Page 19 of The Wanted Prince

Alessandro turned his phone over. The buzzing cut out. “They can’t. I can’t ask them to. They’d be defying Father.”

I could hear the part he wasn’t saying: his father’s health wasn’t good. He couldn’t risk upsetting him more than he was. It was there in his eyes and in his tight jaw: genuine fear, and not for himself.

Not my problem, I told myself. I’d done what I could. And I wouldn’t be helping by blowing up both our lives. All I could do here was double the scandal.

“I’ll come with you,” I said.

Alessandro blinked. “What?”

My head spun. Had I just said I’d come on his road trip? Surely, I’d meant to say good luck on your trip. But somehow the words had got lost, twisted up, and I’d invited myself on his fool’s errand.

“Are you sure?” Alessandro was frowning, but in his eyes, I saw hope. “Don’t you need to get back to your family?”

Yes. Yes! Say yes! This is your out!

“Not really,” I said. “I’m meant to be leaving first thing tomorrow. I can tell them I caught an earlier flight.”

“They won’t want to see you? To say goodbye?”

Right there. Another one! Tell him goodbye.

“They’ve hardly had time for me through my whole visit. I’m not sure they’ll even notice I’m gone.”

Alessandro stood torn, fists bunched at his sides. He started to say something, then shut his mouth. Then he cleared his throat and tried again.

“If anyone sees us, you know what will happen.”

I nodded. I knew. They’d say we’d eloped. They’d say I was pregnant. Alessandro was dying, and I was his last fling. Then our families would get in on it and make it worse: Alessandro was holding me against my will. I’d come to Santaviedo to steal the crown for myself. I’d plotted with my family to seduce the prince.

“But if I don’t come, you’ll be spotted for sure. You’ll stop for gas and the clerk will tag you. Or someone behind you. The next car in line. You need someone to pay for your gas and hotel rooms, to go out ahead for you and check for the press.”

“I can book rooms on my phone,” he said.

“And collect your keys?”

I watched the struggle play out over Alessandro’s handsome face, to let me come shield him or send me home to protect me. In the end, he reached out for me. Set his hands on my shoulders.

“It’s your decision,” he said. “But know I don’t blame you for any of this. You don’t owe me anything.”

“But you’ll owe me after.” I winked at him to break up the tension. He chuckled and rested his forehead on mine.

“Then, thank you,” he said. “You’re right. I do need you.”

The way he said need you sent sparks coursing through me. Had I chosen to go with him out of sheer lust? I couldn’t think with him standing so close, our heads pressed together, his hands in my hair. He was stroking me, petting my barely dried curls. His breath kissed my ear and I lit up with want.

I started to say something, maybe we shouldn’t. We needed to focus, to plan our next move. But Alessandro was tracing my jaw with his lips, whispering sweet nothings that tickled my skin. I tilted my head back to offer my throat, and his next kiss grazed my fluttering pulse. My world narrowed down to the points of contact between us, hands and lips, hips, burning bare skin. He ran his hand down my arm and my robe fell away, exposing one shoulder, the curve of one breast. I pushed up against him to feel his heat against mine.

“Laura…” My name was like fire on his tongue. I ran my nails down his back to make him say it again. I was drunk on his want for me and my need for his body. I heard my own voice whispering yes, felt my own hands tangling in his lapels. So, this was how it felt to give in to desire.

Alessandro groaned deeply, almost a growl. The sound made me tremble, weak in the knees. He was inching me backward, or I was pulling him with me, a slow, panting shuffle toward the bed.

We shouldn’t, I thought again, but the thought held no weight. I’d never wanted anyone like I did Alessandro, every nerve in my body alive to his touch. I felt open, raw. Laid bare to sensation. So when the cold water splashed on the nape of my neck, when it streaked down my spine under my robe, it was like bolts of ice shooting straight through me. I screamed and jumped back. Alessandro leaped back and flung his hands in the air.

“Sorry! I’m sorry! What did I do?”

I gasped. Held my hand up, slick with rainwater.

“What is it?”

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