I shook the thought out of my mind as I rolled up the window of the limo and took out my phone. There were a few messages from Sophia, but none from Sasha. Of course there weren’t—she was with Sophia, so if there were any questions about the wedding, she would have someone right there to ask.
After all, Sophia was the bride—she would be the star of the show. Sasha would be the girl no one would see while all eyes were on the girl who didn’t deserve the position I was about to give her.
No matter how I thought about it, there was really no way to make me seem like less of an asshole. I was the one who was giving an undeserving wife access to the throne, while the one woman I couldn’t stop thinking about would be going back to some ordinary life in the United States.
I shook my head, feeling incredibly annoyed at the situation I now found myself in as I set my phone down on the seat next to me. I was trying to do the right thing, but it seemed that it was once again the wrong thing.
Though I hated to admit it, I wished I had my old life back. Or perhaps just an ordinary life, for once.
Chapter 11
Sasha
The cab pulled up in front of my hotel room and I groaned as I shuffled out of the backseat and onto the sidewalk. I was sore from all the flying the past couple days, and I was eager to get back to my hotel room. I had spent the night with Sophia in her mansion, and I had to admit, I was ready to get back to my own life.
It wasn’t that I disliked the girl, but there was something about her that I just couldn’t place. I wanted to like her, I really did, but I really couldn’t with the strange way she and Antonio interacted with each other. There had to be more to the story than what they were telling me, and though I wanted to just focus on the work that I was doing, there was a part of me that felt I was taking part in some sort of sham.
Not to mention I had an increasingly difficult time relating to the woman when she would constantly complain about her life. She was about to become the queen of a nation, and though I didn’t know much about royalty, I couldn’t imagine a girl as spoiled and selfish as her would be much of a queen.
Then again, I didn’t know that I would do any better. I was nothing more than a wedding planner, and for the most part, I had only worked for wealthy people who were, well, ordinary. Every now and then I had managed to add in a celebrity, but this was the first time I had done anyone as high profile as a prince and his soon-to-be queen.
I had spent most of the evening hiding in my room—dinner had been served to me on a tray and I had felt the luxury of living in a mansion for a single evening. Though it wasn’t quite the level of pampering that I would have thought, it was better than the hotel room I was just getting back to.
With every intention of taking a nice, hot bath and crawling into bed, I was glad to see the cab pull away and leave me to my own devices. I stepped quickly past the front desk and ignored the glances from the others who were in the lobby. I knew some of them were from other places in the country, and there were even those who were from the States, but most of them were Italian.
There was only one Italian who had captured my attention and I was in process of helping him join his life to someone else.
I pushed everything out of my mind as I stepped into the elevator, ready to forget about my life and settle in for a nice evening. After all, I had been given the gift of an extended vacation, even if I was going to spend most of it working. The elevator door opened and I stepped into the hall right as my phone chimed.
Looking down, I expected to see Sophia’s number across my screen, and I was thrilled to see it was in fact Antonio. He was requesting a phone call, and since I had nothing better to do, I gave him a quick dial.
“I’m glad you got a hold of me. How was your flight back?” he asked.
“I think everything went well. We got her dress straightened out, and all I have to do now is make sure that the finer details come together right at the end. Those are the kinds of things that you never really can handle in advance, and they seem to either make or break the wedding.” I laughed nervously as I spoke, and I was glad that he laughed on the other end of the line.
“Anyway, I was wondering if you wanted to grab dinner with me to catch up.” He was speaking in a nonchalant tone, and I felt my foolish heart flutter. I wanted more than anything to go to dinner with the man of my dreams, and it was even better to think of him as the Prince.
But I also knew that I should be getting to my room. If I were to go to dinner with him, I didn’t know where my mind would go and I didn’t want to risk getting hurt.
“I’m really tired. I don’t think I could really manage—” I began, but he cut me off.
“I got a table at the Coral, and if you know anything about that, you’ll know that it’s really hard to get a reservation there, and I would be offended if you didn’t join me.” I could sense the seriousness to his tone, and I felt another twinge in my heart.
The Coral was one of the hardest restaurants to get into, always booked up months in advance. The only way to get there was to go by a boat which only crossed once every half an hour and only carried four patrons with it when it did cross. To be able to get to the restaurant required a lot more money than I had, and a lot more connections than I was able to make.
Antonio’s voice came through the other end of the phone, and I suddenly realized I was standing in silence.
“Oh, all right, I would love to. You know I’ve only ever thought about going to that restaurant, I’ve never been able to go, nor did I think I would ever get the chance.” The more I spoke, the more apparent it became that I needed to stop talking. I hated to think of what was going through Antonio’s mind, but then I reminded myself that it would be nothing like what was going through my own.
