Page 36 of The Wanted Prince

“Being the eldest son was a lot of pressure. Father tried to go easy, to give me a childhood, but I saw what they’d say about us in the press. I wanted them to say good things about me. I wanted to set an example for Carlo, and then for Dom, when he came along. I’d push myself to live up to my name and my country, and it only got worse once I went off to college. I didn’t have you to bring me back to earth — not that I’m blaming you.”

“I didn’t think you were.”

Alessandro kept going like he hadn’t heard me, pacing so furiously he kicked up the rug. “So I graduated top of my class. Then Father introduced me to Maria. He asked me that night, did I want to court her. And, no. No. I didn’t. I wasn’t ready. But I couldn’t disappoint him, so I said yes. And what she said was true: we were friends. Close friends. We were in it together, and that meant a lot. But then, with her father…” He waved his hand. “Something broke in me. I thought, I don’t know. The seal was broken. I’d somehow screwed up. I wasn’t perfect, so I might as well…”

“You don’t have to explain,” I said.

“No, no, I do. I’ve dragged you into this, and it’s because of that year. That stupid lost year — I swear it’s a blur. I barely remember what I did to Pedro, or what went through my head in bed with Elena. It was like for twelve months, I forgot who I was. Then Father had his heart attack, and it was like—” He snapped his fingers. “Seeing him that way made it all real: I might be king one day. And I am Father’s son. So I took my job, working under Ramirez. I stopped drinking, stopped dating, stopped messing around. I really, I’ve tried to be the man I should be. That’s what I was trying to tell you at Maria’s hotel.”

I forced a strained smile. “You have nothing to prove to me. I know you’ve changed.”

“That’s just it, though.” Alessandro pushed his hair back, leaving it tousled. “I’ve changed my behavior, and that’s a start, but what I’ve been realizing is, I haven’t dealt with my past. Pedro, Francisco, even Maria, they’ve all been angry about the same thing: I haven’t talked to them or made amends. Maybe Father sees that, too. Maybe that’s why he doesn’t trust me.” He looked so lost in that moment, I felt my heart crack. I was still mad at how he’d treated Maria, but maybe that had more to do with my own fears: he’d left her standing in the ruins of her life. Would he serve me the same if our cover got blown, leave me to weather the storm alone?

“You can talk to him too,” I said, and stepped up behind him. I slid my arms around him and held him close. I could feel his heart beating too hard, too fast. “Maybe try telling him why you did what you did?”

“Maybe.” His chest hitched. “If he’ll even listen. I doubt he will, as long as he thinks I’m a thief.”

“So we’ll prove you aren’t.” I let him go and tugged on his arm. He turned around and on impulse, I kissed him. He kissed me back, then pressed his forehead to mine.

“What if we can’t? If I’m tried and found guilty?”

“Then you’ll live every day proving you’re a good man. Be who you are till they can’t help but see you.”

I felt Alessandro’s brow crinkle as he smiled. He ran one hand up to tangle in my hair. “You’re too good to me. Did you know there’s a podcast?”

I laughed out loud at the non sequitur. “A podcast?”

“A true crime one about the theft, my possible motive. Where I could be hiding. There’s four episodes already. Don’t people have lives?”

I shook my head. “Guess not.”

“You can go if you want.” Alessandro’s voice caught. “I won’t blame you, I promise, if you’ve had enough.”

I bit my lip. I’d been about to leave after Maria. I hated how he’d treated her, but I couldn’t hate him. I couldn’t believe that was all there was to him.

“I haven’t,” I said, and kissed him again. This time, he drew in a sharp, wanting breath. He gripped my hip tight and pulled me to him, and I pressed my body up against his. The stress of the last few days welled up inside me, a deep wave of tension in need of release.

“I want you to know,” I gasped, my breath gone ragged, “I’d never not want you in my life. Even if I was angry, I’d want you to find me. So, don’t?—”

“I won’t.” Alessandro kissed me so deeply my knees went weak. He caught me as I stumbled and swept me onto the bed, and I lay looking up at him, studying his features. I’d known him all my life, but he looked different today, his burning eyes darker, his lashes like coal. I saw the king he might be one day, the man he was becoming. The strength it was taking him to confront his past. He had a new spark about him, a new set to his jaw.

He took his time stoking my need. I tore his shirt off him right away, but he left my clothes on and teased me through them. I arched, wanting more, but Alessandro pulled back, making me follow. I went for my buttons, but he pinned both my hands, pulled them up on the pillow and held them down by the wrists. Then he trailed kisses down my bare arm. He bit at my button when he got to my cuff, and flicked his tongue at it while I watched, wanting.

“Tell me what you want.”

“You. I want you.”

He smirked, tight and wicked. “You want me how?”

“Naked and panting.” I felt myself flush, but I kept going. “I want you right here with me. On me. Inside me. I want you to?—”

“What?” His eyes glinted.

“Unwrap me like a present and kiss me all over.”

Alessandro chuckled, a deep, warm sound. I kept my eyes open as he undressed me, taking his time with my buttons and layers. Every brush of his fingers set my skin tingling. His breath on my skin made me want him more. My pulse raced as he worked his way down my body, sliding my skirt down over my thighs. I sucked air through my teeth when he kissed my knee. Choked on a moan as he teased his way higher. My focus went soft, and I gave way before him. Tangled my fingers in the fall of his hair.

He said something, or moaned it, and it made his lips vibrate. I didn’t catch the words, but sensation lanced through me, electric sparks all the way to my toes. I heard myself gasping, begging for more. Then my whole world went rosy and hazy, and I whispered his name as my climax tore through me.

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