Page 43 of A Wise Prince

“I’m fine, really. I’m fine. Just overwhelmed by everything today,” I say because it’s not a lie and Jackie would know if I was lying.

She pats my arm. “There’s a guest room there on the right that looks empty. Why don’t you just take that? I’ll be next door if you need anything.”

I nod. “Thanks,” I manage as I open a door. The room is large and beautifully decorated with views of the sea. I shut the door and toss myself on the bed. I let myself cry. I cry for everything that I’ve ever given up. I cry for my life that isn’t my own. I cry for the future I dreamed of as a little girl that can’t be. At some point, the tears dry up, and I fall asleep.

I’m dreaming of riding at the stables by my childhood home. Trixie, my favorite horse, is galloping across the meadow. I laugh and toss my head back as the wind blows around us. Then she comes to a stop. It’s dark and I can’t see where we are. She stomps her hooves. I tell her to stop but she keeps stomping.

I wake with a start to knocking on my door. I rub my eyes which are still swollen from crying. It’s dark out. I look around the room and see that a clock with red lights reads three twenty in the morning.

“Yes?” I whisper.

“Kate?” I hear Auggie’s voice on the other side of the door.

“Auggie?” I respond, trying to clear the disorientation from my head.

“Can I…come in?”

“Uh, yeah,” I respond as I stand, brushing off my clothes and wiping my eyes.

The door opens and Auggie peeks around it before stepping in and shutting the door. His hair looks like he’s run his hand through it about a million times. It sticks up in a million directions. His shirt is unbuttoned halfway down, and I can see part of his chest. I involuntarily lick my lips because he looks sexy as fuck. Why, oh, why does he have to look like that? Is that some sort of punishment? I can look but I can’t touch. I clench my fists at my sides and look up to meet his gaze.

“I…” He starts but trails off as he looks at me. He doesn’t continue, he just takes the last three steps to reach me. His hands slide up my body and cup my face as he leans down and kisses me. I don’t move because I think I might be dreaming and I’m afraid I’ll wake up if I even blink. But when his tongue traces my lips, I moan because I can’t stop myself. He deepens the kiss and his tongue caresses mine.

“Auggie,” I murmur against his lips.

“Kate, I’m sorry. I’m so fucking sorry,” he says, his voice laced with emotion. I’m confused. I don’t understand.

I pull back and look up at him.

“Why?” I ask.

His thumb runs along my jaw. “I…don’t want to lose you,” he says. “I…have never done a relationship. I don’t know if I can. But you walking back inside, you saying this is over…you make me want to try.” He looks like a lost puppy, and for the first time since I’ve met him, I know that there is so much more to August Alexander than anyone can guess. But I’m also scared to death, scared that he’ll crush my fragile heart.

I shake my head. “I don’t know if I can do this,” I admit.

“Try with me, Kate. Please.”

His eyes search mine; they are wide with honesty and I know that at this moment, he’s letting me inside. I’m seeing the inner Auggie who no one else gets to see. The Auggie who is vulnerable. The Auggie who can be hurt. My mind wanders to the memories of watching his mother’s funeral on television. Even then, my heart broke for him. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know he’s covered up that fragile young man with layers of extravagance and parties on yachts.

I suck in a breath and close my eyes for a moment. I’m afraid, but he is too. Maybe…this can work. I want it to work so badly. Am I being foolish? Probably. But, deep down, I know I can’t stay away from him. He’s healing my broken heart, the one I thought could never love again after Jared crushed it. I know I’m being overly sensitive and probably overreading everything Auggie says and does, but I’m in unchartered territory. My feelings for Auggie seem so much more intense than any feelings I ever had for Jared.

“Just, don’t crush my heart, OK?” I say as I open my eyes to meet his.

He brushes a slow kiss against my forehead before looking back into my eyes. “I won’t if you won’t.”

I go to respond, but he kisses me with a fierceness, a possession and I’m lost. He strips my clothes as his mouth leaves wet, hot trails along my skin.

“Auggie,” I breathe.

He growls in response and tugs a nipple between his teeth. I moan softly, aware that my security is in the next room. I must tense because he stops.

“What’s wrong?” he asks me, his voice laced with concern.

“Jackie,” I whisper.

He grins, and before I know what he’s doing, he’s wrapped me in a sheet and swept me into his arms. He carries me down a back hall and kicks open a door before setting me down on a giant bed. I look toward the wall of windows that opens onto a balcony. The fragrance of flowers fills the air and I can see in the moonlight that the balcony overlooks a garden.

I look back and Auggie has just finished stripping off his clothes. I take in the beauty of his body. I don’t think I can ever get enough of it. He crawls onto the bed beside me. This time, I don’t feel like he’s a predator and I’m the prey. I feel like…we’re equals…we’re both predators.

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