Claimed

Blurb

Prince Milos Dobrimil, the royal playboy lives a life of excess and luxury, constantly fulfilling his sexual desires during his escapades into the city. When his father falls ill, eventually dying, Milos is left with his last wishes, to see Milos married and ruling the Kingdom with wealth and pride. 

 

This request, however, comes as an ultimatum, and Milos is left scrambling to try to save the royal line and still keep his freedom. Thinking he has the ultimate solution, he makes an indecent proposal to a sassy and free-spirited stripper who just may turn his world inside out. 

 

With love, betrayal, sex, and power, this book will take you for a ride through a modern-day adult fairy tale. As you explore the deeply hidden desires of a girl from the slums and the inner struggle of a boy from another world, the truth will reveal itself in ways that will tantalize your fantastical mind while pulling at your lustful heart. 

 

Chapter 1: Adriana

 

The smell of stale cigarettes and cheap perfume have been permanently stained into my nostrils from working at the club for so long. The client section of the Caspian Cabaret was built for royalty with its large stone archway, red velvet carpets, and stainless-steel counters, but all I ever saw was the shoddy backroom and the glaring red lights pointed at the stage. It was almost time for me to head out there, and I felt jittery. I always did before my first dance of the night.

I looked down at the gold bodysuit I was struggling to get my ass into. Now I understood why Reg, the owner, always gave me nasty looks when I shoved anything fried into my mouth. I swear, if he had it his way, his girls would be pumped with silicone and live off two carrot sticks and a glass of water a day.

Every time I start thinking about how much I hate my job, I remind myself that it’s better than the alternative. Being stranded in Prague with no money and no one to call was terrifying to me, regardless of how many days I’d spent backpacking across Europe. Having money in your pocket was always reassuring.

I had spent years saving up for this trip, hiding my savings from my alcoholic mother and counting down the days until I could jet off, living the free life as a nomad with a savings account. I didn’t realize how meager of a savings account I had until I ended up stranded in Prague with just my backpack and a smile. Smiles don’t go very far under the unforgiving city lights.

Shaken from my thoughts, I watched as Sveta bounced into the room, happy and carefree as ever. This girl was top notch, and she did not give a damn about anyone. Her tight curves, huge tits, and petite stature made her the focus of almost every man in the audience. She played that charm to her advantage, but on the inside, she was really a stone-cold bitch, which of course was why I loved her.

Sveta leaned down and kissed my cheek. Her strong perfume wafted through the room. She always made me feel better, especially knowing that this was not the job I ever wanted to have. She plopped two shot glasses down and a bottle of vodka, smiling as she filled up our nightly dose of liquid courage. I only ever took two shots, but it was just the right amount to get me to drop the nerves and move my hips.

“So, who do you think will pay our bills tonight?” she asked.

We had this conversation every night.

“Personally, I’m hoping those Russian guys come back,” I replied. I pulled up the straps on my body suit, adjusted my tits so they would pop, and pulled the g-string up, so I got the jiggle effect. “They liked my giant ass.”

“I hope those rich Chinese businessmen come back,” Sveta replied, before taking a shot and sucking on a lemon. “I didn’t understand a word they said, and they were obsessed with my tits. They paid me just to jiggle them in their faces.”

“Nice, or those two Irish boys vacationing on daddy’s credit card,” I replied, laughing. “They liked my English ass. They kept asking me to say things because they thought my accent was fucking hilarious.”

“Whatever,” Sveta said, pouring another shot. “You’re still waiting for Prince Charming to walk through the door and whisk you away from this place.”

“Yeah, right,” I said, laughing. “Like Reg would ever let that happen.”

“Asshole,” we said in unison, clinking our shot glasses and tipping them back.

Prince Charming. That’s funny. I hadn’t thought about a Prince anything since I was a little girl, back when I’d still been oblivious to the cold hard truth about men. I had given up on the fairy tale dreams a long time ago. Mostly as a result of my mother getting wasted and banging a new guy every night, and the string of creepy “uncles,” as my mother called them, hugging me a bit too long and looking at me with their nauseating stare and greasy palms. Now, I was just determined to make enough money to continue on my way. Sure, I could go back to Liverpool, but there was nothing there for me anymore. I was pretty sure my mother didn’t even realize I was gone.

