“That’s good to hear,” she said, then she went to her bed and grabbed her phone. As she returned, she asked, “Tell you what, can we take a selfie right now, together?”
“Sure.” I wrapped my arms around her waist and, as she pressed herself to me for the photo, once again, she woke up parts of me I thought were dead. I had thought the spark of being with a new woman had dulled, but now I realized that, with Nicole, my cells were alive and aware of her. I smiled for her picture and I didn’t let her go right away as I said, “I was hoping you’d accompany me to dinner. I promise to behave.”
She put her phone back on the bed and then returned, filling the air with the scent of roses as she pressed her hand to her heart. “You want to have dinner, with me?”
I understood from the bat of her eyes that she wasn’t going to be easy. My own body tensed as I’d not had a challenge before, but I didn’t move.
Finally she offered her hand to shake and I said simply, “Yes.”
She played with a beaded bracelet on her arm and asked, “That’s why you’re here?”
Time to dare her. I reached out and cupped her hips. Glancing at her breasts, I said, “I did mention you were pretty earlier. That I’m not apologizing for.”
She laughed but didn’t pull away. She pressed her hands against my chest. “I don’t think we should.”
Her touch set me on fire. I’d bet money that it was mutual.
“We should what?” I asked softly.
She slid her hands down my chest and sucked on her bottom lip for a second. She made me hard as she asked, “Go out together?”
I lowered my head and ignored the heat in my body as our foreheads touched. “I don’t bite, unless you want me to.”
Her lips opened like she wanted me and her cheeks had a slight blush. “Are you here to seduce me and add another notch on your bedpost?”
The words were like ice cubes that ruined the perfect temperature of tea. I blinked and asked, “Excuse me?”
She tilted her head but didn’t pull away. “Are you here because you saw my blog and the problem about my virginity?”
Wait. My stomach twisted with a tingle. Was this an offer? I traced her back with my fingers and she stayed with me as I said, “I just want to talk about dinner, and perhaps a bottle of wine.”
She let out a soft sigh. “If there was one guy in the world who might make people stop calling me a hypocrite for choosing to remain a virgin, it’s you. Having dinner with you would be a PR coup.”
Now I stood taller and my cock went to attention. I knew she felt it, but I simply asked, “Why?”
She closed her eyes like she was taking a mental picture, or like she didn’t want to say the words. But then she said, “Because I don’t understand the impulses in my body when I’m near you. And since I’m used to being in complete control of and at ease with my body, I figure this might be a sign of physical attraction to someone I have a strictly professional relationship with. So I have a small dilemma. But that’s good. It shows authenticity if we work together.”
There he was. Big Ryder ached to toss her on that bed behind her.
Work was all she was thinking of, for now, but I needed to convince her to marry me. I combed my fingers through her soft hair and lowered my head. “You are forward.”
She licked her lips and closed her eyes. “No, I’m honest with myself and others.”
And then our lips met. I wasn’t prepared for fireworks. She packed a punch, without a drop of lipstick.
Damn.
I let go of her because the urge to claim her hit me hard and I wanted to fucking take her, right here.
But a man treated his would-be wife as more than meat, so I ignored how tight my muscles were and said, “So let’s start with dinner.”
She covered her face like she was mortified, too, but then she said, “I’ll meet you at seven, in the lobby. And don’t send Gio to collect me. Be there yourself.”
Good. A mission that would drive my babysitter wild. I kissed her cheek and said, “Absolutely. You have my word.”
Her fingers trailed around my shoulder like she’d hug me, but then she pulled back and her face was bright red as she said, “Goodbye.”
I took her outstretched hand and opened the door as I said, “Au revoir, for now, mademoiselle.”
She met my gaze for a moment and a huge part of me wanted to slam the door shut again and lead her to that gold-trimmed bed.
But I could do better than Vegas for her first time. And I needed her to pass my father’s test. Soon though, she’d be one hundred per cent mine, and I needed to prepare myself for that.
