We spend the night together, but we don’t sleep. Instead, we talk for hours, discovering all the important things about one another and laughing about the details that nobody else would think matter. But to me they do, and I’m becoming addicted to the brunette beauty in my arms - her sense of humor, her innocent charm, and the little vixen she turns into when I let her. I’m in love against all odds… And now there’s only one thing left to do. I have to introduce her to my father and get his blessing.

I haven’t told Cassie that we need to go to the royal ball tonight yet. I’m saving it for the right moment… But as she devours a pain au chocolat wearing nothing but my crisp white button-down, I know I need to tell her. It’s late morning, almost afternoon, and she’ll need to be prepared to meet my father. He can be a nasty man if he wants to - I’m just hoping he keeps things civil for mine and Cassie’s sake.

Her eyes follow me around the room as I speak to Carter on the phone. She seems worried, and I’m sure she can tell I’m nervous as fuck, so I don’t even try to hide it. Once I’m done with my call, I smile at her fondly and sit down across from her at the table.

“I have some plans for us tonight,” I tell her simply, and her eyes grow wider. Fuck, she looks so hot all innocent and excited like this. “I’d like you to meet my father.”

She doesn’t say a word, so I go on, trying to convince us both this is a good idea when it’s likely to be a fucking disaster.

“He can be a little hard to get along with, but I’m hoping you two kick things off right,” I tell her with a hesitant smile. “He really wants to meet you. Obviously, he’s seen the photos from the airport… And someone got into the hotel and shot some stuff in the lobby as well.”

“Is that normal?” she whispers, her voice barely a breath. “Do you really get photographed all the time?”

“I’m afraid so,” I admit. “And you’re going to have to get used to it, princess. But here’s the good news…”

I walk up behind her and kiss her neck, and she melts into my embrace.

“You’re the perfect princess,” I tell her. “You’re kind, beautiful and giving. You’re going to show them what a real role model looks like, and I can’t wait for it, princess. I can’t wait for the world to meet you… And I want it to happen soon. In fact, I want it to happen tonight.”

She looks up into my eyes and I kiss her lips next, a sweet moan escaping her lips when I do.

“I’m going to announce our engagement tonight,” I tell her firmly, and her eyes grow wider. “It’s the right thing to do.”

“Are you sure?” she asks hesitantly. “I mean, we’ve only just met…”

“I’ve never been surer of anything in my life,” I say with a big grin. “And I can’t fucking wait for the world to meet the future Mrs. Winchester.”

* * *

“Well, where is this mystery girl, then?” my father asks, and I grin at him, glancing up the marble stairway in Versailles.

This ball is something we do every year, and it’s always been my favorite royal event. We all dress up like they did when the palace was still in use, and raise money for charity. Tonight I’m wearing a midnight blue suit with gold cufflinks, and I can’t wait to see how Cassandra looks in the dress I’ve chosen for her. It was a fucking nightmare getting it done before the ball, but I have no doubt that she looks incredible in it.

“Worry not, she’s coming,” I say to my father, my eyes glittering with delicious thoughts and my head filled with Cassie. “You won’t be able to miss her when she makes her entrance, trust me.”

My father gives me a doubtful look, but I have to say, despite his obvious worry about Cassie fitting in, he seems to have noticed the change in me. He mentioned right away I seemed different, and he keeps stealing glances at me as if expecting I’ll grow a second head or something.

But I fucking feel different, too - I feel like a man with a purpose, a man who knows exactly where he’s going in life. With Cassie next to me I feel invincible, and I’ve already decided she’s staying by my side no matter what. If Dad decides he doesn’t like her… well, screw him. I’ll forgo my right to the throne if I fucking have to. I’ll do it all for her.

I keep glancing at the stairway while my father talks business, and finally, there she is.

Cassandra looks incredible in her floor-length antique pink gown. It’s open in the front, revealing layers of white chiffon. While the skirt is wide, the bust is tight, shaped in the style of a corset. Her tits are pushed up and tightly together, and my mouth waters at the sight of her. She looks fucking amazing, and I can’t take my eyes off her. Her eyes are wide and excited, and she gives me a nervous smile as Carter escorts her to meet me. As she enters the room, a hush settles over the room, and she blushes lightly as she stands next to me.

“Father,” I say with a brilliant smile, unable to take my eyes off her. “This is Cassandra Voile. She’s my fiancée.”

“Your… what?” my father repeats with a huff, glancing between me and my girl and finally muttering something under his breath, taking Cassie’s hand and planting a kiss on the back of it. “Pleased to meet you, Cassandra.”

“The pleasure is mine, Your Highness,” she says solemnly, curtsying for him.

I can barely wipe the stupid grin off my face. She’s incredible. Absolutely perfect. My father is going to love her… I mean, who fucking wouldn’t?

Father barks a question at Cassie, and she somehow manages to involve him a light, intelligent conversation that makes him glance at me with surprise. But I don’t have eyes for anyone in the room but Cassie. I’m openly staring at her, my eyes filled with lust and love as she charms my father. She’s winning this game - as much as my old man wanted to hate her, he can’t help but laugh at her jokes, smile, and nod when she speaks, and stare at her with the kind of amazement I’ve felt since the moment I saw her in that airport.

