Page 33 of Royally F*cked

Agnes smiles and I don’t miss that tiny little twinkle in her eyes when I mention Ozzy. “Thank you for the invite, but I think that you and Miss Charlie should have breakfast without company this morning, Your Highness.”

You can’t say I didn’t try for a buffer between me and Charlie this morning. Call me a coward if you must but I’ll admit, I’m just a wee bit terrified of what her reaction may be when she sees her face plastered all over every news outline and hears what I think I need to say to her before we head to the castle.

“Very well.” I gather my coffee cup and head for the dining room.

Charlie joins me a few minutes later with her hair up in a bun and dressed in the typical uniform that she would wear if she were spending the day with Willow.

She does not greet me with a smile.

“Good Morning. Were you able to rest last night?” I dare to ask.

“I managed a few hours before my phone started blowing up.”

As if on cue, the offending device begins making noise again and Charlie lets out a frustrated sigh.

“I’m taking it that you’ve seen the news already then?”

“Oh, I have. Every person I’ve ever known has reached out and I’ve ignored all of them, except for my parents. They’re quite livid, by the way. My father has informed me that we have a meeting with them after breakfast. You may want to bring extra security because he did mention something about castrating you for touching his daughter.”

“I respectfully understand his anger. Any reaction from him is well deserved on my part,” I tell her as I begin making a plate. I had it off to her once I’ve added several items from the spread Agnes has put together. “Eat up, we’re both going to need all the fuel we can get for today.”

Charlie picks at the food on her plate, only taking the smallest of bites before she drops her fork and looks up at me. “Are you aware of what some of the news outlets are saying? Rebel prince lowers his standards. Courting the cow. Hiding out with the help. Quite flattering, I must say.”

This is the pain I wish I could keep away from her.

“I had only seen two out of the three. Surely the press wasn’t dumb enough to call you a cow.”

“Oh they did. There’s an entire blog now dedicated to my weight.”

“It won’t be for long.” I immediately call for Ozzy and demand that it’s handled, ignoring Charlie’s protests to leave it alone. “I’ll do no such thing. I won’t be able to stop all of it. And I promise you that a lot of it will die down in time, but Charlie, I will not stand back and let anyone insult you. Ever. You also need to know that those things are not true. You are not a cow. And I’ve in no way lowered my standards. If anything, I’ve raised the Goddamn bar with you.”

“That’s kind of you to say, but they aren’t wrong. We are hiding out and I am not the woman you typically spend your time with. You have to admit that.”

“The only thing I will admit is that you look as gorgeous today as you did last night. It’s easy for me to sit here and say this but, the only person’s opinion you need to worry about is mine. And I for one think that you are breathtakingly beautiful. Even in those moments when you fail to realize it.”

Charlie’s cheeks flush and a few tears escape her eyes. “I still do not understand why you’ve chosen me.”

“Then I guess I’ll have to work on spending the rest of my life showing you.”

Ever since I kissed her for the cameras last night, I found myself wanting to do it again. For real. Not just for show. I’ve wanted to claim her in a way that somehow made her understand she was mine. Slow dancing with her only proved to have the very same effect.

I would have given anything to continue dancing with her that close to me. Another time, another place, and I would have. But last night wasn’t about me, or her. It was about doing the right thing for those kids. So, I had to let her go and play my part as best as I could.

And now?

Seeing her vulnerable like this and hurting, triggers a primal need deep inside of me.

I need her to understand just how much of an effect she has on me.

The very last strand of resolve I have left in me snaps and I do the only thing I can think of to show her how much I truly desire her.

Standing from my chair, I reach out to pull her to her feet then cup her face in my hands. Pressing my lips to hers, I pray that she can feel every ounce of emotion charging through me right now.

Her soft and subtle lips part for me with a little encouragement from my tongue as my hands fall to her ass and press her closer to me.

My cock was already at half- mast but now it’s rock-hard begging for relief that I know only Charlie can provide.

Not right now, though. There is no way I will take things any further until my ring is secured on her finger.

---