“Who do think is the source?” Roman asked, weaving his fingers through mine.
“Everly.” I dug my phone out of my purse, remembering my promise to text her, and typed in a message. She didn’t reply. “She heard almost everything Mr. McElroy said.”
“If she comes forward with information against her father, her life will be as much at risk as ours.” His grave tone sent a shiver down my back. “He might not hurt her, but he’ll find a way to shut her up.”
“We can’t let that happen.” I cupped his cheek in my hand, enjoying the scratch of his five o’clock shadow on my palm.
He pressed a kiss to the center. “Anything you want, my queen. Like I said before, all you have to do is ask.” Heat illuminated his eyes. I loved it when he looked at me that way, like he couldn’t get enough of me.
I grinned and pressed the driver call button. “Drive us around the park once before we go home.”
“What have you got in mind?” Roman asked, his voice growing deeper, edged with just enough roughness to make my panties dampen.
“You’ll see.” I eased his zipper down before straddling his hips. His cock jumped forward. I nudged the panel of my panties aside and dragged his crown through my wetness.
The breath hissed out of him. “I’m scandalized. You realize it’s the middle of the day?” He cocked an eyebrow, a smile twitching his mouth.
“You said I could have anything I want. Well, I want you. Now.” To emphasize my point, I eased onto his erection, taking him in halfway before stopping.
“Jesus.” The strangled tightness of his exclamation rewarded my efforts. “You’re so wet.”
The smooth leather of the seats warmed beneath my bare legs. I lowered myself completely and rocked backward, making us groan in tandem. We knew each other’s bodies well by now, but every time we had sex felt like the first time. I’d never grow tired of tasting him, of having him inside me, of making him hard.
The broad expanse of his chest flattened my breasts. His left hand took a good grip of my bottom and wedged my pelvis against his. When his lips dipped to my ear, my body molded to his. “This is why you’re here, Rourke. Because you belong with me. We belong together.”
His mouth crushed mine, bruising, claiming, and relentless. When I pretended to protest, he cupped my jaw in his right hand to hold me captive. Force wasn’t necessary. I’d been starving for his touch, more than I’d realized. I moaned and gave over to the strength in his arms and his male scent. At my surrender, he nipped along my lips with the edge of his teeth, sending tiny explosions of pleasure to the tips of my toes. It took all of my self-control to keep from ripping his shirt off, throwing him onto the floor, and riding him until we both came.
“Enough?” He lifted his head to pose the question.
“No, damn it.” With a small sigh, I nestled my nose into the familiar notch of his collarbone. “It’ll never be enough.”
His wide shoulders shadowed the light from above. An earthy chuckle rumbled through his ribcage. We fit together too well. And maybe, just maybe, I enjoyed the drama of this life.
I curled my fingers into the fabric of his shirt. “Don’t let go.”
“Never. Not now. Not ever.”
His promise rang in my ears. This man—this complicated, arrogant, stubborn man—had captured my heart, and I would never let him go.
26
Rourke
We spent the evening wrapped in each other’s arms, watching movies, and pretending we were normal people. Afterward, Roman made love to me with a slow intensity that curled my toes. Every brush of his fingertips, every press of his lips, branded me as his.
In the darkness of our bedroom, he stroked a hand along my belly. “I’ve been thinking about the Masquerade de Marquis. Do you mind if we skip it this year?”
“Why?” I lifted to an elbow, eager to see his expression. His eyes remained dark.
“I’d rather spend the time alone with you.” He smoothed my skin from my sternum to my navel. Goosebumps erupted in the wake of his fingertips. “We haven’t had a real honeymoon yet. Once the mess about Lavender is over, why don’t we go on a trip? Somewhere hot and secluded while it’s just the two of us.” He pressed a kiss to my stomach. “Before the baby comes.”
I dragged my fingers through his thick, black hair. Would our child be fair like me, or dark like him? A thrill of anticipation ran through me. “I don’t care where we go as long as we’re together.”
