How to Catch a Prince

by Ana Ashley

  I looked at Kris. His eyes were shiny and a little sad.

  "Tell me why this is your favorite movie," I said, and Kris looked at me, surprised.

  "How did you know it's my favorite?"

  "Your eyes, and the way you described it."

  We both leaned back on the headboard, and I let Kris pull me closer so my back was against his chest. It was warm, strong, and safe.

  "The first time I watched it, I was quite young. It was my mother's favorite movie. I liked the music, so I practiced the piano all the time until I could play it for her. She died when I was eleven."

  Seeing Kris choked up broke my heart. "Oh, Kris, I'm so sorry. I can't even…" All I could do was offer some comfort now and listen to the story with the understanding he was sharing something really precious with me.

  "I couldn't bear to watch it for years. I was sixteen when, one day, it was playing on TV, and I just couldn't look away or change the channel. Somehow, I found myself watching it with a brand-new pair of eyes because I'd grown up and finally understood what she saw in the movie."

  "What was that?"

  "That life is about laughing, being silly, being a friend, fighting for what you want, and most of all, it's about love, the kind that makes you do silly things but that will always live."

  I turned around in Kris's arms, trying to keep in the few tears that were trying to escape. "That's the most beautiful thing I've ever heard."

  Kris smiled and pressed Play.

  I struggled with the subtitles at first because the movie was in Italian, but once I got used to it, I got into the story, and just as Kris had described, the movie had been about all those things. I wondered if Kris had ever known feelings so strong or if he was still searching. Maybe the movie was to Kris what that drawing at the gallery had been to me, the representation of the perfect connection between two people.

  At some point during the movie, we'd shifted positions so we were lying down more than sitting, and when the credits rolled, Kris turned the TV off and pulled me closer.

  "Please stay."

  "Okay."

  I kissed him gently and settled against him.

  We'd had a perfect day, and I'd let myself believe for a moment that I had a life with Kris and that it would always be like this.

  But even as I was falling asleep more content than I'd ever felt before, I thought that real life wasn't a drawing, and it certainly wasn't a movie. It would only be a matter of time until the other shoe dropped.

  13

  Kris

  When I opened my eyes, the first thing I saw was bright red hair shining in the morning sun that came through the windows despite the heavy rain outside.

  Charlie was lying half on top of me, and all I could think was how perfect it was to have him there. Why couldn't we do this all the time, forever?

  Oh yeah, because I was a prince with a whole load of responsibilities, not enough freedom, and there was no way I'd ever wish my life on someone as ingenuous as Charlie. The press would eat him up and spit him out without mercy. After all, that's what they'd tried to do to Sergei when we'd first come out as a couple.

  Initially, it had been very tough, but Sergei had grown up in the royal household. He knew the rules of play, so he'd fought back and showed them all he was worthy of being with the prince.

  None of that mattered, because once Hannah and Ellie's wedding was over, Charlie would go home, and I would stay at Chester Falls or go back to James's place until it was time for the president's ball, and then I'd go home, too, and slot into the mold I was expected to fit in.

  I'd been on the phone to James as soon as we'd come back to the apartment the night before while Charlie had got the popcorn for our movie night. It had been a tense conversation because James still hadn't been able to figure out why Ceecee Bloomfield was in the area, and especially at the hotel Charlie's family had booked out almost entirely.

  The only thing I could do was stay close to the apartment for as long as possible and only leave for the rehearsal dinner with Charlie. James had agreed to serve as our cab driver to the venue so he could keep an eye and let me know if he saw Ceecee.

  Charlie stirred, and I held my breath, waiting for a reaction. We'd had a great time at the barbecue, and our movie night had ended perfectly, but now, in the light of day, I wasn't sure if things would suddenly feel awkward.

  Charlie's sleepy, light-green eyes looked like precious jewels when he looked up. I touched his cheek, feeling the short stubble. Relief washed over me when he smiled. Not just any old smile, but the smile of someone who was happy to be exactly where he was.

