by Gwen Hayes
“She hasn’t said.”
“But you’ve said?” It was hard to surprise Matthew. He was fairly jaded, and he saw stunning things all the time. The reality of Harmon’s crappy situation threw the prince off his game. “Wait. You told her you love her?”
Harmon closed his eyes. “She guessed.”
“I take it this hasn’t happened to you before?”
“Telling someone I love her or not being told back?”
“Either.”
“No, this is the first time.”
“Well, fuck me. Say, what are my chances with this Lucy? I haven’t been with a woman who didn’t know who I was in…well, maybe ever. Think she’ll let me have a go?”
“She’s Merriam’s friend. Have some respect.”
“Like you having a go at my sister? Respect like that?”
“Your Highness, with all due respect, shut up. I would die for your sister. I’m not having a go at her. I just want her to be happy. We both know it’s just this week. She knows and she’s prepared to marry the man your father chooses. Just let her have the next two days.”
“I’m sorry, mate. I’m being rude. But you have to admit, this is a bit of a shocker. And there is no way it ends well.”
No. The time bomb was ticking the seconds to a very messy end. He was right about that.
Merriam and Harmon walked hand in hand back to their cabin, aware of more eyes on them now. Eyes they had to fool into thinking they were just fooling everyone. That nothing was going on between them. They just had to be convincing to everyone.
But something was going on between them. She just wasn’t sure what.
Last night, he’d told her he loved her. But that was when they were still “campers” before her brother and more of Harmon’s men had descended on their little fantasy. Now, there were the reminders. Real life didn’t seem so far distant in the future.
As soon as the door to the cabin closed behind her, Harmon pushed her against it. His eyes piercing her in the half-light of their cozy love-nest. “That dress has been driving me crazy all night,” he said, his voice tight.
She pulled on the one tie that ruled them all and it pooled at her feet, revealing that she’d been commando all night. She curled one hand around the back of his neck, and pulled him to her, absorbing his gasp as she kissed him.
Harmon, not one to let go of control easily, flattened her to the door with his body weight, deepening the kiss and taking her mouth as he rolled his hips into her slowly.
She hummed her satisfaction when he left her mouth to scrape down her neck. The rasp of his beard sent tingles to her toes and everywhere in between. He kept going, stopping when he got to her bare breast. There was something deliciously dirty about being naked and pinned to the door while he was still fully clothed.
When he took her nipple into his mouth, the memories of last night came racing back, and she was flooded with moisture between her legs. Harmon was a breast man for sure. And he really enjoyed hers. He nibbled and sucked until she couldn’t stand it any longer.
“Harmon,” she begged.
“Oh, I like the sound of my name on your lips, Princess. I can’t wait until you scream it.” He went back to sucking as she writhed helpless beneath him.
He slid a hand between her thighs, cupping her, one finger sliding into her. She began to shake, her need this lustful animal inside her, clawing for release.
“Harmon, take me to bed.”
“Come on my hand, Princess,” he said and then bit her nipple.
She cried out, the edge of pain and bliss combined into a razor-sharp orgasm. She couldn’t think or breathe. She just let go and let the stars take her.
She went lax in his arms. “Oh, you’re not done yet, sweetheart,” he said roughly. He carried her to the bed, plopping her down as he tore his clothes off.
God, he was gorgeous. Perfect, really.
His erection made her mouth water. He was thick and long and hard. All for her. She licked her lips.
“Not this time,” he said, climbing onto the bed and pushing her onto her back, the dark velvet of his voice getting her revved and ready again. “I need to be inside you.”
That worked for her, so she spread her legs wider, welcoming him. Wanting him. Needing him.
He made a gruff sound, holding one hand loosely, yet possessively, around her neck. His eyes didn’t leave hers as he pushed into her slowly, inch by slow inch, until they were both breathing raggedly. When he was deep inside her, he stilled. The air between them charged with the storm their desires created.
When he moved again, he hooked an elbow behind her knee, changing the angle of his thrust, going deeper. And he took her, each glide slow, measured, and lethal. He didn’t let her look away, didn’t let her close her eyes. They stared into each other’s eyes as she got closer and closer. He drove her to the edge again, and this time, she took him over with her.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Good morning, Campers
Don’t forget the field trip to Briarsted today. Bus leaves at nine a.m. If you have a softball game today, you can catch the tour tomorrow.
We’re also servings ‘smoremosas in arts & crafts. Which is just s’mores and mimosas. Which sounds terrible, but is a camp tradition starting back in the early years when the camp counselors of 1979 had a dare.
Making friendship bracelets in the arts and crafts cabin was a lot of fun.
With mimosas.
What was not fun was listening to Lucy try to discreetly discuss her latest hookup with Hannah and Monica while not creeping Merriam out about the hookup being her brother. And also, discreetly try to get inside information about Matthew from Merriam without appearing to do so.
It was exhausting. And for the first time, Merriam felt guilty about lying to her friends about her true identity.
She set her project down. “Lucy, don’t fall for him. He’s not serious about you or anyone. If you’d asked me, I’d have told you that last night before you slept with him.”