“Agreed.” The mattress shifted as he turned onto his side and faced me. He propped his head on an elbow. “And when we get back, I’m going to build us a fortress.”
“A kingdom for a prince?” I asked.
His hand continued drawing lazy circles over my skin, making the ache grow in the space between my legs. “It was going to be a surprise for you, but yes. I’ve got a house on a thousand acres upstate. The renovations began the day I asked you to marry me.”
“And when were you planning on telling me this?”
“When I was ready.” His blue eyes sparkled, catching the flickering light from the nearby fireplace.
“Spoken like a true dictator,” I murmured, smiling at his confidence.
“Eight bedrooms, ten bathrooms, stables, tennis court, two swimming pools, a guesthouse, and more than enough room to roam.” He shifted his weight over me, pressing me into the bed. I opened my thighs for him. “And a wall of security to keep us all safe.”
“I can’t wait to see it. I’d like to meet with the interior designer, though. Can you make that happen?”
“Of course.” Leaning forward, he brushed a kiss over my lips. “Spoken like my queen.”
I lifted my knees, bracketing his hips. It felt right to be here like this: quiet, peaceful, and alone in the night. I drew my hands down his back, admiring the curve of his spine and the strong columns of muscle on either side. Only one thing tempered my happiness. “Are you worried about Mr. McElroy’s threat?”
He balanced his upper body on his elbows, shifting some of his weight away from me and captured my gaze with his. “We’ll be fine. You have to believe me when I say everything is under control.”
“Alright. I trust you.” I kissed him on the mouth. His tongue swept over mine, making me squirm, and sending tingles of pleasure through my body.
“Well,” he said, nudging my legs farther apart, “it’s about damn time.”
We stayed in bed until afternoon the next day and would have remained there if Nicky hadn’t shown up. Roman slapped my bottom before rolling out of the bed. I watched him stalk across the room, admiring the flex of muscles in his bare ass. He grabbed a pair of jeans from the closet and stepped into them.
“What do you think he wants?” I asked.
“Who knows? Money, the keys to the yacht—it’s anyone’s guess.” His phone buzzed from the nightstand. He frowned at the caller ID. “I need to take this. Do you mind entertaining him until I’m finished?”
“Sure.” Our bed was warm and cozy; I hated to leave it. I hadn’t spoken to Nicky since his apology to Everly. It seemed like a very long time ago. I slipped into a pair of sweats and one of Roman’s oversized sweaters. Roman answered the phone and tapped a finger to his cheek for a kiss before I left.
As I descended the stairs, Nicky came into view. He paced across the living room. When he reached the opposite side, he retraced his steps. I cleared my throat. He looked up from the floor. Irritation flashed across his face. “Do you have any idea what I’ve done for you?” he asked, his voice raw and broken.
“I know exactly what you’ve done—nothing.” Blood sang in my ears. After my perfect morning, a fight with Nicky was the last thing on my mind. I shifted into defensive mode, crossing my arms over my chest.
“I’ve lied and cheated and risked my life to keep you safe, and this is the thanks I get?”
“The only thing you’ve done is complicate the situation.” I reeled back at the amount of anguish in his voice.
“You know no
thing, princess.” He flew to my side, his long legs eating up the distance between us in two strides. With his nose inches from mine, I could see the flecks of gold and blue in his gray eyes.
“As far as I can tell, you’re part of the problem. What, exactly, were you doing with Prince Henry and McElroy? Negotiating a piece of the action for yourself?”
“Everything I did was for you. I cozied up to Everly to get to her father because I suspected he had a hand in Ivan’s death. I wined and dined the prince to keep him happy and out of Roman’s hair. I risked my life to help you.”
“I don’t believe you.” I lifted my chin stubbornly. “You’ve never done anything for anyone but yourself.”
He heaved a sigh and gripped his forehead with his hand. “I did it because I love you.”
I stared at him, disbelieving. “What do you mean?”
“Come on, Rourke. Don’t be obtuse. I’ve been in love with you from the very first time we met at the Masquerade de Marquis.”
