A Player for A Princess

“Stop lying to me.”

Pain collapses my insides. Cal’s anger is so much worse than I could possibly have imagined, and still I want him so badly, my heart is breaking.

“I’m not!”

“You fucking conned me from the start.”

A hot tear hits my cheek—I can’t deny it. I did.

“I’m so sorry,” I whisper.

Gripping my face, his rough mouth covers mine, shoving my lips apart. My knees go liquid, but he jerks me up firmly against his chest. Gripping his shoulders, my fingers curl against his hard muscles as his tongue claims mine.

He lifts his head, and our mouths break apart with a gasping smack. My lips throb with the force of it.

“Is that a lie, too?” His eyes are dark.

“N-no,” I gasp. The fine hairs dusting his chest tease the skin above my bra, and I’m so wet.

His large hand slides between my thighs, over those thin boxers. I’m bare underneath, but he’s not invading, he’s teasing. I ache for him so much, I can barely stand it. Still holding my cheeks, he forces me to meet his angry eyes a moment before he kisses me again. Again, it’s hard, passionate, demanding, and all the sensations overwhelm me.

Jerking my head back hazel eyes burn into mine. “Every time you moaned for me, every time you begged… Were you lying then?”

“No!” I cling to him as his hand snakes around to cup my ass through the thin cotton material. “I never saw you coming. Even if I had, I never could have been prepared for you. Not in a million years.”

His eyes narrow slightly, and he places both hands on my cheeks, moving his thumbs over my mouth. The muscle in his jaw moves, and I can see so much anger in his eyes.

“Cal—”

“Don’t.” A thumb stills on my lips, stopping my speech.

He slides his thumb over my slightly fuller top lip. His eyes follow his movements, and I remember our night on the boat, him telling me all the things he sees when he looks at me. Just as fast, I remember the way he fucked me that night, the way we were both wild and passionate.

Our eyes meet, and I have no idea what he sees now when he looks at me. I don’t know if the love he felt for me has been snuffed out by the truth of who I am. I don’t know what he’ll do next now that he’s caught me.

I only know as much as I don’t deserve him, he’s my prince. I gave my heart to him, and no matter how far I run, I’ll never stop wanting him.

4

Reunion

Cal

Our small plane touches down on the airstrip just outside Road Town. Logan easily found the hotel where Regina Lampert is staying on the short flight from St. Croix, and he shows me the shitty dump in the middle of the tourist district.

“We’re at least an hour ahead of them,” my tall, muscular guard says as we descend from the aircraft. “Should we return to the villa?”

“No.” My jaw is clenched, and I’m having a hard time keeping my anger at bay. “I’m going to her room.”

An SUV is waiting for us, and Logan gives him the address for her hotel. It takes less than five minutes for us to be there, and I slip down the alley to the back of the building. The utter lack of security coupled with how easily I climb the short fire escape, cross over to her balcony, and enter through the unlocked patio door angers me in a whole new way. Anyone could do this. She could be dead before dawn at this rate.

“Yet you run from me,” I grumble, sitting on the uncomfortable couch as I wait for her to appear.

My mind travels across the miles in the darkness. I remember the first night I saw her in Monagasco at the charity ball. I remember her strapless black dress and the way she wobbled on those too-tall stilettoes. She looked up at me, blue eyes flashing with humor and determination, and I couldn’t resist. I’d never seen anything like her.

I didn’t understand why she was so focused on my brother. It was an entirely new experience, but it didn’t matter. After our first night, I knew she was mine. Unfortunately, it seems I am completely hers as well. My fists tighten, and the noise at the door tells me she’s here.

Tightness fills my chest at the sound of her voice. I left the patio door slightly ajar, and she struggles against the wind tunnel created. The sea breeze surrounds us, overwhelming us both. My breathing is heavy, barely audible as I watch her, alone in this dark room. She stops in front of the mirror and takes the pins out of her long, blonde hair. It falls in silky curls around her shoulders. I can still see the tips curling at her nipples the last time I fucked her.