness of William off my body. The idea of my last moments on Earth being been spent with him makes me want to fall apart. I hope he's rotting in jail and that he never gets out.

  Eventually, the water turns cool and it's only then that I rinse off and re-emerge back into the world of the living. The world I’m still a part of thanks to Leo.

  Leo’s knocking gently on the door. "Sienna are you okay? You've been in there awhile."

  "I'm okay," I say in all honesty. "I just needed some time...alone."

  "All right, well come out soon. Your brother's here to see you."

  My brother? What the hell is he doing here?

  I wouldn't have thought he'd care if I lived or died the way he’s been acting lately. He's probably just happy not to have to make the ransom for me.

  I brush my hair and pull on a pair of Leo's oversized sweats. I want to be warm and cozy, not cute.

  I come out of the bathroom, swimming in his black sweat suit. Jax is there, and the two of them seem to be like old friends pouring shots at Leo's kitchen island.

  "What am I missing?" I say, unhappy that Jax is here.

  I might as well apologize for my part in the debacle. After all, none of it would've happened without me insisting on being an escort.

  "Jax, I owe you an apology. You warned me to stay away from this business and I just didn't listen."

  I'm too tired to argue if he won't accept my apology.

  To my surprise, he says, "It's fine, Sienna. In fact, it really wasn't your fault. I'd heard about some disgruntled employee a while back, but I didn't take it seriously. I should've been more on guard."

  "So," I rib him as only a sister can do. "You're saying it's actually all your fault?"

  He smiles. "Yes, for the sake of avoiding an argument, or hell, an all-out war, let's just say that."

  "Fine by me."

  "Here, baby." Leo hands me a shot of whiskey.

  "So it's going to be that kind of night?" I ask, ready for some levity.

  "Let's hope so," he says with a gleam in his eye.

  Instead of yelling at us and going crazy, Jax seems surprisingly fine about Leo and me flirting.

  "Have you finally accepted it, brother? That I'm in love with your friend?"

  "Love? Do you hear that, Leo? She loves you."

  He sidles up next to me and plants a soft kiss on my cheek. It's a small act, but filled with promise. Leo never would have been so free with that type of affection before.

  "It's a good thing, too," Leo says. "Because, Sienna, I think it's safe to say that I've loved you forever...since we were kids. After you and I were together that first time, Jax forced me to stay away from you. Right Jax?"

  My brother looks up from his whiskey, his expression somber. "I admit it. I'm sorry, Sienna. I threatened him at the time and used all my influence to chase him out of town. That's why it appeared like he abandoned you. I just didn't want you to get hurt. Can you try to see it from my perspective?"

  All those lonely nights of crying myself to sleep come flashing across my mind.

  "I thought...I thought you just didn't like me, Leo. You'd had your fill. I was a conquest or something." I’d been devastated.

  He looks at me and his eyes reflect genuine regret. "I never should've left. No matter what Jax did or what he threatened, I should never have left you like that. I've loved you since I first set eyes on you Sienna. I loved you then, and I've loved you every day since."

  Tears of regret come up for all those times I spent ruminating over what I could've done wrong to make Leo leave so abruptly.

  Now I realize it was all Jax.

  How my brother could've remained tight-lipped for all that time I spent grieving Leo, I'll never understand. He saw how badly I was hurting for years afterward and yet he never revealed the truth.

  "Jax, how could you?"

  I am so tired of crying. I want this day to end with me by Leo's side, never looking back.

  "I'm sorry, Sienna, truly I am. I thought he was going to hurt you. I really did. I thought he was just out to prove that he could get you. I had no idea he actually loved you. Now I see that his love is real. It's been him all along, and I'm so sorry for being so overprotective. I never should've overstepped my bounds like that."

  I nod, taking a steadying breath. I want to be angry at him. I want to rail and rage that he caused me to lose ten years with the man I love. But if I’ve learned anything through this experience tonight, it’s that life’s too short to hold grudges.

  Relationships are too important when they can just be taken away from you in a heartbeat.

  "It's okay," I say, and this time I mean it. "I'm ready to put the past behind us for good now and never look back."

  "Deal," Jax says. "I see now that Leo’s never going to break your heart. That's all I ever wanted for you, Sienna."

  "Thanks, Jax."

  He gets up and kisses me on the cheek. "I'm glad you're okay. You should've seen this guy in action.” He nods toward Leo. “He wasn’t going to stop until he'd torn through the entire casino making sure you were found. You've got a good guy here."

  "Thanks man," Leo says. "But I couldn't have done it without you."

  "Now I better take my leave and give you guys some privacy."

  Leo walks him out, and I'm left in pure astonishment mulling over the fact that Leo never wanted to leave me. He was sent away by Jax.

  If only I’d known, I would've followed him anywhere. I could've told him Jax was way too protective and that he threatened every boyfriend I ever had. Normally, I just ignored him back then, but poor Leo. Jax must've threatened him big time.

  Leo walks back in and embraces me.

  "We're finally alone," he says.

  "Leo, I have one question. What could Jax possibly have said to make you leave?"