Lucy just laughed. “I’m not looking for forever, silly. And I would have slept with him anyway. There’s just something about him. He’s…I don’t know. Kind of regal or something.”
Merriam winced.
It wasn’t fair to befriend these women under false pretenses. But she couldn’t reveal her identity. Or her brother’s. It was a no-win situation.
“Finish your bracelet, Maryanne. Then we can all trade,” Monica said. “When I went to camp as a kid, we made these necklaces that we got to burn our names into the wood. I burned my finger and Danny Smith took me to first aid, holding my hand the whole way.”
Monica’s eyes were a little filmy. Such a romantic.
“This is my first time camping,” Merriam said.
And last time.
Of course, she could probably go camping in the woods anytime she wanted, but it required so much from her staff. Arrangements would have to be made to clear the forest, disrupting other people who’d already planned their vacations. Security procedures, the manual labor of staffing the campsite for her whim, was too much.
“Hey.” Lucy nudged her arm. “Where’d you go? You look sad.”
You have no right to be maudlin, Princess Merriam. Life isn’t fair, but it’s been fairer to you than most.
“I’m just being silly. The end of camp seems to be rushing at us full speed.”
“The end of camp or the end of your camp fling.” Lucy passed her the flask.
“Both I guess.”
“Why can’t you and Harmon continue dating? See where it goes?”
“They live on opposite coasts,” Lucy explained, saving Merriam the need to answer.
“Long distance sucks—but it’s better than just walking away from something good before even giving it a chance.”
“I don’t think Harmon is interested in pursuing this fling after Saturday morning.”
“Are you kidding? He’s totally into you. I bet if you asked him to fly to Vegas, he’d d
o it.”
Would he? She didn’t think so. She tried to imagine his face while an officiant dressed as Elvis read their vows.
Hannah made a disgusted noise. “Geez, Monica. Look what you’ve done. You’ve planted a very bad seed. Maryanne, you’re not actually thinking of asking him, are you? You can’t elope to Vegas. You’ve known each other for five days.”
But she’d known him her whole life. She’d had a crush on him for most of it. And that crush didn’t go away with the passing of time. What made her think it would go away if she married someone else?
It wouldn’t. It was more than a crush.
She set down the bracelet for the second time and covered her face with her hands. “Oh God, I’m in love with him.”
All three of her friends gathered closely around her.
“Oh honey, I’m so sorry.”
“I think it’s wonderful.”
“You’re not supposed to fall in love with a camp fling.”
All three of them had different opinions, but they all pat her back and shoulders soothingly.
“What am I going to do?”
“Tell him.”
She shook her head. But… he’d told her. He hadn’t wanted to. And she’d instinctively known not to tell him back or he’d have stopped everything and gotten her back to the castle if he’d have had to charter a boat and navigate them across the Atlantic himself.
But that was the other night. They were lovers now.
He’d changed. He wasn’t always scowly—just sometimes. And when he growled, it was usually right before he came. He loved her. She loved him. She couldn’t marry someone else. What was she thinking?
“I need to ask him to marry me.”
Harmon and Prince Matthew sat on the picnic table not far from the arts and crafts cabin so he could monitor the area.
“Who do you think my father will pick for her?” Matthew asked, deliberately goading him as he had for the last hour.
“The king loves his daughter. I’m sure he will pick the best man for her and the country both.”
Matthew shook his head. “You’re an idiot.”
“So you’ve said.”
The door opened and Merriam came bounding out of it, her three ladies in waiting trailing behind her. She had a determined look on her, which never boded well for him in the past, and he didn’t think would do so now either. Damn, what was she up to?
He stood and began walking toward her, unable to stop the smile from his face. God, she was trouble, but she was his kind of trouble. She launched herself at him and he caught her, mindful of the fact that he both had to convincingly portray being her lover and also convince the security team now in close range that it was an act.
“I’ve solved our problem,” she said, cupping his face and kissing him. Mindful that they were in front of her brother, he kissed her back anyway.
“What problem?” He set her down and she got down on one knee. He felt his face flush hot and then cold. Matthew stood and her friends gasped. “What problem?” he repeated.
“Harmon Maxwell, will you marry me?”
Time stood still and his pulse thrummed loudly in his ears. She wanted to marry him? His breath snagged on his jagged lungs.
She wanted to marry him?
He looked around, his heart sinking with every second that passed. “Merriam, get up.”
Her smile changed, but she kept it on her face like a pose. “Harmon?”
“Please,” he begged. “Please get up.”
The happy light in her eyes dimmed, and she shook her head. “No. Answer me.”
“Merriam, you know…”
“I know you love me.”
“This isn’t the time. Or the place. Everyone is staring. Please get up.”
She narrowed her eyes, and the transformation from woman in love back to the imp he’d been dealing with for years began. “I’m not getting up until you answer me.”
They knew—everyone around them knew. The way the girls banded together, their hands covering their mouths in shock. Matthew lost his devil-may-care posture and folded his arms. The security team looked way, pretending they weren’t noticing that their princess was on her knees in front of their commander, and he was about to humiliate her.
