Page 51 of The Prince's Green Card Scheme

He says nothing, his eyes fixed on the road, and because his eyes are fixed on the road, I let myself look at him. I let my eyes wander down to his lips. I let myself remember how good his body felt on mine.

All this time, I’ve been trying to deny it to myself, but I don’t want to deny it any longer.

I want Paolo.

After all this is over, he might not want me anymore, but right now, as long as we’re together, here in his home, I want him.

I know this can’t last forever. But right now, it’s me and him. And I like that.

CHAPTER 24

PAOLO

When I pull up to the palace, I turn off the engine and we sit in silence for a while, trying to figure out what to say.

We didn’t speak much after Chloe’s confession, and I can’t quite figure out how I’m supposed to respond. Am I supposed to tell her that I love her now? Am I supposed to admit that to myself?

That’s too much pressure to handle.

So, instead of words, I turn to look at her. Her eyes are swimming with an emotion I can’t name, making me feel like I’m drowning in them, like I can’t look away.

“Chloe,” I say softly, reaching out to push her hair behind her ear, letting my fingers linger on her cheek, “I had a really good day today.”

“So did I,” she says again, like she really does mean it. “I’m glad we got to spend it together.”

“I have a question,” I say, ready to hold my breath waiting for her answer. She tilts her head. “Earlier, in the alleyway… I don’tregret it, but it was a mistake. I shouldn’t have kissed you like that. And you’re right. I should allow myself to show who I am more. I should be better. So…”

This is getting out of control. I shake my head, and Chloe narrows her eyes at me, trying to figure out where this is going. “So?” she asks.

“So,” I say, “I would like to kiss you again. Would that be okay?”

“I would be furious with you if you didn’t,” she says, her face splitting into a wide smile. I grin back, then lean over, wrapping my arms around her.

Our lips meet gently and tenderly, pressing against each other, but underneath, I can sense the passion that’s still there. I feel her take a deep breath, and her arms come to my waist, like she’s trying to pull me in.

I don’t want to stop this moment, but kissing in the car like this is too exposed. That and there are other things I would much rather do in more appropriate places. “Chloe,” I breathe in her ear, “let me take you back to my room.”

Let me show you what you mean to me, I think, but don’t dare say it. All of this is already complicated enough without adding words likeloveinto the mix.

She leans back from me, her eyes dark with lust. “I’m all yours.”

We rush out of the car, only to get stopped by Maria in the corridor. “There you both are,” she says. “Your dinner will be going cold. You should get yourselves to the dining room straightaway.”

Chloe and I share a look, trying to figure out how we can wriggle our way out of this. To me, it’s clear as day what Chloe has goton her mind. But we can’t exactly say no to Maria. We don’t want things to start looking weird.

Not that having sex with your wife is that weird, I guess. I’m pretty sure that’s what you’re meant to do.

But to keep up appearances, we head dutifully through to the dining room without argument.

I’m not particularly hungry after our lunch, and from the way Chloe picks at her food, I don’t think she is either. She keeps throwing me this little look, almost a smirk. It’s barely anything, but it’s teasing enough to start driving me crazy.

We sit at the table for as long as we can bear to. I get the sense that both of us are counting down the seconds to the moment it’s polite for us to leave again. And the second that that moment arrives, I make eye contact with Chloe and say, “Are you done?”

She nods, that lustful spark on her face again. “I’m ready to go upstairs.”

“Let’s retire for the evening.” I get to my feet and offer her my arm. “Shall we?”

We move through the house almost impossibly slowly. We climb the stairs slowly, not to seem like we’re rushing, not to seem like we want each other so desperately that I could scream.

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