  He looks away as though he's ashamed.

  "What is it? Tell me."

  Finally, he admits, "He used my Achilles Heel. He knew that I never felt good enough for you. I came from nothing and you came from everything. Jax said he'd use the family name to exert influence over me. He threatened to smear my reputation so that I'd never get into school and I'd never find a job. I believed he could do it, Sienna. That's why I left. I felt like you deserved someone better, someone with more to give."

  The more I find out, the more it's all clicking into place. Leo didn't feel worthy.

  "Is that why you created this empire?" I ask.

  "Yes. I figured that if I ever saw you again in the future that I'd be ready. I did all of this for you. Though over time I became so jilted that the memory of you lay deeper in my heart as I covered it with booze, sex, and adrenaline. I've spent the last ten years trying to forget about you."

  I hug his neck and kiss his lips tenderly. "But Leo, I never forgot about you. Not for one day. And you were always worth it. I never cared about that kind of thing. Money or no money, I always loved you too."

  His eyes light up. He should've known me better than to think I could ever love anyone besides him. Or that where he came from mattered in the slightest.

  His arms come around my waist and then he's pulling softly on my hair so that my chin lifts up and he has full access to my mouth.

  "Now," he says authoritatively, "I can do what I want to you and no one will stop me."

  Anticipation pumps through my veins as I imagine all the ways he'll make me his. After so much time lost, I see that Leo will need to know wholeheartedly that I’m his forever.

  He kisses me with reckless abandon, with his commanding, dominating way that tells me it's going to be a long, unforgettable night...

  36

  Leo

  I tak
e her in my arms and want to offer a shoulder to cry on, a shield to protect her from all the pain of the night. But the only thing I can give her is myself...unabashedly here to give her whatever she needs to heal.

  There are no more games between us. No more taunting and tormenting each other by being apart. Tonight revealed the truth that if anything happened to Sienna I would be at a loss for how to move on.

  May that motherfucker who did this to her pay with his life. Jax will make sure he stays behind bars forever. But that doesn't ease the fact that I want to punch his face in.

  "Leo, I was so scared," she says to me tearfully. "I thought I wasn't going to make it. I thought you would find my bloodied body and that would be it...no more love story."

  My God, the poor thing and what she must've been feeling, hoping I'd come to help her, but thinking probably that was the end. My heart is relieved that I came at the moment I did and that she's safe.

  Being with her is the only thing that can calm my violent temper about the situation down. I'll definitely be on the phone with security in the morning or as soon as she falls asleep.

  I want her to know that I cherish every moment together, that I saved her tonight and I will always be there to save her, and that above all, I love her and always have.

  I envelop her with my arms and kiss her hair. My joy is in knowing that it's all over, the danger has passed, and finally, we can begin our happy ending.

  "Baby, I know you must've been scared. But trust me, I was going to be there for you. Why else do you think I have my eye on you so closely? I'm always watching and I'm always prepared in case something happens."

  "Oh Leo," she says. "I hope that's true because I've felt so alone for so long. I was scared to escort because it's an evil business. And I guess I learned that the hard way."

  "It's okay. You thought it just meant dating and traditionally that's what it does mean. But here in Vegas there's a dark underbelly of prostitution going on and escorting is just a fancy name for that. Why else do you think I was desperate to get you out of it?"

  "I'm lucky," she says. "I had you to buy me and to show me the way out. Lots of women don't have that and I hate to think what they'll experience."

  She gives me an idea for the future, "We can change all that, you and me. I built this casino after all. We can build a new life for escorts."

  She looks at me hopefully, "You think so?"

  "I know so," I hold her tightly. "Now come relax. You've been through enough for one night. How about we go to the terrace, have some wine, and order up dinner?"

  "That sounds perfect."

  She's wearing my sweatpants and though I know it's not her aim she looks fucking hot. I pull up the sweatshirt a little so I can see her abs and how she's folded over the pants a couple times so they fit across her waist. There's something so sexy about seeing her all dressed down, not glam at all. If she can look this good in sweats imagine her body in a tight dress. Fuck. My cock is getting hard.

  She hugs my neck and I know she can feel it.

  "Leo, are you turned on by me, dressed down?" she laughs.

  "I can't help it, baby, you look so good. It makes me want to get you naked."

  She's giggling at the way I can't hold back. I kiss her and taste her hungrily. I don't want to dwell on it but for a moment there I was worried about losing her. She almost slipped through my fingers and it was too close of a call. In my head, I'm thinking about implementing extra security, but in my heart, I'm thinking about making her come so hard so that her mind is on me and not on what happened.

  She kisses me and tastes me back. But it's not enough. I can never get enough of Sienna.

  I pull her to the couch and she sits on my lap, legs on either side of me. The feel of her straddling me is such a turn on. She presses against my cock and it hardens more to think how close I am of pounding into that sweet pussy of hers.

  I need to see her tits. I pull it up and over her head. Luckily she's not wearing a bra, so her beautiful tits are in my face.

  I suck and tease them. I pinch and pull. The harder I pinch the more she loves it. Her back is arched so that she can get closer to my mouth while grinding her pussy along the length of my cock. She wants it...bad.

