“What?”
“This.” I signaled at the dancers before us. “It’s history in the making, really.”
“I suppose.”
“I should have never agreed to go on that date with him.” I watched as he waltzed with another woman. “Everyone has had something negative to say about me even speaking to him, including my mother. And yet, I can’t seem to help myself.” I continued speaking, mostly because Pierre’s silence was comforting and I had to tell someone what I was feeling before I blew up. “Having a connection with a man I could never have feels like an awful burden to carry, but it’ll pass. I mean, it always does.” I shrugged and smiled up at him. “I’m going to get changed so we can go grab that pint.”
I walked away, leaving behind the dancing and the music. The only person I’d have to report back to was Joss. She’d have questions and I’d answer them as soon as I changed into comfortable clothes. Once inside the cottage, I took off my shoes, the mask on my face, ran my fingers through my hair to tear down the partial updo I had, and started going through my clothes to see what I had left to wear. The knock on my door startled me. I dropped the shirt in my hands and walked over, unlocking and opening it.
“Pierre.” I frowned. “I thought we were going to meet—” I stopped talking when I sensed the seriousness as he took off the mask covering half his face. I blinked. “Elias? What the . . . what are you doing?”
He’d obviously changed outfits with Pierre at some point. Did that mean Pierre was the one out there dancing now? Pretending?
Chapter 17
“What are you—”
“I don’t think we should deny ourselves this.”
“But . . . earlier . . . ”
“I changed costumes with Pierre after our encounter.”
“Why?”
“Because I didn’t want to dance with any of those women.” He stepped forward. “Because the only woman I can’t stop thinking about refuses to see me again and I don’t know what to do with that kind of rejection.” He brought a hand up to cup my face. “Because I want to kiss you and taste you and do whatever else you’ll let me do to you.”
“It’s not a good idea.” I swallowed. “This won’t end well for either of us. For me, especially.”
“Are you going to let that stop you?”
“No, but we need boundaries. Rules.”
“I’m no good with rules. Or boundaries.”
“One night. Tonight and that’s it.”
“No.”
“Yes.” I searched his gaze, his eyes looking impossibly dark. “I can’t handle this being more than just a one-night stand. I won’t survive it.”
“I don’t agree with that.”
“You don’t have to. It’s a take-it-or-leave-it offer. I won’t allow myself to fall in love with a man who’s destined to marry another woman.”
“Fine. One night.”
“Okay.”
He pressed his lips against mine as he stepped into the room and kicked the door closed behind him with his foot. My breath fled my lungs, but just for a moment before I pulled away. His eyes were wild on mine, hazy, unsure. It was the uncertainty that did me in.
“I have to tell you something.”
“Now?”
“We slept together before.”
“I know.” His laugh was a bare wisp of air leaving his lips, but his eyes held a smile.
“You know?” I frowned. “I thought you didn’t remember.”
“Of course I remember.” He leaned into me again, his lips on my jaw as he dragged them to my ear. My heart skipped as he whispered, “I could never forget you, Adeline.”
“You don’t have to say nice things. This is going to happen either way.”
He pulled away. “Do I seem like a man who says things for the sake of saying them?”
“No.” I watched him closely. I knew he didn’t. That didn’t mean he was immune to saying nice things under the circumstances.
“You’re the only person I’ve ever taken to bed who had no idea who I was. You slept with me because you wanted to, not because of my name, not because of my status.” He brought a hand up to cover my cheek, his thumb brushing my lower lip. “You wanted me as much as I wanted you, and despite reason, I want you even more now.”
I wasn’t sure it was his intention, but it was most likely the most romantic thing I’d ever been told. I reached up, wrapping my arms around his neck and pressed my lips to his, this time knowing I wouldn’t stop. I couldn’t. I was too deep into this and even though it was one night and I knew deep down it would kill me when it was over, I needed to feel his lips, his hands, all of him move against me.
“Tu es sublime, Adeline,” he said, his voice low as he undressed me, tugging at the strings of the bodice of my dress until it was loose and falling away.
