Page 37 of Powerful Prince
Something was missing, though. I wasn’t sure what it was, but the air was colder, like a storm was about to hit. I said, “I suppose.” We made it to the end of the wharf, where the main street was, and I asked, “Do you want to sample the local food?”
She sucked in her breath then pushed her hair behind her ear. “No. I’d rather we go home and hide out in our room for the night.”
Shutting out the world meant nothing had changed. Good. “Sounds perfect. We’ll come back once the wedding is over and no one interferes.”
I steered us so the ocean was at our backs, but she tugged me back and said, “Wait.”
Her face had a blush as I asked, “What?”
She pointed to the ocean and said, “I’d like to post a picture of us, happy and engaged, online.”
Right. Her job was about being visible. I swallowed and said, “Sure.”
“The pier is beautiful,” she said.
A few more minutes outside with her was good, though my shoulders were growing tight, as if trouble lay ahead. As we made it back to the edge of the pier, the streetlights came on. I stilled and said, “Make sure you get a good one.”
She set her phone up, but a couple passing by stopped and snapped the photos for her.
A moment later, she checked her phone and I asked, “How were they?”
She gave me a thumbs up and posted #Manworthwaitingforand attached the photo. She sent it and put her phone away.
My neck tingled but I didn’t say a word. Instead I took a step to go, but she put her hand on my hip and her lips quickly met mine.
Her kiss burned through me fast and my body grew hard as she said, “I want you. I thought that was part of the deal.”
I tugged her closer and let her realize how she turned me on and said, “Fuck, yes.”
Her eyes batted closed and her lips puckered. “Good.”
I kissed her and didn’t want this to stop.
If it weren’t for the cold evening winds smacking against our skin, I’d have groped her publicly.
However the air stung our faces, so I ended the kiss and instead directed her home.
In our bedrooms, we could be naked and play, all night.
We made it down the street quickly, and through the gates of the castle. However as we passed the guards, Gio met us and bowed. “Your highness. Miss Steel. His majesty wishes a meeting.”
And it was important enough to send Gio. I lingered for one moment near the door and wished I could ignore the summons, but instead, I said, “At once.”
The life of a prince meant I didn’t have a choice.
Nicole’s eyes widened as we both went toward my father’s office. Once we were clear of Gio, she asked, “What’s going on?”
Whatever it was, this was likely what made my shoulders tight, but I only said, “Probably nothing.”
Once we reached the door, royal staff shuffled us into the side office where my father sat at his desk. As we entered his royal presence, my father tucked his tie into his jacket as he stood and said, “Ms. Steel. Ryder, please sit.”
Right. We sat across from my father and, once we were settled, I asked, “What’s this about, Father?”
He snapped his desk drawer open and handed Nicole a manila folder with papers inside. “The lawyers have prepared the contract for Ms. Steel.”
She flipped open the folder and saw the first page. Her face went white, but she flipped through the document. I saw her gaze at me, and her lips thinned.
“I’ll need time to read it,” she said.