She somehow manages to engage him in a conversation for the next twenty minutes, and I spend the whole time standing to the side and admiring my woman. I can’t get fucking enough of her. Those innocent but sultry curves, the way her eyes glint and sparkle, her sweet, sexy voice. I’m a fucking addict, and I can’t imagine spending another second of my life without her by my side.

The first second I can, I pull her away from the crowd, whisking her off to the balcony overlooking the glorious gardens and telling Carter to make sure we’re alone.

Her curious eyes turn towards mine and I don’t wait a fucking second before pulling her sexy little body against mine and kissing her deeply, claiming her mouth until she moans into mine, whispering my name dreamily.

“I couldn’t wait,” I say, grinning at her. “Needed to get my hands on you. Cassie, you are… Fucking incredible. You’re amazing. He loves you, I can tell already.”

“Are you sure?” she asks hesitantly, but a moment later a smile lights up her face and she giggles. “I thought we were getting along quite well…”

“Definitely,” I give her a firm nod. “I’m positive he likes you. Now there’s only one thing left for us to do… I need to announce you’re mine, and we’ll be married soon. Are you alright with that, princess?”

“Yes,” she answers right away, her fingers intertwining with mine. “I want everyone to know I belong to you.”

“Well, let’s go then, princess.” I wink at her and pull her back inside, feeling the whole room’s eyes on me as we enter again, this time with her hand in mine and my other arm resting on the small of her back protectively.

“Hello, everyone,” I say in a loud, booming voice. What the hell, everyone’s already watching. Might as well give them a fucking show. “I have an announcement to make, and it involves the beautiful woman next to me.”

The crowd gathers around us, and my eyes take in everyone I’ve known for years, the same people, the same royals from all over the world. And among them, my girl stands out like a masterpiece. A portrait painted by the best artist in the world, a moving magnum opus, a beautiful, fucking stunning princess that will soon sit by my side on the damn throne. And I couldn’t be more proud of her.

“I proposed to Cassandra Voile yesterday,” I say, giving her a wicked grin as I remember the previous night. There was no fucking proposal. I just made a fucking decision, to own her, to have her, to claim her. And my pretty little girl went right along with it. “We are going to be married soon enough… But I wanted you all to be the first to know she’s my bride-to-be. So please, let’s hear it for Cassie… The royal bride!”

Another silence settles over the room, and for a moment I’m convinced I’m going to have to give a royal order for everyone to start talking again. But the next second, the crowd claps wildly, and my father claps me on the back with a big smile.

“I approve,” he says, winking at me. My father hasn’t winked since my mother’s death… “I will find a wedding planner and we’ll get this going. I want you married before the summer.”

I smile in response, thinking it might be for the best… I have a feeling there might be a royal baby on the way soon enough, because it’s impossible for me to keep my hands or my cock off the girl of my dreams.

Cassie answers any and all questions graciously, being the grateful princess that has a minute of time for everybody at the ball. Soon enough, she’s whisked away by the ladies of the court, and I’m joined by my father and Carter, my advisor. The three of us watch her with the women, giggling, stealing glances at me as they talk.

“She’s incredible,” I say, smiling back at her.

“She’s something,” my father agrees, giving me another smile which convinces me we’ve now moved past the formalities, and he’s on board with this wedding… I can’t wait to tell Cassie how much he likes her.

“Does she have any sisters?” Carter asks jokingly. “I sure could do with a girl like her…”

“I think she does,” I say, winking at him. “Speaking of, I’d like you to be my best man.”

“Me?” he gives me a strange look, but he can barely hide the pleasant surprise in his eyes. “I… I would be honored, Ajax. But only if you’re absolutely certain…”

“Never been more sure,” I clap him on the back. “You’ve stood by my side through this all, and I want you to be there on the day as well. As for you…”

I turn to face my father.

“Cassie’s parents passed away years ago in a car accident,” I say. “I know she would love it if you could walk her down the aisle.”

“Walk the bride?” My father smiles, and then roars with laughter. “Why the hell not. It’ll be the closest I’ve been to a pretty woman like that in years!”

We laugh together and I wait patiently until Cassie’s free again before pulling her in my embrace, and kissing her right there, in front of everyone at the ball. People cheer and clap as I spin her like in the movies, tilting her back and giving her a film-star kiss. She giggles and waves at her audience, then looks at me with her eyes wide and full of wonder.

“Now what, Your Highness?” she whispers conspiratorially, and I grin wide at her.

“Now, my princess,” I start to say. “You’re going to get ready for the trip of a lifetime.”

I intend on taking her throughout Europe, showing her every nook and cranny of my favorite cities. Paris, Rome, London and Barcelona - I’m going to show her everything I love about Europe, and convince her to stay by my side no matter what. One look into her smitten gray eyes tells me we’re on the same page, and she leaps into my embrace. I hold her close, inhaling her peachy scent and letting myself relax for the first time in years, even with the whole world watching.

“I love you, Ajax Winchester,” she whispers in my ear.

“I love you, princess,” I confess. “And I’m never letting go of you.”