Beauty and the Bastard: A Royal Bad Boy Romance

by Annette Fields

  Alex and I were as close as brothers could be, so I knew he wasn’t telling me the full story. He remained tight-lipped about his love and sex life ever since we were teenagers. I assumed that came from having such a public life, to not feed the gossip cannons. But I couldn’t shake the feeling he was hiding something bigger.

  Fuck me. First Stella, then Alex with the big, dirty secrets. All under a corrupt and dying monarchy. As I finally got my next shot of liquor, I threw it back wondering for the hundredth time if I really wanted to be part of this whole royalty nonsense.

  The more I questioned it, though, the more it seemed like I didn’t have a choice.

  CHAPTER 7

  STELLA

  Just like yesterday, I approached Gavin’s door feeling my heart about to burst from my chest. My feet carried me forward until my nose nearly touched the worn, splintered wood.

  I raised my fist to knock and hesitated, though I wasn’t sure why. For the next two weeks at least, I'd be in front of this door every morning.

  To do my job.

  To restore my family's legacy and honor. And possibly, to save Janie's life. So why did I feel frozen in place? What stopped me?

  Gavin was difficult to work with, but I could handle his attitude. He enjoyed trying to shock me with foul language and general crassness, but I wasn't that naive.

  No, what made me want to bolt in the opposite direction was the glimpse of him I caught when he answered the door. Yes, he opened up while nearly naked but I'm not talking about that.

  When he was about to refuse me, my whole world started to crumble. I saw my parents' faces, grim and disappointed at my failure. I saw the queen putting our ancestral home up for auction to pay off her outrageous gambling debts.

  All of that would fall on my shoulders.

  But worst of all, I saw my second mother figure pass away without being given a fighting chance.

  But I couldn't tell him all of that, and I never would. All I could say was, "Gavin, please," and his whole demeanor changed. His handsome face fell from a scowl of annoyance to genuine concern. His dark eyes grew wide instead of narrowing menacingly.

  When he spoke softly and put his hand on my arm, the warmth from his touch spread throughout my body like a gasoline fire. I felt that single touch down to the tips of my toes and I wanted, no, needed more.

  He knew something was wrong and wanted to make me feel better. Was it that clear on my face or did Prince Alex tell him how I was involved?

  I composed myself once he went to get dressed and I distracted myself with making coffee, but how long would that last? He had to learn dancing, which meant we would touch again. He'd have to touch my hands and my waist.

  I gulped and knew I was blushing. With the thought of Gavin touching it, my waist suddenly seemed like an extremely intimate area.

  A mental image of Gavin kissing me made me back away from his door.

  Why was I thinking of that?

  This was the worst possible time to develop a crush on someone! Just my luck. Of course, it would happen now and over someone like Gavin: completely untouchable and who wouldn't even try to act like a gentleman.

  He's hot. There are lots of hot men out there. Get over it.

  I steeled my nerves, took a deep breath, and approached his door again. This time I knocked before I could think twice and doubt myself again.

  He opened the door seconds later, a cocky smirk on his face that brought my kissing fantasy right back to the forefront of my mind.

  Part of me was relieved that he at least answered with clothes on, but also a little disappointed.

  "Hey, Stella. I got the coffee started already."

  I blinked, taken aback.

  "Oh. Thank you. That's very kind," I said robotically.

  He shrugged and stepped aside to let me in. I crossed into his space slowly, already in awe of this new, considerate Gavin.

  The distinct smell of brewing coffee beans filled the small apartment and my mouth watered. If I ever admitted to liking it more than tea, my mother would call me "positively American" as an insult.

  "So what's on the agenda for today?" Gavin asked as he pulled two coffee cups down from the cupboard.

  I saw a sliver of his fit, toned stomach and that sexy trail of hair below his navel as he reached up and completely forgot my answer.

  "You're, ah, rather cheerful this morning," I stammered, trying to save face.

