The Innocent (The Protege #2)

by Gow, Kailin

  “You can’t go wrong here,” he said. “You could close your eyes, point to any item on the menu and you’d be delighted with the meal served.”

  “Excuse me,” a handsome, dark-haired man said as he came up to the table. “Miss Singleton?”

  Serena looked at the man with a curious frown. “Yes. I’m sorry, but do I…?”

  “Forgive my intrusion. I am Prince Alandair… of Greece. A recent royal tour brought me to southern California… to a very exclusive club.” He looked knowingly at her.

  Staring blankly at him, she tried to understand their connection.

  Prince Alandair glanced at Sebastian and returned his interested gaze back to Serena. “It was my understanding that you were the exclusive property of Price Turnsby. At least that was the explicit message he gave us all the night of…”

  Serena shot out of her chair, eager to cut him off before he said more. “Price?”

  Dumbfounded, Sebastian looked up at them.

  “Off limits,” the prince went on. “Those were his exact words. If not, every man there would have…”

  “Prince Alandair,” Serena said as she put her hand to his forearm. “I must ask you about Price.” She looked at Sebastian and tried to ignore the look of consternation in his eyes. “I want to find out what he knows about Price. I’ll be right back.”

  She led Alandair to a quiet alcove with a bay windowed view of the Alps. “Excuse me, Prince Alandair…”

  “Please, call me Alan. After all, we are as close to intimacy as Price would allow.”

  “Alan, are you a friend of Mr. Turnsby?”

  “We had cocktails last night in Vienna. He seemed rather agitated… unhappy. He said he was there on business, but word has it he’s been to every nightclub and brothel in town.” He cocked his brow. “Interesting business indeed.”

  “Price is in Vienna?”

  “I wonder if his presence in Austria has anything to do with you... with another man.”

  “And you know me from…?”

  “Price knows my love of a good exhibitionist.” He looked down into her daring cleavage. “That night at his opening, you put on a show that still has me waking up in the middle of the night with my dick in my hand.”

  An unfamiliar chill ran up her back.

  “Had I known you weren’t seriously involved with Price, I definitely would have seized the opportunity to satisfy my hunger with your flesh instead of the memory of your wanton fuck.”

  “Prince… umm, Alan, that night is a faded memory to me, and I’d like to keep it that way. I’m here with a man I’d like very much to keep this portion of my life from. I beg you to be discreet about the spectacle you witnessed.”

  “I am not only a prince, but a gentleman. My lips are sealed.” He took a step closer and she smelled the alcohol on his breath.

  “I greatly appreciate it.”

  “Really?” His leering smile spoke of the lurid thoughts in his mind. “My discretion does not always come cheap.”

  “Are you blackmailing me?”

  “Of course not. Miss Singleton, I am a man of honor, a man who renders a favor and requests an honorable favor in return.”

  Serena swallowed. “What do you want?”

  His lust-filled eyes darkened. “A moment to touch your flesh,” he whispered.

  “That’s absurd. Impossible.”

  He turned and took a few steps to the table where Sebastian sat waiting.

  “Wait!” Serena hissed.

  A greedy grin cracked his face as he turned to her.

  “Just a touch?” she said.

  “That’s all I ask.”

  “Perhaps we can meet somewhere… later tonight.”

  He shook his head. “Behind the restaurant there is a stable… carriage rides for nubile romantics. Meet me there in two minutes.”

  Serena chewed her bottom lip as she considered his offer.

  “I would hate to have to ruin your evening with your gentleman friend,” he said.

  She nodded, and as he stepped out of the restaurant, she returned to Sebastian. “He has information about Price. I’ll be right back.” Quickly walking away before he could respond, Serena clenched her fists in frustration.

  At the door to the stable, she saw Alan. Even from a distance, his erection was clearly visible under his tight, black slacks.

  “Come over here. We’ll have a bit of privacy.” He led her to the shaded side of the stable and immediately pinned her to the wall.

