Page 11 of Promised to the Alpha Prince

I shuddered at the thought, my body breaking out in gooseflesh, my nipples hardening into tight little points on my chest.

And Nikolai caught my gaze and soothed it all out of me with one look of his dark violet eyes. I didn’t know quite how he did that, but it was relieving. I was grateful.

We ate, mostly in silence.

After dinner, they walked me to my room, a huge and lavish room in this hotel. It had several rooms, including a full kitchen, and it was decorated in silks and tassels and other touches that made me feel as if I were back in time in some world of glitz and glamor.

Johannes lingered, going over what we would do the next day. Breakfast, then back to the car, and then the final two hours of the drive. We’d arrive at Karnig Castle with just enough time to get ready for a formal luncheon with the King of Valhn and the other nobles. It was to be given in my honor. I’d see Prince Dmitri then.

He went through it once and then again, and I let him talk about it. I could tell he didn’t want to leave me.

Finally, Nikolai said we should all get some rest. He tugged on Johannes, and the two set off down the hall, walking away from me.

I lingered in the doorway, watching them go.

Abruptly, Johannes stopped. He turned and came back for me, closing the distance in long, quick strides. I was struck by the physicality of him. He was tall and broad and alpha-shaped. Nikolai was tall too, just as tall as Johannes, but slighter and darker, and Johannes seemed suddenly burly and imposing.

I panted, holding my ground, my body clenching and releasing, my heart pounding in my chest.

Johannes caught me around the waist and pulled me flush against his body. With his other hand—his huge hand—he cupped my cheek and gazed into my eyes, his own eyes half-lidded.

His scent was crazy strong and very pleasant, and I went limp-limbed against him, gazing up at him with something like adoration.

He kissed me.

His mouth was warm and eager and his kiss was like springtime, like wildflowers and new growth, all of it going wild and green and bright, tangling itself around me, into me.

He groaned into my mouth, and I gasped back.

He tore his lips from mine and pressed his mouth into my eyebrow, then my forehead, clutching me against him like something precious, something perfect and pretty. His lips went to my ear. His breath tickled as he spoke, “Touch yourself after we leave, omega. Touch yourself and think of us, of Nik and me. We’ll be thinking of you, too.”

I let out a noisy rush of air.

He let go of me and gave me an easy grin and a wink. Then, he turned and hurried down the hallway to meet Nikolai.

4

nikolai

I SEIZED JOHANNES by the back of the neck and hissed at him, like a snake or a feral animal.

He gave me a look that was pure sin. “Was I a bad boy, Nikolai?”

I let go of him in disgust. I started walking faster than him, hurrying down the hallway away from the omega’s room and towards ours.

He laughed, picking up speed to catch up with me. “Let’s go out,” he said, falling into step with me. “Let’s go to a club and do shots. Let’s try to score some blow. Let’s be the headlines of the gossip sites tomorrow. ‘Prince Johannes and Scantily Dressed Pal dance on tables in Ludwig.’”

Oh, that was just like him. I shook my head, seething. “You’ve been pushing my buttons all day long.”

He snickered, pleased with himself. “Oh, did I rile Nik up?” he breathed, seductive, teasing.

I turned on him, narrowing my eyes. “First, that comment about my being an assassin, then working the omega’s scent up the way you did, then sulking at dinner, and then kissing her. What is going on with you?”

He shrugged. “Can’t help it. I’m built to misbehave, I guess.”

“Yes, exactly,” I said. “And if you misbehave, who will Dmitri take it out on? Not you, because you can’t help yourself. It’ll be me. I’m here to mind you. I’m your handler, for fuck’s sake.”

“Let’s get drunk,” he groaned.

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