Our deal was over, then. She’d been adamant about controlling her own social media avenues that she earned a living from.
Without that, I had nothing to offer her that she wanted. I rubbed my temple and said, “I will speak to him.”
She reached out and grabbed my wrist. “I don’t want to walk away from you over this.”
I kissed her cheek. She was sweet, but I understood this could be a deal-breaker. I said, “Right. We had a deal. Give me time to speak to my father.”
“Of course.”
I left our rooms and rushed back. Who knew what my father might do next? I squared my body to confront him.
If he forced this, then he stopped our lives. I didn’t wait for his handlers to signal him I was coming, but headed straight back into his office. I caught my father on the phone and waited for him to finish discussing a trade deal for more rice and flowers. Once he hung up the phone, I leaned against his desk and said, “Father, the requirement for royal approval is overreaching.”
He glanced up at me like I was still a thirteen-year-old boy he could order around. “We need to ensure our image is perfect.”
I pressed my hand to my heart and said, “And you need to trust us.”
He stood. “It’s not just me, Ryder.” He widened his stance and said, “There is nothing I can do.”
Adrenaline coursed through me. I lifted my chin as my heart raced. “You never once considered my feelings over this.”
He stared at me, and when I was a child, that piercing, blue-eyed gaze would have had me shaking in my shoes. He said coldly, “You’re a prince, Ryder, and I didn’t understand until my advisors explained the details of her work about the potential dangers to the throne. She needs to stop blogging and sharing pictures of her life once she becomes a royal.”
I wasn’t a child anymore. I was about to marry to break free of all this. I waved my hand and turned toward the door. “No. I quit.”
I reached for the door and my father said, “You can’t.”
I shrugged and said only, “Goodbye, Father.”
No more arguing.
This was over. The only saving grace was the law that said if I married without royal approval, I was kicked out.
Gio had stopped me from marrying a stripper, but if Nicole agreed, she’d save me and get the story of a lifetime for her blogs and online life.
We’d have to talk, alone. I ignored the guards and stormed back to her room. Once I’d shut the doors in her bedroom, I said, “He refused. Nicole, let’s pack and get out of here.”
She massaged her neck and stared at the contract she’d tossed on her bed. “He’s not budging?”
I walked over and took her hands. “No, and I quit.”
Her eyes widened. “You quit?”
I headed to my room to grab a bag of necessities and said, “I … we had a deal and I won’t have my father controlling our lives forever. If I marry without royal approval, then I’m kicked out anyhow, and you get a story that helps your social media profile soar. So let’s get out of here.”
Her face paled, but she started packing. I finished with my one bag of essentials and tossed it over my back. She filled her rolling bag and kicked it like she’d roll it as she said, “Let’s stay at a nearby hotel for the night. Tomorrow, let me have my lawyers talk to his lawyers.”
She wasn’t ready to give up. Part of me wished I had her drive, but instead I took the handle of her bag to carry it, and asked, “You have hope this will change?”
She nodded, then opened the door and held it for us. “I hate to see you walk away from your family.”
I stopped and lowered my voice so the guards didn’t hear us. “Nicole, there is nothing we can do now, but if you want to try, I won’t stop you.”
She patted my cheek. “Have faith, Ryder.”
“Sounds nice, coming from you,” I said, and followed behind her.
Tonight, we were leaving the royal palace. Tomorrow, my father would call me back, but it would be too late. I’d marry Nicole if she’d have me, and while we wouldn’t get what we’d planned anymore, we would still help each other.
And hopefully, this was good enough—as losing her might be worse than losing my title.
Chapter 13
Nicole
The best part of this morning held me tight. Ryder and I had shared one room and one bed. My heart whispered that he was everything I’d ever want.
However, my regular life and routines came to mind. At home, I’d have posted something about a healthy breakfast, shared a photo of the morning and jumped into my shared yoga routine that I always did with the live camera.
Since I’d met Ryder, though, my life was off-center. And our deal had fundamentally changed for me when we went to bed.
His touch wasn’t just a cold-hearted business deal, and his kiss made me ache for more.
I slipped my arm off his bare, muscular chest and stared at the white ceiling of the hotel room. Then, I jumped up and went to get our breakfast, which should have been delivered by now.
A royal missive was on top of the food platter that I brought in from the hall and put on the small table. Adrenaline in my veins had my brain overreacting. I tried some deep-breathing exercises to calm down.
I returned to the bed and stared at Ryder, who slept only in his royal, blue boxer briefs that had his family crest embroidered on one leg. He was even more handsome without the worry of the day on him.
I swallowed. I had intended to go do some of my morning yoga routine when a strong hand squeezed mine and that sexy voice of his said, “Good morning.”
I batted my eyes and stared into those magnetic embers of his, with the twinkle that had me believing in fairy tales where we lived happily ever after, forever.
But I needed to get my feet on the ground, so I pulled away and stood up as I said, “Morning.”
He covered his eyes like he wasn’t ready to get up and asked, “It’s day already?”
I trotted over to the table and grabbed the letter with the palace stamp on it. I tossed it in his hand and said, “Yes, and we had a royal decree delivered with our breakfast.”
