Or self-important snobs.
Charlotte flashed a viper’s grin. “I admire your ambition. Truly. After all, don’t all girls dream of being princesses?” She paused and gave a delicate shrug. “Under different circumstances, we might even be friends.”
Like hell.
“I very much doubt that.” Lena preferred not to surround herself with people likely to stab her in the back with a designer stiletto.
“Did you ever have a dream?” Charlotte continued, unfazed by Lena’s comment. “An important one you worked toward your whole life? One that meant everything to you?” She looked down her pert nose at Lena, as if she didn’t believe for a second that a poor girl from New York could possibly have dreams as lofty or meaningful as her own. “I’ve dreamed of marrying Prince William since I was a little girl, and I will not let some American trollop come between me and my crown. I will do whatever it takes to become queen. Do you understand?”
Lena clenched her fists. “Oh, I understand perfectly. You think you can come into my shop and intimidate me with your fancy clothes and your perfect hair and your inbred noble ancestry.” Anger stirred in Lena’s belly and she could feel her temper rising like the temperature gauge on the kiln. Who the hell did this woman think she was, coming at her like this in her own studio? And the way she talked about Liam? Like he was a trophy to be won and not an actual person? Oh, hell no. “You can sit around dreaming about crowns for another thirty years for all I care, but it won’t do any good, because unlike you, Liam doesn’t give a damn about some outdated notion of pedigree.”
“Is that what he said?” Charlotte’s nostrils flared and her eyes flashed with something akin to outrage, but she quickly smoothed her face back to bored disinterest. “Well, men say a lot of things, don’t they? It’s what they actually do that matters.”
“I couldn’t agree more.” Lena lifted her chin. “Which is why I’m certain that even if things between Liam and I don’t work out, he’d never choose a conniving viper like you.”
Charlotte’s jaw dropped, proving she wasn’t accustomed to her victims striking back. “You’re deluding yourself if you think you have any chance at a future with Prince William. He’s going to be king of Valeria. He needs a queen by his side, not some commoner from America with dirt under her nails and a pencil in her hair,” Charlotte said, looking pointedly at Lena. “Their Majesties would never allow it. The people would never accept it.” She straightened her spine. “Enjoy your little fantasy while it lasts, Elena, because I can assure you your reign will be a short one. If you don’t believe me, just ask him.”
“Feel free to show yourself out,” Lena said, jerking her chin toward the door. “I’d say it’s been a pleasure, but I’m not in the habit of telling lies.”
The other woman smoothed her jacket and turned to leave. Lena watched her retreat, determined not to let Charlotte’s ugly words get in her head. So what if she and Liam came from different worlds? He didn’t care that she wreaked havoc wherever she went, and he’d embraced her friends and family as if they were his own, even managing to sweet talk Tía Rosa out of her pernil recipe, though she swore the palace chefs would never get it right.
And unlike Charlotte, Lena didn’t give a damn about his royal titles. It was the man behind the crown that captivated her with his wit and charm and irritating need to outdo her at every turn. They were good together, and she wasn’t going to let some spoiled blue-blood princess wannabe come between them. Not when things were going so well. She’d seen this scenario played out in a hundred books and movies. It didn’t matter if it was interfering parents or jealous exes or conniving royal hopefuls, in the end, love conquered all.
Not that she was in love with Liam. Or dreaming of being a princess. She was just—
Lena froze as the realization hit her right in the feels.
Ay bendito.
She was falling head over heels for the charming crown prince, and only one thing was certain—she was royally screwed.
…
The door to the suite clicked open, and Liam closed his laptop. He’d been trying to tie up some loose ends while he waited for Elena, but his heart wasn’t in it. It was rare he had difficulty focusing on his duties, but when it came to Elena, all bets were off. He was too distracted by the prospect of her company, of another quiet night with the only woman who’d managed to slip past his defenses or taken more than a superficial interest in the man behind the crown. The only woman he needed in his life.