Chapter 3
Nicole
My lips still had tingles, and when I closed my eyes, I still remembered that woods-meets-the-beach smell of his, mixed with adrenaline.
Seriously, I’d never once been on pins and needles after a man departed.
And I wasn’t even able to meditate properly. His kiss packed a punch that made me want to relive that moment, forever. That kiss would go in the rare “never blog or talk about it publicly” category.
However, I’d never earn a dime if I ever held back anything about my life, so talking about him was on the “must” list.
His name would net me followers.
I really wished I didn’t have to do this, though. I squared my shoulders. It was time to share the selfie we’d taken. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath to find the right words.
Finally, inspiration hit.
#Thisisme #ThePrinceandI met and I’m half enamored. Seriously is there any #hotterman on the planet than this? #AskingforHelp #Whatwouldyoudo
This was as good as the post got, so I attached the picture and stared into his sexy blue eyes for a moment on my phone.
Time to share.
Boom. Done.
I tried to focus on yoga, answering emails from clients, filming a meditation for my online channel, writing my blog and, honestly, I’d skipped lunch. After my cardio workout, now it was time to get cleaned up and ready for dinner. I decided my business t-shirt wasn’t chic enough for my date with destiny. Luckily, I had my green and yellow dress that I’d worn to my sister’s wedding on my way to Vegas.
I slipped it on and the dark green somehow made my skin more radiant, which I hadn’t expected. I was checking myself in the mirror when my phone rang. Olivia. It was evening, so her classes must be over. I answered and she said, “You’re going out tonight with Prince Ryder.”
“You saw our picture?”
If she was here, she’d be fanning herself. I laughed as she said, “You’re on the gossip news.”
I checked the statistics on my phone and saw the huge 300% increase in total views to my blog. I said, “That explains the uptake in hits.”
I’d been right. Sharing the photo had put my blog back on track. Money was necessary to living. I turned my app off again. I never checked stats like that normally, as it made me crazy.
“So what’s he like?” She asked.
I paced my room and remembered how his hard muscles under my fingers had rocked me to my inner core. Then I paused in front of the mirror and saw how I practically glowed.
“At first I’d have said ‘total jerk’. But now, I’ll say he’s charming.”
She let out a sigh and said, “I’m going to be the only single Steel girl left in the family.”
Plenty of our cousins were not married, and technically, Stephanie was engaged but not married yet. I fluffed my hair and said, “I’m not getting married, Olivia, but I do have to go.”
“Hot date with destiny. Have fun.”
Now those were true words. Not that this date mattered. We’d never be together together. Sure, I’d had a momentary blip where I’d imagined myself offering him my virginity, but that wasn’t going to happen. Our date tonight was about me netting myself more followers, and that was it.
In a moment, I’d see Ryder again and the thought buoyed me. I walked on air as I made my way through t
he hotel.
My heart pounded to be near him for a few more hours. My brain said this was a cash mine I’d be stupid to ignore.
But my heart berated me for that motive.
And part of me ached to believe there could be an “us” for me and Ryder. Until my brain screamed “stripper wedding”, which did help me focus.
I could never love someone so cavalier.
A group of women stopped me for a selfie near the elevator and I happily obliged, though they all asked about Prince Ryder.
Guess the “secret” was out—not that he’d ever do anything without the press knowing about it.
Besides, his kiss was smoking hot, but I’m not stupid. I stepped onto the elevator and reminded myself he’d married another woman only yesterday.
He probably kissed every woman he met with those potent lips, and I needed to be smart.
As the elevator doors opened, I saw him, surrounded by security guards.
And fuck my hips swayed. He gazed up and down my body and sweet tingles rushed through me.
At least I’d been cute enough to get a prince’s attention for an hour. I had zero expectations of ever seeing him again after tonight.
He came over to me and held out his arm. As I accepted, I realized people were snapping our photos.