“You don’t love me.” Laughter bubbled out of my mouth before I could stop it, but when I caught sight of the sadness in his eyes, I bit my lower lip. I reached out to stroke his shoulder, but he jerked his arm away and retreated to the window. “I love Roman. You know that. There will never be anyone else for me.”
He stalked toward the bar and pulled the stopper from a crystal decanter of whiskey. The amber liquid glugged into a short glass. “Want one? Oh, wait, sorry. I forgot you’ve got Satan’s baby baking inside you.” He brandished the glass in the air between us. “You don’t mind if I do then?”
“Why are you acting like this?”
“I should have known better.” His bitter laughter echoed around the empty room. “Well, you won’t have to worry about me anymore. I’m out of here.”
“Wait. Please don’t go. Let’s talk about this.” The dangerous glint in his eyes frightened me.
He strode toward the door. “There’s nothing to talk about.” He paused, his back to me. “Have a nice life, Cinderella. I hope you get your happy ending.”
By the time my brain wrapped around his words, he was gone. I snapped into action and trotted after him as fast as my bare feet would allow.
Roman appeared on the landing and caught my arm. “Let him go.”
“He’s upset. He might do something stupid.” My heart squeezed at the memory of his expression. Even though we were at odds, a part of me cared for him.
“He’ll be fine. He loves himself too much to do anything harmful.” Roman pulled me into his embrace. His lips brushed my hair. “If it makes you feel better, I’ll check on him later. He’ll probably get rip-roaring drunk, pick up a lovely girl, and break her heart before morning. Everything will go back to the way it was. You’ll see.”
27
Rourke
The next day, Everly arrived at the penthouse after lunch. The moment the elevator doors opened into our foyer, she ran across the living room and threw her arms around my neck. I grunted at the impact. “Thank goodness. You’re okay.”
“I’m fine. Except you’re squashing me.” I wriggled to loosen her grasp.
“Are you sure?” She relinquished her hold and held me at arm’s length. Her discerning gaze scanned my body from head to toe. Finally, satisfied, her shoulders lowered. “I was so worried. I feel terrible about Daddy. You were right about him.” Her voice caught. “He wants to hurt you.”
“Don’t worry about us. Roman and Spitz have us on lockdown. No one gets in or out of the building without their consent.”
“I know. They practically strip-searched me at the door.” A faint smile twisted her mouth. “That’s the most action I’ve gotten in a while.”
“How are you doing?” I drew her deeper into the living room, where we could talk. We sat on the loveseat in the corner. Despite the bright sunshine streaming through the windows and the sparkling Manhattan skyline, a sense of gloom hung over the penthouse.
“I’m going to be okay.” She sounded like she was convincing herself more than me. “I told the investigators everything I knew about Lavender and Daddy, but I don’t think they’re going to do anything about it. He has the officials in this city in his hip pocket.”
I took her hand, wishing I could ease some of her anguish. “You did a brave thing, Everly. I know it couldn’t have been easy for you.”
“I hope it helps.” With her usual spark, she summoned an easy shrug. “I just wanted to stop by and make sure you were good before I left.”
“Where are you going?” Roman sauntered into the room, barefoot and relaxed in a pair of tan drawstring pants and a soft white sweater. He paused to give me a kiss before shaking Everly’s hand.
“Androvia. Prince Henry has asked me to join him over there for the summer, and I’ve accepted the invitation.” A wall of secrecy shuttered her gaze. “The paparazzi have surrounded my house. They’re following me everywhere. I need to get away.”
“You’re welcome to stay here,” I said, glancing up at Roman for reassurance.
“Absolutely. For as long as you want.” His hand wandered to my shoulder and squeezed. “But you’d be smart to get out of the country until this blows over. I’m sure your father won’t be happy to hear of your friendship with Prince Henry.”
The old, familiar twinkle sparked in her eyes. “Oh, I’m pretty sure he’ll be livid. Especially when he hears that Henry has asked me to marry him, and I’ve accepted.”
I blinked, certain I’d misheard her. “Wait. What?”
She nodded.