Even when I’d been standing completely broke and scared in Prague, auditioning for amateur night at the Caspian seemed like a better idea than calling my mother. So, three shots and two drinks later, my tired ass was shaking it for a bunch of dirty old men, whistling from the audience. Surprising to me, I actually won the contest. Not surprising, the owner, Reg Evers, refused to pay me. He was a bastard of a man with huge muscles and a bald head. He had a knack for covering up his deadly persona with bad jokes and cutesy stripper names. But there I’d been, facing off with him.

He offered me a job and an apartment. I stood there under the giant stone entryway and considered my two options. I could stay here, dance a little, make some cash, and then be on my way. Or I could walk out into the cold streets of Prague and find myself homeless with a little less pride than when I started. So, I took the job. As I shook Reg’s hand and stared into his cold eyes, I could feel part of me float away into the red lights of the stage.

In the end, I guess it wasn’t really that bad. I had a crappy apartment, just like in Liverpool, except the rent wasn’t quite as expensive. That might be because I share it with six other girls, but what’s the difference? It was like staying in one of the hostels I visited on my travels, except with a lot more nudity and way more crazy women. On my one night off a week, Sveta and I would hit the city, dancing with each other, shooing off the guys, and laughing until dawn. When you work at a job where you are constantly ogled by dudes, the last thing you wanted to do was pick one up on your night off so they could grope you for free.

The money I earned was actually pretty decent, despite the amount taken out for rent, and whenever Reg wanted to be an asshole. I probably could have left, but I was afraid I’d find myself just one country over, doing the same thing again, but probably not in an elite place like the Caspian.

“Okay I’m up,” Sveta said as her music came up.

“Titties out and only accepting twenties,” we said, as if it was our motto.

I smiled as I watched Sveta bounce on stage, wearing her g-string, tiny tutu, and a push-up bra.

Sometimes I wondered why we even wore anything at all out on the stage. The men didn’t let us keep it on for more than a minute after the song started. But, once I got my top off and I heard the roar of the crowd, my nerves would calm. I would pretend, for just five minutes at a time, that I was the most desired woman in the world. Well, at least in Prague. The longer I worked here, the more I realized something strange about myself. Deep down, I liked the rush of the lights, the smell of hot lust from the men waving money at me, and the feeling that I could seduce just about anyone. It was also incredible, feeling the control.

I didn’t have to do anything I didn’t want to, even though Reg highly frowned upon turning a client down for a lap dance. But, in reality, if all I wanted to do was dance on stage, I could do it. If I wanted to give a hundred lap dances a night, I could do it. Even if I wanted to let some perv rub his dick all over me, although I wouldn’t, I could do it if I chose. It was all about my control, something I didn’t have growing up in the sleaze house in the junky, run-down part of Liverpool. What am I saying? Every part of Liverpool was junky and run down.

I took a deep breath and strapped on my six-inch heels, knowing when Sveta was done, I would be called up on stage. Reg liked my long legs and had this weird thing with the eighties. He always dressed me in leotards, cut abnormally high on the hips and incredibly low in the front. He also made me wear huge, flashing translucent heels. But I didn’t care, the men seemed to like it, and it’s not like it stayed on very long. Good thing, too, because this g-string hurt.

I looked in the mirror and grabbed the eyeliner, going for the deep, sultry look tonight. Dark, thick eyeliner always made my bright blue eyes pop, and out here, they loved the blonde look. So I made sure that I teased my hair extra high with big, bouncing curls. I could see the men’s eyes moving up and down my body when I bounced across the stage. My huge tits, my curls, and their eyes danced in unison. During lap dances, when I spoke in my British accent, the men went absolutely fucking nuts. I didn’t know how many times I got three seconds into a lap dance and watched as the guy busted a nut in his pants. That was fine with me because that meant I did a little work for a whole lot of money, and they would most likely come back the next night and do it all over again.

I stood up and stretched my ankles, getting ready to twist and turn on the stage. No one wanted a sprained ankle, and no one liked a stripper falling to her doom from the red velvet stage. I climbed the steps to the curtain that opened up out onto the walkway, bending my neck and stretching my legs. Reg poked his head around the outside door and looked at me.