He had met and proposed to a woman long before he had met me. He had fallen in love, looked forward to talking to her, seeing her, being with her. He had done everything lovers do with her. He certainly didn’t want to do anything with me. Just because he was a strong and handsome prince didn’t mean he was rethinking anything. And just because he wanted to take me to an exclusive restaurant, it didn’t mean that he had any interest in me beyond business.
“Okay, I’m going to get ready, and I’ll meet you down at the docks. Yes, I’ll hurry. Oh, you don’t have to send a cab, I’ll make it. Oh, all right—no, I said all right! If you insist!”
I hung up the phone, blushing and smiling to myself, then hurried into my room and threw on the nicest thing that I’d brought, though I sensed that it wasn’t going to be good enough.
I quickly applied some makeup and checked myself over in the mirror, then I hurried to make sure that my hair was perfectly in place before I grabbed my best clutch. In my mind, I looked like a girl who was trying to fit in.
But it was the best I could do. I was being summoned by an Italian prince, and what could I do besides obey? I gave myself shivers as I stepped into the elevator, surprised that I found myself so turned on by going down to meet the cab. I knew Antonio wasn’t going to be in the cab, but the thought that I was going to meet him was enough to drive me wild.
Chapter 12
Sasha
“This is amazing and I have to say that I am quite blown away by all you have done for me tonight. I can’t imagine what it would be to live like this all the time—I really can’t,” I blurted out the words before I even realized what I was saying, and I quickly put my hand over my mouth.
I was riding alongside Antonio in his personal yacht, wondering what sorts of surprises he had up his sleeve. Part of me had a guilty feeling that I was doing something wrong, going to a romantic dinner with an engaged man, but another part of me was thrilled at the prospect of getting to dine out with a prince.
We arrived at the restaurant, and the waiter took us to our seats immediately. I was amazed at the atmosphere of the place, and kept looking around. There were all kinds of paintings adorning the walls, and ornate windows revealed some of the most beauti
ful scenery I had ever beheld. It was sunset, and the horizon was illuminated with the red orange color of the fading day.
The rays spilled into the room, but the other patrons were all so absorbed with their own conversations that they didn’t seem to pay any attention. Immediately, I was engrossed in Antonio’s conversation, and felt lost in the evening. The waiter poured glasses of wine as though it was on tap, and the appetizers were fancier than anything I had ever seen.
As the dinner continued, I felt more and more connected with Antonio, and it became harder and harder not to say what I wanted to say. There were so many things on the tip of my tongue, but I swallowed my words and let him continue talking.
Antonio described his life to me—from the normal things he would do in his day to the dreams he had had when he was younger. It seemed that he was cutting loose and telling me things that he had never before told anyone else, and I felt my heart begin to pound.
But I couldn’t bring myself to tell him what I wanted to, and the more time passed, the quieter I became. I felt as though I was guarding a secret, and I hoped I was doing the right thing by not telling him. The harder it was for me to think of something to say, the more it seemed Antonio was concerned with me. He watched me every time he spoke, and I could sense he was looking for something.
Finally, it was as though he couldn’t hold it in any longer.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
At first, I did my best to brush it off.
“I’m just tired. You know, it’s been a long day with a lot of travel. I’m not used to doing so much in one day, and it’s taken a lot out of me.” I smiled at him as I spoke, but I could see that he didn’t believe a word I said.
“Come on, sweetheart, you know you can tell me anything, and I would prefer it if you did.”
I leaned forward, then, and at last the words started coming out—all my concerns about Sophia, how I felt about the union, and how I thought there was something wrong with the situation.
Antonio sat silently, and I could sense that he was feeling moved by what I had to say. I didn’t want him to think that I was trying to come between him and his fiancée—he was the Prince, the man who was going to be King one day, and I was nothing more than a wedding planner.
If there was anything I was trying to accomplish with telling him the truth, it was that I didn’t want him to get stuck in a marriage that he was later going to regret. Of course, I would have been happy if he were single, and interested in me, but I honestly didn’t think that was going to happen. I wasn’t the kind of girl who went out with a prince.
He sat and listened to everything I had to say, and by the time I was done, I felt that I was making a fool of myself. If there had been a way for me to get off the island and go back to my hotel, I would have done it, but there wasn’t. I was stuck here, and that was that. I had to listen to his response, and I had to hope that he wasn’t angry with me.
Antonio sat in silence for a few moments, and I waited for him to say something. Part of me was dying, trying to guess what was going to come out of his mouth, but another part of me hoped that he would just stay silent, and I could go on with my life without any more thought to this.
“You know, I have a confession to make,” he said, his speech slightly slurred from the wine. “We are going to be married, yes, but it’s not what you think. I need to find a wife by the time I turn thirty—which is only six months away—or I am going to be disinherited.” He spoke with a sadness in his voice, and I could sense there was more resignation to what he was saying than joy.
