Royal Line

by Carrie Ann Ryan

  My gaze met his, and immediately nothing mattered anymore. In that moment, everything was perfect. I felt perfect. I felt safe. I felt like I’d finally found where I belonged.

  The corners of his lips tipped into a lopsided smile as he retreated and sank back in. When I clamped my legs around his hips, he muttered curses under his breath.

  I nipped his lower lip with my teeth, and he scooped his hands under my ass, lifting my hips to his. The new angle had me sobbing at the pleasure. Only when I murmured his name on a sigh did he stroke into me a final time then cry out my name on his climax.

  Holy hell.

  Kannon Adams had my number. Okay, he’d had it twice if I was going to be an accurate statistician about it.

  I’d managed to doze off with his body weight half covering me. Something I never did. And when I woke again, I didn’t have any of my usual panic. I just felt warm and safe…and a giant erection at my thigh.

  “Kannon…”

  “Hmmm, princess? Sorry about him. He just woke up with you right next to me and he’s eager to visit again.”

  My breath lodged in my throat as he slid his tongue over mine. The man showed no signs of slowing down. What kind of crazy stamina was this?

  These kisses were different though. He kissed me like he was afraid I’d disappear if he let go. I’d never been the center of a man’s attention like that before.

  I slipped my hands over his torso, skimming over rippled abdominal muscles and the hard planes of his chest. The sounds he made at my touch were more pain than pleasure, but when I paused, he canted his hips, bringing the hot, hard length of him directly against my heat again.

  “Again?” I squeaked.

  To hold on and attempt some level of control, I slid my fingers into the thick, soft curls at his nape and gently tugged. With a moan, he smoothed a hand down my back to the curve of my ass and tucked me closer to his body. I rolled my hips into his. “I—you’re addictive. I can’t stop.”

  I trembled in his arms. “Then don’t.”

  I shivered as he kissed me softly before shifting me, so my head was closer to the headboard. He then settled his body between my legs, tracing a path of kisses from my lips to my jaw, to the sensitive hollow between my neck and my ear.

  Leaning down, he breathed soft kisses on first one, then the other nipple, each responding to his caress by instantly budding into hard little peaks. Focusing his attention on one, he drew the dark bud into his mouth, taking greedy tugs while his thumb teased the other.

  I bucked, and my back bowed as pleasure reverberated through my body.

  “Yes, I need more. I can’t stop.” Kannon panted hard. “I feel like I’m on fire. You drive me crazy. You know that?”

  Sure fingers slid through my lips, seeking my center, and he met my gaze as he found his quarry. Dark eyes, wild with lust, gazed at me, watching my reaction as his questing finger found the center of my torment.

  I cried out as he gently sank into me and he held perfectly still except for his questing finger, gently exploring and retreating, occasionally detouring to swirl around my clit but always returning to delve just a little deeper inside me.

  “Jesus, you are so tight. So hot…” He bit his bottom lip as he sank in with two fingers and his thumb traced circles on my clit.

  Molten heat spread through my body. I parted my legs to give him even better access to my folds. “Kannon…”

  Instead of coaxing a response from me, he demanded one, and my body gave him what he wanted. His thigh wedged between my legs, bringing him in contact with my throbbing clit.

  I could feel the heat and hardness of his leg muscles and the friction he applied to my sweet spot. My hips gave an involuntary jerk, and he gave me a satisfied grunt.

  He left a trail of buzzing nerve endings in his wake as his hand traveled up my belly, then my ribs, to my breast. His lips slid back over mine as his thumb skimmed the underside of my breast. Another shot of lust hit me hard, and I rocked my hips on his thigh. When he did it again, I threw my head back.

  He trailed kisses along my jawline, then dipped his head farther to my neck. He traced a thumb over my nipple, and I cried out. Moisture and heat rushed to my center, and the building need tipped me close to the edge of ecstasy. It wouldn’t take much. Just one more stroke from his deft fingers, maybe two.