This probably happened to him all the time, but it threw me off balance. My skin buzzed from contact as he pulled me closer and patted my arm like he’d hold me tight.
“You’re here.”
“You’re late,” he said, like he’d scold me.
Right. I bumped into him so we could get moving. Once we started walking, I bounced in step with him and said, “I’m getting tons of new followers because of you.”
He held the door of the waiting limo for me. “I’ve never gone a second of my life without being hounded by the press. Are you ready?”
I scooted in and, once he slid in after me and closed the door, I asked, “Where are we off to?”
The driver took off and Prince Ryder said, “Joël Robuchon at the MGM makes a decent dinner.”
Three Michelin stars and one of the hardest restaurants to make reservations for. I’d tried when I arrived—but then, I wasn’t a prince. I sat back and said, “Sounds great.”
For a few minutes we didn’t say anything. The strip had people on it, but no one saw inside our tinted windows until we arrived at the restaurant.
Doormen opened my door and once again flashes of light meant people were snapping our picture.
He placed his hand on the lower part of my back and goosebumps grew.
Damn, he’d be hard to resist if he ever made a move.
Luckily, I assumed, that wasn’t why we were having dinner. He probably needed cover after marrying someone inappropriate, and I was clearly labeled online as a good girl who kept her legs closed.
I was nothing to him, but my heart thundered anyway.
He held my chair for me at the table and waited till I was seated. His nearness made my body pop with awareness.
The waiter took our wine and food orders, and once he’d left, Prince Ryder asked me, “So, do you ever live a day without posting online in some way?”
I shook my head. “No.”
The waiter returned quickly with the first of four courses. He set my L’Avocat—cannelloni of avocado and Scottish salmon with delicate cream—in front of me as I said, “Not in a long time.”
Once we had our glasses and a bottle of wine, the waiter left again. I quickly ate the bite-sized offering. Ryder folded his hands on the table and his gaze was clear when he said, “That might explain why you’re still a virgin.”
Wow. I almost choked on my soft food. My face heated and I massaged my neck, avoiding those piercing blue eyes of his, as I asked, “Huh?”
He shrugged and picked up his wine. “Not every man wants his life chronicled.”
My eyes widened and I was a little breathless. Once I could speak again, I said, “I’d not—”
“You posted our picture,” he interrupted, and leaned closer.
The waiter returned and took our first plates and brought the second dish, L’Œuf de Poule, semi soft-boiled egg on a spinach puree with Comté cheese sauce.
I blinked and waited for the waiter to leave again. I hadn’t expected that accusation. My skin was electrified that he’d made us personal for even a second. I’d been about to say that if a future boyfriend wanted anonymity, then I’d respect that. I sipped my wine, not that it helped me calm down.
Finally, we were alone again, and I put the glass down and waved my hand between us. “I did, but let’s be honest. You and I are not meant to be, and you knew what I would do with the picture when I took it. We’re not romantic and never will be.”
His lips quirked up. “Even after that kiss?”
My heart thundered and I sipped my wine. We both ate our small second course quickly. If I encouraged him, I was approving of more flirting. Guess that might be fun. I let out a soft sigh and reached out to brush his arm. “Which blew my mind, but I didn’t share that in my post.”
He took my hand and his lips now curved higher. “Well, that’s good to hear.”
Fireworks was too tame a word for the feelings inside me. I nodded and said, “I believe in telling the truth.”
He tilted his head, but the waiter came to clear our plates. Once he had left, Ryder’s fingers held mine and he said, “Not everyone can.”
Time to own up to my mistakes. This was another one of my life rules. Normally, my skin didn’t ache in awareness like it did now, but I said firmly, “We can. We’re not here to be romantic. You want to be seen with a good girl tonight, and I need more followers. So tonight’s dinner is for appearances only, for both of us.”
He squeezed my palm and lowered his voice. “I’m here to talk about that, in a way. You are quite stunning, Nicole.”