He took his time to look at me, put his mouth on my skin, with each item of clothing he removed. Between kisses, I started to work on his, tossing his tie, undoing his buttons. Soon we were both undressed and marveling at the sight of one another. I’d seen him in a swimsuit. I’d seen him naked, in the dark, but that was so many years ago. The man before me now was perfection. Not in a perfect six-pack model kind of way, but in a toned, powerful man kind of way. The kind who could overpower me easily, but still manage to be gentle. The kind who I had no doubt could be punishing with his tongue and fingers, but was looking at me like I was the most fragile thing in the world. Maybe it was the moment. It felt fragile. It felt like if we spoke too loudly or touched too quickly it would be over in an instant, and neither one of us could bear it.
He pushed me back onto the bed and began dragging his mouth down my body until he reached my thighs; there, he kissed and nipped, making me squirm. I gasped loudly as his tongue found my center, licking my clit slowly once, twice, and then ravishing me like a starving man. It was intense and I knew that even though he was trying to make the moment last, I wouldn’t last long. His fingers joined his tongue and he began pumping them inside of me as he sucked on my clit. My legs started to shake.
“C’est encore mieux que je ne l’imaginais.” He pulled away momentarily, his dark eyes meeting mine as I panted.
Something inside of me crumbled. I agreed with that because what I had imagined paled in comparison to the reality of having this man, this prince, this future king’s head between my legs. His mouth pulled up slightly as if reading my thoughts and he went back to burying his head between my legs and I went back to panting and soon enough, shouting his name.
The cord inside of me that seemed to continue tightening suddenly popped as the orgasm hit me. My chest heaving as I came down from it when he began making his way up my body, his teeth leaving tiny tracks behind as he punctured fragments of my skin. He stopped at my breasts, licking and sucking each nipple into his mouth, groaning as he tugged and let them go free with a pop. I felt my heart pick up again to the point of hysteria, an orgasm that had no business building was gradually climbing and when he brought a hand between my legs, suddenly sliding his fingers inside of me as he continued to suck on my breasts, I knew I was a goner.
I sat up slightly as he finished rolling on a condom and positioned himself between my legs and he met my gaze, a question in them. I answered by holding onto his shoulder and lifting myself up so we were both sitting, and then wrapped my legs around him as he positioned me over him. My nails dug into his shoulder as I lowered myself onto him, holding my breath as his cock spread me inch by inch. He held my ass tightly as he fucked me, driving inside of me with long, hard strokes that were no longer gentle. His movements were punishing, searing, as if marking himself inside of me physically to match what he’d already done emotionally. We were at eye level like this and he pulled back to look at me. I bit my lip to contain my moans, which were growing with each time his cock was completely inside of me, with each time he squeezed my ass and pulled me onto him, hitting my throbbing, already sensitive clit with the movement.
“This can’t be th
e only night, Adeline,” he whispered, still fucking me relentlessly.
“It has to be.” It was his intense gaze, the way he owned my body and made me feel that made me cry out in that moment, throwing my head back in ecstasy and saying his name when I felt him throbbing inside of me, growling out a curse in French in that low husky voice that made me come undone once more.
Chapter 18
I heeded my mother’s warning and packed my things as soon as I got home. I wouldn’t have, had last night not happened, but it did, and the feeling weighing in the pit of my stomach was worse with each passing second. I wasn’t running from it though. I couldn’t. I just needed to go back to London and check my flat and regroup all of my thoughts and feelings. I needed to find a box inside myself where I could store them all and shut the lid on the entire thing. Or burn it. Despite everything, I wanted Elias way more than I should and last night had made things worse for me. I would use the excuse of needing to check on my flat though. I’d been gone a while, and even though my neighbor, Mrs. Parsons, was making sure things were tidy and didn’t get cobwebs, her services didn’t extend to paying past due bills, which I was bound to have if I didn’t go through my mail soon.
