by Tee, Marian
“Don’t you believe they deserve another chance?”
“I do, but that’s not what I’m asking.” She bit her lip. “I meant...why does it have to be you?”
He said simply, “Because I’m the Prince of Darkness.”
Ah.
She touched her chest, feeling like her heart was starting to give up on the pain it was trying to absorb from the prince. And the funny thing was, she thought dazedly, he didn’t even seem to realize just how much all this was hurting him.
“T-the woman I saw,” she heard herself say. “Who did that to her?”
The prince stilled. He had expected her to assume he was behind the woman’s injuries...but she had not.
Why?
He wanted to ask. Wanted to demand. Wanted to force her to see that there could only be one reason why she did not suspect him.
But he could not.
Because if he did – it would mean forcing himself to listen to something he didn’t want to hear either.
“Her name is Beatrice Crichton,” the prince said finally. “She’s a special case, someone I took in as a favor. She’s actually the stepmother of my friends, Nick and Jason Christakos.” He paused. “She’s a star witness in a lawsuit filed by the twins.” He told her about how the shipping tycoon Abraxas Davos had almost succeeded in killing Beatrice to silence her and how, to ensure she remained safe, he had volunteered to shelter Beatrice until it was time for the former Mrs. Christakos to take the witness stand.
“Her ordeal’s left her mentally unstable, but the doctors believe there’s still a way to save her.” As the prince finished revealing the entire story to Fawn, it was then he realized just how much he trusted her.
It had him sucking in his breath, and again the prince felt his world tipping further to the side. And just like before it was because of Fawn – always because of her – that his whole world kept spinning off tangent.
“T-thank you for telling me the truth.” Her light brown eyes stared straight at him as she said with quiet conviction, “I’ll guard your secrets with my life.”
He would have smiled if he didn’t know that with the life he led, that could very well be possible, and the thought made his jaw clench.
Sensing the prince’s sudden grimness, Fawn chewed on her lip as she felt a helpless urge to comfort him. She didn’t want to pretend that she understood why he was doing what he did, because she didn’t. What she did understand was that he was her friend...and if there could be a way to make him feel better—-
She would do it.
“I, umm, remember your friends,” Fawn mumbled. She had seen the twins several times attending the prince’s parties, and it was common knowledge that the three men, along with a few other select individuals, made up what the media liked to call as the BBFs, which stood for Boys with Billion-dollar trust Funds.
The prince inclined his head to the side, murmuring, “Is that so?”
“They’re the good-looking ones with startlingly blue eyes, right?” It was Fawn’s hope that he would be happy she finally had something nice to say about his guests.
Her hope, however, had the opposite effect.
The prince said icily, “I’m pleased to know you’ve enough free time while at work to notice the color of their eyes.” She could have said it was just...blue. The prince’s lips tightened as he realized how absurd he was being.
He asked abruptly, “Any other questions?”
She shook her head.
He shook his head back at her.
Fawn blinked.
“It’s quite admirable,” he drawled, “the way you think you can lie without me knowing it.”
Oh.
“Just say what you want, parthena mou.”
She said in a small voice, “But you might not want to hear it.”
“Do I look like the type to break if I hear something I dislike?”
Somehow, the prince’s derisive tone made her smile awkwardly. “No. I don’t think you’re easy to break.” And she didn’t.
Only an extraordinarily strong man could do all these things he was doing—-and keep doing it, even if he didn’t have to.
Inhaling deeply, she said haltingly, “It’s just...I wanted to know. Did you have to be the one to keep her safe? Aren’t you unnecessarily endangering yourself?”
The prince’s face remained impassive. “And your point is?”
“It’s just...it’s just like what you’re doing with those girls, saving them, taking it on yourself to teach them. It’s like – it’s like you’re punishing yourself.”
Her searching gaze met his, and he sucked in his breath, feeling like she could see through his soul.
“Why do you feel the need to punish yourself?”
“I’m not.”
“I guess that makes the two of us.” Her lips twisted in a smile that made it seem like she was hurting...for him. “I can tell when you’re lying, too.”
“STAY HERE.”
“No, and stop treating me like a puppy you can order around.” She lifted her chin stubbornly. Another month had passed since she had learned of Beatrice Crichton’s existence, and today Jason Christakos had come for a visit. While she was certain the Greek scion was a good man, she also believed that the prince had succeeded too well in making everyone think all these crusades he had selflessly taken on did not have a toll on him.
But it did.
And it hurt, she was sure it was hurting the prince, even if there were no wounds to show.
“You won’t change my mind, prince.” She didn’t care if this made her nosy or she would end up doing something that could make the prince and his friend mad. If she felt like the prince was about to take another unnecessary risk, she was going to—-she was going to do something she wasn’t yet sure of, but whatever it was, it would stop them from proceeding.
“I don’t want you to. Just mind your own business.” When the prince moved towards the door to leave the study, she hurriedly blocked his way and spread her arms wide. “No! Stay!”