He stood and poured two glasses of merlot from the open bottle of wine on the bar as Ethan carried her bag to the bedroom. Elena wore a simple white sundress, but she looked radiant, her skin glowing and her dark hair tumbling over her bare shoulders in waves. Without a word, she approached the bar and took the wineglass he offered. Then she raised it to her lips and took a long sip, nearly draining it before setting it back down.
“Hello, love.” He cupped her cheek and lowered his mouth to hers, twisting his fingers in her hair as the citrusy scent of her shampoo washed over him. Her mouth moved hungrily over his as she deepened the kiss, and he could taste the wine on her lips as her tongue slid against his own with quick, sure strokes.
Bloody hell.
The woman was going to kill him. And still, he couldn’t seem to get enough of her. If that wasn’t a sign he was in deep, he didn’t know what was. Her presence alone was enough to rouse his cock, but when her tongue was in his mouth and she pressed her tits against him like that?
Instant hard-on.
Elena slipped her hands under his jacket and then her nails were cutting a path down his back. He was so damn hard, it was a wonder there was any blood left circulating to his brain. It had been too long since he’d buried himself between her thighs, and he needed to feel her pussy welcome him home.
The door to the suite opened and closed, and he knew without looking that Ethan had joined Jack in the hall, giving them more privacy.
“Room service won’t be here for a while,” he said, kissing his way across her chin and down her throat. “What do you say we get started with a pre-supper orgasm?”
“Is that even a question?” She tipped her head back to give him better access as he slipped the strap of her dress down and trailed open-mouthed kisses over her shoulder. She was burning up, her skin hot to the touch. “In case you’ve forgotten, I expect it to be the first of many. Twenty-four, to be exact.”
“Oh, I haven’t forgotten,” he said, leading her toward the couch. “In fact, I’ve spent the last hour and a half fantasizing about all the ways I can make you come on my cock.”
“Sounds very productive,” she teased, stripping off his jacket and loosening his tie.
“Quite the opposite actually, since I have several pieces of legislation to review.” He gestured for Elena to turn around and she complied, lifting the hair from her neck and draping it over her shoulder. He reached for her zipper, pulling it down slowly, inch by painstaking inch to—
Bloody hell.
She was naked beneath the little white dress.
Her shoulders shook, and he was certain the little vixen was laughing.
“See something you like?” she asked, turning her head to look over her shoulder at him. She looked up at him from under her lashes, eyes wide and innocent.
“You’re not wearing any panties,” he ground out, lowering the zipper the rest of the way.
“It seemed pointless.” Lena gave a little shimmy and the dress dropped to the floor, leaving her naked before him.
“You are so fucking sexy.” He skimmed his hands over her shoulders and down the long line of her back before he cupped her ass, squeezing with both hands. She really did have the perfect ass.
“And you’re overdressed.” She leaned into his touch so her back was flush with his chest. Liam pressed his cock to the slit of her ass—the thin fabric of his trousers the only thing sep
arating them—and rolled his hips as he stroked her pussy. Once. Twice. Three times.
Christ, she was wet.
He plunged a finger inside her hot, slick channel, his balls going so tight he knew the slightest touch would probably bring him to orgasm. He needed to get inside his woman right fucking now.
He withdrew his hand and spun her around, capturing her mouth with his as he went to work on his belt buckle. “I want to watch you ride my cock, love. I’ve been thinking about it all afternoon.”
Elena nodded and hurriedly began to unbutton his shirt as he dropped his pants, freeing his cock. When she finished with the last button, she pushed him back onto the couch and climbed astride, one knee straddled on either side of his hips, her perky breasts on full display.
Liam took one of the rosy buds in his mouth, sucking as she arched into his touch, a quiet whimper escaping her lips.
“That feels…que rico.”