  "Hah. I'm set in my ways, I guess,” he admitted. “I don't like surprises and I prefer routine. Now that I know to expect you here every morning, I'm okay with it."

  His hands moved swiftly as he spoke, pulling the large coffee pot from under the filter and pouring the steaming, dark liquid into each cup without spilling a drop. My eyes stayed glued to his hands because I felt too shy to look at his face again.

  "You also seem more accepting of becoming a royal," I observed.

  Gavin shrugged as he placed one of the cups in front of me. "I still don't know what's going on, but the more I talk to you and Alex, the more it seems I don't have a choice. I trust Alex, but you? I haven't quite figured you out, Stella."

  And you never will, I thought. This is a job, nothing more.

  I looked up to stare back at him defiantly but of course, the moment I made eye contact, he winked and grinned at me. I looked away again bashfully.

  "Well, I know what it's like to both be a royal and not be one," I said after a deep breath and regaining my composure. "And you can trust that it's better to be one than not. You really have nothing to lose, Gavin."

  He took a deep sip of coffee and said nothing. It should have been too hot to drink but he seemed unaffected by it. He just looked at me calmly, like an armchair psychologist trying to diagnose the root of all my issues with very little information.

  That was all he'd get. He didn't need to know more about me and would never get to.

  "Shall we begin?" I was desperate to change the subject, not because he was making me uncomfortable, but that dark, penetrating stare was almost as hot as his fit, muscular body.

  "Of course." He broke his gaze immediately and sipped more scalding hot coffee.

  I cleared my throat and pulled my notebook from my purse. "Why don't we take a quick review of yesterday?"

  "Sure."

  "What do you remember?"

  "I remember that it's considered inappropriate to refer to Her Majesty as Queen Cunt under any circumstances."

  And there it was. An exasperated sigh escaped my throat, but I also felt a bit of relief. We were back to crude, difficult Gavin, who at least annoyed me enough to keep from thinking about kissing him.

  But I knew then he had the capacity to be considerate and kind.

  Was that an act?

  Or could there be more to this man, lurking behind those deep, dark eyes?

  CHAPTER 8

  GAVIN

  Even working class assholes like me can be nice to a lady.

  I knew Stella would be shocked. It let me dig in just a little deeper, learning just a little more in the subtle ways she revealed herself.

  Her lessons weren’t exactly boring, but they would be if taught by anyone else. I enjoyed looking at her and listening to her voice. It had the added benefit of making her think I was paying attention.

  Picturing her naked also helped pass the time. I wondered how big her nipples were, if she had any interesting scars or marks, and what her pussy looked like. Call me lewd, but no man on earth has ever not pictured an attractive woman naked in his mind. Adjusting my hard-on to hide it was a bit of a chore, though.

  "Why don't we go outside for some fresh air?" I suggested. A few hours had passed and several more cups of coffee were consumed. The question was not at all innocent, of course. Nothing about me is innocent.

  I wanted to see how much she would balk. She would certainly refuse to be seen out in public with a common stranger.

  "That sounds like a great idea," she said with a smile.

  I kept my exp
ression neutral. That was unexpected. As much as I wanted to figure Stella out, she continued to surprise me. I liked that about her but it also unnerved me.

  I meant it when I said I didn’t like being surprised.

  And with women, I usually could figure them out pretty easily. But this pretty, refined girl with mysterious royal connections also had tricks up her sleeve.

  We left the apartment without a word to each other and walked across the street to the park with garden paths and a duck pond. A few people milled about taking their lunch breaks but we were otherwise alone.

  "This is a beautiful park," she said. "I never knew this was here."

  "A prime example of making polite small talk for no other reason except to be polite," I observed and watched her go red in the cheeks. “Relax, I’m just teasing you.”

  "At least you recognize it, even if you can't do it yourself yet," she shot back.

  My cock throbbed as if on cue. Goddamn, watching her get flustered was like my new fetish.