I listened as he described the situation with his family, and I could only hope that I was the compassionate ear he needed. He continued to talk about what he had hoped to accomplish in life, and how he had made so many mistakes. He talked about how his younger brother was such a success, and how, by his age, his parents had settled down and had their children.
I felt that he had shared with me every little detail in his life, but my mind was spinning. If he was going to go through with this marriage, then I was right—it was a marriage that had nothing to do with love. But, at the same time, he was right. This was a royal affair, and it was bigger than the both of them.
He was going to have to go through with things simply because it was expected of him. There would be no room for discussion, no room for anything but what was supposed to happen. If he wanted to be king, he was going to have to follow the rules.
And if I wanted to go on with my life like I should, I was going to have to follow my own set of rules. He was royalty; I was not. He was going to be king; I was going to go back to my life in New York.
He would forget about me. He would live the life he was meant to live, and I was going to limp along with the life that I had always had. He was going to forget about me, but I would never forget about him.
Not as long as I lived.
Chapter 13
Sasha
I woke up and stared at the ceiling. Though I had been so excited just a week before about the chance to stay in Europe a little longer, I now felt even more torn about my involvement with the wedding.
Thanks to the conversation we’d had over dinner, I now wanted to spend more and more time with Antonio. I felt that there was more of a connection between us than there had been before. At the same time, I also felt less guilty about seeing him—as well as less guilty about what I wanted to do with him.
Of course, he was going to stay true to his plans with Sophia, but I didn’t feel as guilty wanting to have him for my own. Now that it was the day before the ceremony, I couldn’t help feeling terrible about the hand I had played in the wedding so far.
I knew it really didn’t have much to do with me—I was nothing more than the one who was hired to pull off their sham—but there was a part of me that felt as though I was lying to the entire world. If they went through with the wedding, everyone would think they were happy, loving people joining together to rule a nation. But that wasn’t at all the case.
But then, there was another part of me that hated to admit the truth. I told myself that I didn’t want them to give a false impression to the world, but I knew this was not the only reason I didn’t want them to marry.
My phone chimed. It was Antonio. I felt my heart skip a beat as I looked down, but it was quickly replaced by a sinking feeling that I was going to lose him the next day. I unlocked my phone and read the text, unsure of what I was going to see.
I hope I’m not bothering you, but I would really like to go through some of the final details. Would you mind coming over?
I looked around the room, trying to think of something to say. I couldn’t think of any reasonable excuse not to go, so I reluctantly agreed. I hesitated, however, as I was getting ready. Looking down, I suddenly didn’t feel comfortable in my skinny jeans any longer. I rummaged through my luggage and slipped on the dress I had worn to dinner.
Feeling like I looked great, I pushed down the growing sense of guilt and headed over to his place.
I was let inside quickly, where I found Antonio pacing back and forth.
“I can’t do it! I can’t do it!” he said, and I looked at him, concerned.
“Can’t do what?”
In answer, he turned and pressed his lips to mine.
Chapter 14
Sasha
I almost pulled away for a moment, but then I began kissing him back. The longer we kissed, the more I wanted to kiss him, and the more I leaned into the situation. I had to have him. I had to explore him. Sure, there were things at the back of my mind that told me that I shouldn’t—that this man was promised to someone else—but then there was another part of me that told me he wasn’t married yet.
He was still available. If only I could convince him that I was a better choice than someone he didn’t love.
I didn’t want to give into my emotions, but at the same time, I couldn’t help it. I wanted him. I wanted everything about him. There was a voice inside my head telling me that
if I could convince him that I was better, then I would have him all for myself.
I slowly let go of my inhibitions and allowed myself to get lost in the moment. There was a hunger about him that I found irresistible. It was as though he wanted to know me as much as I wanted to know him, and I was willing to go with anything he wanted.
At first, I thought I was in control, and I was enjoying it, but then I felt something else.
He was right there with me, pressing his lips against mine and exploring me with his tongue. I kissed him back with the same passion, using my hands to explore each and every inch of him. I couldn’t get enough and I knew that he couldn’t, either.
I tried to be careful with my dress as I slipped out of it, but in the intensity of the moment, I heard a rip. I felt a twinge of disappointment in the back of my mind, but then I was right back in the heat of the moment.
We were undressing each other on the way to his bedroom, leaving a trail of clothing right up to his bedroom door, which Antonio kicked open without breaking our embrace. I had never been so engrossed with a man that I was unable to tear myself away long enough to take off my own clothes, and I found it shocking that he was doing the same thing.
We couldn’t get enough of each other. Skin on skin wasn’t enough. When he removed my bra and picked me up, I felt like I was going to explode from the need to have him. I wrapped my arms around his neck and my legs around his torso, and he carried me over to the bed. I had my hands around his face, kissing him with every step that he made.
Protect Me - A Steamy Bodyguard Romance (You Can't Resist a Bad Boy Book 5) Page 83