Lady Peasant

by Golden Angel

  Nine months later the kingdom celebrated again on the birth of a baby daughter to their beloved (and much in love) Prince and Princess.

  Also Available:

  FORCED BET

  By

  G. Angel

  SAMPLE CHAPTER OF FORCED BET

  Allison smoothed her skirt over her thighs as it fluttered up, her steps were quick as she headed towards her English class. The butterflies in her stomach had nothing to do with any excitement over Matthew Lewis’ The Monk. No, those butterflies were because of the route she was taking; one that took her almost five minutes out of her way. Just so she could pass by a particular spot on campus.

  Her body recognized him almost before she saw him, her breath catching as he turned his head, profile outlined by a clear blue sky. Todd Rinald and his frat brothers, hanging outside the gym, like they always did at this time of day when it was nice weather. And ever since spring had arrived there had been a lot of nice weather.

  One day she’d taken a longer than usual route, just to enjoy the beautiful sunshine and because she hadn’t been in a hurry, and there he was, casually leaning against the stone work along the path, checking out the girls who walked by. Gorgeous, just over six feet tall, with wavy black hair and deep brown eyes that most girls wanted to melt into. He looked like a pirate. A rogue. If he hadn’t been so plebian, Allison might have considered dating him.

  However, when your father was the president of a multi-million dollar corporation, dating someone like Todd just wasn’t done. She needed a man that she could take to charity dinners, who could interact with state senators and CEOs, and who would help cement her father’s image as the perfect family man and businessman. That kind of thing mattered. Todd was older than her, 26, even though they were both juniors in college. During the fall semester he had been her lab partner in the last Chemistry class she’d ever have to take – thank God – and she’d found out that this was his second time at college. He’d had to leave to earn more money and get another scholarship before he could return.

  Not that anyone would look down on him for that. It was admirable really. But he didn’t come from the social set that anyone she dated would have to be a part of. Daddy would never approve.

  Which, of course, made him all the more interesting to her. Especially because when she’d flirted with him, just for fun, he’d immediately shut her down. That dark gaze of his had left her stammering – and Allison Bradford was never at a loss for words. He’d made her feel like a silly little girl, not the confident and accomplished young woman that she knew she was.

  Walking by here and ignoring him had become something of a ritual for her. A way to prove that his rejection of her hadn’t affected her at all. Not that she seemed to notice that she was ignoring him, she thought, seething a little. But none of her inner turmoil showed on her face.

  “Allison.” The deep voice made her jump, and a flush of heat ran up into her cheeks. Suddenly he was standing right next to her. Dammit, how did he make her feel so small, at 5’7” she wasn’t exactly short, but next to Todd she felt tiny. Petite. Delicate.

  No. She would not start thinking about how good that felt. It was just some kind of mind trick he played.

  “Todd,” she said, turning ninety degrees to bestow a dazzling smile on him. Allison knew she looked good today. She never passed by here unless she was looking fantastic. The short fluttering royal blue skirt highlighted her long legs, and the crisp white, button down top she wore was tailored to her curvy body exactly. There were just enough buttons undone to give her a hint of cleavage, but nothing trashy. Of course, the fact that he was looking down at her might give him a better view. Unconsciously she look a deep breath, her chest swelling a little bit.

  “You walk by here a lot.” The tone of his voice was indifferent, uncaring. Just an observation. “Where are you headed?”

  “English 301.” The class that all Juniors had to take.

  She winced as his eyes drifted back from the direction she’d come. For anyone who knew the campus it was obvious she’d gone out of her way.

  “It’s been so beautiful out lately,” she said breezily, trying to cover up her tracks. “I love walking around campus when it’s like this.”

  “You never say hello when you pass.”

  The sudden topic change made her grit her teeth. Todd had done this all last semester too, always pushing her off balance. Saying things bluntly instead of talking around them. Every WASP bone in her body objected to the lack of cordiality. People weren’t just supposed to say things like that! But then again, she wasn’t always a good WASP.

  “Neither do you,” she responded, her tone cool. She started to turn on her heel.

  “Want to go grab a drink?”

  Allison turned back, staring at him in disbelief. His hands were tucked into the pockets of his jeans, the dark green button down cotton shirt he was wearing looked fantastic against his olive tinted skin. The smile on his face was mocking, challenging. Sunglasses covered his eyes from her, but she suddenly felt as if she was being watched by some kind of predator; a hawk going after a rabbit. Or a fox, she told herself. She was a predator too.

