Sleeping With The Billionaire - A Standalone Royal Alpha Billionaire Prince Romance (New York City Billionaires - Book #2)

by Alexa Davis

  Unless this was just my taboo fantasy, coming to life once more. Maybe Blair was the one person I couldn’t have, which made her so much more appealing to me. Ugh, am I really that much of a pig? It was possible. I didn’t like to think that about myself, but still...

  “She left a flash drive around my house on the weekend, and now she’s insisting she needs it for work. As if I’m just fooling around all day long.”

  This didn’t seem like the time or place to point out that pretty much was what he did. “Well, I have nothing planned. I could do it for you, if you like?” I physically cringed as I said that, knowing I had to be completely transparent, but Cameron’s eyes lit up in delight.

  “You would do that? Really, that’d save me so much effort. I’ll give you my key. I think the flash drive is over by the computer, and I’ll text you the address of where Blair’s working, if that’s okay? You would be a huge star for doing this for me.”

  “Of course, I don’t mind.” It was all too easy, I couldn’t believe my luck. The excitement at the prospect of seeing Blair once more was already building – and with Cameron’s permission, too.

  ***

  I quietly entered the studio where Blair was working, trying to blend into the background. I just wanted to watch her in action for a moment, to see her come to life as she worked within the field of her passion. I already knew that she was an amazing photographer, I’d seen the pictures, but to watch the magic coming to life would be something else.

  “I think that needs to be there,” she commanded, pointing out her finger as her eyes fixed through the lens. “And the models need to be more that way. Yeah, that’s right.”

  This was fascinating – she had complete control of the room, everyone trusted her completely, and they were following her instructions exactly. I liked that; my life had been spent with orders barked at me.

  People thought I had power, being a member of the royal family, but the truth was a whole lot different. I was always being told what to do. It was why I acted out so much. It was why I loved to party – it was the one thing I could get away with doing despite being explicitly told not to.

  She snapped for a while, and I found myself holding my breath as a hush fell over the room. I wasn’t so much of a creative eye, I didn’t have many skills in that particular area, but even I could see that she had something special going on.

  “All right, guys, take five.”

  This was my moment. I needed to dive in now and give Blair her flash drive. I was a little disappointed that I wouldn’t get the chance to watch her some more, but if I continued to hang around, then it’d border on weird.

  “Hey, Blair.” I smiled brightly as I walked closer. She spun around to face me, shock crossing her expression. I thought I could spot a bit of happiness there, too, but that could’ve just been me desperately searching for what I wanted to see. “How’s it going? I brought your flash drive for you. Cameron couldn’t make it.”

  “Okay... So, you went to his house to get it for me?” she drawled a little suspiciously, as if she was trying to work out my angle.

  “I did. I didn’t have anything going on, so I thought I would just come and see you in action.”

  “Oh, were you watching the shoot?” Her face flushed brightly as she tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. “What did you think?”

  “Well, you’re the expert, but I thought you were amazing out there. Watching the way people respond to you is awesome. It must be your sparkling personality.”

  I suddenly realized that I was right up in Blair’s personal space now, and she wasn’t instantly jumping backward. I was flirting a little with my words, but majorly with my body. If Blair didn’t hate this, then maybe I had a shot...

  Oh, God, what was wrong with me? I couldn’t really act upon this, could I?

  “Would you like to come out to lunch with me when you’re ready?” My mouth spoke for me, totally ignoring my brain. Rationality had vanished, and I was a total slave to my body. “I mean, if you don’t have any plans?”

  “Oh, well, erm, maybe...” She was stumbling over her words, freaking out at my suggestion. “I guess I’ll be finished in about an hour, so we could go then, if you don’t mind sticking around?”

  This was wrong... So wrong.

  “Sure, I’ll wait.”

  ***

  “It must be so hard for you, surrounded by beautiful people all day long,” I teased Blair as we sat across from one another in a vintage café. “I don’t know how you do it.”

