by Rye Hart
CHAPTER THIRTEEN - ENZO
The evening was going well until Selena showed up. I had enjoyed telling Cindy about my childhood and all my days in the castle as a boy. We were having a great time, but then the White sisters showed up and put Cindy on edge.
She shifted in her seat as Selena and her sister glared across the room at us as they took their table. “Great. She’s going to give me hell.”
“I’m sorry. If I had known, I’d have chosen a different place.” I had an instinct to protect her and wished so badly I could tell Selena off and that she shouldn’t take it out on Cindy, but there were some things being the future king wouldn’t help me with.
“It’s not your fault. But could we please finish up and get out of here? I don’t think she’s going to stop staring.”
“Let her. I don’t like how she’s making you feel. She should not have that much control over you.” I shook my head and dropped my fork, losing my appetite. “She should be put in her place.”
Cindy leaned across the table. “Please don’t cause a scene. She’ll fire me!”
I couldn’t understand how someone would allow themselves to be treated so poorly for the sake of a job. It didn’t seem worth it. “So, what? You don’t deserve to be treated like that.” I looked her right in the eyes and waited for an answer.
“If she fires me, I could lose my apartment. I could not pay any of my bills, no food, should I go on? Some of us have to work.”
“You don’t. I’ll take care of you. I’ll make arrangements to pay your rent and your bills if necessary. It’s not worth the trouble she’s giving us.” I picked up my fork, but she dropped hers and took a long pull off her wine.
“I want to go home.” She kept her eyes down, and her voice was harsh.
“Are you angry with me?” I was a little shocked.
“You don’t get me at all. I’ve sat here this entire evening telling you how important it is for me to support myself, make my own way, and you tell me I should quit my job?”
“I care about you, Cindy. I want to be with you without problems, and if Selena is making issues, then I say we remedy them.”
I had a feeling the woman knew we were arguing because she hadn’t taken her eyes off either of us since she’d arrived.
“Remedying the situation may just mean that we end things on a good note, before they get any worse for either of us.” She backed her chair up and got to her feet. While she stormed off to the restroom, I had the waiter come, and I paid the bill.
When she came out, we went to the car and drove back to her place in silence. As I walked her up to her door, she took out her key and turned around. “I don’t think this is going to work. We’re too different. We don’t belong in each other’s worlds. If your mother can’t accept her own flesh and blood, she’s not going to ever like me. I’m not good for you.” She opened her door and stepped inside, but she kept her body in the space as she turned around with tears in her eyes.
“You know, I’m getting really sick of people trying to tell me how to live my life. Sick of the way they’re deciding what’s best for me and who I should be with.” I stepped forward and took her arm, and the door fell open beside her. “I want you. I want us. So, I don’t give a damn what Selena or my mother have to say about it.” I pulled her closer and kissed her, and after a moment of resistance she melted against me, and I walked forward and closed the door.
“It’s never going to work.” She tried her best to argue, but I shook my head and put a finger to her lips.
“It will if we make it.” I moved my finger and crushed my lips against hers as my hands went around to grab her ass and pull her into my erection. She moaned and kissed me deeper, her own hands working off my jacket and tie.
I didn’t stop leading her until we were in her room with a trail of clothes in our wake, and I pushed her back on her bed and slipped her panties down to her knees before dropping to my own.
She gasped as my tongue landed on her slick mound and from the taste of her juices, she was ready for me. I wanted more though, I reached up and worked two fingers in against her tender spot, and her legs came up around me. She was still so fucking tight, and she whimpered as if she were tender at times, but I was relentless. I wasn’t going to let her quit on me now, and she needed to know that I was a man who got what he wanted. And I wanted her. All of her.
I worked for my hand, finger-fucking her steady as my tongue worked her clit. My free-hand pinched her nipples and she bucked her hips up against me, grinding.
“Please. I need you.” Her voice was breathy and cracking as she endured her pleasure.
“You’re going to get it, Cindy. All of it.” I rose up, and so did she, and for a moment I thought she was going to protest, but instead, she leaned forward and took my cock into her mouth.
Her warm lips closed around me, and she pulled hard on my head as if trying to get a taste of me. I grasped the back of her head, and she relaxed her jaw around me as I pushed deep, holding her down on it. She looked up at me with wild eyes and gagged, causing them to tear up. She had wanted it, and I was going to give it to her. She needed to see how much I wanted her.
As her makeup ran down her cheeks, smudging as she’d wipe her eyes, I eased up and fucked her mouth nice and slowly. But it wasn’t all I wanted. “I’m ready for that tight pussy, Cindy.” She nodded with my cock still shoved deep, so I pulled back, and she lay on the bed, spreading her legs wide.
Her glistening pussy was so beautiful and so ready for me. I centered my cock at her entrance and nudged it in, stretching her wide around it. She was a tight fit and stroked me good with her slick walls gripping and releasing around me. This time I wasn’t going to be as gentle as the last.
I picked up her legs, and she brought them around me, and I rocked my hips hard against her, punishing that little g-spot until she came so hard she soaked my balls.