  “I just said I’m on my way to class,” she said finally. And cursed inwardly as she realized that she hadn’t sounded firm at all; her voice had been slightly breathy, as if inviting him to talk her out of going.

  “Of course,” he said. “Wouldn’t want you to get in trouble with Daddy for skipping class or drinking.”

  Damn him. She curled her hands into fists. As if she didn’t have a mind of her own. Just because she lived at home with her parents still didn’t make her into a little girl.

  “You know what? You’re right, I could use a drink,” she said, stepping closer to him and looking up into his face, trying to see his eyes through the sunglasses. He didn’t back away, just looked down at her, as if assessing her intent. Smiling sweetly, Allison turned to start walking. “You coming?”

  She kept walking, determined not to turn around when she heard his frat buddies ribbing him. Then he was next to her, walking easily alongside of her, not even breathing hard although he must have had to move quickly to catch up.

  Two hours and four dry martinis later, beer for Todd, Allison was surprised at how good a time she was having. They’d gone to one of the campus bars, which she’d never been to before because it wasn’t exactly her kind of an establishment. She’d expected that he would spend the entire time mocking her, like he had all last semester, she’d have one drink to prove that he didn’t bother her and then she’d dip out and leave him wishing she’d stayed. Instead they talked about classes. His frat activities – they were running a fundraiser to benefit children with autism and he was in charge of promoting it to local businesses. Todd was easy to talk to. She didn’t have to stand on her manners, he certainly didn’t, and he didn’t care if she cursed or said whatever was on her mind. And the more she drank the more holes her verbal filter seemed to get.

  “So Allison.” Todd’s eyes traveled over her face and down her neck to her cleavage, eventually skimming over the skin of her thighs. She had to resist the urge to tug her short skin down. Something about the way Todd looked at her made her feel naked and vulnerable. “What made you agree to get a drink? I didn’t think you were actually going to say yes.”

  Allison snorted. “Well maybe you don’t know me as well as you think you do.”

  “Is that an invitation to get to know you better?” Instead of sounding turned on, he sounded amused. That really got under her skin.

  “You wish,” she sipped her martini, looking away from him. There was a small knot in the center of her stomach. Allison was used to guys who asked her to dinner, showed up with flowers and took her somewhere nice. Whatever Todd was doing, it was way outside of her experience. It made her feel unsure and excited.

  A finger trailed down her thigh and Allison shuddered, feeling herself become instantly wet between her legs. Shocked eyes turned to look at him. N
o man just reached out and touched her. The smirk on his face made her want to slap him.

  “What do you wish, Allison?” His voice was lower. More intimate. She found herself leaning towards him without knowing why. The fingers that had just touched her leg brushed across her face, sweeping tumbled curls back and tucking them behind her ear. “What do you want?”

  God what a question. What did she want? Allison bit her lip, looking at him. What she wanted she could never have. A normal life. The option to jump in the sack with the hot man in front of her and have a one night stand. But if it ever got out… even now she was risking her father’s wrath by being in a bar with him. Of course, no one here would know her. It wouldn’t get back to him. She should be safe. But this was not behavior he would approve of, and her company would have him infuriated. No lower or middle class men for his darling girl.

  Fingertips trailed across her cheek and curved under her chin. Todd’s thumb pressed against her parted lips, rubbing the lower one sensuously. Allison barely managed to stifle the groan in the back of her throat. His dark eyes seemed to burrow into her, reading the rebellious and wild nature that she kept carefully confined, hidden away behind the façade and mask of upper class respectability.

  With a wrench, Allison leaned back, pulling herself away and giving a half laugh. “What do I want? I want to be able to just be me.” Making a face she took a long swallow of her martini, looking away from him as words tumbled from her mouth. “Sometimes I wish someone would just come along and make me do all the things I really want to do. Capture me and take me away. Or blackmail me so that at least I wouldn’t feel guilty.”

  Todd leaned forward, the movement caught her eye and she turned to look at him. The intensity in his gaze made her insides tighten in a way that she’d never felt before. “And what do you really want to do?”

  Allison looked back at him, her heartbeat increasing as if she were running a race.

  “Everything.”