Page 13 of Powerful Prince
He watched me eat, so I slowed down and met his gaze.
“You’re sure you want nothing I can offer?”
“No.” We both finished dessert and sipped our wine. As I was now full and we were done, I said, “Tonight was interesting, but we’re nothing alike.”
He pressed his knee closer to mine and I unwound. Part of me tingled with anticipation that he’d kiss me senseless again, but he simply said, “Come with me tomorrow to my castle. You can decide once you see what you’d gain if you say yes.”
We were impossible. I forced myself to scoot away from him and stand up, as I said, “I’m not bribable.”
He stood with me. “Everyone is, even if we pretend we’re not. But get to know me, for me, and don’t go online for a few days.”
Go to Europe with him? This was probably wrong, on many levels, but I wasn’t a hypocrite. And I’d never wanted anyone like Ryder at all. For a moment I was frozen, but as he stepped around the table and I stood in front of him, the zaps went from the bottom of my toes and rang through my body. I said, “I … okay, I accept your offer.”
We wandered back to the limo and in lightning speed we returned to the Venetian. As we stepped out, I knew I needed to really think and meditate on what I wanted. I offered my hand and said, “See you tomorrow.”
He kissed my wrist and said, “Soon you won’t want me to leave.”
The zips in my body were undeniable. I patted my head and backed away, “We’ll see about that. Good night, Ryder.”
“Good night, my beautiful Nicole,” he said and bowed like I was some princess departing.
I probably shouldn’t go. I probably should just call his room and cancel. I should just pack my bags and dash to the airport for the next flight back to Pittsburgh.
However, as I opened my room door and flipped on the lights, I knew I’d do none of that. I wanted Ryder, and the sight of the empty bed in my room only made that clear. Besides, if I joined him in Norden, my following would skyrocket, and that was the point.
Secretly, he was the one I wanted to blend my essence with, at least once. But I’d never tell him that.
Chapter 4
Ryder
I brushed my still-wet hair and tossed the brush into the one bag I packed. Yes, I could burden staff with packing the entire house to take, but honestly, too much stuff slowed me down.
I’d gotten used to one bag in my military days, and if I ever did want to go on an adventure that Gio couldn’t follow me on, well then, one bag was all I’d want.
I checked that my t-shirt wasn’t wrinkled and zipped the bag. Done. Now it was time to find out if Nicole meant what she’d said. She’d come to Norden.
Gio came in and picked up the bag, looking like he was offended that I took care of myself, and said, “Your brother is on the phone, sire.”
He handed it over. I waited till my butler/keeper left, and then plopped on the couch and asked, “Harry, what’s going on?”
My older brother, the crown prince who’d one day be king, said, “Emily and I were talking. Dad found you a virgin?”
My mind clicked. Yeah, I was probably a test run, then. I sat up and said, “Seems so, and she refuses my hand.”
Harry laughed. “I told you not to marry a stripper.”
I’d never been a good listener. I swallowed and stared at the ceiling as I said, “I didn’t do more than kiss her, once, and that was in front of the altar. It was a business deal.”
Harry probably had that stupid grin on his face that most women fanned themselves over, and that I’d rolled my eyes at since we were boys in grammar school. “Does this virgin know that?”
Nicole had a name. I pumped my hands together. The memory of her lips still burned on mine, and I remembered how sweet she’d tasted. I said, “She thinks I’m wild and crazy.”
“You are that.”
“No.” I rubbed my forehead. It would be nice if someone in the family was in my corner, once in a while. But now I had a plan, and I needed to go. “I’m an adrenaline junkie, but that’s not the point either.”
“The point? As in, you want to marry this virgin?”