Once again, we were interrupted with the delivery of the third of our four servings. This time, my small plate was L’Oursin, which was a delicate flan of sea urchin on potato puree, topped with Arabica coffee foam. Definitely not something I’d have at home. The waiter left and I said, “Thank you for saying that, at least. You’re kind.”
He sipped his wine and stared at my chest. My nipples grew perky, though my bra covered that. Then he put his glass down and said, “I’m not kind. I am getting the impression that we don’t understand each other.”
“Fair enough.”
The waiters came for the last time to take our plates and bring the fourth dish—Le Saint-Pierre, a fish fillet with tempura of shiso leaf on a delicate squid ink risotto—which, again, wasn’t something I’d usually order, but it sounded interesting. My skin was jumpy, but once we were alone, I picked up my silverware and said, “I’m nervous near you, when I’m usually in complete control of my feelings.”
“That sounds boring,” he said.
We both ate our last servings. Once I’d finished, I sat back and gazed at his huge muscles, perfectly tanned skin, and the long lashes that enhanced his gorgeous clear eyes.
Yes, there was a reason women fell for him. He was handsome in that “bad boy that dares you to sin” kind of way. And, of course, he was a prince. I finished my wine and he refilled my glass. The air around him was filled with his woodsy scent. My mouth watered, and not for more wine, but I took the offering.
“I couldn’t live your life,” I said. “How long ago did you get divorced from your Darla La Sexxe?”
“Darla LaNotta was her stage name.” He cocked his head like he’d expected this conversation. I tried not to look at those broad shoulders of his that made me wish he’d protect me as his own, as he said, “And she was almost twenty-four hours ago now.”
That cooled my bones. I ran my fingers through my hair and then let the cool crisp flavor of the wine be my focus. I said, “And now here we are, and you’re temporarily cleaning up your image by taking the known virgin out for dinner.”
He scooted closer to me. Goosebumps grew on
my arm that was now pressed against his elbow as he asked, “Do you want to know why I married a stripper?”
I put the glass down and asked, “Do you want to tell me?”
His face became taut and my own pulse quickened as he said, “Yes.”
Serious wasn’t how I’d expected the night to go. I reached for my necklace to have something to hold onto, but it wasn’t on my neck. I forced myself to stop fidgeting, licked my lips, then said, “I’m listening.”
A waiter picked that moment to come over and ask us about dessert. Ryder mumbled something, but then he let me order. Once were alone, and my every cell was at attention for him, he said, “As a prince, I’m not in control of my life—where I go, who I meet. My entire life is planned.”
Yeah, a Vegas wedding to a stripper didn’t help with that. I shrugged and said, “I’m not feeling sorry for you.”
“I don’t expect that.” He brushed the back of my hand and a thrill coursed through me as he said, “But I have this huge plan to break out of my royal duties and live for myself.”
Damn. I wish I was immune to him. I almost trembled from his closeness, but I asked calmly, “So how does marrying a stripper relate?”
His thigh was closer to mine now and my goosebumps grew as he said, “I have two ways to ‘retire’ to private life.”
I crossed my legs under my chair to get under control. “Which are?”
He stopped moving as he said, “I get tossed out on my ear, which was the plan I was going with last night, with Darla.”
One finger tapped my cheek and I asked, “And that’s changed now?”
He squeezed my hand like we were joined. “Yes. My father offered you as an alternative.”
I took my hand back, but even the ends of my hair felt singed when I said, “I’m not on the menu. And no way did a king of a foreign country just decide on me for your wife.”
He sipped his wine, so I did the same, until he finished and said, “Yet here we are.”
I put my glass down so he wouldn’t see my hand tremble. He did the same and pivoted toward me.
“He wants me to marry you. I get to ‘retire’ and live my own life if I comply. And, if I follow his plan, I get to keep my title and money.”
Powerful Prince (Steel Series Book 5) Page 3