Princess Ballot: Royals of Arbon Academy

by James Tate

  Luckily Alex had more chances ahead of him.

  Many more.

  “You okay?” he asked, and I remembered that I was injured. Sex was the best kind of pain relief, but now that my body was cooling down, I could really feel the aches.

  “Yeah, I’m okay,” I said huskily. “Totally worth it.”

  He kissed me, gentle this time, and I let myself relax against him. He pulled out, and as he took the condom off and cleaned up, I ducked into the bathroom and cleaned myself up too.

  “You’re staying here tonight. Right?” Alex asked when I walked out, naked and exhausted.

  I blinked. “You want me to stay all night?”

  He got off the bed and crossed over to me, then wrapped his arms around me while pressing gentle kisses to my face and lips. “Babe, of course I do. I want you with me all the time.” Pulling back so I could see him better, he turned surprisingly serious eyes on me. “Do I need to do a better job of letting you know how I feel?”

  I swallowed roughly. “No, you show me. It’s just … some guys don’t like chicks in their space.”

  Alex chuckled. “I knew you were my future wife from the first second I saw you. As far as I’m concerned, the last month without you in my bed has been a complete waste.”

  Holy shit. I mean, he was saying all the right things and I was into fucking everything about this guy, but it was also a lot. His wife? I mean, he was a crown prince.

  “Can you even marry a commoner?” I asked, my question loud in the silence that followed.

  Alex had said he’d tell me about the obligations of royals, but we’d never gotten around to that conversation.

  Alex guided me to the bed and pulled the thick, navy duvet back so I could slide in underneath. “I will marry whomever I damn well want, and screw the arranged marriage bullshit,” he said as he got in next to me. “I’m telling you now, Violet Spencer. I choose you. Any chick that can catch a soccer ball like you, be as classy and strong as you are—even when in hard situations—and not to mention how smart and beautiful you are... You’ve got it fucking all. I’d be an idiot not to see that, and despite my father’s regular disparaging remarks about my intelligence, I’m no idiot.

  Jesus. Could this night get any better.

  “I’m glad I met you,” I said, snuggling closer to him and letting my eyes close as exhaustion washed over me. Ever since I’d gotten injured, my body had been working triple-time to try and heal, and it’d left me a wrung out mess by the time I fell into bed every night.

  Alex held me close until morning, when his clever fingers slid into my wet heat, and I ended up getting fucked doggy style against his headboard. It was one of my favorite positions, and I came hard and fast, clawing at the frame, trying to hold on.

  “Best. Morning. Ever,” I gasped breathlessly, trying to get my heart under control.

  “I wish we could stay in bed all day,” Alex murmured against my skin, his fingers stroking down my spine.

  I laughed. “We already have, kind of.” A glance at the clock on his nightstand told me it was already mid-morning. Thank fuck there were no classes today, on account of the visiting international team. “But don’t forget you’ve got a game tonight, babe.”

  Some of the dreamy sexiness left his features, and I saw the determination that made him such a phenomenal athlete fill his face. “Yeah, and we’re going to destroy them.”

  It would be my first chance to watch an actual game, and I was beyond excited. “I’ll be in the stands cheering you on,” I said.

  Alex slapped me on the ass before hauling his out of bed. “Better be, love. Pretty sure you’re my new good luck charm.”

  Love? Well, that was a new one.

  I followed him into the bathroom, and we both showered quickly. Then got dirty again, and then showered again. Between kisses, I broke the news to him that we couldn’t do the hotel over the weekend. As far as he was concerned, I’d be helping Mattie on an assignment for environmental science class—something he’d taken surprisingly well. Then again, the whole point had been to do exactly what we’d just done in his dorm room instead.

  Eventually I got dressed and turning on my palm reader. I’d shut it down last night, to prevent any distractions.

  Messages buzzed at me. Over and over.

  Flicking through them, I saw a ton from Mattie asking where I was. One from Nolan requesting another movie night. And one from Jordan asking where the fuck I was.