  The force of his lean, but strong body surprised her. Though she tried to push him off, he maintained his hold against her.

  His hand dove into the top of her dress and quickly found a breast. He groaned his pleasure while his eyes rolled up in euphoria. “How many nights I’ve fantasized filling my hands with your generous tits.”

  He pulled the fabric of her dress down, exposing her nipple. After a moment of admiration, he brought his lips to her breasts and sucked while his fingers lifted the hem of her mini-dress and quickly delved into her panties.

  “You’re already wet and ready for me, you slut,” he muttered as he drove his fingers deep inside her.

  “Okay,” she said breathlessly. “That’s enough. You’ve had your touch. Let go.”

  He viciously grabbed her hand and set it atop his raging erection. “When it’s soft and flaccid from having fucked you to my satisfaction, it’ll be enough.”

  Before she could argue or negotiate further, Sebastian towered over the horny prince and pulled him off her.

  “Now, is enough,” he bellowed.

  Blind with lust, Alan tried to fight Sebastian off. “The horny slut wants it,” he said holding up his moistened finger.

  Sebastian responded with a punch that surely broke the prince’s aristocratic nose.

  Alan brought his hands to his nose. Surprised by the blood that poured into his hands, he looked at Sebastian then at Serena. “This isn’t the last you’ll hear from me.” Grimacing he walked away.

  Alone with Sebastian, Serena looked into his enraged eyes.

  “Who was that son of a bitch?”

  “He knows Price.”

  “Is that supposed to explain why he was out here treating you like a dime store whore?”

  Serena looked around her; the beautiful surroundings, the pleasant aromas from the restaurant, the sound of the birds chirping merrily. How could her life contain such beauty and yet be filled with such ugliness? “Because that’s what I am,” she finally said.

  “That’s where you're wrong. You are not a whore, and I’ll be damned if I’ll let any man treat you like one.”

  “No, Sebastian. You're the one who’s wrong. I am a whore, in the worst possible way.”

  “This is all part of Price’s brainwashing.”

  “This is all part of the only life I’ve ever known. Sebastian, sex is what I am. It’s who I am. It’s all I’ve ever known and all I’ve ever been. My life prior to sex is a vague memory of hunger and pain, and Price brought me out of that and initiated me to all the wonders of sex and the pleasuring of the body… mine and that of any man.”

  “You're putting too much importance on a man for whom you were simply another play thing.”

  Serena shook her head. “When I met him, he had others… submissives he’d grown tired of; submissives who weren’t quite as submissive as he wanted. I was innocent and naïve… and utterly compliant. He trained me… taught me everything I needed to know to please him, to please a man… to understand the subtle body language of any man, and please him. He enjoyed watching men salivate over me… he also wanted a return on his investment.”

  Sebastian cocked his head to the side.

  “Price charged men hundreds of dollars to fuck me while he watched. He also had me dance at his nightclubs…” She hesitated, unsure how much she wanted to reveal. “He named me Little White Lilly,” she finally said. “And everyone in Las Vegas knew my name.”

  His eyes narrowed in confusion then widened in horr
or as the full impact of her revelation smacked him. “You?”

  She nodded.

  He choked on his own saliva. “I wanted to fuck you the moment I saw you. I wanted you for my own.”

  “But when I came to audition for you…”

  At first his gaze narrowed in search of that obscure memory, then he bowed his head and stared at her feet as he swallowed.

  He did remembered an encounter he had last year while he was in Las Vegas producing a rock musical and an unforgettably intoxicating dancer by the name of Little White Lilly showed up, trying to audition for the musical. The musical was already fully cast, and he had to turn her down, shattering her dreams that night. Even then, he was drawn to Serena, not knowing she was the girl behind the disguise.

  He pulled her into his arms. “I was a stupid and impetuous man. No matter what your past, you are my princess, Serena.” Cupping her cheeks, he looked into her eyes. “If I have to spend the rest of my life showing you how I regret those words, I will.”

  Chapter 19

  “Let’s forget about dinner and just go home,” Sebastian suggested as he headed to the parking lot.