  “Jesus, you are so beautiful,” he whispered.

  He adjusted his position, so he was between my thighs again. The broad tip of his erection nudged me, and my eyes flew open as my fingers curled into his shoulders. “Condom.” My eyes locked on his.

  He gave me a wild grin. “Look down.”

  I glanced down between us, and he was in fact sheathed again. “But when—?”

  “I woke up hard as a rock and figured I might be able to make you feel good again.”

  I tried to bite back my smile. “Presumptuous, but I’ll allow it.”

  He slid just the tip inside me, and my eyes flew open. God he was big. And I was sore. But I knew that would only last for a moment. In seconds I’d be on my way to the holy grail of more orgasms, so who was I to argue?

  “Presumptuous, hmm?” He slid in even farther, then stopped, giving me time to adjust. He shuddered and my pussy clamped around him so hard his eyes almost rolled into the back of his head.

  “Goddamn, you are so damn tight.”

  With a whispered curse, he pulled back and then slid forward all the way in one deep thrust. I wasn’t capable of coherent thought. All I knew was I wanted more. Needed more. The tingling started in my spine. I could feel bliss reaching for me, and I would promise anything to have it.

  My hands slid over his shoulders and down his back to land on his ass. I sank my fingers into his flexing muscles, hoping to speed him up. “It feels so good—don’t stop.”

  And then the chasing was over. The wave of bliss hit me hard, and I sobbed against his shoulder when I came again. Involuntarily, I clamped around him, shoving him right off the cliff with me.

  His final few thrusts were peppered with swears and a tight grip on my hip.

  “Fuck! Your pussy was made for me, you know that?” He growled it right in my ear. “It’s mine now.”

  “Kannon.”

  All I heard as the edges of my vision started to blur again were his whispered words, “All mine.”

  I woke up an hour later. This time I knew exactly where I was, what I’d been doing, and who I’d been doing it with. I’d made love with Kannon.

  Love?

  Okay, we’d shagged. That kind of sweet thing that turns dirty quickly. Tripping you into a place that is too scary to look at.

  I inched out from under him even as I told myself I wasn’t running.

  Lies.

  I wasn’t. I was merely putting some distance between us as I used my brain instead of letting my lady parts do the thinking. I was not now, nor would I ever be, the one-night stand girl.

  But didn’t you just have one?

  Mine.

  That word. He’d said it like he meant it.

  Do you want him to mean it?

  That was the whole point. I didn’t know what I wanted. I didn’t want him to stay just to protect me. In his arms, I felt like I belonged there. But yesterday he’d told me that the greatest love of his life was lost. He wasn’t ready for anything lasting.

  And I was fooling myself if I thought he was.

  It was better for both of us if I walked away now; otherwise, I was certainly going to get attached.

  Too late.

  Maybe not. I grabbed my T-shirt off of the floor and dragged it on. If I could get back to Rian’s room and grab a shower, I could think more clearly and get some clarity. Falling for my protector was not only cliché, but it could only lead to heartbreak.

  And nobody wanted that.

  Chapter 12

  Kannon

  One problem at a time

  * * *

  I woke up...alone.

  Like a fool, my brain automaticall
y reached for London, because like the idiot I was, I truly believed she would be there. But she wasn’t.

  Did you expect anything else?

  I sat up and scrubbed my hand over my face. The princess had gotten cold feet.

  Apparently, no one had given my dick the memo. I was rock-hard, still able to smell her all over me. Her faint hint of Chanel Chance lingered, and I could still feel her satiny skin all over my body.

  Part of me wanted to go and check on her.

  Because you’re a sap.

  But I knew better. I should have been the one to leave after what we’d done. Last night was just one of those things. And I made a mistake of thinking that connection I’d felt was something tangible. Something real.

  It had felt…real.