“You’re on in one minute,” he said, staring at my ass before ducking back out.

Asshole. This was the part I hated the most, the initial explosion out onto the stage. You never knew what kind of reaction you were going to get. It was really tough on slow nights when you grab your inner diva and strut out, just to see two guys sitting in the audience, too drunk to even notice you’re dancing.

I turned and leaned over to grab my second shot. I held it up in the air. To future journeys, never telling my future kids I was a stripper, and kicking Prince Charming right in the balls. I slung the shot back and giggled at my own little cheers. I had become such a little hard ass, but that was good. It meant I didn’t get drug down into the depths of hell with the rest of the girls here, who came for a little while and ended up staying years.

Sveta’s song ended, and she walked in through the curtain, carrying an arm load of cash, as usual. I stepped to the side, tapping elbows with her. With the amount of bills she was carrying, it must be a full house tonight, which meant they were selective about who they let in. Knowing that, I sucked it in tighter and reached into my suit to adjust my cleavage.

Sveta ran over to the stairs and waved for me to bend over. I closed my eyes, and she blew a dusting of glitter on my tits. I turned and walked out onto the stage. The initial hit of the lights wore off, and the audience became clear. I posed, ready for the music to begin. The sound of the beating bass got the vodka kicking, and off I went down the runway, a spiteful sassy girl, wrapped up in a sexy kitten smile.

Chapter 2: Milos

 

I looked down at my expensive leather shoes as I shuffled down the sidewalk. Alcohol fogged my brain. The streets of Prague were packed tonight, and the clubs were bumping with loud music and beautiful women, just how I liked it. I could feel my knees wobble as I squinted at the signs, trying to find my way to the exclusive Caspian Cabaret, one of my favorite places in Prague.

There was nothing like ending my night with more booze and sexy girls, fighting for my attention, throwing their tits around just for the chance to have a private lap dance with the Prince of Silesia. Who fucking cared if they didn’t actually know where Silesia was? All they cared about was my stack of Euros and my entourage. Every girl dreamt, at one point in their life, of being a princess. So why not give them a chance to feel like one for a while, even if it was just while grinding on my dick?

The neon lights around me blurred. I stumbled down the street, trying to keep myself upright and moving in the right direction. Who could blame me for the way I behaved? I was born a prince and took everything that came with that, including the huge allowance, the notoriety, and the ability to pretty much do whatever and whoever I wanted. The only people who ever questioned me were my parents, and even they were too busy with royal affairs to pay much attention, really. I learned at an early age that as long as I stayed out of the papers and out of the news, they stayed off my ass.

Of course, when alcohol entered my life, staying out of the papers was a little more difficult than I thought it would be. The media loved a bad boy. They loved the drama and suspense of not knowing what the Prince would do next. I kept it low key for a while, but I was addicted to the rich life.

“Watch it, man,” Brat said, steering me around the vendor in front of me.

Bratlay Zobrina was my oldest friend and one of the most eligible bachelors, besides myself of course, in all of Silesia. We had grown up together, fighting the crowds, drinking the liquor, and catching the women. Though not royalty, he was a member of one of the richest families in all of Europe, and he knew what that meant as much as I did. He ended up becoming more of a babysitter than a partier since he got older, always talking about settling down and having a family. His parents had finally gotten to him, and he no longer wanted to get wasted and wreak havoc at the clubs and bars.

He still came with me, but it wasn’t the same. Settling down and families were good for some people, but it was not my cup of tea. Although it pained me to think about it, I knew I would have to let him find his own way eventually. But for now, we were here, standing in front of the Caspian, waiting to get our drink on and our titties on. At least, I was.

The bouncer at the front grabbed my hand and brought me in close, patting me on the back. I loved how I could go anywhere in any of these cities and be waited on like a king. Because I was a future king. Or the king waiting to be crowned. Just the thought of the palace and the responsibility made me feel uneasy, but the perks were good.

I stumbled into the dimly lit club and went straight to the bar. I sat there for a moment, trying to collect myself with my jumbled-up, alcohol-induced brain fog. My father had really put me in a bind, making his dying request that I get married, settle down, and become the King of Silesia. Settling down was the last fucking thing on my mind when there were fast cars, loose women, and bottles galore at my fingertips. Don’t get me wrong. I loved my father well enough, but I didn’t want to be him. I didn’t find it fair that just because I didn’t have any brothers, that meant I was responsible for taking over when he passed. Talk about unlucky at birth.