I pulled away and took her hand. “Roll over.” She did just as I told her and I hitched her ass up against me and pressed against her tight asshole. She winced and whimpered, but I slipped my cock down into her sopping wet channel instead.
I pounded her relentlessly and took it, coming and coming until she was sagging and limp like a rag doll beneath me. I felt my release coming so as soon as the first spurt splashed inside of her, I pulled out and shot the rest all over her perfect, round ass.
She was dripping down her legs as I backed away and she lay limp against the bed looking up at me.
“You take away all of my control,” she panted.
“You’ll have to learn to let go.” I walked away and found my clothes scattered through the house. I didn’t bother wiping her nectar from me as I pulled on my clothes, grabbed my keys and headed out.
On the way, I decided if I couldn’t have Cindy, I didn’t want the throne.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN - CINDY
The first two galas going well should have eased my mind about the third and final night, but I was a hot mess as usual. I had been running at the last minute trying to make sure that everything was in place, but there were unfinished tables and missing flower arrangements that I had to track down.
Patrick had it just as bad on his end and tempers were rising behind the scenes as part of the menu items didn’t arrive in stock. He had to go over the entire menu again and make-due with what they had onhand, and he was not a happy camper.
Selena was in a terrible mood and barking orders to everyone including me, and it was all I could do not to tell her to go jump off a building and take Enzo up on his offer. I hadn’t heard much out of him over the past few days and had only gotten a couple of texts to check on my well-being.
I had asked for it though; I’d told him it wasn’t going to work, and he was simply respecting my wishes. He would move on soon enough, and I would be a distant memory to him. The thought of that had me aching inside and I didn’t know if I’d ever be able to feel this way about anyone else.
Patrick strolled up in a hurry, only pau
sing long enough to whisper in my ear, “That nosy reporter is out front already.”
“I’ll put him out.” I started around the counter, but when I went to the door, I opened it to see Selena and Greg Levinas shaking hands. She had invited him. I hoped like hell that Enzo wouldn’t show up and that he’d gone back to Aramis where he’d be safe from further scrutiny. He wouldn’t have to worry about me, and I’d make sure that Greg Levinas didn’t get anything more on either of us.
I turned and stormed back through the tables and people to get to Patrick. “Selena was just shaking hands with our friend the reporter.”
“She’s a piece of work. Do you think our favorite prince will show up or has he died from that broken heart yet?”
“Please, he’s a grown man, he’s not going to die over me. He’s probably moved on already. No telling how many women he has all over him back in his country.” I let out a long breath and turned to go back to my station.
An hour later, I was still tracking down centerpieces and tablecloths, when the guests really started packing in. All of the fashionably late ones were still at the door, but the place was overwhelmingly crowded.
I went out to the floor to make sure the final dressings were on the tables and found out those tables had been added by Selena after my count had been handed in. She had wanted me to fail. She even brought in the press to make sure it was very public when I did. I imagined she’d want to humiliate me and probably fire me in front of the entire place, so I made sure to steer clear.
I walked around the corner just where the crowd was thinning and found Enzo and his friend sitting at a table where they were speaking with a few ladies that were standing close. They smiled and laughed, and Enzo even kissed the hand of one of them. I walked past and turned to look over my shoulder. Sure enough, our eyes met, and he gave me a polite nod and a half-smile. I kept going, knowing that I needed to keep busy. I was working, and the last thing I’d need was Selena and Greg seeing us together.
Enzo made his rounds and spoke to many of the other people, and I even noticed him dancing with a few of them. Lucas did the same, but the two stayed pretty close.
I walked to his table and cleared off the empty glasses to help the wait staff, who I knew would be bringing food out at any minute and decided to say hello.
He nodded and took a sip of his drink.
“Hello, Enzo. You are behaving different this evening.” I met his eyes, and he looked down at his drink.
“You don’t get to pick and choose when you want to be cordial with me and expect me to be waiting on your beckon call.
“What do you mean?”
“All night. I’ve been here all night, and you’re just coming over to say hi? If that’s how you’re going to be, Cindy, you can save it.”
“I was working, and that’s not really fair.”
He leaned forward in his chair and grabbed my apron. “Fair?” He shot to his feet and got right up at my face. “You want to talk about what’s not fair? How fair is it that everyone around me wants to make decisions for me; if I’m the king, who I love, if my daughter’s worthy of my name or not.” He slammed his drink down on the table.
“Well, if it’s so horrible, renounce your throne. You think it’s so easy for me to quit a job, how about you do it?” I turned to walk away, and his voice sounded behind me.
“I tried that today.”
I spun around, truly shocked. I hadn’t actually expected him to do it. “You what?”
“Yeah, I told my father I didn’t want to be king. My dying father who was more disappointed in me than I’d ever seen him.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Yeah, some of us don’t have choices. But you do, and I see how you choose.” He turned and headed out to the main room as if he were leaving and I hurried to catch him. I grabbed his arm, and he spun around nearly slipping on the floor.
“You really tried to give up the throne?”
“Yes. Because I’m in love with you Cindy, and if I can’t have you, then I don’t want any of it.”
