The Prince's Unwilling Lover (The Royals of Monaco Book 1)

by Leslie North

  “What?”

  “For the record, I am NOT the one who snores.”

  As they were disembarking, Macee smiled at him, “A princess does not snore.” At the prince’s snort of amusement, Macee asked, “Where are we?”

  “Seychelles,” Prince Louis replied.

  “Oh, I do not know much about this place. Should be interesting.”

  “Wherever I am is interesting.”

  Macee laughed. “Oh please,” she said. The driver bowed his head to them and held the door open as they climbed in.

  Chapter 12

  They were staying in a villa on the beach. When they got out of the car, Macee stood there for a moment gaping at the house. It was beautiful. As they walked toward the entrance, the servants were already standing outside to greet them.

  “Shall we go see the bedroom?” Prince Louis asked her as soon as they walked into the house. Macee turned sharply to look at him.

  “Is that all you think of?” she asked him.

  “That was not an innuendo.” For the first time, he was actually not referring to anything sexual. He turned on his heel and headed upstairs. As Macee followed him, she looked around the first floor. Designed as one large community space, the living, dining and kitchen flowed into each other. Floor to ceiling glass doors lined the walls and were folded open allowing the ocean breeze in. Macee took a deep breath enjoying the scent of whatever was growing in the garden

  “Oh wow,” she said when she walked into the room. From the door to the bed were white and red rose petals. Candles were placed all over the room. The mood was already set for lovemaking, which made Macee feel uneasy. She feared that it gave the prince ideas.

  Macee walked out onto the balcony to a beautiful view of the beach. The water was light blue and the sands were white. She wanted to run on the beach barefoot and jump into the water. It was a beautiful spot for a honeymoon. She turned and walked back into the bedroom to find Prince Louis walking around shirtless.

  “Oh for goodness sake,” she said and turned around quickly.

  “Are you still shy? This is all yours now,” Prince Louis replied.

  “Mine?” Macee's face turned red as she squeaked.

  “You might as well find a way to make the most of this marriage. We are stuck together for good.”

  That did not make her feel any better. The fact that it was permanent made her nervous. “Stuck? Was it not your idea to wed me? How many times did I beg you to wed my sister instead?”

  The prince sighed. Still she was being stubborn. What woman did not dream of being with him? She was wasting a chance many would die for. “You are not getting it. I was to wed someone from your family. You were the better choice at the time.”

  Macee turned to face him. She stood there with her hands on her hips. “So, it was a case of bad or worse?”

  “Precisely.”

  Macee's jaw dropped open. What kind of a statement was that? He had finally admitted his true feelings. All this time he was masking his distaste for her with sexual innuendos and smirks. Macee wanted to slap his face but his chest was too distracting. This man had the body of an Adonis.

  “Well, in that case, I guess you will agree with me when I file for an annulment.”

  Prince Louis's eyes flew open. He was not expecting that. “It will not be that easy.”

  “I'll find a way.” Macee walked out of the room. She could not stand there any longer and listen to that man. She was both humiliated and angered by him, but at the same time, she had to admit to herself that she was attracted to him. When he wasn’t being overbearing and condescending, he really was charming and Macee really did like the way his kisses made her insides jump around.

  Dinner was eaten in an awkward silence. Macee was still fuming over what the prince had said, but he was acting as if nothing happened. How could he be so inconsiderate? Macee picked up the saltshaker and, without warning, threw it at him. Prince Louis jumped as it bounced off his shoulder, but she had already walked out of the room before he could say anything.

  Macee went upstairs to prepare for bed and was surprised when Prince Louis joined her. “You are sleeping here?” she asked him.

  “Where else?” he asked as he got into bed.

  “Anywhere but here.”

  “Tough luck, ma cherie. We are married now, there is no escape.”

  I am so getting that annulment, Macee thought to herself. She was going to do whatever it took to get out of this relationship.

  * * *

  Prince Louis was enjoying the sea breeze and a glass of wine, as he sat outside in the courtyard. As he looked out at the ocean, he saw Macee walking toward the beach. They had not spoken since the night before. He simply did not understand her. Every woman he had ever come in contact with would have given anything to be in her position while she acts as if it’s some sort of death sentence. He knew that he had angered her, but he was not going to apologise. He was fed up with her being closed to him.

  He had been lost in thought and didn’t notice Macee until she was walking out of the water. Wearing a brightly-coloured bikini, he watched as she walked slowly toward the beach. The water ran off her body in rivulets. He continued to stare as she dried herself off. Before sitting down, she stretched, arching her back as she stretched her arms to the sky. He jumped up as he felt a cool liquid land in his lap. Looking down, he put the almost empty glass of wine on the table as he shook out his pants. He had been so engrossed in Macee that he had lost track of his glass of wine and tipped it into his lap.