“Hey, man, why don’t you slow down,” Brat said, leaning in and whispering in my ear. “We’ve already been kicked out of two high-end clubs tonight. There’s nowhere to go but home after this.”

I shoved him off of me and winked at the cocktail waitress as she passed, flashing her one of my killer smiles. Brat shook his head as I ordered bottle service and hobbled over to the VIP section, taking a seat and sitting back, watching the girl in the tutu bounce all over the stage. She was hot. Like smoking hot. But I was pretty sure I had already had several lap dances from her before. I looked up as the waitress smiled at me, setting down the whiskey, a bucket of ice, and two glasses. I poured a drink and turned my attention away from Brat, who was rolling his eyes at me. Who was he to judge me? He didn’t have a clue what kind of pressure had just fallen on my shoulders.

Before my father, King Yasen, died, he told me that if I didn’t choose a bride and get married, he would dissolve the royal line and donate all of my inheritance, which was the whole of the royal fortune, to charity. The Parliament would then become the ruling force of the land, a group of men hell bent on seeing me poor and in the dirt. Let’s just say my antics over the last thirty-five years of life have not left them with a good taste in their mouths. My father was so intent on forcing me to settle down, that he was willing to kill a 700-year royal reign to see his kingdom end in prosperity. I mean, part of me, the sober part, understood that he was terrified of me squandering the royal fortune like my uncle had done, before my father took the throne from him. But that wasn’t my plan. You couldn’t really impress the chicks with no money in your pocket.

When my father passed away two weeks ago, I thought I was in the clear, but my mother was just two steps behind him, telling me she would make sure my father’s wishes were fulfilled, even if it was the last thing she did as queen. On the one hand, I did not want to settle down. That life was not for me. The responsibility of an entire kingdom on my shoulders and a wife and kids to deal with were not enticing in the least. On the other hand, there was no way I could keep up with the elite clubs and hot girls without a penny in my pocket. I was a good-looking guy, but damn if my pocket change wasn’t what kept the girls throwing themselves at me. But how the hell was I supposed to pull off both of these?

I poured another shot of whiskey and took it down hard, wincing at the burn in my chest. All this thought of marriage and my father was really starting to get to me. However, even cloaked in an extreme amount of alcohol, my brain started creating a solution to this little problem of mine. I glanced up at Brat, who was still staring at me with judgmental eyes. I waved away his attempts to woo the drink from my hand and turned toward the red glowing lights of the stage. I took a sip of my drink and sat back watching as Ms. Tutu danced off the stage with an arm full of euros. That must be a month’s worth of bills for that girl, I thought to myself, chuckling. I started to pick my drink back up when a golden goddess walked into the lights. Her long blonde hair bounced around her, and her body was curvy in all the right places. I leaned forward as the music started and watched as she strutted down the runway, just like a queen.

My mouth, normally curved up in a devilish smile, hung open as I watched this Golden Goddess. She made her way to the end of the stage, turning and shaking her ass for the crowd. The men went wild for this girl, but all I could think of was the plan I had just cooked up in my devious little mind. I slammed the full glass of whiskey on the table and turned to Brat.

“Get me some coffee,” I said, watching exasperation cross his face.

He stood and walked off to find a waitress. I sat and watched as this girl ruled with a golden body suit. Men fell to their knees in front of the stage and threw money at her. The fierce look on her face screamed control, and I instantly had to know more about this girl. She was gorgeous, and her blue eyes sliced through the red lights, piercing right into my chest. She glanced over at me as I sat watching, probably wondering if I was going to come tip her. Not yet. I really wanted to see what this girl was made of. Was she just a coked-out drama queen like the rest of these girls, or was she really as poised and regal as she seemed to be? If she was, then all I could think was: how the hell did she end up dancing at a strip club in Prague? Girls that held themselves like that were usually rich snobs, looking for their next husband, like Brat’s sister, Zlata, who thought I was oblivious to her attempts at gaining the crown by marrying me.