  "Morning," Charlie said.

  "Come here." I pulled him in for a kiss, but he hid his face under my chin.

  "Ugh, morning breath."

  I chuckled. "Don't care, kiss me already." And so he did, a slow, languid kiss that made my toes curl and perk my morning wood up even more than it already was.

  Charlie moaned against my lips, and I swallowed every single one of them. I tightened my hold on Charlie's waist to stop myself from flipping him over and pressing him down into the mattress.

  It had been a while since I'd had any kind of sex that didn't involve my hand, so having Charlie grinding against me was both the best thing ever and pure torture.

  "It's raining," Charlie said as he released my lips and carried on kissing and sucking on my jaw and all the way down my neck, biting my Adam's apple before trailing a path down my chest.

  "Yes, it is." I choked. "Charlie, baby, you need to stop that."

  Charlie stopped but didn't move. His mouth was perilously close to one of my nipples while his hand was teasing the other. I'd always been very sensitive there, so I knew I needed to check Charlie was okay to continue what we were doing before I gave in to this intense need that was consuming me.

  "You don't want this?" Charlie asked, his warm breath ghosting over my nipple, causing me to shiver.

  I touched Charlie's cheek and leaned down for a kiss. "Baby, it scares me how much I want it."

  Charlie lay back on his pillow and exhaled. "I'm sorry. I got carried away."

  I didn't want Charlie to be sorry or to stop what he was doing, but we'd had an agreement, and for Charlie, I wouldn't push to break that agreement. Even if it felt like he was ready to break it himself.

  Charlie got up and went over to the window. I followed him and put my arms around his waist from behind, admiring his milky, white skin, so smooth and filled with freckles.

  Charlie leaned his head back on my shoulder. "I always liked the rain. I used to think the reason it rained was so everyone had a chance to do something wild, different, and it would never be found because the noise of the rain drowned everything and then washed the evidence away."

  "That's a nice thought. Have you ever done something wild or different under the shelter of the rain?" I asked.

  "Connor left his bike outside once, so I rode it in the rain and got it all muddy. I'd left the bike outside so by the time the rain stopped it was all clean again."

  I smiled against the skin of Charlie's shoulder. "Anything else?"

  He chuckled. "I used to steal cookies from the cookie jar and take them up to my room so I could eat them while I watched the rain outside. I didn't think anyone knew until I realized the cookie jar always had my favorite cookies in it, not Hannah's or Connor's."

  I wanted to comment on Charlie's story. Say something funny or just state that his cookie story was the cutest thing I'd ever heard, but my vocal cords had seized. There was something stuck in my throat, and I was terrified I'd let it out because I could never un-say it.

  I would have to keep it in and take it back to Lydovia because there was no way I'd burden Charlie with the knowledge that I had without a shadow of a doubt fallen for him.

  Charlie turned around and looked at me. His eyes were searching, almost as though he knew something monumental had changed.

  I took Charlie's mouth and devoured it like it was my last meal, hoping
that the carnal exploration masked the whirlpool of feelings I was both trying to convey and hide.

  "Let's go for a walk before breakfast," Charlie suggested. "I think we both need the fresh air, and who knows, maybe we'll get to do something wild." He winked.

  Charlie went to his room to grab some clean clothes before we met again outside the apartments. We smiled at each other when Charlie opened his door.

  "Man, I'm losing my touch," I joked when Charlie failed to bump into me again.

  "If you want me to fall all over you, you have to buy me breakfast first."

  "Again? I knew you were with me for the money." I shook my head in mock seriousness, and Charlie gave me a light punch in the stomach.

  "Hey, I've worked hard for these." I lifted my T-shirt, showing my defined abs, and Charlie pretended to faint.

  This was good. Our easy flirting and making jokes at each other's expense was a good place to be.

  I took Charlie's hand and led him downstairs. The smell of coffee from the guys who were working in the building made us change our mind and go for our rainy walk after eating first.