  Something told me that wasn’t solely from Jordan. It had a very Rafe vibe about it, but then again, those two were best friends for a reason.

  “I gotta head to the field, Coach makes us do these team bonding things before big games,” Alex said, wrapping an arm around me and pulling me toward his door. “Want me to walk you to your room?”

  I shook my head. “Nah, I’m all good. You go and do your thing, and I’ll see you after the game.”

  He opened his door, and as we stepped out I realized that the hall was full of people. Eyes turned to me, and I fought the blush that wanted to rise to my face. Alex didn’t seem to notice or care, leaning in to kiss me before he turned and strode away, all relaxed and smiling. Meanwhile, I was about to do a fucking walk of shame through most of the population of the school.

  No one said anything, but that didn’t stop them from staring.

  “Nothing to see here,” I finally said, biting the words out. “Mind your own business.”

  A few smirks and then people went back to whatever bullshit they’d been doing before I’d stepped out and created a scene.

  “They’re just not used to anyone being in Alex’s room,” Nolan said, falling into step with me.

  I hadn’t even noticed him there, and I wasn’t sure if I was relieved that he’d been in the hall to witness my humiliation.

  “Alex doesn’t date girls?”

  Nolan snorted. “He fucks girls and sends them on their way. You’re the first to make it until morning.”

  Oh, well, that was both awesome and gross at the same time.

  “Were you here to check up on me?” I asked, wondering if his appearance was a coincidence or not. Nolan’s room was nowhere near Alex’s, so why was he in this hall? “And shouldn’t you be heading for the soccer field?”

  Nolan shot me a measured stare. “Mattie was worried about you. We all were. You shouldn’t just turn your palm reader off, especially after what happened with Brandon.”

  Immense guilt slammed into me, and I wondered how I’d turned into the shitty friend. “I’m really sorry,” I said softly. “I just wanted to be with Alex and not have all the judgment.”

  At the end of the day, that had been the reason. I hadn’t wanted anyone to talk me out of spending the night with him.

  “The fact that we knew you were with Alex and we still worried should tell you everything you need to know about him,” Nolan said shortly.

  A sigh escaped because I knew there was no way I was ever changing their minds about the Australasian prince. The hatred was deeply ingrained after all these years. Mattie had slightly come around, but the guys … not a chance.

  “Anyway, I’d better get to team meeting,” Nolan added, before glancing at my palm reader. “And you should reply to those messages.”

  I nodded, and he leaned over and kissed my cheek before turning to walk away. My chest hurt, and I couldn’t quite figure out why.

  Back in my room, I took another shower and changed into some torn-up jeans, black boots that ended just above the cuffs, and a long-sleeved black shirt. It was freezing outside, so I added a biker jacket to match the boots, figuring I could take it off in the heated stadium.

  A loud knock on the door startled me just as I was grabbing my palm reader. “The fuck, bitch?” Mattie said as the door swung open.

  I laughed. “Good morning to you as well. Glad to see the princess decorum classes are paying off.”

  Mattie waved a hand, dismissing my words. “Girl, you’re just lucky I didn’t smash Alex’s door
down and drag that limp dick off you.”

  “Definitely not limp,” I said, flashing back to the sex. “It was pretty great, actually.”

  Mattie snorted. “Pretty great. I mean, I think lots of things are pretty great … waffles are great and cashmere sweaters. Not to mention my Mercondor. It’s really great. But sex … sex should be fucking mind blowing. You should blush when you tell me about it because the fucked-up shit you did with him was enough to turn your cheeks pink. And you know I’m not talking about your face.”

  My eyes went wide, and I sucked in a long, deep breath. “It was mi … majorly great.”

  I mean, it’d been mind blowing, right? So why the hell had I called it great again?

  Mattie just laughed, hard, resting her hands on her knees. “Alex has some work to do. Don’t let him just stay great. You push him to whatever place you need for mind blowing.”

  “I came,” I said defensively. “Three times.”