  I forced myself into the shower, even though I was hesitant to wash off her scent. I knew it was best for me. Once I was showered and, at the very least, clearheaded, I went downstairs in the maze of a house to find Sparrow in the kitchen cooking. She was dressed in her usual attire. Black leather leggings and some kind of graphic tee that I was quite certain was flipping me the middle finger. The T-shirt was expertly cut though. It fit her frame. Sparrow liked to give the image of being no muss, no fuss, but I recognized designer details when I saw them.

  “Morning, boss. Did you sleep well?”

  I gave her a non-committal, “Hm.”

  Her knowing smirk said she knew exactly what I’d been up to last night. I was surprised she had nothing to say about it though. It wasn’t like her to hold her tongue. “Everything checked out for security?”

  She nodded. “It was all clear last night. Only a few cars on the main road, but they all went to other properties on the street. Olly added a few extra touches, additional ‘eyes in the sky’ so to speak. Just in case anyone happens to stick their noses over here, he’s got an extra layer of protection. Where’s the princess?”

  I watched her warily, unsure if there had been a hint of sarcasm when she said “princess,” but there was nothing in her expression to indicate it. “I think she’s still—”

  “The princess is right here.”

  Every cell in my body froze. I turned slowly to look at London. “Good morning.”

  Her smile was sunny but distant somehow.

  This is what we were doing? Fair enough. Not like last night meant a damn thing to me either.

  Liar.

  She was the first woman since Phoebe where sex hadn’t just been about a workout or getting some kinks out. She was the first connection I thought had gone beyond something physical. But it just went to show that emotions could be deceiving. “There’s coffee, you want some?”

  Her gaze met mine and then skittered away. “Yes, that would be great. Thank you. Black with lots of sugar.”

  “I think we can manage that.” I poured myself a cup, trying not to think about how she liked her coffee exactly like mine. I didn’t understand how people could inhale coffee like it was nectar. It tasted like ass. The only way to drink coffee was to mask the taste. I’d expected her to be some fancy froufrou French press kind of girl or an espresso drinker. But no, she drinks it just like you do.

  I handed her a steaming mug, and she took it with a soft smile on her lips. When our fingers grazed, she quickly jerked her hand back, nearly spilling the coffee all over herself. “Um… thanks.”

  I lifted a brow. Last night she’d been all over me, but in the morning light, this was her game? Fair enough, two could play at this. “London, now that you’re up, we need to figure out a few things.”

  She eased herself onto one of the stools at the counter.

  Is she okay?

  I watched her carefully as she winced, adjusting herself on the seat. Was she sore?

  None of your business, since she’s pretty much acting like nothing happened.

  “Start from the beginning. I know we’ve already been through this before, but I want Sparrow to hear it firsthand.”

  At that moment, Olly walked in. He nodded at the sight of me. “Boss.”

  He gave Sparrow a wink as he stole one of the pieces of bacon off the plate she’d been stacking it on. She whacked his hand. And despite Olly being fast, Sparrow was faster. He winced at the contact. “Aww, I’m a growing boy.”

  She eyed him up and down. “Stop whining. I’m pretty sure you’re done growing.”

  He grinned then. “Well, I’m a big boy. I need to feed the beast.”

  She rolled her eyes, and in turn Olly grinned at London. “Good morning. How are you feeling?”

  The smile he gave her was professional, but there was something a little too charming about it as far as I was concerned. I glowered at him, and he eased that fancy mouth into professional territory.

  “Ah, good thanks. You’re Olly, right?”

  He nodded. “Sorry, I’ve been busy setting up security. I didn’t get to introduce myself yesterday.”

  “London. Nice to meet you.”

  I purposely didn’t allow them to start small talk. “London, start telling your story from the beginning, please.”

  She gave me a look I couldn’t figure out before speaking. “As you know, I’m Princess London Waterford of Alden. I turned twenty-nine a few days ago. That’s when my aunt let me know about a law that has been in place for, I guess, centuries, that says if there is no royal heir to our line by the time the youngest of the generation turns thirty, the monarchy will be transferred to the next eligible royal family.”

