Page 58 of Royal Charmer
She shakes her head and swipes at a tear. “Stop acting charming. You went through with it to cement your business deal. You used me.”
I gesture toward her laptop. “And you used me too. We both understood that going in, but that’s not what it is now.”
“I need to be smart this time,” she whispers. “You got what you wanted; I got what I wanted. So now…”
“What?”
She shakes her head, staring at the floor. “I guess I’m done playing the game.”
I dip my head, trying to catch her gaze. “It’s not a game anymore. You must know that.”
She lifts her chin, but it wobbles. My chest constricts at her obvious distress. Her voice is wobbly too. “I was only using you for my story, so be careful how you treat me from here on out because it’s all going in there.” She jabs her finger toward her laptop, staring at it, away from me.
“That would be an honor. And I will treat you well.”
“You did not act honorably,” she says through her teeth. “I no longer trust you.”
“I had good romantic intentions.”
“I think they were mixed intentions at best. And you’re not even a romantic. That’s me.”
“Alice, if I had a chance to do it all over again, I still wouldn’t tell you that Gabriel was against the engagement because then I would’ve missed out on getting to know you. I would’ve missed discovering sweet, gentle Alice with a resilient strength all wrapped around a tender vulnerability. And that is the one hundred percent truth. Please don’t shut me out because I wanted to be with you.”
She looks up at me, her gaze searching mine, maybe to see if I mean it. I do. She sighs. “Lucas, I don’t think—”
“You’re mine.” It comes out harsh because for the first time I fear I’m losing her.
“I’m not yours,” she grinds out. “I’m my own woman.”
I tuck a lock of hair behind her ear and lower my voice. “Yes, you are your own woman.” I graze the side of her neck with my fingertips, and her eyes go half-mast. She enjoys my touch as much as I enjoy hers. I shift my hand, holding her jaw, my voice low and firm, my eyes intent on hers. “And you’re still mine.”
She exhales sharply, her eyes flashing. “I can’t do this with you! You think you can just keep messing with people for your own purposes!” She deflates and says quietly, “I don’t want to fight with you.”
If this is fighting with Alice, I don’t mind it. Everything she says, everything she does just draws me in. And I can’t help but think she has some real feeling for me. Otherwise, she wouldn’t be so hurt over what she thinks is a betrayal of her trust. She’s skittish because of her recent breakup. I’ll show her otherwise. I would never betray her.
“I don’t want to fight either, sweet Alice.”
She blinks a few times, seemingly thrown by the term of endearment.
I press my advantage, pinching her chin as I lean in and place a soft kiss on the corner of her mouth. Her sigh brushes over my lips. I kiss the other corner and she shifts, seeking more. I pull back, gazing into her soft blue eyes. “I want to be with you, Alice, no matter what we call it. Don’t shut me out.” I wrap her hair around my fist and tug, exposing her throat. She swallows visibly. I slowly lean in, dropping a kiss on the sensitive spot behind her ear, nuzzling the side of her neck, kissing and tasting my way down her throat.
I lift my head, our lips a breath apart, waiting, the air crackling between us. My hand is still buried in her hair; her hands are by her sides.
Her words run hot over my lips. “We’re using each other, Lucas.”
I shift the tiniest amount, grazing a kiss over her lower lip. She follows, seeking more, but I pull back. “Okay, then let’s use each other.”
Her hand comes up, gently stroking my beard. I close my eyes, her soft touch soothing me like nothing else. Thank God she’s touching me.
“I think this is a very bad idea,” she whispers right before she kisses me. And she’s not gentle, kissing roughly, her hands tugging my hair, nipping my lower lip. Is this angry sex with Alice? Sign me up.
She grabs my shirt and attempts to rip it open. She pulls back and stares at it. “Your buttons were supposed to go flying.”
“It’s too well made for that.” Though the truth is she’s probably not strong enough to make it happen. “Anyway, we don’t need to worry about my shirt,” I say, shoving my hand up her dress and between her legs. A bold demand. I’ve been careful with her until now.
She gasps, her eyes wide, and then she grabs my head, kissing me passionately.Yesss.It’s a wild kiss, all lips and tongue and teeth, her hands all over me. She’s ready for more. I shove her damp panties to the side, sliding my fingers inside her, thrusting as I use my thumb to tease her, flicking back and forth. She moans in the back of her throat, every soft sound driving me on. Within minutes, she’s riding my hand, her nails digging into my back.
She tears her mouth away. “Now! I need you inside me.”