  “In a row?” she shot back, and I slammed my mouth closed.

  Her grin was brief. “That’s what I thought.”

  “Alex has potential.” I decided, my voice firm. “He was g—”

  “Great,” she finished for me.

  “Shut up.” I shoved her gently. “Let’s get some lunch.”

  Anything to change the subject from my sex life. I mean, just the fact that I again had a sex life was a fucking amazing change; I wasn’t going to worry about the details. Alex and I were still writing our song together, and so far, I loved the melody.

  When we left the room, there were students everywhere, all dressed in the maroon and white of the Arbon Royals soccer team. “Lots of fans,” I noted dryly.

  Mattie shook her head, long sleek lines of red hair falling down her back. “Why do you think they have meals in their team room? They literally get mobbed on game day and they need to focus, so their coaches keep them separated from all of us.”

  “I wish we could see them before,” I said, following her through the doors into the dining room. “I’d love to wish them luck again.”

  Mattie linked her arm through mine, dragging me to her table. “I’ll get us awesome seats, so you’ll be able to shout from the sidelines.”

  I nodded, then figured I’d send the guys a message through my palm reader, just so they knew I was sending them all winning vibes.

  “It’s a big game, following up their loss,” Mattie said, still rambling on. “They never lose, so I know they’re ready to turn it all around.”

  The waiters took our order, and I was so nervous I just ordered a sandwich and my usual juice. One could grow used to cold-pressed juices. At some point I needed to step out of the fairy tale that was my life and remember I was a homeless orphan with no money. Being at Arbon was like being in an alternate universe, one where I was born royal and could date princes and eat organic food.

  “What are you planning on doing next year?” I asked. All of my friends were in their senior year, and it was going to suck when I was here by myself next year.

  “Noles and I will do the extended program. We’re basically just wasting time until we need to get back home, but I have another couple of years with my doctorate. I’m not going anywhere.”

  I tried not to let my relief show, but she must have caught it anyway and leaned over to give me a hug. “You’re the first real girl friend I’ve ever had, and I’m not ready to lose that.”

  Guilt clawed through my chest again. “I’m really sorry that I didn’t reply to your messages last night. I just got lost in the moment.”

  “The great moment,” she teased, and I laughed.

  “Right.”

  “Well, well, well, if it isn’t sluterella,” a snide voice said, sending a shiver down my spine. “Heard you did the walk of shame this morning out of Alex’s room.”

  Claudette looked down her perfect nose at me. “Wonder if he still has a dick today or if it fell off after being in your disease bucket of a vagina.”

  Anger licked through me, and before I’d even realized what I was doing, I was on my feet lunging toward her. Strong arms wrapped around me, hauling me back before I could land a blow.

  “Not here,” Rafe snarled before he lifted me with one arm and all but carried me out of the hall.

  Where the hell had he come from? Had he walked in with her?

  “How could you?” I shouted, shoving him hard when we were outside. “How could you go near that fucking bitch?”

  Rafe’s face was unreadable, his eyes darker than a raging storm. “Did you fuck Alex?”

  Some of the fire died inside of me, and I swallowed roughly. “That’s none of your business,” I finally choked out. He was watching me without movement or expression, just those eyes that gave away his emotions. “Why do you even care?”

  His body unfroze, and all I could see was violence as he stepped closer, leaning over the top of me. “You can fuck half the school if you want. But Alex … he’s off limits. There’s no happy ending for Alex of the Australasians, not after what he did to Jasmine.”

  My hands shot out, and in two movements I’d wrapped my arms around Rafe and jerked him out of the way so that he was no longer crowding me into the wall.

  “That’s really rich coming from the guy who fucks Claudette. She tried to kill me.” I slammed my palm into his hard chest, trying not to think about all the ink hiding beneath it. Until he’d taken his shirt off at soccer, I hadn’t realized Rafe was both ripped and tatted—two of my favorite things. And I really wished I didn’t know.

  “Some days,” I said, sounding breathless, “I fucking hate you.”

