JAMES Read online

  He lifts his head again. “I want to make you scream before I fuck you. Don’t be shy about telling me what you like.”

  Though I’ve never been loud in bed before, I nod in agreement.

  He gives me a hot, opened-mouthed kiss on my navel in approval. His tongue trails a path down around my bush, leaving goosebumps and tingles in its wake. He presses slow, wet kisses along my thigh as one of his long fingers parts my pussy to find my clit.

  His thumb moves around it slowly, sending an instant jolt of pleasure through me.

  I cry out.

  “You like that?”

  I nod. “Yes.”

  “How about this?”

  Continuing to move his thumb around my nub, he slides a finger inside of me.

  I let out another sound, one I’ve never heard before.

  He chuckles. “I will take that as a ‘yes, please.’”

  “Yes, please.” And then I come completely undone as his mouth replaces his thumb and he slides two more fingers inside of me. Stroking my wall. Finding the g-spot that has eluded all of my past boyfriends.

  The pleasure builds and grows inside of me as he inserts another finger. I gasp, gripping the comforter, holding on for dear life, as I go over the edge and the orgasm radiates through me.

  I call out his name and God’s, and he stays with me, prolonging the pleasure until all that exists in this world is James and me and what he is doing to my body.

  While I draw deep breaths, I am vaguely aware of James rising to his feet. A moment later, he rips open the foil of a condom. I lean up again watching as he glides it on with expertise.

  Pulling me to my feet, James leads me to the window overlooking the city and the lights below us. Kissing my neck with his full lips, still glistening from me, he pulls away. Before I can react, he braces my hands on the back of the chair. He lifts one of my legs, so I’m partially kneeling on it. His palms move over me, cupping my breast, and fingering me again. While I look down at the city, he enters me in one swift motion.

  I cry out, reaching my hand over my shoulder to grab his hair.

  He thrusts in and out, faster, harder, with a skill I’ve never experienced before. The fronts of his thighs press against the backs of mine.

  As my insides begin to quake again, I hear James’s breaths quicken. He rides me, pushing us both toward the peak of Everest.

  And when I find it again, I cry out. He groans as he thrusts into me one more time, my orgasm pushing us both over.

  His hands cover mine, gripping onto the back of the chair to keep us upright while our breaths and heartbeats steady.

  That was like nothing I have ever felt before. And somewhere inside of me, I know it is like nothing I will ever experience again without him.

  Seconds, maybe minutes later, James slides out of me. He carries me back to the bed like it is no effort. When we are settled between the covers, my head and his chest and his arms wrapped around me, he presses a kiss to my forehead.

  “There’s something I want to tell you.”

  Then, with our fingers laced together, James tells me he’s a prince. He tells me about his childhood, growing up the youngest child of a strict king. He tells me about earning a bad boy reputation that is only half merited. He tells me about finding his place at school and with numbers. Because they made sense and made him feel like a normal person.

  On and on.

  I listen in silence, falling deeper and deeper in love with him.

  I have to tell him my truth as well. But he dozes off in the middle of his story, leaving me to think about it in silence. I will tell him everything first thing in the morning. And I hope he doesn’t hate me once he knows.

  James

  I nuzzle Alyssa awake. Though I could watch her sleep for hours, I know she has a plane ticket back to New York later this morning. My stomach twists at that thought. Though we promised to enjoy only the moment, I will be damned if I let her walk out of my life never to be seen again.

  What happened between us was more than sex. Surely she must see that. The way we connected, both in and out of bed, is something else. Something I do not think we can walk away from and forget.

  Yawning, Alyssa rubs her eyes and looks up at me. “How is it possible?”

  I frown. “What?”

  “You look even more handsome in the morning.” She reaches up to run one hand through my disheveled hair and the other over my stubble. I am not sure my father would approve of either, but I like that she does. “I look like a troll.”

  “Hey, that is my wife you are talking about.”

  “Your soon to be ex-wife.”

  Her words make my heart hitch, even though I know they are true. I dismiss the feeling. We can talk about the future later.

  But first things first. “You are my wife at this very moment. We might as well make the most of it.”

  I dive under the covers, and a moment later she is giggling. God, I love that sound. It makes me ravenous and hard. I am about to take care of both of those issues when there is a pounding at the hotel door.

  I pop out from under the blanket. “We’re good on towels, thanks.”

  Alyssa covers her mouth to stifle a laugh.

  “Open the damn door, James.”

  I freeze.

  Alyssa eyes me cautiously. “Who is that?”

  “That would be my big brother.” I bolt up, pulling on my boxer briefs and handing her a robe. “I know we said no strings, but I am afraid that is about to change, my dear.”

  “Wait,” she calls out as she pulls on her robe. “There’s something I should tell you first.”

  “We can discuss it after I send my brother packing.”

  “No, please, I—”

  I open the door to find an annoyed-looking Henry on the other side.

  “You are lucky father did not send his guards.”

  I wince. “So Dad knows?”

  “Dad knows everything. Probably more than you do.” Henry looks behind me to where Alyssa has now pulled on the robe, but is still hanging out in the background. “You, I imagine, are Alyssa Giles?”