“God, I’ve missed you,” he said, moving to the other nipple and rolling it between his teeth as he teased her with the tip of his tongue. She whimpered again, and he knew she was as desperate for him as he was for her. The pressure at the base of his spine was nearly unbearable, but he wasn’t going to rush it. There was something he needed to do first. “I’ve missed this, too,” he said, lifting her up on her knees so he could lick her soft pink folds. Elena moaned in earnest, her hips rocking forward to increase the pressure on her clit as he swirled his tongue around the little bundle of nerves. It was as close to heaven as he’d ever get, and he fully intended to enjoy the moment.
Only Elena had other ideas.
She took his cock in her hand and lowered herself onto it, seating him to the hilt in one swift motion.
“Fuuuck.”
Liam closed his eyes and let his head fall back against the couch. She felt unbelievably good, her hot tight pussy gripping him so hard he was afraid to move for fear of coming. As he counted to ten, Elena began to move. She rocked her hips slowly at first, slipping a hand behind his head and grasping him by the hair. With a gentle tug, she forced him to look up at her, and once he did, he couldn’t believe he’d closed his eyes for even a second.
Nothing could compare to the sight of Elena riding him like this, her full breasts bouncing with each roll of her hips. He watched as his cock slid into her over and over, filling her completely with each thrust.
Shit. They’d forgotten the bloody rubber. What the hell had he been thinking? He’d never forgotten before. Wearing a condom was rule number one when it came to sex. The palace didn’t look kindly on illegitimate love children or STDs.
He gripped Elena’s hips, holding her in place. “Condom.”
She froze, a look of panic on her face. “Mierda. I wasn’t thinking. I can’t believe I did that. I’m on the pill. And I’m clean. I got tested, so—”
The tightness in Liam’s chest eased. “It’s all right,” he said, stroking her back in an attempt to ease the tension. “It’s just as much my responsibility. I’ve never forgotten before,” he admitted, still unable to believe he’d fucked up so royally. “I suppose I got a little carried away.”
She chewed her bottom lip. “Should I stop?”
Liam considered. He trusted Elena, and the feeling of being inside her skin to skin was like nothing he’d ever experienced before. The truth was, he was tired of putting his duty before his own desires and just this once he wanted to come inside of her and damn all the rest. “Only if you want to.”
She nodded and lowered her mouth to his, kissing him softly. Her lips brushed over his and she began to move again, her hips rocking gently like a sailboat on open water. It was slow and sensual and even as they spiraled toward orgasm together, he could feel the shift in their relationship.
For the first time in his life, Liam wasn’t fucking. He was making love. To Elena.
And that changed everything.
Chapter Twenty-One
Lena lay wrapped in Liam’s warm embrace, not caring that at any moment Jack or Ethan could enter the suite and catch a glimpse of her bare ass. They’d probably knock first, right? Didn’t matter. Being this close to Liam, soaking up his warmth, the weight of his strong arms anchoring her body to his, was worth the risk.
It was total bliss.
She might even be willing to sacrifice the other twenty-three orgasms he owed her if it meant they could stay like this a little longer. Something had changed between them tonight, although she couldn’t quite put her finger on it. Liam’s decision to proceed without a condom was, well, monumental.
It implied trust, sure, but she was certain it meant something more.
They needed to talk about it. To talk about what came next. They couldn’t avoid the subject forever, though they’d damn sure tried. Unfortunately, the knowledge didn’t make it any easier to find the words. They’d moved beyond the fake girlfriend arrangement, but to what?
She knew he cared about her. He’d said as much. And she was crazy about him, her heart full to bursting with lo—lust and adoration, but where did they go from here?
Liam traced the outline of her shoulder and she shivered, her nerves still wrung out from the orgasm he’d given her minutes before. When he kissed her, his lips caressing the curve of her neck, she forgot all about titles and futures and—
Knock! Knock!
Liam sighed. “That’s probably our dinner.”
Lena laughed and rolled over to plant a quick kiss on his lips. “You should get that. You’re going to need your strength if you have any hope of delivering on your promise.”
