Crown Prince's Bought Bride

His mouth firmed even as his shaft stiffened at the reminder of what they’d shared on his sofa. He’d felt her innocence. Felt it and experienced a primitive urge to claim it.

He wasn’t ashamed to admit the discovery had taken him completely by surprise, that even the thought that he would be betraying Celeste’s memory hadn’t been enough to dissipate the untamed hunger that prowled through him even now.

Last night, when a cold shower hadn’t frozen the hunger or dispatched the guilt that had settled on his shoulders, he’d forced himself to take another path, to think rationally about the problem he faced.

The call with his mother had settled that once and for all.

He refocused. ‘I’m coming downstairs. You know where she’s headed. Take me to her.’

‘Immediately, Your Highness,’ Raoul replied.

He slammed the phone down and cursed Maddie’s elusiveness.

Even though he’d never taken advantage of it, the privilege of his birth included never having to pursue a woman. Women of standing and gold-diggers alike made no bones about their willingness to fall into his bed at the slightest display of interest.

Barely an hour ago Maddie had succumbed to his caresses—then immediately dismissed him. He was finding that a...unique experience. One he didn’t wish to repeat.

Irritation intensifying, he dialled her number again. For the third time her smoky tones directed him to leave a message. He tossed the phone away, his teeth meeting in a hard clench.

She’d better not to be with another man. Or what? The voice in his head taunted. He’d go against all his breeding and make a scene?

Why not? She was his.

Remi froze as the enormity of those three words hooked into him, unshakeable and real.

As he tried to breathe through the dizzying sensation his phone rang again. He snatched it up. Leaden disappointment seized his gut when he saw his mother’s number displayed on the screen. For the first time in his life, Remi did something un-prince-like. He ignored the Queen’s summons.

His mood hadn’t improved one iota by the time they turned into the street he’d delivered Maddie to after their first meeting. He exited the vehicle and followed Raoul to the shabby, nondescript entrance to a tiny ground-floor flat. The door before him was thin and insubstantial, with peeling green paint.

Swallowing his distaste, he leaned on the bell, gratified when he heard a jangle of sound within. The sight of a dishevelled Maddie immediately reversed that sensation.

‘What are you doing here?’ she blurted, with a hasty look over her shoulder.

‘You will let me in,’ he instructed.

Her chin lifted. ‘Will I?’

‘Unless you want your neighbours to witness our conversation, yes.’

Her gaze darted past him to the six bodyguards stationed on the street and the sleek convoy of his motorcade, which was already drawing attention.

‘Or you can just get back into your vehicle and leave?’ she suggested hopefully.

His gut churned harder. ‘I’m not leaving. This will go easier if you let me in.’

Her face paled a little but she stood her ground. ‘I’d really rather not.’

‘For both our sakes, I hope you didn’t leave my bed to be with another man.’ The very thought of it sent a spike of anger and jealousy through Remi.

Her eyes widened with shock, then anger. ‘You think I left you to come to another man?’

He didn’t—not completely. But the possessive beast holding him prisoner wouldn’t let go, and nor would the thought that, having touched her innocence, she belonged to him, no matter how irrational both notions were.

He tried clinical reason. The decision he’d made would slake this unrelenting hunger within him so things could settle back to rationality. So he could focus on his duty and obligation to his crown. Where was the harm in that?

The harm is your betrayal.

The gentle voice in his head drew ice over his roiling emotions.