  “That’s rich, coming from royalty,” she chuckled and slapped my arm playfully. “You’re the one who only has to wave to people all day long. Honestly, I don’t know why you came to America.”

  If only she knew... But I didn’t want to wreck our good vibe with negativity. My life in England was long gone. I didn’t have any need to look back on it now – especially not when there were more important things going on. Blair was finally warming up to me. I could see her shoulders un-hunching, her muscles relaxing, and her smile brightening. This was seriously positive, even if it was still very wrong.

  “Oh, well, you know how it is – it’s challenging being adored by everyone. Sometimes I need a little break, to reconnect with nature and all that.”

  “Nature? In New York? You must be insane.” I loved the sound of her laugh. It was musical and sweet, warming up my whole chest.

  “Well, I don’t know. I’ve hardly seen much of the city. It could all be nature, as far as I’m concerned. Maybe I can’t see any from my apartment, but still...”

  I couldn’t deny it. I was trying to worm my way even further into Blair’s psyche. I wanted her to offer to spend more time with me. I really needed it to be her who took this next step so it wasn’t totally my fault when all of this blew up in my face... which it more than likely would.

  “I suppose I could take you around.” I smirked happily to myself at the way she was so obviously trying to keep her tone light and breezy. “I have Thursday off, so if you have nothing going on then, why not?”

  “Why not?” I nodded, my voice just as easygoing. “Sounds perfect to me.”

  Our eyes connected for a moment, and I felt something powerful and unspoken flowing between us. I got the distinct impression that she liked me just as much as I did her. It was only the obvious elephant in the room keeping us apart. If only Blair wasn’t Cameron’s sister, we could already know what this thing was between us.

  Still, it seemed like we were going to find out – however wrong it was.

  “So, should I take your number? Or did you just want to arrange a place to meet?”

  Please say number... Please say number... If I got her number, all would be perfect.

  “Why don’t we meet here at ten a.m. on Thursday?”

  Okay, I’ll take it. It’s better than nothing.

  “Sounds good, I will see you then.”

  Chapter 12 – Blair – Wednesday

  “That’s perfect, thank you.” I grinned brightly at the female model, whose name currently escaped me. “You did a great job today.”

  The photoshoot had been amazing, one of my best yet, and I had the distinct feeling that it was because I was so inspired. Having lunch with Marcus had surprisingly unleashed something within me – a spark, a passion – and knowing that we would be hanging out tomorrow, too, made it even more powerful. I just couldn’t wait!

  He wasn’t what I’d expected at all. Every time I thought I knew him, he completely turned my opinion around, which I found incredibly confusing.

  He really did seem to be the playboy Cameron had told me he was in some ways, but in others, he was totally different. He hadn’t slept with Maddie, he’d been nothing but supportive about my work, and he’d been a whole lot of fun at lunch. There had been a definite undercurrent of flirting, but not overtly, which had felt really nice.

  I guess I liked that he seemed to see under the surface of me and liked me because of that. That didn’t happen to me as
often as I would like.

  “Helloooo!” I heard Maddie’s voice bellowing through the room, which caused me to spin around, almost dropping my camera equipment in the process. “How’s it going? I’ve missed you, my little bitch. Where have you been?”

  I chuckled and shook my head, bemused at my friend. At least, that was what I did on the surface. Underneath, I was freaking the hell out. I had been avoiding Maddie because I couldn’t discuss her crush on Marcus anymore, not when I felt the same way. And I was almost certain that he was attracted to me, not her. All the signs were pointing in that direction.

  Sure, it made me feel guilty, but was I really in the wrong when Maddie only wanted a fling? What I was looking for was so much more. Okay, so admittedly I was possibly blinded by lust and looking in all the wrong places... But what if I wasn’t?

  It was a minefield of conflicting emotions.

  “Oh, I’m sorry, I’ve just been crazy busy with work.” I shrugged and glanced away, refusing to meet her eyes as I told a very blatant lie. “You know how it is. Anyway, how are things with you?”

