Powerful Prince (Steel Series Book 5)

by Victoria Pinder

  I almost hugged myself when I sat back in my chair. My voice shook as I asked, “And me?”

  His gaze narrowed. “You get to be a princess. You’d never have to work again.”

  I let out a long sigh and then sipped my wine again. Marrying a prince was not an option for me. I held the stem of my glass and said, “I like working.”

  He tapped the table and then asked me, “Is there anything I can offer you that would make you want to marry me?”

  Part of me wanted him to take my virginity. A night in his bed would be out of this world. But the rest of our lives … No. I’d not consider that wayward thought. I shook my head. “Nothing comes to mind.”

  His body near mine sent me into overdrive again. And I think he knew that as he asked, in a sensual, come-kiss-me tone, “Nothing?”

  Heat raced up my back. I ignored how my body pulsated near him, but I didn’t move away. This nearness was nice. But I shook my head again. “No. I want to marry for love, y’know.”

  He snapped his fingers like he’d solved our problem. “We could get married, and when you find the guy you want, divorce.”

  Part of my brain said he wasn’t into me, and I should stop this now. I tilted my head and then asked, “So it’s just about money to you?”

  He finished his glass and then said nothing as the dessert, Le Papillon Chocolat Azélia, a smooth hazelnut milk chocolate crémeux with coffee chantilly and praliné ice cream, was delivered with two spoons. He waited till the server left, then said, “Freedom. It’s either marry you and be allowed to retire, or find another way to get myself kicked out of the family. And I don’t want to start committing crimes.”

  I laughed and dug into the dessert with my spoon. “I’m sure you can find another way.”

  He watched me eat, so I slowed down and met his gaze.

  “You’re sure you want nothing I can offer?”

  “No.” We both finished dessert and sipped our wine. As I was now full and we were done, I said, “Tonight was interesting, but we’re nothing alike.”

  He pressed his knee closer to mine and I unwound. Part of me tingled with anticipation that he’d kiss me senseless again, but he simply said, “Come with me tomorrow to my castle. You can decide once you see what you’d gain if you say yes.”

  We were impossible. I forced myself to scoot away from him and stand up, as I said, “I’m not bribable.”

  He stood with me. “Everyone is, even if we pretend we’re not. But get to know me, for me, and don’t go online for a few days.”

  Go to Europe with him? This was probably wrong, on many levels, but I wasn’t a hypocrite. And I’d never wanted anyone like Ryder at all. For a moment I was frozen, but as he stepped around the table and I stood in front of him, the zaps went from the bottom of my toes and rang through my body. I said, “I … okay, I accept your offer.”

  We wandered back to the limo and in lightning speed we returned to the Venetian. As we stepped out, I knew I needed to really think and meditate on what I wanted. I offered my hand and said, “See you tomorrow.”

  He kissed my wrist and said, “Soon you won’t want me to leave.”

  The zips in my body were undeniable. I patted my head and backed away, “We’ll see about that. Good night, Ryder.”

  “Good night, my beautiful Nicole,” he said and bowed like I was some princess departing.

  I probably shouldn’t go. I probably should just call his room and cancel. I should just pack my bags and dash to the airport for the next flight back to Pittsburgh.

  However, as I opened my room door and flipped on the lights, I knew I’d do none of that. I wanted Ryder, and the sight of the empty bed in my room only made that clear. Besides, if I joined him in Norden, my following would skyrocket, and that was the point.

  Secretly, he was the one I wanted to blend my essence with, at least once. But I’d never tell him that.

  Chapter 4

  Ryder

  I brushed my still-wet hair and tossed the brush into the one bag I packed. Yes, I could burden staff with packing the entire house to take, but honestly, too much stuff slowed me down.

  I’d gotten used to one bag in my military days, and if I ever did want to go on an adventure that Gio couldn’t follow me on, well then, one bag was all I’d want.

  I checked that my t-shirt wasn’t wrinkled and zipped the bag. Done. Now it was time to find out if Nicole meant what she’d said. She’d come to Norden.

