Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 91049 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 455(@200wpm)___ 364(@250wpm)___ 303(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91049 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 455(@200wpm)___ 364(@250wpm)___ 303(@300wpm)
“Princeton, from the time you could walk and talk, if your father or I told you not to do something, you did it,” she replies and chortles.
“Yes, well, I was onto you this time.”
“Yes, you were, but that’s not going to stop you, is it?”
“No, it’s not. She was always meant to be mine,” I reply and lean to kiss her cheek before I turn to leave.
She laughs as I walk away. Yes, my mother knows me well. Now, it’s time for Cinder to learn a few things about me.
CHAPTER 9
Charming Talk
Cinder
“You look gorgeous,” he whispers in my ear as we walk from dinner back to the car.
I hold off the shiver that wants to run through me. I look up into those blue eyes and have to bite my lip. He looks like he didn’t eat his meal.
“Thank you,” I whisper.
His gaze drops to my cleavage. The black bandage dress puts my breasts, cinched waist, and wide hips on display. I’m not sure what made me wear this dress.
Okay, maybe I do know what made me wear it. After the helicopter ride to London, we arrived at the hotel. Princeton made sure to keep a possessive hand on my waist the entire time we checked in.
Some of the looks other women shot his way made me a little possessive myself. I know I have no right, but it pissed me off. The stink looks they gave me made me feel the same way.
A big part of me wanted to show them all. Especially the woman behind the desk. Now, I’m not sure this dress was such a good idea.
“You know how to drive a man crazy,” he says.
“That wasn’t my intention.”
He chuckles. “Are you sure? Those heels would look amazing around my neck. All you have to do is ask.”
I stumble a little, but he catches me. His fingers dig into my side and he draws me into his body. He gives me a grin.
I want to palm my face. Leave it to me to become clumsy. I’m grateful for the safety of the car. I dart into the back seat as the driver opens the door.
Princeton folds his big body in beside me smoothly. He draws me close to him. When I turn to him, he’s watching me intently.
“Speak your mind, Cinder. You’ve been in a mood since this afternoon. What’s going on in your head?”
“I’m fine.”
He strokes my cheek. “Never lie to me.”
I blink and lean into his heat. I don’t know why the command causes such a reaction. He kisses my lips lightly.
“Tell me.”
“I’m planning a party for you to find a wife. What’s the point of all of this? Why wine and dine me?”
Instead of answering, he takes my lips in a searing kiss. His kisses make my head spin. I cling to his neck with one hand.
“I don’t think you heard me clearly yesterday. You. Are. Mine.”
“I heard you. I also know we spent this afternoon planning a ball for potential wives for you. How does that work?”
“Cinder—”
“Wait, you know what? I’m going to be honest. I find you attractive, but you have been a bit assuming. What if I had a boyfriend? You haven’t asked once.”
He lifts a brow. “If he hasn’t come up by now, he isn’t much of a boyfriend. Then there’s the fuck that I don’t give about him. His loss. He should have kept a better eye on what he thought was his.”
I scoff. “Seriously?”
He shrugs and gives me a bland look as if the topic is beneath him. I burst into laughter. A slow smile comes to his lips.
“I like it when you laugh. Your face lights up. I’ll try to amuse you more often.”
“Okay, humor me. I have questions.”
“Ask away. I want you to get to know me.”
“You’re nothing like what I expected. You’re… I don’t know. You have this New Yorker vibe at times, but at others, I can see the royal European prince slip through,” I say, tilting my head to study him.
“Ah, yes, I’ve gotten that a lot. I’ve spent a lot of time in the States. New York is one of my favorite places.”
“I’ve always believed that in order to understand a culture, you have to become a part of it. When in the States, I become as much of a civilian as I can.”
“I leave Prince Princeton in Verlez. Drives my father crazy, but it works for me,” he explains.
“That makes sense.” I nod my head.
He brushes his thumb across my lip. “What else would you like to know? I’m an open book for you.”
“Why?”
He leans in to kiss my lips. I get the feeling he only meant a brief brush of our mouths. However, once the small gasp leaves my lips, he deepens the kiss.
He cups my breast and leans into me until I fall back beneath him. My back meets the seat and he slides me underneath his body. Moving to torture my neck, he groans around the flesh he sucks into his mouth.