  “Your highness,” one of the maids said quietly, as she handed him a towel. He cleared his throat and took the towel from her. He had not realised that he had been staring at Macee that intently.

  “Pour me more wine,” he said to her.

  “Yes, your highness,” she picked up the bottle of wine and poured him another glass, which he quickly downed before getting up to change his pants.

  Dinner was just as quiet and awkward as the night before. They had yet to engage in any sort of conversation, which made any time together painful.

  Macee was pleased that they were not staying there for too long. The maids had suggested some activities for them both to indulge in but neither one of them wanted it, as that meant being in each other’s company. They spent their days keeping out of each other’s way and only had to endure the nights together, which could not end soon enough for her.

  That night, they both could not sleep. Prince Louis wondered if this was what their marriage was going to be like. While he understood that theirs was a political marriage of two old families, he did at least expect his wife to be interested in him sexually. Every woman he had ever met had offered herself to him in some way. Except for Macee. She barely made eye contact with him, never smiled at him and when she did speak to him, he was constantly reminded of how much she did not want him.

  Macee was ready to return to the palace. She knew that it was going to be difficult, but she was determined to get the annulment. She blamed herself for marrying him in the first place, as Francesca said; she should have tried harder to escape the marriage. Her mother was going to be furious with her, but there was nothing new there. In fact, Macee couldn’t remember a time when her mother wasn’t reprimanding her for one thing or another. This was one of those times when she would have loved to have an understanding mother who would be on her side. She was glad that she still had Liane.

  Chapter 13

  “Are you sleeping?” Prince Louis asked her.

  “No,” Macee replied.

  Prince Louis sighed. He did not even know why he had asked or what he wanted to say to her. Was there anything that could be said? Their relationship was so complicated.

  “What's on your mind?” he turned to face her.

  “Nothing, really.”

  “If you were not married to me what would you be doing?”

  “Enjoying life.”

  “You are not enjoying it now?” It still did not make sense to him
why she wouldn't be. She was going to be ruling Monaco at his side. She could have anything she wanted by snapping her fingers. She was even on an expensive honeymoon at a place most people could not afford to go. What more did she want? At least if she did not want the man, she could at least enjoy the perks.

  Macee sighed. “I am used to living a different way. There are things I could do when I wanted. Now, everything I do or say comes with consequences.”

  “That may be the case but at least now you can wear the finest jewellery-” Before he could even finish the sentence, Macee cut him off.

  “Louis, it has never been about money or jewellery. All that means nothing to me.”

  “So tell me what does?”

  “Go to sleep, Louis.”

  He rolled over to her side. “Tell me.”

  “The opposite of this.” Macee turned and gasped when she realised how close she was to the prince. She had not realised how close he came to her when he rolled over. Luckily, it was dark but there was light from the moon shining into the bedroom.

  “This marriage needs to be consummated.”

  “And you're back to yourself.” Macee turned and faced the other direction. Even though she knew he was joking, his words made her blush. She heard him laugh softly.

  “Why are you so scared of that? You have never been touched?”

  Macee's eyes widened. Did he have to ask her that? “Is there a person in this world who has never been touched?” the sarcasm returned to her tone. He moved closer to her. So close that she could feel his body heat.

  “You know what I mean.”

  “Go to sleep.”

  “You're a virgin.”

  “Louis, leave me alone.”

  “Ma cherie that is why you're so nervous when I am close to you.”

  Macee rolled her eyes. “My body screams for you to fall back.” Even she was not convinced by that statement. She stiffened when he put his hand on her waist and started caressing her.

  “We can always put that theory to the test.”

  Macee turned around to tell him to stop but her lips brushed against his. She froze with her eyes wide open. Her mind was telling her to either push him away and turn around or get out of bed and run. However, her body had different ideas. Cupping the side of her face, Louis teased her lips gently deepening the kiss when she gasped. Sliding his fingers through her hair, he pushed it off her face, as they continued to kiss. He leaned closer to her and touched her forehead with his as he pressed butterfly kisses on her face.

  “I...” Macee wanted to speak but words failed her. Prince Louis groaned and pulled her closer him. He pressed his lips against hers encouraging her to open up. To let go. If only for this one moment. Macee wanted to stop him but she couldn’t. In that moment, all the insensitive things he said to her were forgotten as she melted into his touch.

