Page 49 of Some Like It Royal

They still had another nine months…

“Yes, I’m being careful.” Irritation scraped through her now. “Maybe taking our time is a good thing. He’s not rushing to get to the prince. That could mean he doesn’t want this to end too.”

Rhonda said nothing but her silence seemed particularly heavy.

“I promise,” Alyx said, reassuring both of them. “I know what I’m doing and I’m being careful.”

“Has it occurred to you that no matter what you do, the life you used to have is done now?” The quiet words said aloud the things Alyx had been trying to not think about. “One month or one year with this guy and maybe you do end the contract, you with your spiffy new family and his with all his money and access—you both get what you want.”

The way she searched Alyx’s face made that last part seem far more of a question than a statement.

“I’ve seen you on the gossip sites. I’ve seen the little clips here and there… You won’t just be Alyx Dagmar, waitress and aspiring actress. That part is over.”

Alyx blew out a breath.

“I hope you’re ready for that, whether the guy is a part of it or not.”

As much as she wanted to assure her, Alyx really didn’t know the answer. That sinking feeling didn’t go away, even when they changed the subject. It circled her like dark water in a whirlpool, sucking down her mood. It lingered long after Alyx left to go back to Daniel’s place.

He pulled in right behind her. It was impossible to miss the wide grin he shot her. In fact, no sooner has she parked than he was at the driver’s side door and tugging her out of the vehicle.

“Hey,” she said.

“Hey.” His smile didn’t diminish as he pulled her close. His kiss absolutely robbed her of breath and smothered all the dark, restless thoughts. Wrapping her arms around him, she banished all those questions to a dark corner and locked them away.

They could deal with it later.

Chapter19

Daniel

He woke to the feeling of her hands on his chest.

Three days…

Three days of hiding away at a cabin in Big Bear and all he had to do was look at her to feel his pulse quicken. He never wanted to leave. They’d stayed up late, feeding each other ice cream and watching another marathon ofRed Dwarfepisodes. Episodes they repeatedly had to start over. Particularly after the whipped cream dripped onto her breast… He grinned at that memory. He preferred his whipped cream with nipple on top.

Telling her as much had earned him a shocked look and a delicious peal of laughter that squeezed his orgasm out of him.

Daniel sighed, shifting against the pillows and adjusting her so she seemed more comfortable. Her rich red hair trailed across his chest and her face relaxed completely into slumber with her lips still swollen from kissing him all night long.

This was the purest definition of perfect.

No,he amended mentally, his gaze tracking up to the beat-up bear sitting on the nightstand on her side of the bed. The drive there had been hurried, a rush to escape from the business of home and to lock themselves away in a sweet escape.

He hadn’t questioned his own impatience or taken a look at motivations. Walking out of that meeting with Takahashi to see her stricken expression as a stranger leaned into her set off every alarm bell in his head. He’d marched over there, fighting the first real urge to violence he’d ever experienced. The need to shield her had expanded to be so all-consuming, he’d just wanted to get her out of there, then away from the house. Away from where anyone might find her.

The fact he’d been prevented from leaving for several more days had been infuriating. Each day he’d had to say goodbye to her while he went to the office had eaten away at him. Prentiss had called his office once. He had Lucy put him off. The deal with Takahashi took all of his attention. As soon as it was all finalized, they could steal away.

Prentiss and the duke could wait.

Alyx shifted and her leg nestled deeper between his. He grinned as her mouth opened and closed, a hint of a kiss brushing his pec. It was ridiculous just how deep he’d fallen for this woman. The fact that the grand duke made his approach should have him crowing about financial good fortune, but all he could think about were the tears in her eyes, the absolute blown-away expression on her face and the traces of fear in her voice.

She couldn’t imagine why someone would want her or reach out to her.

He couldn’t imagine not having her right where she was—in his arms.

That was why he’d wanted her away. Maybe they could extend their absence. Another week here, or a trip to Napa. Their last trip there had been amazing.

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