  Benny wasn't at the diner. Instead, a woman with wiry, white hair tied in a bun on top of her head greeted us.

  "Charlie, my gorgeous boy. Benny said you were around, and I didn't believe him."

  She put her arms around Charlie who hugged her back.

  "Momma Ruth, this is Kris my em…boyfriend," he said shyly.

  "Oh my." Momma Ruth fanned herself, and I saw Charlie roll his eyes from the corner of mine.

  "It's a pleasure to meet you, ma'am," I said and took her hand for a kiss.

  Benny came through the door and rushed to grab his wife's hand from me and took her to the kitchen. Charlie pulled me toward a table, and I looked behind us to see Benny planting a very energetic kiss on Momma Ruth's lips.

  "Go Benny." I chuckled.

  "You know, with great looks comes great responsibility."

  I smiled at the stolen quote and picked a menu from the table.

  "Have you ever had pumpkin spice pancakes?"

  "Had what?"

  "Trust me with your breakfast?" Charlie asked.

  "If you can get Benny to let go of Momma Ruth, I'll be impressed enough to eat anything you put in front of me," I said.

  Charlie straightened his back and put on a determined face before he called Momma Ruth.

  "Momma, would you be able to fix us with your special pumpkin spice pancakes?"

  "You know I don't have them out of season, Charlie," she said, although something told me it wasn't quite true.

  "I do know." Charlie maintained eye contact with her until she broke into a smile.

  "Coming right up, you little devil. I'll get you some coffee too."

  "Do you think my puppy eyes worked?" Charlie asked.

  "They'd work for me any time, baby."

  Charlie looked down at the table and blushed.

  When breakfast came, we both laughed at the enormous portion of pancakes. The scent of cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger wafting from the pancakes reminded me of Christmas at home and Mimi's winter cakes.

  "These are delicious," I said, running a portion over the syrup before bringing it to my mouth, careful not to drip the syrup all over my clothes.

  "We used to have them for breakfast on the weekend growing up. It was so messy." Charlie laughed. "Did you have any family traditions like that growing up?"

  I thought about it.

  "Yes. My parents often had to attend evening events, so I remember my mom reading us bedtime stories while all dressed up to go out. She always looked so beautiful."

  "What does your dad do for a living?"

  I froze. I should have kept my mouth shut, but I was so comfortable with Charlie it was easy to forget no one was meant to know who I was, and now it was more for Charlie's safety than my own, because if we were caught together, it would start a whole new shitstorm I didn't want Charlie involved in.

  "Um, he's in public service."

  Charlie nodded, seemingly satisfied with the white lie. Suddenly, I wasn't hungry anymore.

  "Shall we go on our wet walk?" I suggested, hoping the change would bring on new topics of conversation.

  "Absolutely."

  Just as Charlie spoke, Olly came into the diner.

  "Hi, Olly," I said.

  "Hey, boys, going for a walk in this weather?"

  "You probably think we're crazy," Charlie said.

  Olly pointed at the stack of umbrellas by the door of the diner. "Most people don't know what they're missing out on by staying away from the rain," he said. "This weather is also good to plant seeds because you don't need to worry about watering them."

  My hand went instinctively to my jeans pocket. The small bag with seeds that Olly had given me was there. I could have sworn I'd put them on top of my suitcase the other day.

  14

  Charlie

  I inhaled deeply as we joined the path by the river. I loved the smell of rain, that earthy scent that made me feel like I was part of the world around me.

  God, it really made me miss home. I regretted that not wanting to bump into Rory had kept me away from home, not just from my family, because they often traveled into Boston to visit, but home. The house I grew up in, the big yard, the long walks I loved to do in the field at the back of the house. I even missed my old neighbors, Mr. and Mrs. Clarke, who were more like surrogate grandparents.

  The rain wasn't as heavy as it had been when we'd woken up earlier, but it was still persistent, so I put my arm through Kris's as he held the umbrella.

  "What's the weather like in Lydovia?"