He opened it like this was a normal bill that came all the time. Once he’d read it, he massaged his temples then tossed the letter onto the bed behind him. “I expected my father to say something. Guess it’s time to talk.”
“Yes.” My heart ached and whispered that we needed to stay here, together. I lowered my head like that might stop the doubts in my mind.
“Last night was wonderful,” I said. I took his hand in mine and gazed up at him. The words were all true, but we needed to be serious. “You’re amazing, Ryder, but I agreed to marry you, in part, so I can boost my social media traffic, which will let me take more breaks so I can write my book.”
He motioned for us to sit at the table, and I let him go to sit across from him. “If I quit, I’ll help you cash in on the story,” he said. “Then you’re still free to do whatever you want and use your social media all you want. I have job offers if I quit being a royal. I won’t be poor for long.”
Yet, this plan wouldn’t give me the chance for a private life. I needed to figure out what would be best for me, but wouldn’t destroy Ryder in the process. I took the lid off the tray and found a plate of small sandwiches. I offered him one and poured the coffee. “It’s not the same thing.”
He took the coffee and sipped it black. He then put it down and folded his hands. “I know it’s not. If you don’t want to marry me, I understand.”
My heart twisted. I wanted Ryder, but like this? I’d tear him away from his family. And, yes, he said he could live without them, but I wasn’t sure. His sister clearly loved him and enjoyed his company, and I couldn’t live without having my sisters in my life. I swallowed and my skin radiated my indecision as I nibbled on my sandwich. Once I finished, I said, “Let me try to send my lawyers to see your father’s team.”
His eyes widened. “You actually have lawyers?”
&n
bsp; Last night, after he’d fallen asleep, I’d texted my sister and she had already set this up for me. I picked up my coffee and said, “I’ve talked to Indigo. Frank’s a lawyer who works for her husband. He helped my sister Ridley with a major problem, and now he’s on his way to Norden and will represent my side in the negotiations.”
The black brew was delicious. Better than what I made at home. He rested his head on his palms and asked, “If Father doesn’t agree?”
I wasn’t sure. Did I marry him? My heart whispered “yes”, but my brain screamed that I needed to be smart. Once he’d been stripped of his title and duties, like he wanted, we’d easily be short term. After all, he’d never said he loved me. The thought burned into me like that was the biggest question of all, and the one that I refused to ask. I shrugged, without an answer right now. “Then we don’t have a place to retire to.”
He squared his shoulders like we were negotiating. “I have my own savings. I’m not destitute and I have every intention of taking seats on boards of companies that will make a difference. This was why I thought it would be fine to marry Darla.”
I didn’t want short term with him. I finished another sip of my coffee and my thoughts became clear. There were still benefits to the plan, but this wasn’t the same. I needed to hold out hope right now, so I said, “You’re right. If we become the runaway royals, there is money to earn.”
His eyebrows shot up. “So you’re in?”
Don’t make promises you can’t keep. My father’s voice rang loud and clear in my mind, even though he’d died years ago. I glanced down and picked up my coffee to drink, and said, “I … we’ll see. I’m open to the idea and my sisters are already on their way for a wedding.”
His face darkened. I wasn’t sure what else to say. Did he want me to say “I love you” when he hadn’t said it, and I … wasn’t sure? I finished my coffee as he said, “You don’t have to marry me out of a sense of obligation, or because we had sex.”
Heat rose in my cheeks. Being with Ryder was the paramount reason to stay—and it wasn’t because I had guilt. I shook my head. “I … wasn’t.”
He scooted closer and his voice went down. “Then why would you go through with this?”
Was he asking me how I felt about him? I didn’t know that answer. My heart thundered right now, but I tugged my ear and said, “I told you, I want a nest egg and a place to retire from public life.”
The brightness in his eyes dulled and the loss of color made me wiggle in my chair as he said, “I can get us a home anywhere in the world you want to hole up in, so you can write your book. I’ll even take some of the pictures for you and write the posts.”
Right. I’d said I’d marry him for that reason—the book I intended to write, but kept putting off because blogging and photographing my life and yoga classes always took priority. For now, I stood up and said, “Let’s just get my sister from the airport and settle her in a room at the hotel while the lawyers talk.”
He finished his coffee quickly and asked, “When does she land?”
I glanced at my phone and felt myself calm down a little. Stephanie was always one to believe in following her heart. I needed her positivity today. “In an hour.”
He picked up his pants from the floor, and asked, “Do you want me to go with you or wait here?”
I didn’t want to lose him over technicalities. I bounced on my feet and said with more force, “I want you with me, unless you’re needed at the palace?”
He tossed his clothes into the bathroom then picked up the letter on the bed as he said, “Let me read you my father’s note.”
He coughed, then spoke in his father’s more bass voice, “Ryder, you and your fiancée were missed this morning. I have set aside 4 pm today for us to discuss this contract, in person. His Royal Majesty, King Sven Kristoff.”
“That’s it?” I asked and my heart raced.
