Page 8 of Mercenary Princess

She shifted uncomfortably at Jen’s words. “I know.”

Jen apparently wasn’t done. “He’s got a good reputation with women, as long as fucking’s all we’re talking about. He’s only dangerous with secrets or if you’ve crossed him. Don’t talk, don’t cross him, and hop on the ride you’ve been itching for.”

Sophia snorted. “‘Don’t talk’ is your winning advice?”

“Unless it’s dirty, it’s unnecessary.” Jen winked. “Get him out of your system. I hate to ruin this for you, but no man could possibly live up to an eight-year fixation. I’m betting one night will fix your obsession. And no offense, but celibacy has not been your friend, so if it’s good, then all the better. You’ve chosen too tense a pastime to not have some way to decompress.”

She rubbed the sudden ache at her temple. “Yeah, I have.” Her double life really was taking its toll, especially in the two years she’d been home from university. The palace was more of a prison. She watched every word she said. Those gilded walls had never been a home. There was no sanctuary when everyone was expected to report on her every move. It was psychological warfare, and it was exhausting. Just the thought of returning the next day filled her with dread.

A couple of stolen hours with her friends tonight would help, but she knew she needed to do something more before she really lost her mind.

Could she have sex with Viktor? How? Show up outside his hotel suite and risk humiliation? What if he already had company? No thanks.

That led to her real question. Did she really want to get him out of her system? She knew what she wanted at that moment, or rather what her body wanted, considering she hadn’t had time to get off in the shower before sneaking away.

“What bothers me is why he’s suddenly interested. Maybe he was just bored and thought he’d toy with the ‘prim princess of Porenza.’ He didn’t look all that intent on getting me into bed when he left the club.”

“That man wanted to fuck you sideways. Even Antony noticed and sniped about dirty Russians not knowing their place.” Jen snorted. “And you’re crazy if you think he hasn’t noticed you before. Don’t kid yourself.”

“A glance or two isn’t the same thing.” Throughout the years, they’d crossed paths at upscale hotels many times. He’d always given her the same look—a quick perusal as part of an assessment of his environment, nothing more. Though she’d imagined heat in his gaze a thousand times, it had been nothing more than wishful thinking.

His attention earlier that night had been completely different than anything her overactive mind could have conjured. She was well aware of her reputation for being proper and reserved. Hell, she’d cultivated it well. Maybe he wanted to dirty her up for the sheer challenge? A part of her found it dangerously tempting to show him just how filthy she wanted to be with him.

Jen was probably right about his not measuring up to her fantasies. He’d taken her every way possible in her dreams. He’d done things to her she’d never done with anyone, or even considered. She wasn’t sure she wanted to be disappointed. Fantasies about him had kept her warm at night for a very long time. Without them, what would she have? Porn. Maybe a dirty book.

That’d be safer than having thoughts of Viktor distracting her, as they had tonight.

She’d never had much luck with sex. The couple of times she’d tried hadn’t been worth it. There were too many risks, which were mood killing at best for a person in her position. Security measures, background checks, and nondisclosure agreements were far from sexy. Not having all of those was even less appealing. It involved trust, and given her life and activities, she hadn’t been capable of that.

Scratching an itch hadn’t been her thing, not even with any of their operatives. Sex with someone she worked with hadn’t been somewhere she’d wanted to go.

“I know you’re right about needing to decompress. I know I’m too edgy, but hopping into bed with Viktor isn’t likely to help.”

“Even the best, highly trained operatives have trouble with the mental stress of long-term undercover assignments. We both know you’re burning out, and that’s where mistakes happen. If not the Russian, find something or someone else to get rid of the tension. And give yourself a break. You weren’t trained for this shit, yet you handle it like a pro.”

That sentiment, coming from someone like Jen, warmed Sophia.

She was spared more conversation when they spun into a hidden drive lined by a moss-covered block wall shrouded in old trees and overgrown shrubbery. Her side would have slammed into the door if she hadn’t seen it coming. The gate was already opening as they entered and glided shut the second they sped through. With another burst of velocity, they descended into an underground garage and lurched to a stop beside a couple of dark SUVs.

It was time to see what Jean Luc was up to with the French president. They were meeting off the books in the dead of night. The charming Emile Mauroy was young and beloved by his country, so what was he up to with Jean Luc? Sophia and her friends hadn’t found any evidence that the French president was anything but what he seemed.

That was the problem in their world—you didn’t always see the snakes lurking in the grass.

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