  Serena reached for his hand and turned him to the door of the restaurant. “Don’t be ridiculous. I’m not going to let a pig like him ruin our evening. I think he got the message loud and clear. He won’t be bothering us again. Besides, I want that fabulous meal you promised me.”

  Before reaching the door, he pulled her to a stop and looked at her. “This man violated you, Serena. You want me to just forget about that?”

  “It’s not the first time a man has attempted to touch me, Sebastian. I’m a big girl. I’ve dealt with men like this in the past. Let’s not turn it into something more than it was.”

  “He didn’t just attempt to touch you, he…”

  “He’s a misinformed idiot who thought his royalty status allowed him to touch whoever he wanted and he’s learned an important lesson. The whole episode doesn’t deserve another moment’s thought. Let’s put it behind us and start the evening all over again.” She opened the door and looked pointedly at Sebastian. “I’m hungry.”

  Though he smiled, his eyes remained filled with concerns and questions. She knew the questions he had about Price and the prince’s relation to him. With forceful decisiveness, she entered the restaurant and returned to their table. “This is such a lovely restaurant and it smells so good. I love the décor. It’s absolutely charming and cozy. Did you see the magnificent flowers in the vase at the entrance? And look at the fabulous artwork. I wonder if that’s a real Van Gogh.” She rambled on and on, hoping to erase their encounter with the prince and his concerns about Price.

  For the next hour, her strategy worked. They chatted about music and art and politics and world travel. It was an enchanting hour of just looking into his eyes and enjoying his company. When they’d touched on all the big topics, they chatted about nothing in particular, commented on their excellent meal and looked into each other’s eyes with increased longing. However, just as their flaming desert was brought to their table, Sebastian’s phone rang.

  “The reception in here is going to be crap,” he said as he stood. “I’ll go take it outside.”

  Serena stared at her flaming dessert a moment.

  “Don’t wait for me. Go ahead and enjoy. I’ll be back in a minute.”

  “Don’t take too long. If this thing is a delicious as it looks, I might just dive into yours as well.”

  With a gentle pat on the shoulder, he winked and smiled.

  Enthralled by her lovely dessert, Serena nodded as he left the table. She barely had the time to take two bites when he returned and put his hand to her shoulder.

  “We have to leave,” he said calmly.

  Her mouth full, she looked up at him. “Now?”

  Grimfaced, he nodded.

  “Why?” She shoveled another mouthful of dessert into her mouth. It was to die for dessert she couldn’t let go to waste.

  “Price.”

  She almost choked as she let her fork fall to her plate.

  “He’s figured out where you are and he’s on his way.” He took her by the elbow and stood her up.

  “That’s impossible. My God, he was in California when I left him. He can’t possibly have…” Fear choked her as she realized the gravity of the situation. So Prince Alan had seen Price in Austria last night, and Price had made his way into Switzerland already. Price had an uncontrollable jealous streak when he was wronged. He’d punished her for her last mishap when she’d first met Sebastian.

  It was a lesson that had been difficult to heal from. Though the outside world saw nothing of the scars he’d left on her skin, she had spent weeks tending to the cuts with ointments and bandages. She didn’t even want to think of the punishment she’d face if he brought her home again.

  “Thank you for the wonderful meal and generous hospitality.” Sebastian shoved a few large bills into the hand of the passing waiter and whispered a few more words before escorting Serena out.

  As they hurried to the car, Serena tried to make sense of it all. “Could you be mistaken?

  He opened the car door for her and held her steady gaze as she got in. “I wish I was. Unfortunately no. He found out where you are and he’s coming to get you.”

  “How could he…? How do you know for certain that it’s true?”

  Sebastian closed the door behind her and hurried to the driver’s seat. Starting the car, he cleared his throat and hesitated. “I have a security team from Donovan Dynamics,” he finally said.

  “You what?” Startled she stared at him as he pulled out of the parking lot. “Do you really feel that’s necessary?”