  We were so close that I could feel his hard thigh brushing against me, and it was partly the reason my breathing was all screwed up.

  “Do you though?” Rafe mocked, and I noticed he was looking at my nipples. They were standing out even against the black shirt. Fuck, I should have thought this skintight shirt through.

  “It’s cold in here.”

  Rafe chuckled an evil, dark sound. “Right. And if my hand slid under those jeans and into your pussy, I wouldn't find you soaking wet?”

  His hand was on my hip now, and it tightened to just short of pain. A strangled moan escaped, and I pressed my thighs together because the ache there was real. Really real.

  But I was no cheater, and while Rafe was the perfect physical package, Alex was the one I cared about. The one who had been there with me through everything I’d gone through at Arbon. I would never betray him

  I needed to get rid of Rafe first, and I knew one way to piss him right off. I pressed my body into his and could have laughed at the shock on his face, except I was way beyond that. “I’m wet because Alex fucked me all morning,” I drawled, the smallest of smiles playing on my lips. “He fucked me and made me come more times than I can count.” Lies. All fucking lies. But I needed Rafe to go. Now. Before I did something I’d greatly regret.

  “You’d be a poor substitute,” I added, cringing internally at the black rising in the irises that used to be blue.

  I might have gone too far.

  “We’ll see who fucks whom tonight,” Rafe said, and it was clear he was no longer talking about sex. “Show up at the fights.”

  Then he was gone, storming off in the direction of the soccer field. For the first time since he’d all but carried me out of the dining room, I realized that Rafe should have been with his team in the soccer rooms. But he’d been here?

  Why?

  Chapter 22

  When I stumbled back into the dining room, Claudette was gone. Mattie was still the only one at the table, and I relaxed into the seat next to her. “Where did the British bitch go?” I asked, picking at my no longer appealing sandwich.

  Mattie smirked. “She’s no longer welcome at this table.”

  I shot her a grateful smile. “Thanks, friend. I appreciate you having my back.”

  Mattie’s lips twitched. “I threatened to cut her if she sat here, but apparently someone had already given her ma
rching orders. She’s not to sit here any longer.”

  “Who?” I asked, taking a long sip of the most delicious and refreshing juice I’d had to date. No wonder my hair was so thick and shiny now. I was practically overdosing on vitamins.

  “One of the royals,” was all Mattie would say, and I figured she didn’t really know.

  A few others joined us at the table, but it felt quiet and sort of boring here without the triple threat of Rafe, Nolan, and Jordan. I was stupidly attached to all three of them, even the asshole of the group.

  Just the memory of his hand gripping my hip... If he’d followed through on his threat and dipped his fingers into my panties, he’d have found me fucking dripping. That edge of pleasure and pain … Rafe was no doubt an expert.

  “Come on,” Mattie said, pushing her plate back and standing. “We should get in before the start. We don’t want to miss anything.”

  Alex. I couldn’t wait to see him again. Whatever back and forth bullshit I was doing with Rafe, the thing with Alex … it was real. I felt all the warm and fuzzy emotions, and while I wasn’t one to jump into the L word, I was kind of thinking we might be heading that way. He was just so easy to be around, sweet, and damned hot.

  “I can’t wait for this game,” I said with real excitement. “Training is amazing, so I imagine this is going to be even better.”

  Mattie shook her head before opening the door so we could leave. “You have no idea, new girl. Prepare yourself and grab a change of underwear. This is national level soccer, and it’s enough to get you pregnant.”

  “Yep. I might need that change of underwear,” I muttered, and Mattie snorted out laughter until she was holding her stomach.

  “Girl, you’ve got it bad. I’m so glad you wandered into our lives.”

  Yep, that was me. The old wandering Princess Ballot winner. But despite the angst, I wouldn’t change a thing.

  The stadium was packed when we got in there, our side filled with a wash of maroon and white, everyone themed to the max to support the Arbon Royals. “I really should have some Royal-maroon,” I said, looking down at my mostly black outfit.