Page 84 of That Prince is Mine
“You totally snuck out.” She laughed with such glee that he couldn’t help but join her. “No, this isn’t funny. She’s going to freak out. You have to call her.”
“I left my mobile at the hotel.” He scratched the back of his head. “That’s why I had to resort to pebbles to get your attention.”
“Well, you could borrow mine.” She patted down her sides, then sighed. “Wait here. Let me go grab it.”
He leaned back in his chair with a sigh and looked up at the sky through the slats of the pergola. In the quiet peace of the moment, Michel knew that everything would be all right. He loved Emma with everything in him. All he had to do was follow his heart.
“Here,” she said, reclaiming her seat next to him. “Call.”
“Thank you.” He took her mobile and dialed Sophie’s number. She answered on the first ring.
“Sophie, it’s me. I—”
“Don’t bother,” his friend snapped. He could hear her take deep, calming breaths on the other end. “I’m parked in front of Emma’s house. I’ll escort you back when you’re ready, Your Highness.”
“I—” he tried again, but she’d already hung up.
“Are you in trouble?” Emma looked so worried that he pressed a kiss to her lips.
“Don’t worry.” He picked up her hand and dropped kisses on her knuckles. “I won’t get grounded.”
She linked her fingers through his and leaned back in her chair. He rested his head on the back of his chair and returned her steady gaze, their contentment forming a warm cocoon around them. Sometimes, words were unnecessary… inadequate. How could he describe the perfection of their shared exhalation—their souls aligned, utterly at ease? If this was his last moment on earth, he would die entirely fulfilled.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
Michel stood by the side gate repeating good night and I should go for about twenty minutes, all the while holding Emma tightly in his arms and dropping kisses on her temples, eyes, and the corners of her lips. She didn’t want the night to end either, but she had a morning class she should at least be semi-awake for, and he no doubt had a mountain of reports to review, calls to make, and other princely duties to deal with before his lecture in the afternoon.
Fisting his shirt in her hands, she rose to her tiptoes and kissed him soundly on the lips. When he made a growly noise deep in his chest, she was tempted to keep going, but she needed to be strong for both of them. She disengaged her lips from his and pushed him away firmly by his shoulders.
“You need to go.” She was going for stern but sounded much too breathless.
“I know.” When Michel stood rooted to the spot, giving her a woebegone puppy-dog stare, she spun him around and pushed him out the side gate. “I’m leaving. I’m leaving.”
“Good.” She didn’t even try to sound like she meant it. “Shoo.”
Halfway across the front lawn, he looked over his shoulder and nearly stopped her heart with that crooked grin of his. It gave her a glimpse of the mischievous little boy he must’ve been and the fun-loving and joyful man he hid behind a wall of civility and decorum. With her, he dropped his protective armor and let her see him—all of him. Sudden tears blurred her vision.
Emma was grateful he came to her tonight. That they didn’t waste another minute being angry with each other. After their fight earlier, she couldn’t avoid facing her feelings any longer. She’d let it wash over her and infuse her soul. She loved him so much it hurt. It felt as though she would burst from the enormity of that love. But that was that.
She couldn’t change the fact that she fell in love with a man she could never have. Pain as sharp as nails scraped down her heart, drawing blood. No, Emma. You can do this. She would love him with all her heart for the remainder of the time they had together. That was all she could do.
But what would happen to him when he returned to Rouleme? Would there be someone else he could be himself with? She had made certain not to read any articles about his love life, but there were hardly any to avoid. If there had been anyone else in his life, he had been very discreet about it. A part of her—a small, jealous part—never wanted him to find what he had with her. But another part of her—the part that loved him more than anything—hoped that he would find someone to share himself with. For his sake.
She wanted to run after him and never let him leave. But she swallowed the lump in her throat and forced herself to wave at him, not quite managing to smile back. Before she could change her mind, she walked through the side gate and latched it closed behind her. With heavy steps, she let herself back in the house and headed for the kitchen. She should make herself some hot chocolate. She was too wired to sleep.
Emma turned on the soft under-cabinet lights and pattered over to the fridge. After grabbing a half-empty carton of milk, she closed the refrigerator door and screamed, long and loud. The milk carton went flying, and her hands grappled at her throat as though she was trying to rein back her bloodcurdling scream. Her unsuspecting dad shouted in alarm and plastered himself to the kitchen wall.
“Where did you come from?” she cried.
“I didn’t mean to startle you.” He peeled himself off the wall with a shaky chuckle. “But you scared the bejesus out of me, too.”
“I’m not the one who snuck up on you.” She went to retrieve the milk from the floor, which thankfully hadn’t exploded on impact. “What are you doing up anyway?”
Wait. Oh, shit. Michel and she… They did… things… Just on the other side of the kitchen wall. Shit, shit, shit.
“I got up to use the restroom and remembered that there was leftover bean sprouts and spinach…”
“Say no more.” Emma smiled with relief and affection. “I’ll fry the eggs. You get the veggies and gochujang.”