  “He’s not the kind of man you can underestimate.”

  She knew he was right. Price could go to extreme lengths to get what he wanted.

  “I had to make sure he didn’t find you, Serena. I knew what I was up against when I took you away from him. I wanted us to have a pleasant and peaceful time away from everything… particularly Price. I knew he’d come looking for you. I just didn’t count on him finding you so quickly. My security team did a great job of misleading him. They had him following a trail in Austria up until a little while ago.”

  Staring straight ahead, Serena thought of the prince. “Do you think…?”

  Sebastian put his hand over hers and nodded. “That horny bastard probably called Price the very second he spotted you. He probably brought you out to the stable to make sure you didn’t leave before Price arrived.”

  Serena turned to look at Sebastian when he took the road in the opposite direction of the chalet. “Where are you taking me?”

  “We have to go back to the hangar. We’ll take the jet out of here. I’m not sure where we’ll go yet, but I want to take off as soon as we can.”

  “What about my composition? I don’t want to leave it behind. Sebastian, I worked so hard on that piece. Can’t we just take a minute to pass by and pick it up?”

  “I don’t think that’s a good idea. Look, don’t worry about it. I’ll have someone pick it up and send it to me once we settle in somewhere. How do you like the cold? Maybe a few weeks in Scandinavia would be nice.”

  “Sebastian, I don’t even have my passport. Everything is at the chalet. I didn’t even bring my purse with me tonight.”

  Biting his lip, he considered her words a moment then spun the car around. “Okay, we’ll go get a few things, but we have to make it quick.”

  The lovely Swiss countryside sped by in a blur as Sebastian took to the road as quickly as the narrow winding by-ways allowed. When he reached the private road that lead to his chalet, he increased the speed, sending dust and pebbles into the air. Moments later, he slammed on the brakes as he pulled up in front of the chalet. He hurried out of the car without even killing the motor.

  “Make it quick. We probably have only a few minutes ahead of him. Grab your passport, and I’ll get your music.”

  Though she couldn’t fathom how Pri
ce could find them so quickly, Serena hurried to the bedroom while Sebastian went to the music room to get her cherished sheets of music.

  For a moment she was struck by the speed with which her dream escape with Sebastian had turned into a nightmare. The past weeks had been perfect in so many ways and she felt robbed of the opportunity to continue living in such bliss.

  Setting aside her anger and frustration, she grabbed her passport from the top dresser drawer, pulled her purse out of the closet and shoved the passport in her purse and hurried back down the stairs.

  “Going somewhere?” The sure and suave voice was like a pickax in the warm and cozy chalet.

  Serena came to a sudden stop and almost fell over herself as she came face to face with Price. A smug smirk on his face as he looked at her with bland interest that was even colder than the anger she knew he harbored behind his cool blue eyes. Towering over him, a massive bulk of a man stood with an angry scowl on his menacing face as he repeatedly cracked his bone crushing knuckles.

  “You seem surprised to see me,” Price said in a calm voice of utter patience and control. A brief flash of warmth and concern crossed his gaze, but they quickly turned icy cold.

  “Price…” Words failed her as she stared at him in disbelief.

  “You know,” he said as he slowly took off his leather driving gloves. Finger by finger, he picked off the leather then slapped both gloves into his open palm. “I was a little surprised when you didn’t show up that afternoon. I mean, here I am, playing fair, trusting you. I allowed you to go back to school despite the fact you’d shown me you couldn’t be trusted. See, I wanted to trust you. I wanted to please you. And all you did was spit in my face.”

  She continued to stare at him. The past weeks of freedom crumbled to the ground and dissolved into nothing.

  “What happened the first time you got involved with Sebastian Sorensen?”

  Shaking her head, she glanced at his large bodyguard’s fist.

  “After all, I had given you a very clear warning, didn’t I?”

  Her heart pounded its way up her throat. The pain of his last punishment returned to crawl over her skin.

  “What did I say would happen to you if you had another mishap, Serena?”