“You don’t even know him.”
“No, I don’t.” With a reassuring smile, she stood and smoothed the front of her dress. “I should get going. He’s waiting for me in the car.”
“Everly, no. You can’t be serious.” I trotted after her, leaving Roman alone in the middle of the room.
“My mind is made up. You can’t change it.” She pressed the elevator call button and faced me, her chin jutting stubbornly. “I’ve made nothing but poor choices when it comes to men. My ex-husband, then Nicky. I’m done with love. This marriage is nothing more than a business deal. I’ll have everything my heart desires.”
“Everything but love,” I said, my chest filling with sadness. My gaze caught Roman’s. He was seated in his favorite chair, reading on his tablet. His answering smile made butterflies flutter in my stomach. She had no idea what she was sacrificing.
“Love is for fairytales and the two of you.” She shrugged, her nonchalance breaking my heart. “What was it Nicky always said? Not everyone gets their happily-ever-after.”
“I wish you’d reconsider.” The elevator dinged to announce its arrival. My mouth went dry. “Please don’t go. I need you.”
“No. You don’t. You have Roman, and you’ll have a sweet little baby to take care of soon. It’s time for us to go our separate ways, Rourke.” Tears pooled in the corners of my eyes. She hugged me close. “I’m happy for you. Can’t you be happy for me too?”
As much as I wanted to, I couldn’t say those words, not when I didn’t mean them. “I’ll come and visit you in Androvia. And you can come here. Promise me, Everly.”
“I promise. And we can Skype.” She squeezed me tighter. With a huge sigh, she stepped into the elevator. “I love you.”
“I love you, too. Call me as soon as you get there.”
The elevator doors closed, taking her downstairs and out of my life. My eyes burned. I choked on a sob and buried my face in my hands.
“Hey, what’s wrong?” Roman, sensing my distress, had come to my side. He turned me to face him and wrapped his strong arms around me. “Please don’t cry. I can’t take it.”
“I think I’m having a nervous breakdown,” I said, swiping at the tears.
“No one’s going to blame you for that.” He took my chin in his fingers and tilted my face to his. “She’ll be okay, Rourke. Prince Henry will take care of her.”
“I hope so,” I said, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that our lives would
never be the same.
28
Roman
TWO MONTHS LATER…
I tapped on Rourke’s office door and entered without knocking. She paced around the room, Bluetooth in her ear, and one hand on the small of her back. A high-waisted red dress swirled around the swell of her pregnant belly. Behind her, the wall of windows offered a clear view of Manhattan’s skyline. She lifted a finger for me to wait, a move she’d stolen from me. I bit back a smile and ignored her request. Instead, I crossed the room, put my arms around her swollen stomach, and dragged her back to my front.
“Malcolm, we need you to sign those contracts and get them over to us right away.” She rested the back of her head on my shoulder and blinked up at me. I fell headlong into the flutter of her lacy black lashes and doe eyes. “If you’re having second thoughts on this partnership, our feelings won’t be hurt. We have an interested party waiting in the wings, ready to take your place.”
Pride burned through my chest. She’d exceeded my expectations in every way, sharing control of the more delicate aspects of my business and proving herself as a formidable partner. I hadn’t told her yet, but I planned to make her a vice president in the near future. I placed my mouth against her free ear. “Hang up.”
She shook her head and frowned. The silky ends of her hair whispered over my chin. “The contracts were due yesterday. I’ve already given you a twenty-four hour extension. If you can’t uphold your side of the deal, we’re prepared to walk way.” I chuckled at her show of force and was reprimanded with a scowl. She broke free from my embrace. The heels of her shoes clicked on the floor as she strode to her desk. With a few expert clicks on the keyboard, she shut down her computer and rolled her eyes. “No. No extensions. You’ve had more than enough time to consider the offer. If you don’t comply with the deadline, we’ll consider it a refusal and pursue other avenues. I’m not going to argue with you about it.” She ended the call, removed the earpiece, and tossed it into her desk drawer.
The Exiled Prince Trilogy Page 50