  “I am.” Her voice shakes.

  I turn in concern. “Do not worry. Henry is harmless.”

  Alyssa shakes her head. “No, he is not.”

  “I am afraid your blushing bride is correct.” Henry steps inside and closes the door behind him. “As I said, our father knows more than you can imagine.”

  “Please.” Alyssa steps toward Henry. “I know I have no reason for you to do anything I ask, but let me tell him.”

  My heart freezes, pumping ice through my veins. “Tell me what?”

  She runs a hand through her messy blonde hair and takes a shaky breath. “Our meeting wasn’t an accident. I work for a magazine.”

  “What magazine?”

  She gives the name of one of the more sordid publications littering the grocery stores and Internet.

  “I’m a researcher there.” Her gaze moves to the hideous burnt mustard carpeting. “I was supposed to look for a fresh and unique angle to pass on to one of the reporters on our staff.”

  “So you knew who I was the whole time?” My frozen heart rips into shreds.

  She nods. “But I swear, I didn’t plan on any of this happening. And I haven’t sent so much as a picture back to my boss.”

  I wish I could believe her. “You will have to forgive me if I do not take your word for it.”

  “I don’t have any record of anything.” She offers me her phone. “Take a look. I promise you’ll find it’s clean.”

  My jaw ticks and I turn my gaze out the window. I can still see them in the reflection.

  “If you do that is your business.” I swallow hard against a lump in my throat. “Take your fifteen minutes of fame. What do I care?”

  Sighing, Henry steps forward. “If it is all the same to you, I would like to check.”

  “Please. Do.” She practically shoves it at him.

  I continue to stare blankly out
the window wondering how I could ever be so foolish. A few minutes later, Henry hands Alyssa back the phone.

  “I am by no means a cyber security expert, but it looks clean.”

  His expression seems to soften as he watches Alyssa with more interest.

  “Has it hit the news yet?” I ask.

  Henry shakes his head still looking at her. “But the palace just had a call from a publication.”

  “Hers?”

  “Another one. But we figure it is only a matter of time.”

  Nodding, I spare a glance at Alyssa who is giving Meryl Streep a run for her money with her ability to look distraught.

  “I think you have a flight to catch.”

  “James please.” She clutches her hands together at her chest. The anguish in her voice is another dagger through my chest. “I can explain. What happened between us is real. I wanted to tell you. I love you. I should have—”

  “Stop.” My jaw ticks. “Whatever we did or did not have is over.”

  With that, I excuse myself and lock the bathroom door behind me. I stare into the mirror wondering how I could possibly have been so stupid.

  Alyssa

  I’m so numb on the trip from Las Vegas to New York, I barely notice when the airport shuttle driver pulls up in front of my apartment. He clears his throat twice before I even realize we’ve arrived.

  Inside, I set my tote bag and purse on my coffee table and sink into my couch. Mr. Darcy, my black and white tuxedo cat, sprints across the room to let me know what he thinks about my impulsively leaving him alone for forty-eight hours. But his whines quickly turn into mews as he hops on my lap to rub his face with mine.

  He’s a little love. And, it seems, unlike some princes I know, he can forgive and forget.

  Tears roll down my cheeks only earning me even more snuggles and affection from Mr. Darcy. Thank goodness he isn’t like his namesake. If he was, he would be listing off all of the ways I’ve screwed up my life in the past couple of days—heck, years.

  I’m full-fledged open-mouthed ugly crying when my phone rings. I freeze mid-sob and reach into my purse. Did James have a change of heart? Is he going to forgive me? Hope brews until I get my hands on the phone and read the display.

  It’s Ned.

  Of course. Who else could it be?

  I’d have to be an idiot to think James could forgive me after what I did. Unfortunately, as I’ve proven over and over, I am an idiot.

  Sighing, I answer the phone. He doesn’t bother with any niceties.

  “When you said you had one hell of an inside angle, I’ll admit, I never expected this.”

  Yeah, neither did I.

  “I only wish you would’ve told us before we got scooped,” he adds. “So, when can I expect your notes.”

  “I’m not sure it would be appropriate given everything that’s happened,” I say lamely. I have been so stupid. If I had the energy, I’d slap myself to see if it would help knock sense into me.

  “What are you saying?”

  I take a deep breath. “I’m not giving you anything.”

  “Wait a minute.” I can practically see Ned’s face turning red on the other end of the line. “Let me see if I’ve got this straight. You’ve spent most of the past forty-eight hours with the playboy prince of Rhodon.”

  “Correct.” Though, I never so much as saw him glance at another woman when we were together. And he had ample opportunity.

  “You used company funds to book yourself travel.”

  “Which I’ve already reimbursed.” True to his word, James had paid me back for everything.

  Ned sighs. “You married the guy.”

  “Briefly.”

  “And you aren’t going to give us anything.”

  “I didn’t marry him to get a story.”

  “Then why did you?”

  That’s the question I’ve been trying to answer for the past couple of days, isn’t it? “Honestly, and this is off the record. But I don’t know why I married him.”