  Gio came in and picked up the bag, looking like he was offended that I took care of myself, and said, “Your brother is on the phone, sire.”

  He handed it over. I waited till my butler/keeper left, and then plopped on the couch and asked, “Harry, what’s going on?”

  My older brother, the crown prince who’d one day be king, said, “Emily and I were talking. Dad found you a virgin?”

  My mind clicked. Yeah, I was probably a test run, then. I sat up and said, “Seems so, and she refuses my hand.”

  Harry laughed. “I told you not to marry a stripper.”

  I’d never been a good listener. I swallowed and stared at the ceiling as I said, “I didn’t do more than kiss her, once, and that was in front of the altar. It was a business deal.”

  Harry probably had that stupid grin on his face that most women fanned themselves over, and that I’d rolled my eyes at since we were boys in grammar school. “Does this virgin know that?”

  Nicole had a name. I pumped my hands together. The memory of her lips still burned on mine, and I remembered how sweet she’d tasted. I said, “She thinks I’m wild and crazy.”

  “You are that.”

  “No.” I rubbed my forehead. It would be nice if someone in the family was in my corner, once in a while. But now I had a plan, and I needed to go. “I’m an adrenaline junkie, but that’s not the point either.”

  “The point? As in, you want to marry this virgin?”

  Fuck. He had our father’s censorious tone down perfectly. I rubbed my neck and said, “Possibly.”

  “We both think you shouldn’t.”

  My sister Emily and Harry talked. My sister was usually the target of my father’s wrath these days, as I just got the eye rolls. I glanced out at the sunrise over the strip and the nearby desert of nothing, which was nothing like home, as I asked, “Why not?”

  “It gives father precedent. If he finds you a wife, then he’ll do the same for us.”

  I snapped my fingers. Of course. I should have guessed. I shrugged and said, “She’s online and posting about her virginity. Someone must have read her blog.”

  “Our father doesn’t read blogs. They are not ‘real news’ or ‘legitimate’. Emily thinks he hired the Avce matchmaker.”

  I paused, though I heard Gio at the door, rattling the knob, which meant I should go. “You’re joking.”

  “No, and if that’s true and you cave, he’s going to do the same for us.”

  Got it. The pieces of the puzzle all connected now. I was the test case, but they’d both get matched too, if father won. I headed toward the door to start my day as I said, “Look, I’m bringing Nicole to Norden. You can meet her yourself at some point tomorrow, depending on when we take off.”

  “Oh. That will be interesting.”

  Right. Nicole and I weren’t in love, but she was a means to an end. And she made my skin burn with desire.

  I met Gio’s blue eyes as I swung open the door.

  “Everything on track, sire?” he asked.

  No bag in sight. He’d probably already put it in the limo. I nodded and said, “Yes, I’m going to Nicole’s room. Prep the driver and pilots, as she’s coming home with me.”

  “Excellent,” he said. He followed me, with my guards in step behind him.

  This time I didn’t blink as I took the elevator down to her floor and people snapped my picture. Finally, I made it down the hall to her door and knocked.

  A few people were watching, but then, that was my general life, always a crowd. She opened the do
or and stared at me and the small gathering as I asked her, “Nicole, are you ready?”

  “I guess.” She wheeled out a bag with her business name embossed on it in green and pink letters. “I’m not quite sure I packed appropriately for a trip to Europe, but I’m sure the stores there take credit cards.”

  One of the guards stepped up and reached to take her bag. For a moment she didn’t let go, but then she released her grip and glanced at the people watching us. As she moved a little closer to me, I said, “The palace will provide whatever you need.”

  She cocked her head like she didn’t want to be here. “Okay, let’s go then.”

  We walked toward the elevators and my staff ensured that no one came near us. As we neared the elevator I said, “Norden is almost eleven hours from Vegas, and there’s a nine-hour time difference. So if we leave here at 9 a.m., it will feel like 8 p.m. to us when we arrive there. But we’ll be joining my family for breakfast, as that’s 5 a.m., local time.”