Before I could react, Selena came up and tapped me on the shoulder, and it just so happened that Greg Levinas was paused nearby with his trusty camera fixed on me. I suddenly felt the eyes of everyone around me on us.
“I had hoped I’d seen the last of your incompetence, Cindy, but it seems that you’re getting worse by the hour.”
I glanced at Enzo who was glaring at Selena with enough venom to kill. I knew if I didn’t react, he would, and it wouldn’t be pretty.
“Since you don’t think I can handle my job, maybe you should do it. You didn’t have any problems setting up a few extra tables tonight, how about you dress them yourself?”
“You’re fired,” she said, glaring down her nose.
“You’re not paying attention, Selena. I quit!” The entire room was watching now, and the reporter was now only inches away from us both. I got in his face too. “Did you catch that, Levinas, I quit!”
Enzo burst out laughing and took my hand, and we were halfway to the door when Lucas arrived and stood between Greg and the door as we made our getaway.
We got to the car, and he had his driver get us out of there before any more of the damn photogs could catch up.
Alone with him in the car, it hit me as he leaned up to speak to the driver through the privacy window. “You’re in love with me?”
“You’re damn right.” He sat back and then pulled me close kissing me hard.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN - ENZO
When we arrived at my house, Cindy wanted some time to be alone, and I granted it, showing her to the balcony garden which was my favorite place in the house to think. I knew what happened was weighing heavily on her, and I wanted her to calm down a bit before we talked again about us.
I was in my room packing to go back to Aramis when Lucas came home an hour later. “Well, you can expect that to be all over the headlines tomorrow.” He plopped down on my bed.
“I don’t care. I’m proud of her. She shouldn’t have to live worried about the insecurities of someone like Selena White.”
He held up his hands. “I agree. And if you were just any normal Joe on the streets, it wouldn’t be a big deal, but since you’re the future King of Aramis, need I say more?”
“I tried to get out of it. Turns out, it’s not that easy. Besides, I want to be king. I want to change the rules. I want my daughter to have my name.”
“Sounds like you’ve thought a lot about it since the last time we talked.”
“Yes. I’ve thought an awful lot about her too. Cindy. I want to bring her home with me, as my wife.”
Lucas didn’t seem surprised.
“Yeah, I had a feeling it was going to come to that. But do you think it’s a good idea to have her come home with you now? Maybe she should come after you’ve taken the throne.” He didn’t want the backlash from my mother to be as brutal, and once I was king, she couldn’t say a word.
“I’m not afraid.” I closed my suitcase and zipped it upI thought about Cindy and how she would respond to everything. I’d told her I was in love with her, and she’d quit her job. I wanted to tell her that I wanted her to be my wife and move to Aramis with me tonight, but I wasn’t sure if that was all too much for one night.
I glanced up to see why Lucas had gone so quiet and found him getting to his feet, and Cindy at the door.
“Sorry, Lucas, but I’d like to talk to Enzo alone.”
“Certainly,” said Lucas as he headed out past her. He stopped at the door. “Let me know what time you want to leave tomorrow, and how many passengers.” I gave him a nod.
“Will you go to Aramis with us?”
“I meant all of the things I said, before Enzo. We’re from two different worlds. I don’t know how to be in yours.”
I couldn’t help but chuckle at that. “Sure, you do. Be yourself. That’s all I want you to do.”
She pointed toward the door. “You have an amazing daughter; one that most families woul
d give anything for and your mother is so hung up on how she thinks things should be that she can’t even accept her own flesh and blood. I can’t help but wonder what she’ll think of me and how she’ll treat me.”
“She will treat you like a queen if she knows what’s good for her.”
Her eyes widened, then she shook her head. “I’m tired.”
“Then you should lie down.” I gestured to the bed and moved a suitcase to the floor.
“No, Enzo. I’d like my own room. I’m sure you have an extra one or two around here.”
Thinking of her down the hall wasn’t the way I’d intended on spending the night. “Stay with me, Cindy.”
“I need to think about what I’m going to do.”
“Didn’t you hear what I said earlier? I’m in love with you.”
She nodded her head but didn’t meet my eyes. “Yeah, I heard.”
I decided not to push. “You can live here. Or I’ll buy you a home. I want to take care of you.” I felt like I was begging and it wasn’t in me to beg, but dammit, she had changed me.
“I can’t do that. It would ruin everything if I felt like I constantly owed you,” she said.
“So, pay me with your love. I don’t need money.” I had more than enough of everything in my life, except her. I’d never get enough of her.
She shook her head, so clearly trying to reconcile her feelings for me with her fear of the unknown. I finally decided to stop pushing.
“Follow me.” I led her two doors down from Esme’s room to the guest suite. “You can have this room. Lucas is next door if you need anything.”
“Thank you.” She stepped forward and kissed my cheek.
I had thought her quitting would make everything alright, but instead, it seemed to make things more complicated. And even though I admired her not wanting to be a kept woman, I didn’t understand why she didn’t want to be with me.
I went back to the room and climbed in bed alone.