Kiss the Girl (Naughty Princess Club 3)

One of the board members bangs the gavel against the table repeatedly, calling for order, and after a few minutes, the room quiets down again.

“I think we’ve heard enough. On behalf of the board, I’d like to apologize to you three for the treatment you’ve received. We will not stand for intimidation or blackmail of our business owners. What you ladies have accomplished with your business in the short amount of time it’s been open is indeed commendable and should be recognized. As the temporary head of the board, since our former one can go ahead and see herself out,” the man says, glaring at Ursula, “I hereby approve your business license and wish you nothing but continued success.”

With that, he smacks the gavel down again and announces that the meeting is adjourned.

The roar of the people in the room is deafening as Cindy, Belle, and I start screaming, hugging each other and jumping up and down.

“I love you drunk, slutty, motherfuckers!” I tell them, not even embarrassed that I’m crying in public as I hug my best friends.

“I can’t believe half the town knows I went home and sucked PJ’s dick,” Cindy complains.

“You cut it off before you said dick. I’m sure they thought you were going to say lollipop,” Belle reassures her.

All of a sudden, I feel a pair of arms wrapping around my waist and smell the cologne that I’ve been dreaming about for a week. Belle and Cindy let go of me with a smile, and I turn around in Eric’s arms to find him smiling down at me.

“I’m so fucking proud of you,” he tells me, resting his forehead against mine.

“I’m sorry about your mom. I hate this for you. I hate that you had to see that and hear that,” I tell him, trying really hard not to cry again.

“Don’t you dare apologize for what she did to you. To us. I told you we never had a close relationship, and I’m not sorry at all it had to come to this. I’m just sorry she hurt you. I’m sorry she put you through that. And I’m fucking pissed you didn’t tell me as soon as we left her house that day, but I get it. I get why you didn’t say anything.”

“I can’t believe you’re here. I broke up with you,” I tell him lamely.

He laughs, tightening his arms around me, bringing me flush against his body.

“No you didn’t.”

“Yes, I most certainly did,” I argue. “I left you a note. I packed my things and I left.”

“You just needed space. I get it. Chicks need space sometimes.” He shrugs.

“Did you just call me a chick?” I mutter in bewilderment.

“Wait, you’re not a chick? Well, shit. I mean, I know you’ve had my balls in your purse since the day I met you, but I thought for sure you weren’t a dude.”

He trails his eyes down from my face right to my boobs and licks his lips.

“Stop eye-fucking me in public,” I complain.

“Can we finally go home now so I can fuck you for real then?” he asks with a smirk.

“You’re ridiculous.” I shake my head at him, unable to stop the corner of my mouth from tipping up into a smile.

“And you love me,” he says softly.

“Eh, you’re all right. I guess we can go home now. I do miss Derrick Alfredo and his balls,” I tell him. “So, your boat or mine?”

Eric’s smile suddenly falls from his face, and I have a moment of panic, wondering if he really does hate me for what happened here today. He drops his arms from around my waist and takes a step back, running his hand nervously through his hair.

“Okay, so, I have something to tell you, and you have to promise not to freak out,” he pleads, pausing for entirely too long.

“Jesus Christ, I’m already freaking out! Just say it!” I shout.

He closes his eyes and breathes in through his nose and out through his mouth a few times before opening his eyes and looking at me seriously.

“Ariel. I sold your boat so I could buy back all your antiques. And then I sold my boat when I found out what my mother did to you, because I’ve never really given a shit about the family business, and I honestly don’t want anything to do with her right now. Also, one of the stipulations in the substantial inheritance my father left me was that I had to be thirty and married to a woman my mother approves of before I could touch it. Otherwise, I lose it completely.”

He lets out a deep breath of relief when he finishes and I stare at him in confusion.

“O - k - a - a - a - a - a - y,” I reply, dragging the word out, still wondering why he’s telling me all of this, expecting me to freak out.