  We stepped into the elevator. She had her arms crossed in front of her. “Guess I’ll try to sleep then. I’ve not been to Europe in a few years. What’s the best thing to do in Norden?”

  We made it to the first floor and checked out, and I directed us toward the limo. Guards opened the doors and I said, as she slipped into the back seat, “We’ll tour together, and I’ll let you see whatever you want.”

  As the door closed behind me, she asked, “Do you always have your bodyguards?”

  I rested my hand beside her and she slowly began to unwind as I said, “Always, but generally speaking, the kingdom is safe to walk around.”

  The airport was so close, we were practically there by the time I finished my sentence.

  Guards opened the doors for us and we headed to my private jet with the royal seal on the back rudder. Gio was already there with the staff when we boarded. I walked Nicole to our leather seats, next to where the buffet would be set up for us.

  As she sat down, she asked, “If your father did end up kicking you out of the royal family, would that mean you couldn’t go home?”

  “Yes, though I was looking forward to the peace and quiet. Maybe then I wouldn’t feel this need to jump out of planes to be free.” I closed my eyes and imagined what it would be like not to be swamped with royal duties before I’d even had my first coffee of the day.

  “But I’ve never known life without being a prince and rich,” I added. “If we marry, I inherit the North Castle, which is bordered by water on three sides. It’s one of the most invigorating places on the planet. I’d also get money, and I’d be eligible to retire as I’m not the crown prince.”

  Gio served mimosas, clearly thinking of her, and mentioned that brunch was ready to be served right after takeoff. I handed her a glass. She took it, but waited till we were alone again and said, “That sounds interesting.”

  The engines revved up as I said, “You’ll see it and decide for yourself.”

  She still held her glass without drinking. “I’m coming with you because I’m curious.”

  Good. We were moving now. I patted her knee like we were friends and said, “And you’re attracted to me.”

  She curled closer to me and stared into my eyes like she could see through me. “That too. But marriage is a whole other concept. It’s permanent.”

  I pushed the armrest up so nothing was between us. “So, I did some research on you last night, Nicole Steel.”

  She shrugged and tasted her mimosa. After a couple of sips, she said, “My life is out there for the world to read.”

  Yes it was. Her grades, her inner thoughts, her pictures, everything was online. My life was too, but the difference was that she chose to put everything out there. I clinked her glass with mine and said, “Two of your sisters are married to billionaires, one married a baseball star, and you’re a cousin of Phoenix Steel, the singer.”

  She leaned back like she was disappointed in me. “You meant my family, not my life philosophy.”

  I sipped my own drink and held it as we took off. Once the roar of the engine quieted enough for conversation, I said, “I’d been curious to discover what my father saw in you that made him think ‘princess’.”

  She finished her drink and raised her eyebrows. Then she said, “I’ve never met a royal, until you.”

  “Yet you’ve met elites and held your head high, so that might be one of the qualifications my father saw.”

  If she married me, she’d see royals every day for the rest of our lives. I kept the thought to myself, since she hadn’t agreed to the plan yet. The staff began to set up a buffet for us. While they worked, I asked her, “How are you dealing with the scandals about you today?”

  She rubbed the back of her neck like she had a secret, but then she leaned closer and said, “Honestly, my blog and sponsors seriously spiked in views. This trip has netted me more in a day than I usually make in a month.”

  The staff dispersed and I playfully elbowed her to get up.

  “So you’re more profitable with me,” I said, as I headed to the buffet to grab some breakfast. “That’s a reason to marry me.”

  She took a plate and followed behind me. “You’d net me spikes, absolutely.” Once we had plates of croissants, fruit, yogurt, the small waffles I still enjoyed, and cups of coffee, we returned to our seats.

  “Let’s discuss this ‘what if’ scenario,” she said.