  Prince Louis slipped his hand under her top and caressed her back. He did not expect her skin to be that soft. It invited him to touch her even more. The image of Macee in her bikini sprang to mind, as he felt his arousal grow. Pausing, he took shallow breaths, as he rolled away from her. “I will not make love to you until you ask me,” he said. Macee turned to face the other direction. She wanted to smack him in the head. How could he kiss and touch her like that and then stop? It would have been better if he did not start.

  “That is never going to happen,” she said to him. There was no way she was going to ask him that; especially not now. She was sure of it. She fanned herself as she tried to calm down. She couldn’t believe what he did to her. One minute she was furious with him and the next, he was doing things to her insides that had her craving more.

  “We will see about that.”

  * * *

  Macee was disappointed when they arrived back in Monaco. She had expected to have some alone time. Unfortunately, they were expected to greet the king and queen who had been expecting them. The queen smiled at her and gestured for her to sit down while Prince Louis kissed his mother on the cheek before he sat down.

  “Welcome back,” the queen said.

  “Thank you,” Macee replied.

  “How was your honeymoon?”

  “It was delightful,” Prince Louis replied.

  “Yes, it was,” Macee said. Only the prince noticed the sarcasm in her voice.

  “That is good to hear,” the king said. “It is important for the crown prince and princess to get along,” he added. Macee wanted to laugh. They were far from getting along. They were going to need some intense couple’s therapy.

  “Can we be expecting a grandson?” the queen asked. Macee's jaw dropped open. The queen laughed at her reaction. “I know, I am too eager,” she said.

  “You can be,” the prince replied with a smile. Macee had to force one. There was no point in them all getting their hopes too high.

  The four of them sat together and talked as the king updated the prince on what he had missed while he was gone. Macee was bored out of her mind. She wanted to slip out of the room but she had to sit there smiling. She was so glad when it was finally time to leave. As soon as they walked out of the room, Macee was already trying to part ways. The prince wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her back.

  “And where do you think you are going?” he asked her.

  “To my chambers, of course.”

  “No, ma cherie. How quickly you forget that it is our chambers now.”

  Macee let out a cry of complaint and hung her head. She was really looking forward to not doing that any longer. Now, he was telling her that it was still going to happen to keep up appearances. Macee groaned as they walked to their chambers. The worst part of it all was that she knew the prince was enjoying it.

  Chapter 14

  As soon as she had the chance, Macee called Liane. She dismissed her maids so that they did not listen in on the conversation. “Macee, how are you sweetheart?” Liane said as soon as she answered the phone.

  “Annie, it was terrible,” Macee quickly told her everything that happened on the trip including the things he said. Liane chuckled. “This isn’t funny.”

  “You might like him if you try.”

  “No trying, I really want the annulment.”

  “Oh Mace that was a joke. You cannot get one of those, they're close to impossible.”

  “What do you mean?” Her sister had just shattered her last bit of hope. Macee was already starting to panic. “There has to be some way.”

  “Justification. You need a very good reason and from what you’ve said, I don’t think there’s enough there.”

  “Okay, let's change the subject for now. This is making me nauseous.”

  “Don't worry sweetheart, something will work out.”

  After speaking to Liane, Macee stayed in their quarters. She was sure she had some duties to attend to but she had no idea what they were. Later that week, Katherine spoke to her about hiring an assistant. Macee definitely thought that would be helpful, as she needed someone to remind her of things.

  “Your highness, the crown prince has requested your audience,” one of the maids said.

  “Can I not go?” Macee asked jokingly. The maid stared at her wide-eyed. She looked terrified. Macee laughed. “That was a joke. Where is he?”

  “This way, your highness,” the maid said as she led Macee out to the palace gardens.

  Macee walked up to him and stood there with her arms across her chest. He looked down at her. “What do you want?” she asked him. He held his hand out and waited for her to place her hand in his palm. Macee looked at it and then back at him. He still waited for her. Macee reluctantly put her hand in his before he gently pulled her hand to his mouth and pressed a small kiss to the back of her hand. She did not know how to react to him. She smiled awkwardly and tried to snatch her hand back, but he tightened his grip.

  “Come for a walk with me,” he said to her and started walking. Macee sighed and followed.

  This was her first time in the palace gardens and Macee immed
iately felt at ease. As she took a deep breath, she picked up on the varying scents of the flowers, as they followed a path around a series of fountains. She couldn’t wait to bring her paints out here.

  “It’s beautiful out here,” Macee said.

  “You like it?”

  “Very much so.” As they walked, Macee was suddenly curious. “What do you actually do for fun?” she asked him.

  “Plenty of things, ma cherie.”

  “Yes, like what?” Macee frowned when she realised that he called her ma cherie quite a lot. She never understood if he meant it or if it was sarcasm.