  "It's perfect," Kris said. "Despite global warming, we still have four distinct seasons, and we have mountains that have snow all year round on their peaks. I think you'd like it there. Lots of things to draw."

  I looked up at Kris to find his gaze on me. I couldn't read his eyes, but they looked regretful, almost sad.

  "Maybe one day I can visit. Will you show me around?"

  Kris smiled and nodded.

  "Where would you take me?"

  "I would show you the botanical gardens, the waterfall, my favorite lake, and especially the trail in the woods that no one knows about that leads to the most beautiful meadow you could ever imagine. It's magical in the spring, like you're swimming in a sea of flowers."

  "Sounds beautiful."

  "It is."

  We walked in silence for a while with me never letting go of Kris's arm. I thought about the night before and waking up in Kris's arms this morning. It had been perfect until I'd got lost in Kris's lips and the rest of my brain function had gone out the window.

  It was a good thing Kris had been stronger than me and had stopped it before we went too far. Not that I would regret it. I was starting to believe that the self-imposed boundary wouldn't do a damned thing when it came to Kris. Whether I wanted or not, I was falling for Kris hard and fast.

  The gravelly patch was crunchy under our feet, and the sounds of the raindrops on the umbrella all made me think of a different season when all the leaves on the trees went a golden shade of brown before they fell.

  The rainfall increased, so Kris put his arm around me to protect me from the cold showers, especially as it seemed that with Kris's height advantage, I was getting more of the rain on me.

  Not that I minded, it was only water after all. Our little patch of the world was being washed, and it would dry again soon.

  That thought took me back to the conversation we'd had earlier about the rain, and suddenly my body had a mind of its own as I took Kris's hand and pulled him away from the graveled path toward a big tree that was a few yards away and partially hidden by tall vegetation.

  My hair was stuck to my forehead and dripping down my face. My shirt was getting soaked, but my skin was scorching so the cold rain was actually welcome.

  "Charlie, what—" Kris didn't have time to say any more before I pushed him against the tree and pulled his head down
for a kiss.

  Kris responded immediately, giving my tongue permission to explore his mouth. He tasted of coffee and pumpkin spice, my two favorite flavors, and I loved every lick, every taste, every bite.

  The kiss wasn't enough and soon my hands roamed down Kris's chest, feeling all the hard bumps of his abdominal muscles contracting under my touch and giving me the confidence to continue my exploration.

  The umbrella was on the ground. Thank goodness Kris had had the good sense of closing it to stop it from flying away because I couldn't care less about anything but the man under my touch.

  I'd felt Kris's erection that morning when we were only in our boxer shorts, but I hadn't had a chance to touch it. I wasn't going to let anything stop me this time, not unless Kris really wanted me to stop, but considering how he was struggling to draw a breath and had leaned his head back on the tree, it was an unlikely event.

  "Charlie… Jesus, fuck…"

  "Kris, please don't make me stop." I pulled Kris's T-shirt up, revealing the hard peaks of his nipples. I was grinding against him, trying to find some relief, but our clothes were in the way.

  I licked and sucked, paying attention to one nipple and then the other. His chest hair was soft, his body hard, and I just wanted to touch him everywhere. Kris's hands came around the back of my neck to keep me in place. When I bit one of his nipples, Kris let out a guttural groan, and suddenly, I was the one with my back against the tree.

  "I don't want to stop, baby," Kris said against my mouth. It was his turn to explore my clothed body, reaching farther south than I had on him.

  "Please, Kris…more. I need more." More kisses, more of his touch, more of Kris. I needed everything. Was it even still raining? Who the fuck knew because Kris’s hands pressing on my hard cock was making my blood rush all over my body so quickly I almost felt lightheaded.

  "Charlie." Kris's voice was soft but assertive. I hadn't even realized I'd closed my eyes, but as soon as Kris spoke, I opened them to stare at the dark depths of Kris's gaze. He focused on my eyes as though he was searching for answers to a question he hadn't asked. Whatever it was, I knew what the answer was.