Page 33 of The Prince's Game
He rolled to the side, pulling me with him. One arm went under my head while the other wrapped around my waist. I shivered when he pressed his leg between mine, locking us intimately together.He likes to cuddle. Good to know.
“I’m up for repeating all of that and more whenever you want, Miss Summers.”
“Every night for the next few weeks works well with my schedule.”
“Two months of spending every night with you? I think I can handle that. But you should know, Sarah, I’m in danger of falling in love with your mouth. It felt amazing wrapped around my cock.”
“Yeah? I have similar feelings toward your tongue.”
“Then we’re on the same page.” He ran his tongue along my bottom lip before taking my mouth in another deep kiss. “I’m definitely staying tonight.”
“I’m not arguing.”
“Good.” He disentangled himself and leaned away to grab his jeans. It was the opposite of what I expected. When he faced me again, jeans in hand, he laughed. “You’re adorable when you frown.”
“I thought you were staying.” There was nothing funny about him saying one thing and doing another.
“I’m glad the thought of my leaving upsets you.” He kissed me on the nose, deepening my scowl. He pulled his phone from the pocket of his pants and threw the offending fabric to the floor. “I need to set an alarm to get out of here before everyone wakes up.”
“That wasn’t funny.”
“It wasn’t meant to be.” He finished keying a time into his phone, set it on the nightstand, and then flicked off the lights. “But it was cute.”
It wasn’t cute at all. It was a telling reaction that burned inside. “I’m not a fan of men who say one thing and do another.”
“You’ll never have to worry about that with me.” He placed my head on his shoulder as he wrapped both arms around me and entangled our legs. “I mean what I say, Sarah. It’s a promise to you I’ll never break.”
“I’ll hold you to that.” I was relying on his word just by staying here. The contract was my security blanket, but that didn’t mean he wouldn’t fight me over it one day. Yet, there wasn’t an inkling of doubt in my decision. I wasn’t one to trust easily, but something about him struck a chord deep within me. On some foreign level, I felt like Iknewhim despite our short time together. And wasn’t that terrifying?
“So serious.” He kissed my forehead, his lips brushing the frown lines there. “What’s the story here? Someone obviously went back on his word.”
“Who hasn’t? Most recently, my ex told me my job was important, until it wasn’t convenient for him anymore.” I was still bitter about that one. “Before that, I dated a guy who told me he admired my career aspirations and then dumped me a month later because I wasn’t giving him enough of my time.”
“Sounds like you dated a lot of men who didn’t understand your life goals.”
“I was more than up front with them about it, just as I’ve been with you. When it comes down to it, most men feel their own careers are more important. I’m considered selfish when I put mine before having a family, and that’s not just the male population talking there. I get equal, if not more, flack from women who don’t understand why I’m still single.”How can a pretty girl like you not be married?If I heard that question one more time, I could not be held liable for my reaction.
“It’s a double standard.” He toyed with a strand of my hair while he spoke. “Women are expected to give up their careers to raise the children and are often referred to as bad mothers when they don’t. When a man chooses to give up his career and raise the kids, though, he’s praised for his sacrifices. I see it every day in the business world.”
“So you understand my frustration.”
“Not entirely. Being a man, I’m not held to the same standard, but I can understand on principle. I would never ask a woman to give up her career for a family. Of course, I have no intention of ever marrying.”
“Why is that?” I questioned. “I get why you don’t want to marry anyone through a dating show, but why are you against marriage in general?”
He stiffened, his finger freezing midwrap around my hair. “Why are you asking me that, Sarah?”
“Oh, relax. I’m just curious. Don’t worry about me getting any ideas in my head. I know exactly what this is between us.”
He didn’t relax. “In my experience, female curiosity regarding my opinions on marriage never ends well.”
“I could see that.” I shrugged. “Don’t answer, then. I know how you feel about the institution, just not why. I can live with that.”
Silence.
“Okay, so that’s your button. Duly noted.” I yawned, exhausted. I wasn’t going to press him into talking about his feelings. I didn’t want to know the answer anyway. With every private detail, I fell deeper down the rabbit hole. The less I knew about him, the easier it would be to keep him out of my heart. Because the more he confided in me, the more Ifelt. I couldn’t afford to let him in much more.
I snuggled into his shoulder, closing my eyes. He was rigid beside me, as if waiting for something. Whatever it was, he would be waiting all night because I was on the verge of falling asleep.
