Page 28 of The Prince (Spy Girl 1)
And my body is responding in like.
He runs his mouth up my neck and says, "I greatly desire you."
And I desire him too. I'm attracted to him. Sleeping with him would be good for my mission. So what's stopping me?
I close my eyes, instantly recalling a single dimple and brilliant blue eyes. I take a deep breath. "Lorenzo, I greatly desire you, as well, but I'm not sure this is a good idea."
His finger circles my nipple. "Why not?"
"Because we're all pumped up from surviving yet another attack together. I don't want that to interfere with how wonderful our courtship has been so far."
"Neither do I, but I think--"
We're interrupted by a knock on his door. "Prince Lorenzo," Juan says from the other side. "I'm afraid our national agency and military would like you to attend an emergency meeting. There is talk of calling off the race. Or putting you under house arrest until the threat passes."
"Do you know how long it will take?" he replies, still clutching me.
"Sorry, I do not."
Lorenzo reluctantly lets go of me. "Would you like to relax in my quarters until I'm finished? Although I regret that I have no idea when that will be."
"Would it be okay if I just went home? I wasn't home all day, and I'm supposed to meet with the caterers in the morning to finalize the brunch menu for race day. Although, I suppose we should consider cancelling that too."
"Don't be silly. We won't be cancelling either, and I will be attending both events. Get some sleep, my sweet, and I will call on you tomorrow. I will have Juan see you home."
He hands me a cashmere lounger to wear and quickly gets dressed in black slacks and a sweater. His hair is still damp, and he looks delicious, but we only have time for a quick goodbye kiss.
When I get home, I leave a note on Ellis's desk requesting a new phone.
On the way to my room, I stop to see if Ari is home, but he's not. I also discover that neither are Peter and Allie, which I guess isn't that big of a surprise as they mentioned that the yacht party would go on all night long. I guess I sort of thought the shots fired at the docks might have slowed it down, but no one probably heard it over the loud, pumping music.
I change out of Lorenzo's clothes, take a long hot shower, then grab a bottle of water out of the mini fridge in my suite. There's a document on my bedside table with a full write up on Intrepid who, contrary to popular belief, is not retired.
I sit at my desk, take some stationary out of the drawer, and write him a proper thank-you note for the evening bag and tuck in an invitation to brunch. I drop it off on Ellis's desk along with instructions to find out where William Gallagher is staying and to deliver it to him in the morning. Then I burn the documents about him in the fireplace.
When I get back to my room, I find Daniel lying across my bed wearing nothing but a pair of boxers.
"What are you doing here?"
"I don't have anywhere to stay. Thought I could stay with you," he replies, his blue eyes glittering.
"Embassy housing full?" I ask, sitting on the bed next to him.
"Actually, it is. I forgot to tell them I was coming back. Speaking of that, Lorenzo told me you slept with that British guy from the club."
"I went back to his place. I slept in his bed, but he passed out. We didn't have sex."
"You should have called me."
"You weren't in town yet. Who I should have called was Ellis, but it was very late and he'd been working hard on the impromptu pool party we decided to throw."
"It bothered me that you went home with him."
"Why?"
"It bothered the Prince, too."
"Why would it bother him?"
"He likes you."
"He's liked a lot of girls," I counter, rolling my eyes.
"He thinks you're different."
"Probably because I didn't fall into bed with him."
He grabs the front of his shirt that I'm wearing and slowly unbuttons it, holding my gaze. "Like you did with me?"
I give him a smirk. "And here I thought you took me home for pizza and video games."
"I took you home because you're beautiful," he says, sliding the shirt off my shoulder and kissing it. "I slept with you because you're fun to be around." His lips work their way up my neck until his face is right in front of mine. I get the dimple. "Plus, I couldn't let you continue to kick my ass at Battleground. I had to distract you."
"You weren't trying to distract me. I got naked and sat on your lap."
He nips at my lip then leans us back on the bed. "I liked that. So, have you banged the Prince yet?"
"If you and the Prince are so close, you should ask him yourself."
"I'm asking you," he says, trailing his hand up my thigh.
"It's none of your business, but if you must know, he has more old-fashioned values."
"Bullshit, he's screwed more women than . . . Oh." Daniel's hand stops moving and he exhales deeply, almost like he just got punched in the gut.
"Oh, what?"
"He actually likes you."
"Maybe," I say.
"He might be a prince, but I rocked your world." He's right. He did, and I can't stop thinking about it.
"You rocked my world?" I tease. "What, is this the 90s?"
His hand moves further up, his finger twisting around the lace of my thong, as he kisses me. "You know we're good together."
"I bet you say that to all the girls."
He stops kissing me to pull a tabloid off the nightstand and shove it in my face. "I picked this up at the airport. They're already talking engagement."
"That's because Ophelia and Viktor got engaged at the--"
"No, they're talking about your future engagement."
"Do you care what they say?"
"Depends if it's true."
"Daniel," I sigh.
"What?"
I can't believe I'm going to say this. I don't want to say this. But I have to. For the good of my mission. "You're welcome to stay here at the villa, just not in my room."
He nods but doesn't move. I sit up, buttoning the shirt.
He cups my cheek in his hand. "Are you in love with Lorenzo?"
"I care for him."
"And do you care for me?"
I gulp even though I was trained not to give away my feelings through nonverbal communication. Lying is second nature for me. I'm good at it. But I can't seem to lie to him. Not about this.
I look down and simply nod. Because I do care about him even though I shouldn't. Even though I just met him. Even though I have no reason to trust him.
"Then I'll stay in the room next door," he says, getting out of bed and picking up his clothes. "I want to be close by. I heard about the attempts on his life and fear you may be in danger by association. It was way too easy for me to sneak into your room."
"I really don't want you to leave," I admit.
"I can just sleep in here, if you want. We don't have to, you know. I just want to keep you safe."
Which is as soothing as it is ironic.
MISSION:DAY SEVEN
Two men are alone in a large, ornate library having a terse discussion.
"The papers say she's going to be the next Princess of Montrovia. She may be doing part of her mission a little too well."
"She's saved him from three separate assassination attempts. I'd say that's pretty damn good for a brand new agent."
"Yes, but is she making any progress on the case?"
The former Dean of Blackwood Academy frowns but does not reply.
"I'd hate to see all her training go to waste because she decides she'd rather be royal. Maybe we need to dangle a carrot in front of her."
"I think you're playing with fire."
"Do what you need to do, old man."
"Do you have no conscience? Have you ever stopped to think about what effect this could have on her? She's just a girl."
"She's soon to be twenty-two and very much an adult. Remind me again why sh
e wants to work for Black X?"
"To avenge her parents' deaths," the Dean says with a sigh, knowing he won't win this battle.
"Then our goals are in alignment. We will both do whatever it takes--no matter the price. The world as we know it may depend on our commitment. Make the call."
The former Dean goes into an office at the Black X headquarters, requests a secure line, calls the villa in Montrovia, and asks Ellis to put him through.
"Hello?" she says, her voice sounding different than he is used to. He realizes why. She sounds happy. She's in her element.
"Word on the street is you will become a princess. Is that what you want?"
