Page 29 of A Royal Disaster
“I made a promise,” Liam said through gritted teeth.
“And that promise is second to your duty as crown prince,” Fin responded, not pulling any punches. “You do realize Their Majesties are actively working on matches for you, right? They can’t start marrying your siblings off until you’ve tied the knot, and you know how anxious they are to bring Xander to heel.”
Like that will ever happen.
“Relax, Fin. Like the good little prince I am, I’ll do my royal duty when the time comes and marry nobility approved by my family. Until then, I am free to make my own choices, and right now, I choose to help Elena rebuild her life. The life I ruined by trespassing on her property.” Bloody hell. Now he was playing the trespassing card. “And if helping Elena buys me a little extra time on the marriage front, so much the better.”
“Are you sure this is a good idea? Some might consider it dereliction of duty.” Fin grinned. “Not me of course, but perhaps those of more esteemed lineage.”
Liam groaned. He knew Fin had only his best interests at heart, and Elena’s, too, but enough was enough. “We’ve already discussed this and I seem to remember saying I didn’t want to discuss it again.”
Fin snorted. “Yes, well, fortunately I am not a well-mannered prince, merely a servant of the crown. One who takes his duty as your personal assistant and advisor seriously, so consider this my official position on the matter. You need a queen. A partner. Someone who can help you shoulder the burden of the crown. And every day you squander with this farce is a day you leave yourself—and Elena,” he added with a pointed look, “vulnerable.”
Liam stared at his friend in disbelief. The office was quiet save the melodic hum of white noise emanating from his computer. “You know, if I’d known you were going to turn into such a rebellious pain in the arse, I’d have promoted you to the queen’s service years ago.”
“Bite your tongue,” Fin said with a shudder. “The ladies of the court would devour me whole.”
Liam smirked. “Who knows? You might just like it. I hear Lady Delacourt can do this trick with her tongue—”
“Will you be serious for just five minutes?” Fin barked, his ears turning scarlet. “What if Elena gets attached?”
“That won’t happen,” Liam said, shaking his head. “It’s more like a business transaction. Or a philanthropic endeavor. She knows the deal.”
Fin pulled a tabloid from his bag and tossed it on the desk. “Does she? Because the way she’s looking at you in that picture has me wondering.”
Liam picked up the paper and studied the image. He wasn’t certain if the photo was taken before or after their kiss outside the theater, but he couldn’t deny it was convincing as hell. Elena gazed up at him with a look that could only be described as adoration. Pure, sweet, totally innocent.
But that wasn’t what made Liam’s gut turn to stone.
For all his concern, Fin had missed something the camera hadn’t. It wasn’t the way Elena was looking at Liam that should’ve concerned his friend. It was the wayhewas looking at her.
Like she was the moon and the stars and the whole bloody universe.
Chapter Nine
Lena studied the image on her sketchpad and frowned. Something was…off. She closed her eyes and brought Liam’s face to the forefront of her mind. He really did have great bone structure. And his inky black hair was such a great contrast to his fair skin and pale eyes. Then there were his lips. The upper one curved like a perfect bow, the lower one full and perfect for biting.
If one were so inclined.
Focus.
Right. The sketch.
Lena concentrated on the moment right before Liam had kissed her. It had been cool, and the slight breeze had ruffled his hair. His gaze had been fixed on her, his eyes burning with such intensity it had turned her knees to putty. He’d brushed his fingertips along her jawline, sending a thrill of anticipation straight down her spine even as she melted into his embrace, molding her body to his in all the best places. She’d been desperate to feel the press of his lips on hers and he hadn’t disappointed, his velvety lips caressing hers with such deference it was like he’d been waiting his whole life for just one taste.
It hadn’t been enough.
The moment his lips brushed hers, she’d wanted—needed—more. More pressure, more heat, more tongue. The kiss had exploded like wildfire and—
Her phone buzzed and she sat up straight, the jerky reaction nearly toppling her wobbly stool and face-planting her on the floor of the studio. She flailed her arms like a windmill and managed to right herself, ignoring the hot flush that raced across her skin.
Note to self: R-rated fantasies and three-legged stools do not mix.
Lena looked around, confirming the studio was empty, and grabbed the phone off the counter.
Nia:You need to see this!!!
There was a link at the bottom of the text and Lena tapped it even as a sense of dread swept over her.