  “I’m good. Work’s a bit of a bastard. My bitch boss from hell, Cassie, has been riding my ass recently. What I really need to do is get out of that place.”

  “Oh, I thought you were trying to move up in the company?” I asked breezily, trying to keep her on this topic.

  Usually, when she started ranting about Cassie, I could keep her on that all day long. And if she was moaning about work, then she wouldn’t be talking about Marcus. I didn’t want to lie about him, but I didn’t want to tell the truth, either. I couldn’t deal with the drama. “Didn’t you want to join the journalistic team?”

  “Ugh, I do, but how am I supposed to get there when no one will give me a shot? Fucking Cassie refuses to see that I’m anything more than just a receptionist. I mean, if she just interviewed me, she’d see that there’s so much more to me than just filing and answering phones.”

  “I know; you would be good at being a journalist.” I slung my bag over my shoulder and smirked at her. “I’ve never known anyone dig out secrets like you do. Do you remember when you found out Liam was dating someone else at the same time as you? Wow, that was crazy.”

  “Yeah, well, that prick deserved it. He told me that he loved me while texting that skank... Sallie, or whatever her name was.”

  “Well, I don’t necessarily think that it was her fault. She didn’t know about you either,” I tried, but Maddie didn’t care about any rationality. She rolled her eyes dramatically at me.

  “Come on, let’s go out and have some lunch. I’m starving, and I really need to discuss my plan of action with you.”

  “Oh, good.” I linked my arm through hers, and smiled happily. At least we were on the right track of safe conversation here. “I didn’t realize that you had a plan. I’m going to assume that it doesn’t involve working hard?”

  “Huh?” She screwed up her nose in disgust. “Oh, no, this isn’t about work. I need to decide what I’m going to do about Lord Marcus. I don’t know how to get him back in my hooks now. I honestly don’t know if I’ve put him off by getting so drunk.”

  “Why? Has he said something?” My heartrate instantly kicked up a notch. Had Maddie been in touch with Marcus? Did she know about me and him? Oh, God, this was too much...

  “No, and that’s the problem, right? Shouldn’t he be hammering down my door, trying to get into my panties?”

  I had to gulp down the thick ball of emotion that lodged itself firmly in my throat. The image of Maddie and Marcus rolling around under the sheets filled my mind, making me incredibly sick. I did not want that to happen – never, ever. Maybe it was wrong of me to feel that way about my best friend, but I couldn’t seem to help myself. “Yeah, maybe.”

  “I mean, I just think he should be desperate to have sex with me, don’t you? I flirted with him, I flashed my boobs at him, I basically handed myself to him on a plate. I know he probably isn’t quite the playboy Cameron suggested, but is he a man, at all?”

  Oh, God, this was too hard; what the hell was I supposed to say to that? I tried to convince myself that I was talking to Maddie about someone else, just so that I could act more normal, but I couldn’t make that happen.

  “I don’t know. Where did you want to go to eat?” I could hear the desperation dripping off my tongue, Maddie had to know that I was freaking out, but luckily for me, she was currently so self-involved that she was barely even listening to me.

  “Let’s go here.”

  Oh, God.

  Before I could stop her, she slammed the door open to the cutesy café I had eaten in with Marcus in only the day before. My limbs froze to the spot. I could barely make myself walk as guilt crashed over me in waves. I needed a way out, but there was no valid excuse good enough.

  “Come on, Blair, what are you doing?”

  I sighed deeply and forced myself forward, hating myself to the core. I needed to just tell her. Spilling the beans before I fell in too deeply was the right thing to do, but I really desperately didn’t want to. I could just picture how it’d go right now, and it was not a pretty scene.

  ‘Hey, Maddie, I’m really sorry to tell you this, but I like Marcus a whole lot and I think he likes me, too.’

  ‘Oh, my God, you fucking bitch! I’m going to kill you; you’ve taken my lord. I’m calling Cameron right now, then I will never speak to you again.’

