Felix and the Prince (Forever Wilde 2)

When I’d returned to Hobie and gotten his angry messages about me running away from Monaco without saying goodbye, I couldn’t help but call and explain myself. I’d told him it was for the best, we’d already agreed we couldn’t be together right away, and I explained that even attempting a long-distance relationship was being “together.” He’d asked me to put a timeline on it.

“Felix, baby, if you’re going to refuse to answer my calls while we let time pass, at least tell me how much time needs to pass,” he’d insisted. The frustration in his voice had made me nervous and fidgety.

“I don’t know, Lio. At least a few months, okay? I can’t… I can’t do this halfway.”

He’d yelled into the phone then, his frustration bubbling over from anger and fear. “I’m not asking you to, dammit! I want all the way, the whole way. I don’t want halfway. You’re the one insisting on halfway.”

“Please don’t yell at me,” I’d begged in a shaky voice. “I can’t—”

“Fuck,” he’d said, interrupting me. “I’m sorry, baby. I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to yell at you, I just miss you so much, and I’m scared you’re going to change your mind. I don’t want to spend a few months without knowing how you’re doing and talking to you before I fall asleep at night.”

“I know. But I don’t have all the answers. I just know if I come there now while you’re working your ass off to prove yourself to the people, I’ll either throw you off your game or you’ll work your ass off and leave me home alone, you know? Either way isn’t okay with me.”

I’d known he agreed with me then even before he’d admitted it, but it had still been practically impossible to deny his attempts to reach me. In the beginning, I’d thought something was wrong.

“Lio! Is everything okay?” I’d answer in a terrified gasp.

“Yes, of course. I just needed to hear your voice. It was a hard day.”

“Lio, we agreed we weren’t going to do the long-distance thing,” I’d remind him, grinding my teeth to swallow back the words I really wanted to say.

I needed to hear your voice too. It was a hard day for me too. I love you and miss you so much. I think I might be dying of heartbreak not being able to hold you after you’ve had a bad day.

So I’d begun ignoring his calls and texts for my own sanity. Otherwise, I would have broken, right there on the other end of the line from him. I would have asked something stupid like, “Is tomorrow a good time for me to arrive in Monaco and never leave your side again? Okay, see you then.”

But now I wondered if I’d done the right thing. Because there on the screen was my beloved Lio, sitting across from a lovely news anchor dressed in a sharp light blue skirt suit.

“Good evening, Your Majesty,” she said with a flirty but professional smile.

“Lior, please. And it’s nice to see you again, Valerie,” he said in that deep, familiar voice that wrapped around my heart like baling wire and pulled tight.

“Oh god,” I murmured, falling onto the arm of the sofa and staring dumbly at the screen. The entire room had gone silent when the interview began.

“Congratulations on a successful first quarter as the king. According to the polls, the people of Monaco and Liorland as a whole think you’re doing a wonderful job. How does it feel to be sitting on your father’s throne?”

His eyes bore into hers with leonine authority despite the warm, friendly smile on his face.

“I like to think of it as my throne now, Valerie. And it’s beginning to feel more comfortable as each day passes.”

“Yes, that’s good to hear,” she said, clearing her throat. “Despite a rocky start with the news of your parents’ divorce as well as the unexpected exposure of your sister’s secret relationship with a member of your personal guard, you have managed to accomplish quite a few things in your first few months. Is there anything in particular you’re especially proud of?”

He smiled and crossed his legs comfortably, oozing royal poise and presence like he’d been born into it. Which, of course, he had.

My young cousin Cam sighed. “That man is hot as fuck,” he said.

Several of my male and female cousins tutted their agreements.

Lio answered the question. “Yes. I would have to say signing the Global Health Security Agenda was a significant step for Liorland’s efforts to join the world’s leaders in preventing pandemic outbreaks as well as properly training personnel in particularly vulnerable populations to react swiftly in the case of disease outbreaks. In addition to the GHSA, we were also able to approve greater funding for our commitment to the UN Children’s Fund earmarked for helping the children of Syria. On the home front, the Monaco football club stands a chance at a European title for the first time in… oh, let’s just say ever. Can I take credit for that?”