Loving the Crown (The Crown 3)

Now that he was here, I had to admit it was distracting. I wanted to watch him. Talk to him. In between takes, I wanted to drag him into the drafty underground catacombs and kiss the hell out of him. What had happened to me? Who was this girl?

I never let men get this close to me. All it had taken was a splash in the fountain and a roll in the sheets and I was already researching Galona’s royal rules for dating foreigners. I felt like a teenager, not am empowered American star.

My body still buzzed and hummed from the sex. I couldn’t explain it. I’d never felt this sensation under my skin before. It happened after the morning sex. After the condom-less sex. There was something brewing inside me, and it didn’t make a lick of sense.

Tom strolled toward me. “So, you brought a visitor to the set?” He rolled his eyes.

“He’s the prince, Tom. He can do what he wants. He’s a Vampire Heart fan. Why shouldn’t he watch us shoot in his country?”

Tom popped a piece of gum in his mouth. “Because you know how Lance feels about outsiders. Sets are closed. Do you think I’ve ever considered bringing Leo on set?” he whispered.

“You can bring Leo.” I shot back.

He eyed me. “No, I can’t. We both know that. Lance would be horrified.”

“You aren’t going to lose fans if people know you’re bi. You’re a vampire for God’s sakes. Vampires are very sexual. If anything, you’ll gain fans. I would support you.”

“Says the straight ass-kicking bombshell.”

I sighed. He thought it was easy being Gillian Sparks. He didn’t want to think about how I had to fight twice as hard for the same salary. Or how my wardrobe was just one big sex kitten sideshow. How my character kicked ass, but only because she was in love. Tom had his own battles to fight, but he wasn’t ever going to acknowledge mine.

Until then, we had to fight and make out before I tried to stake him. Fun times.

“Ready, babe?” he asked.

I nodded. “Let’s do it. I feel like taking out some vampires today.” I grinned devilishly.

Chapter Fifteen

Liam

I was ready to break royal rules. If I had to run the country while Alaric and Corbin were with their mates, I was going to do it my way. The memostar was in my hands. It was never supposed to leave the palace unless it was under royal escort. Today, I was reading it on the set of an American vampire show while I drank my coffee.

Wallace would have a stroke on the spot if he found out I had taken it without cracking the seal. I tried to remain out of the way while Gillian worked. We had fought this morning and I didn’t like giving in. I didn’t like fighting with her either.

Somehow she had managed to convince me to do something else I never did—compromise. She swore it would be good for me. I swore she could make it up to me when we got back to the palace. She didn’t argue, so I considered that a win.

The coffee was garbage. American watered-down shit in a paper cup. I tossed it in the trash can before I returned to my post to read the morning security updates.

I needed to get a handle on all the moving pieces in the family. It was important to know not only where my siblings were, but also my cousins and their parents. My mother was at the top of the list. I was surprised to see she was leaving her residence today for a wedding.

One of the duke’s daughters in the hill country was marrying a knight. I was already bored.

I skimmed the next few brief notes.

Then I looked up. My lungs seized and hands curled into fists. What the hell was going on?

I marched over to Gillian as the director yelled at me.

“Cut! What is he doing in the shot?”

Tom’s hands cupped her cheek. His lips had been on hers. Her mouth was still parted. The image was burned onto my retinas. My bear was ready to tear someone’s head off. Rip through Tom’s bones and stack them in a pile.

“Liam,” Gillian whispered. “What’s wrong?”

She pushed me backward away from Tom and Lance.

“Why did he kiss you?” My eyes darted wildly.