  "Old habits are hard to break," I responded. "I've spent my entire life speaking what's on my mind without a filter. Two weeks of Stella's Royal Academy isn't going to change that."

  "I'm surprised you made it to this age with that habit," she said with the cutest death glare.

  I burst out laughing. Damn, this girl could be just as snarky as the best of them. I almost didn’t want to admit I enjoyed all the surprises she came with.

  "What's so funny?" she demanded.

  "Don't you think conversations are so much more interesting if you just say what's on your mind?” I asked her. “I mean, how can royals live with themselves just making polite, unoffensive statements back and forth? Sounds like an awfully boring way to live."

  We walked along the trail silently for a while. She chewed her lip thoughtfully and I started to wonder if I really offended her.

  "You're right," she answered finally. "When conversing with royals I'm often inside my own head, unless it's with Alex and Scarlett, of course. Everything I'm actually saying is just like an automated recording. My lips are moving and I'm making sounds, but my mind is elsewhere."

  "Yeah, that's exactly what I mean." I stopped under a large willow tree, its long, trailing leaves dipping into the edge of the pond, making a shaded canopy. Wondering if Stella would follow suit, I sat down on the pond bank.

  She hesitated only for a second before sitting on the grass next to me, crossing her slender ankles and keeping a safe distance from me.

  The setting sun over the pond made the water shimmer brilliantly. It illuminated her face and eyes and I found myself openly staring at her like that first day in my apartment. Maybe I was developing a crush but I swore I’d never seen such a beautiful woman in my life. Her grace and poise would woo any man but I loved most how she wasn't afraid to partake in simple, working class things.

  This royal girl was letting her hair down, not afraid to sit on the grass or drink coffee like a commoner and I found it insanely sexy. I felt a small thrill that she was loosening up around me but also a bit worried at my own excitement. Falling for an unattainable girl could land me in a world of trouble.

  "I want to hear what's on your mind right now. Don't think about it, don't try to phrase it politely. Just tell me what you're thinking right at this moment." I watched her as I laid back on my elbows and stretched my legs out in front of me, knowing she'd rise to the challenge.

  Her large, hazel eyes flicked over in my direction as she began to open her mouth to answer but stopped herself.

  "Nope, you're thinking. Stop that, just spill it. Trust me, you'll feel better if you just get it out," I urged her.

  "I'm thinking about someone that I love," she blurted.

  Oh.

  I looked away from her to the pond in front of me. A mother duck paddled across with her four ducklings in tow. I focused on them as a distraction. Stella's words elicited a twinge of jealousy in me, though I couldn’t say why. Of course, she loved someone.

  "You miss them?" I asked, keeping my tone casual.

  "Yes, she's someone very close to me and hasn't been well. She may die soon."

  She? I wondered. I definitely didn't get a gay vibe from Stella. Part of me hoped she was talking about a family member or friend but I'd been wrong before.

  "I'm sorry. I wish I could do more than say that."

  "You can."

  "Oh?" I looked at her, surprised.

  Stella returned my gaze, her face as hard as steel. "You can take everything I teach you seriously. Practice and internalize it like your own heartbeat. When the queen sees the work I put into making you worthy of being part of the royal family, my nanny's life might be saved."

  I sat taken aback and said nothing. Her face remained tense but her eyes welled with tears until she blinked and looked away.

  In that moment I learned more about Stella Lundenberg than I had in the past two days.

  Her walls were crumbling. I knew why she was so dedicated to the point of feeling forced into teaching me this shit. It amazed and humbled me how selfless she was.

  As the sunset's glow bathed her lovely face in warm light, I wanted more than ever to help her. To take a small burden off her shoulders and make this just a little easier on her. I felt like a dick for mocking her.

  Even worse, the queen using her nanny's failing health as some kind of sick incentive came as no surprise to me.

  "I do take you seriously, Stella. And after we get me in, I promise my first priority will be getting your nanny the best care she needs." For the first time, I spoke as if me getting a royal position was an absolute certainty.