And Merriam knew. Her defiant chin tilted, her eyes locked on his because she was brave. So brave. She wouldn’t look away. Wouldn’t give him the courtesy of not witnessing the moment he killed what was left of his heart. His only chance for happiness.
But he wasn’t as brave. He wasn’t as strong. He pushed Harmon the man back where he belonged and let the humorless Carlysle take frontline again. He should never have forgotten him. The only way to stop this now was for her to go back to hating him.
“Get off your knees, Merriam. You are making a spectacle of yourself.” She flinched as if he’d hit her, so he kept going. “I don’t want to marry you.”
He inclined his head to one of his men, transferring duty of watching the princess to him, and turned. Walking away without looking back.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
MATTHEW TOOK HER BACK TO his cabin. She didn’t remember getting there. He asked Lucy to give them some time and sent someone for ice cream.
She didn’t want it, but ate a bite now and then as she stirred at the melting soup with her spoon, replaying the words over and over. Reliving the moment Harmon coldly broke her heart.
She’d fire him. She’d make sure he never worked in Sivartania again. No, she’d banish him. He’d never be allowed in the country again.
No, she wouldn’t. She squeezed her eyes closed.
It wasn’t his fault she was so stupid.
Why was she always so immature? She didn’t think things through. She just barreled through life expecting it to bend to her will and worried about the messes after. Except she rarely had to clean up her own messes, did she? She had teams of people to smooth away her mistakes. Her missteps. The underage drinking. The parties till dawn. Her naked pictures with Lord Balton.
So, so stupid. They ought to just call her Princess Hot Mess and be done with it.
“I don’t know what is happening in your mind right now, but stop it,” Matthew said. He was standing at the window and watching her mope.
“I really did it this time, didn’t I?”
“You didn’t do anything wrong.”
She sent him the “seriously?” look. “I asked the Commander of the Royal Palace Guard to marry me. In front of his staff. I embarrassed myself, and Harmon, and our country. I…” Her eyes began to burn, and the ball in her throat became hard to swallow around. “I shouldn’t have done that.”
Matthew moved quickly, pulling her out of her chair and into his arms. “He broke your heart. It’s okay to feel sad and hurt and angry right now.”
She shook her head, felt her nose drip on her brother’s shirt. “I had no right to give him my heart. It wasn’t mine to give, not really. It belongs to our kingdom, to our name and our traditions and our family. I am to pledge myself to someone else very soon and I never, ever should have dragged Harmon into this. I was rebelling, like I always do.”
“You love him.”
She pulled back and looked into his concerned face. Poor Matthew, he hated drama and feelings. “I don’t want to.”
“Oh, sweet girl.” Matthew squeezed her hands. “How many times have you and I wished we felt less over the years? But you can’t. You always wear your heart on your sleeve, no matter how it will get hurt.”
“And you pretend you don’t have a heart, but we both know it isn’t true.”
He shrugged. “I’ve developed a much stronger armor than you have.”
“I need to blow my nose.”
He waited until she was done honking, and then he made her look at him again. “You have to develop that armor now. Do you understand?” It was rare he was so serious, so she nodded. “I’m not kidding. I don’t know what father is going to do next week. But you must find a way to live with it. You need
to leave the girl behind. Leave her here at your little summer camp retreat. When we go back, you need to be the princess. You need to find that armor and put it on. When we get to Sivartania, you and I both are going to be the royals our country needs, right? We need to grow up and lead.”
“You’re right. For a change.”
He ruffled her hair. “You’re an idjit.” And then he got up. “I’m going to arrange for your things to be brought to this cabin.”
Her hand went to her heart, as if to soothe it. Whatever she and Harmon had, it was over now. Well and truly over.
A week ago, she faced the reality that she would never fall in love. That her life overflowed with blessings, but love was not going to be one. Then Harmon changed that. She may not get to keep it, but she would go into her marriage having once fallen, head over heels, in love. Hopefully, one day, it would be something she’d remember fondly. Right now it just sucked and she wasn’t mature enough to be stoic about it.
Be careful what you wish for.
Her heart cracked into a million pieces, but her brother was right. No more playing around. They needed to take the reign.
For the first time in his life, Harmon took time off when there were royals present.
He sat on a dock, his bare feet in the water, a pole in his hand.
Gone fishing.
He hadn’t done so since he was a child. The water lapped gently against the dock pillars. Life was easy here. His mind quieted and he let himself think. Accept.
When they got back to Sivartania, there would be preparations for the ball to finalize. Then, a wedding.
Merriam’s.
Everything in him tightened again, his body rebelling from the idea that she would belong to someone else.
She was his, damn it.
He felt a presence behind him, realizing he had his back to the camp, and he’d better hope it wasn’t dangerous. He was really, really off his game. He turned.
Lucy.
She walked the short dock and sat next to him. He wasn’t really in the mood for talking. He didn’t acknowledge her, hoping she would go away.
