Page 3 of Naughty Prince
Ivy
“Holy shit.” Rebecca trots along beside me with her travel pillow around her neck and suitcase trailing behind. “This is the tiniest airport I’ve seen in my life.”
“Right?” I say, shuffling along in my Ugg boots and brightly patterned, blue leggings. I’m also wearing a yellow tank with my jacket and coat draped over my arm,andI’m holding all my travel documents in my hands so we can get through Customs and to the fun part of this trip ASAP.Europe!I admit this isn’t my most flattering outfit, but if I were to write the ‘plus-sized girls’ guide to international travel’, this exact outfit would be my recommendation. It’s comfortable enough to sleep in, and I can handle the hours of sitting without my clothes choking my stomach in half. It’s also perfect for the temperature changes you go through with the different heating and cooling levels in each airport and plane. I’m telling anyone who’ll listen—leggings are pants.
Fürstheim is in the dead of winter, but the airport is warm and kinda cosy. There are people bustling about and it just feels friendly, which is kind of odd because normally airports are crowded yet isolating.
“Looks like customs is just around this corner,” I say, pointing to the sign with my chin since my hands are full.
“Thank the gods on high,” Rebecca says, pressing her ruddy lips together. “I cannotwaitto get to our hotel and wash the travel off me.”
“Me too.” I beam as I turn my head in her direction. “They gave us asuiteand there’s a—ooof!”What the hell?
Somehow I’m sprawled on the floor after colliding with what felt like a concrete pillar. Except there is no pillar, only a giant man who’s now crouching in front of me and speaking a language I don’t understand. “Er allt í lagi?”
He has the prettiest blue eyes I’ve ever seen.
“Huh?” I touch a hand to head, feeling dazed as something I’ve never experienced comes over me. This man is…holy shit…he’s the most beautiful creature I’ve ever seen in my life. Big, muscular frame, but the kindest face and eyes. And his smile.His smile!I think he might be laughing at my dumbfounded state, but wow, that smile makes my ovaries reach out on their fallopian tube arms while all my baby eggs cry, ‘Daddy!’I think I’m in love.
“Are you hurt, Ivy?” Rebecca practically yells over his shoulder, snapping me out of the lust cloud I was lost in.
I blink twice then look from him to her and back again. “I’m OK,” I say.
“You’re American?” he asks in the sexiest fucking accent. He holds his hand out to help me up, but I don’t know if I trust my legs to hold me up.I’m weak, ladies!
“Yes,” I manage to say. When I don’t accept his hand, he starts picking up my paperwork that’s scattered all over the floor.
“I’m so sorry. I wasn’t watching where I was going,” he says as he hands it over. “Can I help you up from the floor?”
I’m just staring into his eyes, lost in the ocean of his soul. I’m in there swimming, doing little roly-polies and it’s so nice in here that I don’t want to come out.
“Ivy!” Rebecca hisses. She’s also giggling. I can imagine this looks ridiculous.
“Right. Yes, you can help me up,” I say, taking the paperwork from one hand and accepting the other. Warmth and electricity race around my body at the contact, making me feel even more unsteady once I’m on my feet. And he’s such a gentleman that he wraps a strong arm around my waist to steady me.
“þú ert svo fallegur,” he says with eyes that search mine, and I don’t know what the words mean. Hell, he could have said ‘Get off my toes’ and I would have heard a love sonnet. His voice sounds like melted chocolate running through my veins.
“Thank you,” I say.
“Can you stand on your own?” Rebecca asks.
“Yes.”Not that I want to.
The love of my life smiles and releases me. My ovaries cry. “Will you be in Fürstheim long?” he asks.
“Yes,” I say, because I can only give one-word answers it seems.
“We’re here for ten days,” Rebecca offers helpfully.
“Ten days?” He frowns. It crosses over his features like a ghost, but it’s there.
“I won the radio,” I say. Then I wince because it makes no sense.
“She won a vacation on the radio,” Rebecca translates. “Ten days. All expenses paid. We’re very excited. But, it’s been a long day, and I’m sure you have a flight to catch.”No! Don’t go!
“Yes.” His brow knits. “Enjoy Fürstheim, ladies. It’s a wonderful country.”
“The airport is wonderful,” I offer, and as ridiculous as it sounds, it does make him smile again, so there’s that.