As I packed, I thought about Elias and wondered if I should say anything to him. I opted against it. He wasn’t back from Versailles anyway. For all I knew, he was spending the day with one of the princesses he’d soon marry. Besides that, we’d agreed on one night and one night we had. One night that conjured memories of our first time and made me wish like hell I hadn’t agreed to anything at all, but it was what it was. Even if we both wanted things to progress and see where this went, nothing could happen. Like my mother said, I was just a commoner to them. Like Etienne said, the future could hold nothing for us. I needed to do a better job at listening to those who loved me and wanted what was best for me. I’d regroup in London, come back and go to the queen’s residence on Sunday for dinner, and by then I’d have put all of this behind me.
* * *
Nothing had changed in London. Not that I’d expected it to. As I took my keys out of my pocket and walked toward my flat, I looked at the park across the street and smiled at the sight of the elderly couple sharing the bench there, the way they often were. I lived in a vintage townhome, in a coveted street in Kensington, which I was renting courtesy of one of my father’s good friends. Dad lived here for a short time when he was serving as an ambassador to France here in London. He’d kept the job for four years before moving back to Paris, but his contacts remained, and when I decided to move here, he was able to secure the very same townhouse I’d fallen in love with as a teenager. It was fancy and big, way too big for me, but Joss had moved into one of the bedrooms, so that helped. When I moved here after graduating college, I’d promised my father I’d pay the rent as soon as my business took off, and had since made good on my promise. Joss was still in France, so as I reached the door, I knew I’d find the place empty. I was turning to unlock the front door when I heard the door of the townhouse next door squeak open and saw Mrs. Parsons.
“You’re back.” She eyed me up and down. “You look rumpled.”
“I slept on the train,” I said, as if that would explain the state I was in.
Truth was, I did look rumpled. I’d barely slept, so I was sure there were bags under my eyes. My hair was a mess in a bun that I hadn’t taken the time to fix. I hadn’t ironed my linen coat and I was sure the buttons on my blouse were mismatched. I never looked rumpled. At least not in public, so Mrs. Parsons was right to be concerned.
“Come inside for tea,” she said, her tone leaving no room for argument.
“I should set my bags down,” I said, arguing anyway.
“I’ll let you get settled then. Tea tomorrow at noon.”
“Tomorrow at noon.” I smiled and waited for her to disappear into her flat before going into mine.
Once inside, I began to shed my clothes, sliding off my shoes first before moving onto my scarf and jacket. I walked up to the pile of letters at the edge of my counter and leafed through them, sorting the bills from the trash, and setting aside invitations I’d received. Some of the letters were for Joss, so I set those in a separate pile altogether. Taking the bills and invitations with me, I walked over to each of the windows on this floor and pulled open the curtains, letting the midday sun wash over the space. I would go downstairs and upstairs later. For now, I wanted to pay my bills, do my laundry, and take a nap.
* * *
My phone woke me up. I reached for it blindly and answered it upon seeing Mrs. Meyers’ number on the screen.
“Is everything okay?” I said as a greeting.
“No, everything is not okay. That man is insufferable and I will not deliver any more baskets.”
“What?” I sat up in bed, looking outside. It was dark out. I must have slept all day. “What did he say?”
“He would not accept the basket. He said everything was wrong. I followed every single instruction you gave me.” Her voice was a shrill. I cringed.
“I am so sorry.”
“You don’t have to apologize on his behalf. I just wanted to let you know that I’m passing the task along to Lucy Walters. Maybe she’ll fare better with him. After all, they’re well acquainted.”
“Well acquainted?” I frowned. “Isn’t Lucy the pub owner’s daughter?”
“Well acquainted,” Mrs. Meyers repeated. “Meaning, they’ve had relations.”
“Oh.” My heart dropped. “Oh.”
“I will pass your number along to Lucy. She’ll be in touch tomorrow.” She hung up the phone before I could make a suggestion or argue that I did not want Lucy Walters anywhere near Elias if they’d had sex in the past. Fuck jealousy and the way it seemed to disregard all other senses.
