Dirty Princes (Hot Candy 3)

“That’s right.”

What I meant is, I can’t let myself fall for her. Or anyone. Especially not now, when the ground is slipping from under my feet.

But let her think what she will.

Damn, she’s biting her lower lip in a very distracting way. She has faint freckles on her nose, and her mouth would feel so good under mine.

She’d feel so good under me, that mouth around my cock. I’d count the freckles on her arms, on her body. I’d spread her legs and find out how she tastes. How she sounds as she comes apart.

I turn around to leave, wincing at the shooting pain in my leg. “Take care, Brylee.”

Limping back to the hospital, I think I hear steps following me, but it’s not until I reach the entrance that I realize she’s right on my heels.

“What?” I say, more irritably than I intended, but hell, she’s driving me up the wall with her strange behavior and raw sexiness.

“What yourself.” Her gaze is clear. She gathers her skirts as she climbs the few steps that I’m struggling with. “Did you think I parked outside the hospital by chance?”

I narrow my eyes at her. “Why are you dressed like a princess?”

“It’s Sleeping Beauty, you ignorant lout.” But she smiles prettily, and I lose my train of thought. She was pretty before, but man, that smile… “Why are you limping?”

I pause right outside the automatic doors, mostly to catch my breath and get my face under control. “I pulled something in my back while at work.”

“What work is that?”

Heat spreads up my neck. Jesus. Why the hell shouldn’t I tell her?

“I load and unload trucks. I’m a warehouse loader, okay? So you see, you’re right.” And it comes out kinda bitter.

“About what?”

“Not wanting to go out with me. Even though I never asked you out.” I give her a faint smile and reach out to touch her cheek. God, it’s soft like satin. “I’m no prince. Not fit for a princess.”

Her face twists a little—as if behind a delicate mask.

Or maybe it’s her makeup.

“Why are you here, Riddick?”

“Just Rid.” I turn to the doors and hobble through, hoping it’s clear that I’m not gonna answer that. Fuck, no. “Have a good day, Brylee.”

“Call me Bry.”

And she’s still beside me, in her pink gown. The nurse at the desk nods at her like they know each other.

Huh.

“Bry,” I say.

Like Bright. It fits.

She gives me a sweet smile, and I can’t help but smile back. What is it with this girl? She’s half-crazy, and still I can’t help being drawn to her. I find her craziness…cute.

Clearly the painkillers are affecting my mind.

That’s when the nurse decides to turn her attention to me.

“Your mom is awake, hon,” she tells me. “Go reassure her everything’s okay. She might be a little disoriented.”