The prince rolled his eyes. “Similarly, please refrain from treating me like a child you can boss around.” His eyes bored through hers. “Boss around being the operative term.”
Fawn gulped, the prince’s words reminding her she had almost three thousand dollars’ worth of reasons to do what he asked.
But——
“Y-you d-don’t scare me.”
The prince gazed at her with interest. “And why is that?”
“Because you said y-you like me.”
She could feel herself turning red at her words, and the only thing that kept her from drowning in a pool of embarrassment was the fact that in front of her, a similar shade had also stained the prince’s high-boned cheeks.
Oh thank God, he still liked her!
These days, she couldn’t really tell anymore. After the incident with Beatrice Crichton, the prince had been very, very gentlemanly towards her.
But the rest of his life was exactly the same.
The parties had also continued, and she still saw him entering his bedroom with other women.
Which didn’t hurt, she told himself. She had Grant, and that was the really good thing about her life now. Grant had been attentive to her again, calling and texting her every day, and spending every moment of his free time with her.
So life was good, and she would never have brought up that...thing...if only the prince’s emotional and mental health wasn’t at stake.
Forcing herself to meet the prince’s narrowed gaze, she continued shakily, “So you won’t fire me—-”
The prince looked like he wanted to kill her now.
Fawn finished in a rush, “Because if you do, you would m-miss me. So...there!” She stole a look at the prince, and it was still the same. He definitely wanted to kill her.
Finally, the prince said, “You can be so remarkably tactless, parthena mou.” He shook his head. “Just like that time when you actually spoke of the length of your fiancé’s co
ck—-”
Her horrified gasp cut him off.
“I did not say anything about that!”
He rolled his eyes. “Oh, please. You need not—-”
She shook her head vehemently. “I would never—-” She couldn’t speak. Apparently, when one blushed really hard, vocal chords were affected as well. She glared at the prince, unable to believe that he could make up such stories.
The prince frowned. “How can you deny it?”
“Because I didn’t,” she hissed.
“You said, and I quote—-” His lip curled again. “Yes, he is big. I asked you if he was bigger than me—-”
Her eyes widened. “Oh.” She finally remembered the conversation the prince was talking about. She started to laugh. “Oh, prince.” Shaking her head, she bubbled, “I w-was t-talking about G-Grant being so big—-”
He scowled. Dammit, here it was again.
“—-on waiting,” she finished and promptly giggled again.
The prince stared at her. “I beg your pardon?”
She nodded, still giggling. “It’s exactly what you heard. All I m-meant that time was that you and the girl were so fast, while it’s different between Grant and me.” She hesitated before saying reluctantly, “We’ve never, you know. And I haven’t ever seen his, you know. That’s why I was I was saying, compared to you he was bigger—-”
Now understanding what that meant, the prince winced.
Fawn was fascinated. “Wow. You’re actually blu—-”
“Finish that sentence,” he snapped, “and you’re fired.”
“Blu...”
Oh my God, what other word could start with ‘blu’?
Blu...rry? Blu...dgeon?
“Bluch,” she finished. “You’re actually bluch.”
The prince stared at her. “What the hell does that mean?”
“It’s, umm, German, for humble. I was so surprised that you could actually be so bluch – which means humble, did I mention that? Anyway, it’s amazing that you could be so humble to think Grant could be even bigger—-” Then she realized what she was saying and it was her turn to blush as she finished lamely, “—-than you.”
The prince didn’t even bother dignifying it with an answer and turned away.
Her giggles died. Oh no. Had she wounded his ego?
The prince slowly rubbed his jaw in an effort to keep everything under control. But it was impossible. And since Fawn couldn’t see him anyway—-
He allowed himself to smile.
Grant had not been able to touch her yet.
She was still a virgin.
Not that it would have mattered that she wasn’t. He had thought that, but he had still wanted her. But now that he knew she was untouched—-
It was going to stay that way.
Her virginity was his.
He turned back to her. “I’ve decided.”
Wary at the way his eyes were gleaming, she said faintly, “O-oh?”
“If you really care...”
“I do...”
The prince’s tone became deceptively casual. “Then I want something in return.”
And there it was.
“Like what?” she asked, even more suspicious now.
He crooked a finger at her.
She shook her head.
“You have to come close.”
“But you might try kissing me—-”
“Even if I do,” he said with a shrug, “you can always stop me, can’t you?”
“Prince!”
A low chuckle escaped him. “Just teasing you, parthena mou.” His gaze captured hers. “I promise you. I won’t try to kiss you in any way, and I won’t make you kiss me.”
Feeling like she was about to willingly throw herself under a bus, Fawn forced her limbs to work and made her way to the prince. She stopped when she was a few inches before him, and once again his intoxicating scent, so very male, teased and tempted her, making Fawn grit her teeth.
Grant. Grant. Grant.
