Page 64 of Reckless Royalty

I force myself to focus on the floor, on anything but the memory of her soft voice, or the way she looked at me like I was the one steady thing in her life. She’s not here for that.

She’s here because she’s a target— because she saw something that cost her everything. I’m here to keep her safe, keep her focused. I’m supposed to be a damn professional.

This isn’t some romantic setup. She needs protection, and it’s my responsibility to keep her safe.

But that logical reasoning is doing nothing to stop the blood pounding in my ears or the way I can’t stop thinking about what it might feel like to reach out and hold her, to feel her soft skin under my fingertips.

What if she turns to me in the night, trusting me to pull her back from the edge like she did during that panic attack? What if she reaches out to me, finding comfort in my presence, and I lose myself completely?

I hear her rifling through the bathroom cabinets, and I know she’s about to walk out of that bathroom, freshly showered, warm and relaxed. And I’m completely fucking losing it.

There’s a side of her hidden beneath all the pain and trauma, that’s wild and free, and I want to see it—every last piece of her.

The sound of the bathroom door opening snaps me out of my thoughts, and I look up, half-expecting her to step out looking cozy and safe, something easy for me to compartmentalize.

But no—of course not. Life can’t be that simple for Mihai fucking Vasile.

She walks out in a black silk robe, and I swear, every thought I’ve tried to shove down comes rushing back, tenfold. The robe clings to her and grazes her legs mid-thigh, showing off smooth, creamy skin and highlighting her softness; every inch begging to be claimed.

My mouth goes dry, and I’m suddenly aware of every single nerve in my body.

All those good intentions? What the fuck are good intentions when temptation is staring me right in the face?

Holy. Fucking. Shit.

She glances at me, a small smile on her face, but I can’t bring myself to look away. I try to find words, anything to break this tension, but all I can manage is a low, rough, “You ready?”

She nods, her cheeks slightly pink, and it only makes her look even more tempting, even more real. I force myself to stand up,taking a step back so I don’t do something stupid like reach for her.

I clear my throat, hoping she doesn’t notice how rattled I am. “Alright, let’s head over.”

Fuck me. I’m in so much fucking trouble.

MADDY

As Mihai leads me down the hall, my nerves are on fire. It’s one thing to be staying in his suite; it’s another thing entirely to be staying in his room. I didn’t think it through when I grabbed the silk shorts and tank—it’s just so damn hot these days.

Covering it up with a robe didn’t help, either.

But now, feeling his gaze flicker over me every so often, I’m starting to regret it. I keep telling myself he won’t be lying next to me. He’s probably got a couch in his room, or… somewhere else he’ll go.

Right?

When we finally reach his bedroom, he opens the door and steps back, letting me in first. The moment I walk in, I freeze. There, in the middle of the room, is one bed. Just one. And it’s massive, the kind that takes up half the space and screams luxury.

But the size doesn’t matter because now all I can think about is how there’s nowhere else for him to sleep.

“Mihai,” I start, my voice wavering, “there’s… only one bed.”

He glances at the bed, then at me, a casual shrug lifting his shoulders. “Yeah, but it doesn’t have to be weird,” he says,running a hand through his hair. “It’s huge. I’ll stay on my side; you stay on yours. No big deal.”

Easy for him to say. He’s looking at it like it’s just a place to sleep, while my mind is going a hundred different directions, none of which are helpful right now. I take a deep breath, forcing myself to nod. “Alright. If you say so.”

He gives me a small smile, as if sensing my hesitation but choosing not to push it. “I’m gonna grab a quick shower,” he says, gesturing toward the bathroom. “Make yourself comfortable.”

I nod, watching him disappear into the bathroom, the door closing with a quiet click. The sound of water running fills the room, and I’m left alone, staring at the bed like it’s some sort of trap.

Removing my robe and tossing it over an armchair, I finally sit down, pulling the covers over myself, and the scent hits me immediately. His cologne is in the sheets, a mix of bergamot, sandalwood and something dark and warm that makes my stomach twist in ways I don’t want to examine too closely. I press my head into the pillow, breathing it in despite myself, feeling both comforted and thrown off balance.

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