Liam slapped her ass playfully. “I hope you’re not questioning my stamina.”
“Every royal has his limits,” she said, patting his muscled chest. Then she hopped off the couch and scooped up her dress, sashaying to the bedroom and knowing damn well he was watching her ass every step of the way.
She cleaned up in the bathroom and traded her dress for a shirt she found hanging on a robe hook. Liam must’ve forgotten to put it in the dry cleaning bag. Or maybe housekeeping did that sort of thing for him. Like every other area of his life, the bathroom was neat and orderly. She scanned the vanity for something to tie her hair back but came up empty.
Maybe she’d find something in the bedroom. There was a small antique desk tucked in the corner, and though it had the same fastidious look of the bathroom, there was a briefcase on the chair, suggesting Liam sometimes worked from the hotel.
The top of the desk was clear, just a simple white lamp and phone, but she figured there might be a pencil or something in the drawer. She pulled it open and sure enough, a pencil embossed with the name of the hotel rolled to the front of the drawer. Lena grabbed it and as she was about close the drawer, she noticed a thick black file labeled Royal Prospects.
Royal prospects?
A photograph had slipped out of the folder when she’d opened the drawer. Just the corner, but it was enough that she could see a perfectly coiffed platinum blonde updo.
Lena’s pulse quickened, and she tried to tell herself it didn’t matter. Whatever was in that file, it was none of her business. Liam would tell her if it were something she needed to know about, and she would not violate his trust by snooping through his things.
It would be wrong.
That wasn’t the kind of person she wanted to be. She wasn’t the jealous type. She didn’t cyberstalk the men she dated or paw through their personal belongings when they weren’t around.
But she couldn’t ignore the sinking feeling in her belly. Or the way her heart was slamming against her ribcage. Or the fact that she’d seen that same shade of impossibly blonde hair just hours ago.
She had to know what was in that file. Just one little peek to set her mind at ease.
With the tip of her finger, Lena flipped the folder open.
Charlotte Dupont’s smiling face stared back at her. Lena’
s instincts had been right. She picked up the picture and put it to the side, doing her best not to dwell on the fact that everything about Charlotte screamed perfection, from her shiny blonde hair and demure smile to her freaking name.
Lady Dupont probably even had a cute little nickname like Lotte.
Lena scanned the sheaf of papers under the photograph. It was a biography of Charlotte’s life and the damn thing read like a résumé, all her accomplishments and accolades listed with handwritten notes scrawled in the margin. She didn’t read most of them. She didn’t need to. There was one note at the top of the page that stood out from the rest: ideal match.
Tears stinging her eyes, Lena flipped through the rest of the file. There were photos and biographies for a dozen beautiful, accomplished women in the file, and she’d be a fool not to understand the meaning. After all, hadn’t Charlotte warned her?
Liam needed a queen who was his equal, not a walking PR nightmare.
With shaking hands, Lena slapped the file shut and closed the drawer.
How could she have been so stupid? So naïve? All this time, while they’d been pretending to date—while they’d been sleeping together—he’d been searching for a suitable fiancé.
One who wouldn’t humiliate him at every turn.
Her stomach pitched at the realization. She needed to talk to Liam. To hear the words from his own lips. Maybe there was an explanation she hadn’t considered.
It had to be some kind of misunderstanding.
Clinging to that desperate hope, Lena reached for the bedroom door and froze when she heard Fin’s voice.
“Charlotte Dupont arrived in the city today,” Fin said, speaking in hushed tones. Lena stepped back from the door, keeping her body in the shadows. The door was partially open and through the crack she could see Liam standing in just his trousers, his chest bare. Fin stood opposite him, red-faced and flustered.
“What the fuck is Lotte doing here?”
Freaking Lotte. She’d been right.
“I have no idea.” Fin issued a harassed sigh. “But I highly doubt it’s a coincidence.”
A Royal Disaster Page 23