  That drama was not worth the hassle, especially when the spark between me and Marcus could only be friendship. I knew that I might be reading it all wrong, and I didn’t want to screw up my longest-standing friendship over one little error.

  Plus, he probably wouldn’t be around too much longer, anyway. He was here in New York now, but from what Cameron had insisted earlier, Marcus was running away from his problems at home. He was an important man with an English title, for crying out loud. He would have to move back to England soon. There was no point in upsetting the balance of my life for no reason.

  “I can’t even find him on any social media!” Maddie groaned as she fell into her seat. “I mean, what sort of person has no online presence?”

  “Well, I guess he is a lord.” I tried my best to be diplomatic, but Maddie was on a roll now, there was no stopping her. “Maybe he can’t have an online presence.”

  “Do you have his number? Maybe I should text him.”

  I glanced over to the table where I had sat opposite Marcus, remembering when he’d offered me his number, and I’d turned him down.

  If only I hadn’t freaked out, if only I’d just said ‘yes, please, give me your number,’ then we could text before we met up and I would know a little bit more about him.

  “No, I don’t,” I replied stiffly. “And I don’t know if that would be a good idea.”

  “Does Cameron have it?” she asked over me. “He must have it. Do you think he’d give it to me, or do you think it might piss him off?”

  Oh, God, this was so hard! Why couldn’t we talk about other things? Why did she have to be so obsessive over Marcus?

  Maybe I should have taken his number just so I could cancel the whole day out tomorrow. This was wrong; it made me feel so incredibly uncomfortable. I hated being deceptive and upsetting my friend.

  "I don’t know,” I replied evasively. “But he did warn you off Marcus, so it might not be a good idea. Maybe we should go out and find other guys.”

  Yes, that is a good idea, for both of us! If I could find someone else, then I could stop my mind from thinking so much about him.

  “No, I don’t think I want another guy, I want my lord.” She clapped her hands together and grinned happily. “He’s the one for me.”

  I sighed deeply and accepted defeat. There was no turning Maddie off Marcus, however hard I tried. She was really into him, which meant I couldn’t be. I didn’t want to lose my friend over a guy, however good looking and nice he was.

  ***

  As I lay in my bed later that night, I couldn’t switch
off and go to sleep no matter how hard I tried. All I could think about was the various different ways Maddie would murder me when she found out that I’d betrayed her.

  This wasn’t me at all. I was never that person, but there was something about Marcus that made me act out of character. He made me a little crazy, and I wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing.

  What I would have to do was spend the day with him, show him around the city, but act only as his friend. I would make it very clear that there was nothing between us. It didn’t matter how much it killed me, just because I couldn’t do that to my friend. She deserved much better. She’d always been there for me, so now it was time for me to do the same for her.

  I twisted onto my side, frustrated tears filling my eyes. This sucked, it felt so unfair. Why did the first person I ever really liked have to be so wrong for me? Not only was he my brother’s friend with a bad reputation, he didn’t even live in the country, and Maddie wanted him for her own. And to be fair, she had claimed him first. Maybe in the long run it would do me a favor. Maybe I shouldn’t like Marcus just because there was a spark, but still it hurt like hell.

  Head over heart. I could do that. It wouldn’t be too hard... Would it?

  Chapter 13 – Marcus – Thursday

  I was practically skipping as I walked toward the coffee shop to meet Blair, excitement tearing through my veins. I didn’t even care anymore that this was wrong, I just wanted to see her, to spend time with her, and that was all that mattered. As I pushed the door to the café, a smirk burst out across my cheeks as I recalled our last time together in here.

  I couldn’t help but think of it as “our place.” I’d brought her here on a whim, and it was where she’d started warming up to me. Now we were meeting up for a whole day of fun. I didn’t know what to expect, and that thrilled me like crazy.

  “Can I have a cappuccino, please?” I asked the waitress behind the counter.