I set my phone down and called Etienne. He didn’t answer the call. I called Joss. She answered on the third ring.
“Missing me?”
“Always.” I smiled slightly, but my jealousy would only let my mouth pull up a touch. “So, apparently Elias is being an asshole to Mrs. Meyers and she handed off the task to someone else.”
“The basket?” she asked. “That task?”
“Yes.”
“So what?”
“So, the person she handed it off to is Lucy Walters, who apparently had sex with Elias in the past.”
“Okay. And?”
“And I don’t want her delivering the basket to him.”
Joss fell silent for a moment. “Because you like him?”
“Yes.” I closed my eyes, wishing I could shut out all emotions toward him. It didn’t work. All I could do was picture Lucy Walters and him in bed. My eyes popped open again. “I really like him. More than like him, if I’m being honest.”
“That’s not . . . ” She sighed. “Addie. You realize he’s not for you, right?”
“Everyone keeps saying that, yes.” I closed my eyes again. “I know he’s not. I’m not an idiot, but if he’s not and he knows that, why does he continue to pursue me?”
“Because he’s a man with little regard to others’ emotions. Trust me, I know.”
My eyes popped open again. “You two—”
“No. God no. I’m just saying, I’ve known Pilar long enough to know enough about the princes and their flings. To them, you’re just another number. Another pair of tits.”
“I don’t think it’s just that,” I said. “He doesn’t treat me like that.”
“He can be very charming. He has a way about him. It’s a façade.”
I let that sink in. “I don’t think I should come to dinner on Sunday.”
“I think you should.”
“But he’ll be there and I don’t think it’s a good idea for me to see him right now.”
“He’ll be at his villa when you get back there too. He’ll be on every paper and every magazine in a few months when he gets married and has his coronation. There is no escaping him.”
“Seeing him in person will be worse than
seeing him on a magazine cover.”
“He’s bringing a date.”
“How do you know?”
“Pilar. Obv.”
“Oh.”
“Bring a date.”
“I can’t bring a date. The queen invited me, not me plus one. Besides, I wouldn’t have a date to bring. I don’t want to ask poor Pierre again and leave him high and dry.”
“Bring Thomas.”
“Evans?” I cried. “My ex-boyfriend?”
“Yeah, you know, the one you filmed a sex tape with. He owes you. You’re still on good terms, and it will kill Elias to see you together.”
“I don’t want to play those kinds of mind games, Joss.”
“Love is a game. You need to play to your heart’s advantage.”
“What kind of bullshit is that?”
“It’s not bullshit, Addie. The royals like to play games.” She lowered her voice. “While we’re on the topic of royals, Pilar wants me to be her secretary.”
“What?” I shrieked. “You have a job.” I liked Pilar, but this was going too far. Using me was one thing, but trying to take my best friend and best employee I had was going a bit too far.
“I told her I’d think about it.”
“Seriously?”
“I don’t want to flat-out say no to the opportunity. She’s as good a friend to me as you are and it would require travel and meeting people I’d never otherwise get to meet.”
“I understand the glamour of the job, Joslyn. I just . . . I don’t want to lose you too, you know?”
“I’d refer so many people to Pirouette Events, you’ll have the longest list of parties to plan you’ve ever dreamed of.”
I felt myself smile. “I still don’t want to lose you.”
“But you like that perk, huh?”
“Yes, I like that perk.” I laughed. She laughed too.
“Take a date on Sunday.”
“I’ll think about it.”
“Keep me posted.”
I didn’t like the idea at first, but the more I thought about Elias being there with a date, the more I liked the idea of taking one of my own. After all, showing up with a man was better than showing up alone and having to endure seeing Elias with a woman. I wondered if he’d chosen someone from the other night. I wondered if this would be the woman he’d announce his engagement to. I needed to armor up just in case. When I hung up with Joss, I texted Thomas. There was a lot to be said for staying on friendly terms with an ex, even when that ex was the reason you were hiding from the entire city.
The Sinful King: By New York Times Bestselling Author Page 11
