Page 87 of Insatiable Park Avenue Prince

“The opportunity to work with Xes fell into my lap, and I’ll be honest, my first reaction was that it was crazy. But the more I thought about it, the more it started to make sense. I’m not shy about my body. I work hard for it, and I got lucky in the size department.”

Donovan smirked in agreement.

“I guess I’ve always wanted…to be somebody. Does that make sense? I kind of assumed when I was younger that meant something entirely different, like modeling or acting. But this gig…” I shrugged. “It has its perks. It’s a way to put myself out there. People know who I am. And the pay is so good I don’t have to worry about money. It’s just a weight off my shoulders. You know?”

“I know,” Donovan said softly. I knew this wasn’t what he wanted to hear, and I sure as hell didn’t want to actually say it. But I wouldn’t lie to him.

“Do you?”

“Yes. And I want to… Please don’t take this the wrong way, okay? But…if money is an issue, I have—”

“No.” I knew my voice came out firmer than I’d meant it to, but I wasn’t going to budge on this. “I didn’t tell you all that for your money.”

“I know, but—”

“But nothing. I won’t take it. I don’t want it. I know you’d only offer it to help, and I appreciate that, but I’ve got to make my own way, Donovan. It’s important to me. You understand that, right?”

He wet his lips, looking away. “I understand. I’m not going to hold you back from doing something you want to do.”

“Want and need are two different things.”

“Okay, then I won’t hold you back from something youneedto do. I just…”

When his words broke off, I cupped his face, forcing him to look at me. When his eyes met mine again, they glistened.

“You just what?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

“I just don’t know that I can...”

“That you can what?”

Donovan shook his head as though erasing the thought. “I just don’t think I can let you go yet.”

I knew that wasn’t what he’d been about to say, but selfishly, it was what I needed to hear. I didn’t want to lose him, but at the same time, I had to be able to provide for myself. What I needed and what I wanted were in direct conflict with each other. But maybe they wouldn’t always be.

My lips ghosted over his, giving him the softest brush of a kiss. “Then don’t.”

TWENTY-NINE

donovan

I TURNED OFF the shower and stepped out onto the plush mat covering the tiled floor of the luxurious en suite.

After our picnic, Kelly and I had walked off some of the food and wine around the immaculate grounds of the estate before heading up to the main house, where we were taken on a tour of the hall.

It was the perfect way to see the grounds and learn a little history about the place, but as the sun had started to set and a couple of hours passed by, I decided I was done with the sightseeing and ready to take Kelly up to our room.

Just like the picnic, I’d called ahead to make sure we’d been upgraded from a standard room to a suite, and from Kelly’s stunned reaction when we’d stepped inside our romantic hideaway for the next two days, my planning had paid off.

Every time his handsome face lit up with a smile, or his eyes sparkled with pleasure, my stomach flipped and my heart thumped a little harder than normal. I was so head over heels, I wasn’t sure how I was actually able to stand around him.

I swiped the condensation from the mirror and stared at the reflection looking back at me, wondering how in the hell I was supposed to come to terms with sharing the amazing man waiting for me in the adjoining bedroom.

The talk earlier had at least given me a chance to put my feelings out there, so he knew where I stood. But it had also left us with a lot of decisions to make. One big one in particular.

But I wasn’t going to think about that tonight. Tonight was about us, and I was going to enjoy every second of it.

I wrapped the towel around my waist, slicked my damp hair back from my face, then headed for the door. I’d made Kelly shower separately so I could take my time and get ready for him—but I’d really done it to ramp up the anticipation. I wanted him thinking about me naked in the shower, getting my body primed for his.

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