Page 67 of Royal Fling
The city looked incredible from inside the boat. If it hadn't looked romantic before, it certainly did now as we floated down the Thames on the fairy-light decked private yacht, passing under all the London bridges while the sounds of the nightlife serenaded us.
“This is beautiful, August, but you have to stop going overboard with everything. I told you. I don't need it.”
I turned to support myself on the handrail with both hands and looked out into the water. August put his hands on either side of me and rested his head on my shoulder.
“I know you don't need it. But I want you to have it,” he said.
Oh boy. We were back into dangerous territory. As much as I tried to convince myself that I could control this and not fall in love with him, I was failing. And I was failing dramatically. I hadn't failed like that since chemistry class in high school.
His hips pressed against mine, and I felt his hard length along my crack, my own hardening on impact.
I took a deep breath, sinking back into his arms, craning my neck over his shoulder.
“I don't want this to end,” I said. “Can we stay here forever?”
“I don't want it to end, either,” he said. “We don't have to let it end.”
“What? You want to elope and live in a cottage in the countryside, have a bunch of kids, and a dozen goats and chickens?” I asked.
“Yes,” he said. “Let's do it.”
I couldn't help the laugh that roared out of me.
“You’re being silly,” I said.
“Why?”
“Because we can't elope, August. You're a prince.”
“Yeah.” He sighed, and I felt it reverberating through my own body.
“What is it?” I asked.
“Nothing. It's just Teagan is becoming more and more demanding. When all I want to do is spend time with you.”
I pushed back against him and turned around so that I could face him, dropping my hands on either side of his neck.
“You can't stop what you're doing just for me,” I said. “You're doing important work, August. Important work for a lot of people.”
“But none of it matters if you're not in my life,” he said.
I tamed the flutter in my chest and caressed his ears with my thumbs.
“I am in your life.”
“For now.”
“If now is all we have, then let's just enjoy it, August.”
“It doesn't have to be just now, does it?” he asked.
I shrugged. I didn't know the answer to that. Only he did.
“That's not for me to decide.”
He turned his head and looked out at the London Eye that was coming up to our side and took a deep breath.
His face showed wrinkles that hadn’t been there ever before, and I wish I had the answers for him. I wish I had a solution for him. But I didn’t. No one except him did.