  She unzips my pants and slides down to her knees so she's between my legs. God, her mouth feels so fucking good it makes me shiver. She moves her tongue along the shaft making me tense with pleasure. I feel like I could spray my load but I hold back though I'd like to see my cum shining all over her tits.

  "Fuck Sienna," she's going to town.

  She gasps and moans around me and the sound of how much she likes it is fucking heaven. I'm usually a man of great stamina but the way Sienna's sucking my cock like it's her mission in life makes me want to blow my load and...I do. But I pull out just in time to make that vision a reality.

  My cock pops out of her lips and though she's trying to lap up every morsel of my seed most of it sprays on her tits and face. She takes a finger and scoops up as much as she can. Then she sticks that finger in her mouth and sucks off the cum so slowly that it gets me hard again.

  "That's what you fucking wanted isn't it?"

  She licks more off her tits and savors every second. I savor watching her. I'm so hard at the thought of her being my little sex slave for the rest of our lives that I have to take it one step farther.

  I want to fuck her so bad. But she sees my cock rising again and her eyes dance with excitement. She pulls off the sweatpants and soon she's pulling off my pants as well so that my cock is unencumbered by clothes.

  The next thing I know, before I can grab her and hold her down and fuck the living daylights out of her, she's crawling on top of me.

  "I want to be on top," she says. "I own you."

  She's teasing and it's fun to let her play. She wants to ride me? Fine.

  "Mmm," she moans as she slides herself down around me.

  I watch with hungry ambition as she sways her hips and finds a nice rhythm. I want to fuck her and be dominate but she gets off on this and the view of her tits is just stunning.

  I twist one nipple between two fingers and she cries for more. No problem. I run my thumb over her clit though she's grinding so hard down onto my cock that it's hard to get a good angle. Her eyes snap shut and she's screaming my name.

  "Leo, fuck yeah, that feels so good. Oh God!"

  I know it does baby but this is just the beginning. I hoist her up so only the tip of my cock is inside her and then I let her fall back down so I'm in her deep. She's screaming and wailing with each thrust that I make. Soon I see her eyes roll back in her head and it's all over for her. She's coming around my cock, scratching her nails into my shoulders, and circling her hips to ride out the pleasure.

  "Fuck baby was that good?"

  She's just breathing, trying to calm herself down.

  "That was good," her eyes open at last and she leans her head down on my chest.

  I'm still inside her and haven't come yet.

  "It's not over Sienna. I need more."

  "I know," she says smoothing her hands over my pecs.

  Then she pulls off and my cock is left throbbing, aching for more.

  "Let me get a drink."

  She's at the bar shaking up a cocktail. This is only the beginning.

  37

  Sienna

  Leo's in a crazy mood…I can tell. His eyes follow me to the bar. I need a drink, something to take the edge off. After almost dying today and then being reconnected with him and then coming so much like that, well, I need to recharge.

  I make vodka soda with lime, and have a little glass of orange juice.

  "Hey Leo, where are we on that dinner?"

  His cock is still hard and he's likely not thinking about food but my stomach is grumbling.

  "Come here," he says all domineering.

  I sip my drink and tentatively walk towards him.

  What does Leo have in store for me now?

  Before I can protest or
realize what's happening Leo sweeps me up off the floor and marches us both to his room.

  My vodka soda splashes across his back and I place it on the bar on the way past.

  "Leo, God, fuck. Give me a minute."

  "No way."

  He tosses me on the bed. And then there's a glint of something dark and mischievous in his eyes. He says to turn around and put my hands behind my back. I obey but turn my head enough to see him pull a perfectly steamed tie from the wooden rack in the corner. He wraps it around my wrists and makes some kind of complicated knot.

  "What are you? A sailor? How'd you learn to tie a knot like that?"

  He smirks and says, "hush."

  Then he's pulling me across the bed by my ankles as if I weigh nothing at all. My hands are tied and I can't escape not that I would want to. Pulling my ass in the air he lines his hips up to me and I can feel that giant cock. A shiver of fear and anticipation takes me over. What ecstatic heights will he bring me to tonight?

  He's standing and I'm at the edge of the bed, bent over, spread wide to his every whim. My ass is in line with cock and I wonder if he's going to take it that far.

  I lay my face down on the bed and look to the side, wondering what my fate will be. I can see him behind me getting ready to fuck my brains out but by which hole I don't know.

  He slaps my ass and it stings. He slaps it again and I yelp. On the third slap, he's entering me.

  I'm not sure if I'm riding the high from the pain of the slap or from his massive cock forcing my pussy to open past my limits.

  "Oh, Leo, it feels so fucking good."

  Thank God he's not ass fucking me. I'm not prepared for an orgasm like that tonight. I'd die for his cock though, anywhere he wants it to be.

  "That's my girl."

  I tell him what he wants to hear, he doesn't have to drag it out of me because it's the earnest fucking truth. I want him in all ways, especially when he ties me up and fucks me hard like this. It's a good thing I came before because it'll be easier and more intense than ever to ride that wave again.