She had to think about Grant and not let the prince’s animal magnetism get to her. She had seriously researched about this, and she had come to the conclusion that men like the Prince of Darkness were just too beautiful that it was natural for the female body to respond in their presence. It didn’t mean she loved Grant less. It only meant her hormones were working fine—-
“Fawn.”
Her head jerked up, her entire body trembling at the rare sound of her name slipping past the prince’s lips.
“All I want you to do is...”
Her heart skipped a beat at the way the prince’s green gaze burned with all those things that she had seen before and pretended not to know.
“For you to touch my lips.”
For one moment, she could only stare at him, unable to believe what she was hearing. When the prince continued to stare at her, his gaze patient, she croaked out, “E-excuse me?”
“You heard me,” was the prince’s lazy answer.
“You want me to touch your lips?”
“As promised, it’s not a kiss.”
“But—-”
“Is it too much to ask?” He stepped away. “Because if it is, then it’s time for me to go, alone, which I had wanted to do so in the first place.” He started to turn away.
“Wait!”
The prince stilled.
“I’m g-going to do it.” She had barely finished speaking when the prince swung to face her again, so swiftly it had Fawn nervously sucking in her breath.
Oh my God, I can’t believe I’m doing this. Grant, forgive me, but at least it’s just something simple. It’s not a kiss. It’s just—-
She raised her trembling fingers, pausing mid-air.
Oh God, she couldn’t breathe.
Slowly, she moved her fingers, and then she was feeling it, the soft firmness of the prince’s lips. She was about to yank her hand away when she saw the way he was looking at her—-
Oh God, the way he was looking at her—-
Unable to stop herself, Fawn slowly and shakily traced the curve of his upper lip.
She wetted her own lips.
And so did he, only—-
With her still touching him, his tongue inevitably grazed the tips of her fingers—-
“No!” She reared back from him with a gasp, jerking her hand away from his lips like she got burned. And oh God, it did feel like he had burned her, with that impossibly warm sensation of his tongue touching her fingers—-
“You’ve kept your promise, and so I’ll keep mine.” The prince’s voice was still steady, but the look in his eyes belied it.
He was still looking at her like he wanted to eat her.
Why didn’t that revolt her the way Grant had?
Why?
The prince asked quietly, “Do you still wish to accompany me?”
His question...
Oh.
He had planned this all along, Fawn realized. He had asked her to do that, had deliberately done that to her, knowing that it could force her to push him away.
Well, he would learn not to underestimate her.
IT HAD BEEN FAWN’S plan to at least pretend she was mad with the prince throughout the entire meeting, but as soon as she joined the two men in the patio, her intentions were all but forgotten and she once again found herself worrying about the prince.
As the two continued to talk about Beatrice Crichton’s tormentor, it was becoming increasingly clear to her that the man they were up against was a vicious psychopath who thrived on inflicting pain. His billions and cunning might have enabled Abraxas Davos to conceal this side of him, but a spade was still a spade and once a psychopath, always a psychopath.
At one point, she noticed Jason Christakos glance at her curiously, and Fawn wished she could melt into the wall to escape his notice.
Oh, if only she wasn’t so worried about the prince!
She heard the prince murmur something in Greek, which had his friend raising a brow.
Fawn wonde
red uneasily what the prince had said. Hopefully it was nothing embarrassing.
Eventually, the conversation turned to Jason’s twin and his fiancée, which Fawn did her best not to look like she was eavesdropping on. When it became obvious that Jason had feelings for his twin’s fiancée but said woman had rejected him, Fawn quickly trained her gaze on the floor.
This. Was. So. Awkward.
She wondered if this was one of the reasons why the prince hadn’t wanted her to come.
When the meeting was over, she trailed behind the two friends as the prince walked Jason Christakos to the door.
All of a sudden, the blue-eyed Greek stopped walking and turned to her.
The prince said warningly, “Jason.”
“Give this man hell, will you?” he asked with a wicked smile. “It pisses me off that the Prince of Darkness’s the one giving me love advice when he iss who he is.”
“Umm...”
“Goddammit, Christakos.”
Fawn’s eyes widened. She knew the prince swore, of course, but he had never done so in such a manner in her presence.
“Also, make him wait. Make him suffer. And—-”
She said uncomfortably, “That’s not possible—-”
This time, the prince’s warning gaze moved to her.
“Why not?” Jason asked.
“Because I’m already engaged. To someone else.”
Jason was visibly stunned. “I see.” He glanced at his friend. “Well. Damn.” Switching to Greek, he said incredulously, “And you dare give me advice about Lilac.”
“Because my situation is different from yours.”
“In what way?”
“You love Lilac.” The prince looked at Fawn and said grimly, “I don’t love her.”
Jason looked at him for a moment and then slowly shook his head. “Bullshit.”
“You can believe what you want to believe,” the prince answered evenly.
“Does she at least know you don’t love her?”
“She doesn’t care to know.” The prince’s lips twisted. “She’s in love with her fiancé.”
“Well, fuck.” After a moment, Jason said it again, but this time he was smirking. “I didn’t see that coming.”
“See what coming?”