Page 35 of Royal Hottie
Silence falls. We both gaze out at the sea. There’s nothing more to be said. There is no us and there never will be.
I turn to her. “Tell me what it was like growing up in Tampa.”
She smiles and takes my hand, clasping it warmly on top of the blanket as she tells me of her orange trees, the warm waters of the Gulf, and her visits to the happiest place on earth, which inspired her love of interior design.
We end up talking all night, sitting side by side in the moonlight, holding hands.
We watch the sunrise together, and it’s the best night of my life.
She stands and stretches as the sun finishes its rise in the sky. “I can’t believe we talked until sunrise! You should’ve told me to shut up.”
I stand and fold the blankets. “Never. I loved hearing all your stories.”
“Thank you. I loved hearing yours too. And now I need sleep.”
I walk her to the door, holding it open for her, and then walk her to her room. She stops just outside her door and tips her face up, smiling at me. “Thanks for a wonderful night.”
I can barely breathe, so enthralled with her. “Thankyou.” I lean down to kiss her cheek, and she shifts, her lips meeting mine in a soft kiss.
I pull back in surprise. We agreed to be just friends.
She grabs my head and kisses me again. The blood rushes through my veins. I pin her against the door in a flash, the building tension finally having an outlet. Her lips are soft, her taste like wine and sex; it’s a potent combination. She’s gripping my hair, her nails digging into my shoulder, her tongue tangling with mine.
“Walk of shame, huh?” a feminine voice calls in a teasing voice.
I break the kiss and glare at one of Anna’s friends in a jacket, yoga leggings, and sneakers, probably going out for an early run.
“I wish,” Ruby says with a laugh.
My heart thunders in my chest, adrenaline pumping, all of me ready to move forward with this. Forget what we said before. I want hernow.
The woman laughs and continues on her way.
Ruby holds up a palm to me, holding me off. “Good night and good morning.” She slips inside and shuts the door behind her.
I consider following her in. I don’t think she’d resist if I kissed her again. It would naturally lead to her bed. And then what? We screw our brains out for one week, getting in deeper and deeper, and then cut each other loose?
I turn away, heading to my suite. Neither of us is up for the devastation. She was right about that. I rub my aching chest. Maybe it’s already too late. My body is denied, but my heart is out there, still with Ruby.
Chapter Nine
Ruby
Phillip has been a dream. After our all-night rooftop talk, we spent the rest of the week together, exploring the island and talking, talking, talking. It wasn’t exactly private. He has two guards with him whenever he goes out, on the king’s orders, not because he wants them. He swears the islanders would never hurt him. I got used to his guards, Henry and Rafe, once Phillip assured me they would never repeat anything they heard us say unless our lives were in danger. After a while, I forgot they were there and spoke freely. Being with Phillip is almost like hanging with a close friend, except for the sexual tension. It’s always there, a subtle current running between us.
Now we’re on the jet on the way to Paris for the date I won in the bachelor auction. Phillip is chatting with the flight attendant, asking after her family. I look out the window at the island fading in the distance. It’s beautiful, a jewel of purple heather meadows, dunes, grassy slopes, and rugged cliffs in a sapphire sea setting. Amalie Palace looks enchanting—sandstone with copper roofs, multiple towers, and spires—perched on a hill in the center of the island. Cute cottages dot the long winding palace road. Soon this will all be like something I dreamed. I leave in two days. Phillip leaves the day after.
He turns to me, his blue-green eyes warm on mine. “It’s a short flight. Just under an hour. There’s a driver waiting for us. We’ll do dinner and dancing and then head back. Does that all sound good?”
I search his features, hardly believing how familiar he feels to me after just two weeks. His thick dark brown hair with a natural wave to it, his sharp cheekbones and jawline, straight nose, his sensual full lower lip. God, he’s a good kisser. We haven’t kissed since our all-night talk and I miss it terribly. I tried and he gently explained I’m too tempting to open that door again. I don’t care what anyone says, he is not some jerk manwhore only looking out for number one. Not with me. His rep is more a consequence of his bad breakup than who he really is. He even said he was starting to hate that rep. Deep down, he’s a romantic at heart. Just look at how he planned this date around what I would like. He’s so warm and attentive with me. That can’t possibly be an act put on for seduction. He hasn’t pushed for anything physical. In fact, just the opposite. And I know our lives are heading in different directions, but I simply can’t deny myself any longer.
He leans close. “What’s wrong?”
I worry my lower lip. “What if we skipped the dancing?”
“Oh. Okay. I’ll have to call the club. I booked a private area for us.” He pulls out his phone. “Is there something else you want to do?”
I nod.