My own parents hadn’t been royals, but I couldn’t imagine them ever speaking to us so formally and coldly.
He tossed the letter back down then held my waist. “If we marry without permission, it’s as I said. I’m out of the family. But he wants me to come, so maybe he’s willing to negotiate. Don’t get your hopes up, though.”
Yet, Frank and the royal lawyers had a meeting at ten, so hopefully everything would work out. I closed my eyes and wished the drama would dissipate into the day as I said, “The lawyers will have already spoken by then.”
He kissed my cheek then let me go as he headed to the bathroom. His muscular ass caught my attention and my body radiated desire as I called out, “Ryder?”
“Yes?” he asked, and stood at the doorway.
I licked my lips and decided we needed to forget this conversation. My nipples were already hardening at the vision of his body when I asked, “How long does it take to get to the airport?”
He didn’t seem to get my meaning as he said, “A half hour. We can rent a car downstairs.”
I walked over and pressed his hands to my heart as I led him back into the room. “We have time then. I … want you … I want us.”
He followed me, but as I neared the bed, he asked, “Why, Nicole?”
My pulse zipped but I swallowed and tilted my head. “Because I’ve never felt like this before. And it’s not the title or the money. It’s you and me I like.”
He reached inside my t-shirt and lifted it as he said, “I wish there was more I could offer you. I know this isn’t what we planned.”
Without a bra, he saw my nipples were already pebbles for him. My entire body heated as I said, “No, it’s not. But do you want me, or is it all just one-sided?”
His lips burned mine and fire grew in me. “I want you, Nicole. I want you more than I ever wanted anyone, but I can’t change my father.”
My fingers clung to his thick hair as I closed my eyes and said, “Then we’ll have to figure out what happens tonight. Can we get married without his permission while my sisters are here?”
His lips burned my skin and I wanted nothing more than to be his right now. As the kiss ended, he said, “Yes. I will call the priests. My father has no say in marriages in this country. There is a constitution.”
His mouth went lower and found my girls, who stood at attention for him, as he smacked his lips. I asked breathlessly, “Even if you’re his son?”
He captured my breast in his mouth and suckled. My entire body tingled. As he went for the second one, he said, “Yes. Now let’s not talk about him anymore.”
“Sounds like the perfect plan,” I said and slid off my underwear.
We had time, and I knew for a fact I wanted him. This was all that mattered. We were together.
Chapter 14
Ryder
Nicole spent most of her day talking to her sister Stephanie. I’d waited in our room and checked on my bank account. Soon, I’d not have to ask permission for my investments.
Freedom would be sweet. If Nicole married me, I had everything I wanted. I shut my computer screen. The problem was that I wouldn’t be giving Nicole what I’d promised. And living with restrictions wasn’t something Nicole was used to.
My father’s demands were just the tip of the iceberg on what royal life required.
For the four o’clock appointment, we walked together to the palace. The air around her smelled like her essential oils. As we left the hotel, Nicole crossed her arms and said, “The lawyers are still talking.”
As the guards opened the gates, I put my hands in my pockets and said, “I can meet with my father alone. If I think he’s willing to make concessions, I’ll come and get you.”
“Okay.” She gave me two thumbs up, like we were on the same page. The tension in my shoulders made me hope that was true.
“That’s a good plan,” she said. “Frank thinks if I meet with your father, then I’d change the nature of any contract negotiation.”
I kissed her cheek and saluted her as I stepped back. “I will let him know that he has no control over your soc
ial media accounts.”
Her lips curved into a smile. “Thank you, Ryder.”
I stopped again before I headed out and said, “It’s what I promised when we agreed to get married.”
She sashayed to my side and my heart lifted in my chest like she gave oxygen to my lungs. Then, she said, “I did agree to limit your family’s exposure, and I will take down the photo of me and your sister, as that seems to be a sticking point in the contracts.”
Right. She hoped the negotiations with my father would work out. This had nothing to do with me or us. I lowered my head and ignored the sinking feeling in my gut. “I understand.”
She kissed my cheek and said, “Good luck.”
I spun on my heels like I was still in the military and headed toward my father’s private offices.
No one stopped me to correct me on his whereabouts or insist I follow protocol to request an audience. My feet tapped, so he knew I approached, but I still waited for my summons near the door.
My father’s secretary announced my name a moment later then opened the doors, granting me access.
I stepped inside and the secretary left, leaving us alone.
My father wore his royal, blue jacket with the family crest in gold thread on the sleeves, so I knew this was all business with him.
I stilled as I’d been taught. The only person in my life who’d ever greeted me with a hug had been my mother. She’d died years ago, and I still missed her warmth.
So I stood like I was still an army captain while my commanding officer stared at me, and I didn’t blink as I said, “Your Majesty.”
He pointed to the visitors’ chairs like this was an ordinary meeting and said, “Ryder, sit.” As the good son, I did as ordered. Once I was sitting down, he asked me, “Where is your fiancée?”
I widened my feet under my chair but otherwise let my muscles tighten. “She’s outside. It’s not wise for her to be here as her lawyer is negotiating on her behalf right now.”
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