  Sparrow stared at her from her place at the stove. “But that’s like some ancient misogynist bullshit. They can’t enforce that, can they?”

  London shrugged, though she didn’t look too casual about it. She was worried, and hell, so was I for that matter. “That’s what my aunt says. On the night I left, she was running through options with my brothers. One was to hurry up and get me married off. An arranged marriage situation, which I was not down for. The other was to call in the Council of Lords to take a vote and have the law revoked.”

  Olly frowned. “Your brother is the king. Can’t he just change the law?”

  London shook her head. “No. It’s not that easy. He needs the Council of Lords to vote with him. The people elect the council to represent them, so no monarch can get too drunk on his power.”

  I scrubbed my hand over my stubble. “Okay, what happened next?”

  “My aunt tried to get the council to have an emergency meeting, and my brother didn’t like the options placed in front of us. And I trust him on that matter. We need to do what’s right for our people, not only our family. My brothers got me out of the castle so that no ambitious duke or lord who sits on the council would try and get themselves married off to me. Remove the temptation so to speak.”

  I frowned. “So running was your brother’s idea?”

  “I didn’t want to marry someone that my aunt picked for me and be forced into royal duties.”

  “Aren’t you a princess? They can’t force you,” Olly said.

  She crossed her arms. “They can. And actually, I’m a photojournalist. I have the occasional royal duties, charity events, ribbon-cuttings, and such things, but Roman is the one with the lion’s share of responsibilities. I help him in place of a queen when I’m needed, but my title is the only important thing about me where the court is concerned. I was excited to take a job in Brazil, documenting the environmental work some activists are doing. Then this happened. I got assigned another job in Lité on the way here and then we were ambushed. I checked with my boss and I’ve been benched until I can become more available. It was my dream job. But then this happened, so everything’s on hold.”

  Was she telling the truth? Was it as simple as that?

  I leaned forward. “Okay, so you left home. Your brothers put you on a plane?”

  “Yes. Just in case the council tries to call me back and demand that I marry someone. I left with little more than what I could easily carry. We decided not to go with any of the usual safe houses because they’re all on
record. But luckily, I had Rian for backup.”

  I wanted to believe her, I did. But something about her story just wasn’t quite jiving. Not that I thought she was lying, but the sequence of events seemed off. “What did you do next?”

  She studied my face, as if looking for something I wasn’t saying, but I kept my expression neutral. “I got on a plane and landed in Paris. And when I was driving out to Rian’s flat, everything changed. You found me at that point, Kannon. You know the rest from there.”

  “So you land in Paris, a place where only three people knew you were going, and someone attacked you?”

  She pinned her glare on Olly. “My brothers would never hurt me.”

  “I’m sure they wouldn’t, princess. But what happens if you’re dead?”

  I didn’t like the way Olly said princess. That was what I called her.

  Jesus. I didn’t need to be territorial over the title. She was a fucking princess.

  “If I die, my brother loses the throne unless one of them magically produces an heir in the next twelve months. Even if they wanted me dead for some reason, Roman would lose everything.”

  Olly winced and then lifted his gaze to mine. “Farfetched and crazy, but I don’t think her brothers sent someone to kill her.”

  I agreed, but I didn’t say that. “We don’t know anything for sure right now. Was there anyone watching you at the airport? Anyone who would have a vested interest in seeing you dead? Were you followed from, I assume, your palace to the airport?”

  She frowned and spread her hands. “I don’t know. Wilder was keeping an eye out. He was watching surveillance feeds.”

  “Why would he be doing that?”

  “Oh, he’s our Director of Intelligence.”

  I whistled low. “Okay then.”

  “My brothers would tell me if someone was watching. They have nothing to gain from me being hurt. It just doesn’t make any sense.”