  If I could help Stella even a little, I wanted it to be.

  "You don't have to say that, Gavin." She smiled sadly and looked down at the grass as she pulled tufts out here and there. "She doesn't have much time left. There may be nothing that can be done. But a small chance rides on it, so I'm running with that."

  Her long dark lashes fluttered against her cheekbones and I never wanted to kiss and comfort a girl so badly than in that moment.

  But I wasn’t a total dumbass and I knew that would be the worst possible time to make a move on her. Still, I couldn’t help but lick my lips as I gazed at hers.

  That pink, pretty mouth deserved a kiss just for dealing with me.

  "Well, if you're going to help me get squared away for the rest of my life, I want to help you too," I told her.

  Her smile grew wider but she kept looking at the tufts of grass in front of her.

  "Thanks, Gavin."

  Goddamn, why did she have to be so fucking shy and adorable?

  I rose to my feet and offered her my hand to help her stand. She looked at it hesitantly, like she wouldn't trust me touching her, but placed her soft fingers in my rough, calloused ones anyway.

  When I lifted her up, she practically flew like she barely weighed anything. The momentum sent her crashing into me and for the briefest snapshot in time, I held her against my chest.

  She felt so small and delicate and I didn't want to release her, to let her out into a shitty world run by an evil queen who kept loved ones hostage. In my heart, I felt the fierce, overwhelming instinct to protect her from all that.

  At the same time, I wanted to tear into her and break her apart. My cock jumped in reaction to her hands against my chest, the smell of her hair, and the warmth of her skin. I wanted to mark her flawless complexion with my teeth and fill her from inside until she couldn't walk straight.

  "Sorry, lost my footing there," she said. The sunlight had all but disappeared but I knew she was blushing again.

  "It's quite alright," I assured. All too quickly, the moment disappeared and she pulled away from me, still making that shy, cockteasing smile. "Shall we continue with the lesson?"

  CHAPTER 9

  STELLA

  "So how are you and Gavin getting along?"

  I took a sip of tea to consider Scarlett's question, then remembered what Gavin would say about just spilling wha
t's on my mind. A hint of a smile played on my lips, hidden by the porcelain teacup.

  "Surprisingly well, actually."

  "I knew you would!" Scarlett beamed as she popped a cheese cube into her mouth delicately. "He's a bit rough around the edges but he's got a good heart once you get to know him. Is he taking to the lessons well?"

  I swallowed another mouthful of tea—wishing it were coffee— to hide another smile as I recalled the memory.

  When I last visited Gavin, the lesson of the day was walking properly. For men, it was essentially the same as marching. All male royals had military training and were expected to serve in the Queen's Police for at least two years.

  We went to the park across the street again to practice his walk across greater distances. Gavin was a natural, to the point where women across the pond swooned as they watched him march.

  He had no shortage of swagger and it showed.

  His chin jutted out as he held his head high, accentuating his sharp jawline. His squared, broad shoulders remained perfectly still while his legs marched stiffly. Even his expression was stern, if not downright angry, like an army general.

  That was until he marched 100 paces and stopped right before me, where he erupted into the most ridiculous, silly dance I'd ever seen.

  I laughed until I doubled over holding my stomach and my eyes welled with tears. He crossed his eyes and his lips puckered like a fish as his arms and legs flailed by his sides. I never laughed like that in my life.

  He finally stopped when I could barely breathe and grinned triumphantly at me.

  "Can I do that when I greet the queen?"

  "No... not ever...!"

  "Fine. Just for you, then."

  "Take this... seriously!"

  "I do take it seriously, Stella. But you looked like you needed a good laugh." His chest rose and fell as if he was slightly out of breath too. That crazy dance must have taken a lot out of him. "Feels good to laugh, doesn't it?"

  "Yes, it does." I smiled back at him, catching his eye for a moment before looking away Why did I feel so shy around him?