  I put my food down and practically bounced in my chair. I hadn’t expected her to bring this up. “Excellent.”

  She cut her waffle and mixed her yogurt with her blackberries. “If I did become your princess, would I still be allowed to blog?”

  Good question. And if she was truly considering this, this was a contract item to discuss. I added cream to my coffee and offered her some, but she refused. I said, “I’d support your petition to the king for permission.”

  Her lips curled down and her eyebrows rose. “I’m not a child. Asking permission isn’t really my thing.”

  A snicker came out of my mouth. This was why I had taken up mountain climbing. No one told me what to do there. I finished my bite of waffle and said, “Me either, but if we make it a condition of our marriage, I’m sure my father would concede—as long as you don’t reveal too much about our royal family.”

  We both ate in silence for a few minutes. As she finished her yogurt, she asked, “Royal secrets?”

  I winked at her and said, “Not really, but I spend most of my day in the public spotlight. When I’m home, it’s supposed to be a respite.”

  Her brown eyes seemed to search mine for answers. I wasn’t sure what her question was. But then she broke her gaze and took a bite of her croissant. Once she finished her bite, she said, “This conversation is hypothetical only.”

  For her. But if I followed through, I would have money and freedom from my father. Sure, I’d also have a wife, but she’d be more tolerable than my father’s leash on me. I finished my plate. Gio came over and took them from us but left us a carafe of coffee.

  The staff cleaned up and, for a few minutes, we were silent. Once we were alone, I pressed into her side and kept my voice low as I said, “I think you want me.”

  Her face had a blush and she took a deep breath. “I do. I don’t lie. But that’s not part of the conversation.”

  My hair stood on its ends, but I whispered, “Why not? You get me if you say ‘I do’.”

  She closed her eyes and my lips tingled to kiss her. I leaned closer but she said, “I still want to believe in happily-ever-after, though.”

  I sat straight and patted the back of her hand. “Can you imagine that with me?”

  She curled her hand up and asked, “Can you be loyal?”

  Our fingers were laced and my heartbeat grew faster as I said, “Absolutely.”

  Her lips curled higher but she shook her head. “Where is the proof of that?”

  I pivoted closer so our thighs touched, when I said, “I’m loyal to my family and I’ll be loyal to my wife. I’d ev
en put in the contract that we’d always share one bed, with no other partners.”

  Her eyes widened. “Really? Why?”

  I hadn’t thought I’d offer fidelity, but now that the words had come out of my mouth, my shoulders relaxed. It would be nice to just disappear, with one woman at my side, and not deal with life. So I said, “Because the one thing I give my parents credit for is that they were in love and happy. I’d like my future children to have the same security.”

  “You’re old fashioned. I give you that. And I wouldn’t have expected that with your reputation,” she said. Then she pressed her lips to mine.

  I closed my eyes and let her kiss wash through me.

  Nicole was everything I never wanted, but now I hoped that maybe she’d be the best choice for a wife. Her lips sent sparks through me that gave me one thing I’d not felt in a long time … Hope.

  Chapter 5

  Nicole

  Damn, he knew how to kiss. I mean, he was a prince and probably had a million girls offering themselves to him, like, all the time. But my muscles and spine tingled all the way down my body. No other man ever made me this hot.

  Ryder excused himself for a bit and went to talk with his staff.

  Here I was, alone with a prince on his private plane. Of course, his staff were in the back, so we weren’t really alone.

  But I’d never been on a plane like this before. And though my leather seat was comfortable, my skin was still jumpy.

  He’d be back in a minute. I guess it was a good thing to have some time alone, as my heart was racing. I had been considering his offer since last night’s dinner.

  I was afraid that if I admitted to myself what I was thinking, my pulse that zapped when he was near might go just haywire.

  But part of my life philosophy was always to be honest with myself—especially when desire hit me this hard.

  I wanted Ryder, and it wasn’t just about sex. We got each other, and we liked being around each other. Maybe that meant sex would be mind-blowing, electrifying and fun.