  “You don’t?”

  “I was drunker than any human has probably been in the history of drunken nights.” But it wasn’t just an alcohol-infused mistake. I see that now. “Plus, I like him.”

  It’s more than that. Somehow, in the whirlwind of everything, I fell for James.

  The line goes silent, and I hold my breath waiting for Ned’s response. Honestly, I’ll be surprised if the next words out of his mouth don’t include my being fired.

  “That’s the problem, isn’t it?” he asks at last. “You started to see the prince as a human and not the subject of your article.”

  “He is human. All of the people in our articles are.”

  “You can’t look at them that way in this industry. Not if you want to make a career out of it.”

  “But I don’t want to make this a career.” Now that the words are out of my mouth, some small weight lifts from my shoulders. “This was only supposed to be a temporary job. Something I did to break into journalism.”

  “And now it’s done.”

  “Well, if that’s how you feel . . .”

  We hang up a moment later, after Ned tells me I’ll need to pick up my things from the office and that I may be hearing from their lawyers. But he never raises his voice. I guess he’s better at accepting that something is over than I am.

  I don’t know how long I have been sitting there, silently petting Mr. Darcy, when my phone buzzes with an email. It’s from the lawyer in Las Vegas. The judge signed the papers. Our marriage is officially null and void.

  Just like my life and any hopes I have for happiness.

  James

  The next day, Henry and I board our private jet to head home. For the first time in my life, I cannot wait to be back in Rhodon. I deserve the lecture that is sure to come from my father.

  I slouch in my seat and stare gloomily at the tarmac.

  “You’re making headlines in the papers,” Henry says from across the aisle.

  I grunt in response.

  “Everywhere I look, I see your ugly mug next to that beautiful woman’s face.”

  “She was a mistake. One I will not make again.” Monogamy does not suit me. Though the thought of going back to my libertine ways does not particularly thrill me either. Hell, I suppose it will just have to be celibacy. “Maybe I will become a priest.”

  Henry snorts. “I do not see that working out for you.”

  “It might be worth a shot.” I pull the shutter down on the window, no longer interested in the world around me. “We both know I am rubbish with woman.”

  “True. You might be a genius at numbers, but you are a fool with women.” Henry shakes his head. “You always have been. Looks like you always will unless . . .”

  “Unless what?”

  “Unless you open your damn eyes to the woman you already have.”

  “You mean a reporter who pretended to be into me to get a story.”

  “What story?” He waves a pile of newspapers at me. He picks up the first. “‘Ms. Giles could not be reached for comment.’” He chucks it aside and holds up the next. “‘Sources say Giles is no longer working for the magazine.’” He tosses that away and reads on and on.

  Every article in every publication is the same. Alyssa is not talking. She either quit her job or was fired. No one has seen her, even though reporters are parked outside every exit of her building.

  “You are flying home in a private jet and pouting,” Henry says throwing aside the last article. “Your wife gave up her job and every lucrative offer to sell her story. She is a prisoner in her own home. Her life is forever changed.”

  So is mine. Even if it may not look like it to the world or my brother. “She’s not my wife. The annulment went through.”

  Henry’s fist comes down on his tray table, knocking a bottle of water over. “You know what I damn well mean. You are acting like you are the only one coming out of this experience damaged.”

  “She lied to me.”

 
; Some of the fury eases from Henry’s face. “I know, little brother. You have every right to be upset. But didn’t you say you had an agreement? No questions about your real lives.”

  I shrug. “She knew who I was the whole time.”

  “Yet she did not ask you for any family secrets, or did she?”

  Come to think of it . . . no. She did not. And she had plenty of opportunities.”

  “Any questions about our sister’s pregnancy or husband?”

  I shake my head.

  “Anything about Alex and his girlfriend? Or about father’s health? Or about the change in the country's line of succession?”

  “She asked nothing.”

  “Either she is a terrible journalist, or she was holding up her end of the bargain.” Henry arches an eyebrow. “Don’t you think it might be worth figuring out?”

  My mind races with dozens of questions and thoughts. They all come back to one thing. In the time I was with Alyssa, I felt happy and whole. In the time we have been apart, I have been miserable.

  “She is the only woman I have been with who never called me your highness,” I say at last. “She spoke to me like I was a real man. Not a prince.”

  “Either she is destined to win an Oscar, or you have found yourself a keeper. I saw the way she looked at you.” Henry pulls up a photo on his phone and hands it to me. “You look pretty happy here.”

  There, on the screen, is a picture of Alyssa and I walking hand in hand through Vegas. It is not from our drunken first night together, but a security image from our marathon adventure the following day. We have giant grins on our faces. She is looking at me like I matter. Not as her meal ticket. Not as a story. Just as the man she wants to be with.

  And I am looking at her like she is everything.

  Am I willing to walk away from that just because our beginning was a little touch and go? There is only one way to find out.

  Sitting up in my seat, I straighten my tie. “Do you think we could make a slight change in our flight plan?”

  Henry grins. “I already made it.”