The thing about girls like Zlata was they were born with the same silver spoon as I was. They thought they were slick with their sweet smiles and cute jokes, but I knew a raging bitch was lurking just under the skin. One thing worse than getting married was marrying some controlling cunt who was going to nag me about everything in our lives. I could see my future now if I married Zlata. I would have all the riches in the world, but I would be locked down so tight I’d never see the inside of a club, or another woman, for the rest of my days. I would be reduced to a fancy placeholder in the throne room, waving at my staff and smiling during parades, secretly thinking about pushing my wife from the moving car.

I looked back up and stared at the girl on stage. She pulled her jumpsuit down, dancing along to her rock music and letting men stick euros down her cleavage. If she could con some drunk assholes out of money, using nothing more than an angry stare and her breasts, she could totally run a country.

Brat walked back to the table. I grabbed the coffee from him and attempted to sober myself up. I needed to think clearly, and the damn whiskey and shots were making it impossible. Maybe there was a benefit to a few moments of sobriety, like my mother kept trying to tell me. Either way, I had concocted the perfect deal in my head, and I could only hope this Golden Stripper, from God knows where, would be down for the ride.

I reached over and topped off my cup, taking another sip of the hot liquid, wishing the caffeine would hit my brain faster than the alcohol was. I leaned back and relaxed, realizing there was nothing I could do at that moment, except wait and watch. She would get some of my Euros real soon, but they came at a price.

As I sat there gazing upon this amazing creature, my father’s words played over and over in my head.

Marry or lose the Kingdom.

Chapter 3: Adriana

 

My hips moved with the beat of the music, and I lifted my arms high in the air, opening my eyes and staring off into the distance. Instantly, my gaze fell upon a man in the back section of VIP. As I danced, I stared him, and heat rose in my chest. His dark skin and dark eyes were haunting, and I immediately felt uncomfortable. I’d never felt anything for the men gawking from the shadows.

I kept the idea of being a queen in mind as I strutted across the stage, watching the adoring peasants at my feet, tossing money as tribute. Intimidation wasn’t really something that entered my mind when I thought of a queen, but, as I danced, he watched my every move, every flick and every shake. I hoped he would come up and tip me during my first set, but I ended up disappointed as he sat in the back behind the allure of the velvet ropes, just gazing at me.

When my song ended, I collected my money and my clothes and went back stage to change. I felt shaken from my normal stance of confidence, but I didn’t let it show on my face as Sveta passed by, hitting my elbow. Reg had decided on some weird hip hop dance montage for Sveta’s outfits tonight. She walked out on stage in tear-away pants and a ripped shirt that allowed just enough of her breasts to hang out to curl the boys’ toes. Seeing what she was forced to wear, I winced as I picked up the two-piece gold bikini and held it in front of me. There was literally enough cloth to cover my nipples and half of my vag. I shook my head, and I pulled the strings over me and tied them in a loose bow at the back.

Sveta’s second set wasn’t as long, and I could see the exhaustion on her face as she exited the stage. Several girls had quit over the last few months, tired of Reg’s bullshit, no doubt. That left Sveta and me to pick up the slack. At first, we were all about the extra money, telling Reg not to hire more girls. But now, as the nights wore on, we were dying for a break.

I took a deep breath and stood at the edge of the curtain, ready for my next song. As soon as the beat started pumping, I strutted out on the floor, trying to ignore the incredibly hot man staring at me from the back. But that proved impossible. As I swung around the pole on stage, I watched as he stood and walked through the ropes and up to the stage. He watched my every move like a hawk, not letting anything slide. I was used to rich assholes hunting me down on stage, but for some reason, this guy brought a different kind of feeling to the pit of my stomach.

My eyes shifted from him to the others, and he pulled a large roll of money from his pocket and started tossing it at my feet. I looked down as I moved my hips, and realized he was not tossing single Euros. He was tossing hundreds.

As the song wore on, my nerves lit on fire, and I watched as the mysterious man unfolded the wad of hundreds and began tossing them two at a time. There was enough money at my feet to cross Europe twice. Heat bubbled in my belly, and I tried to push my strange attraction to the back of my mind. I stepped forward closer to him, giving him a good view of what he came to see. His mouth curled into a devilish smile, and he stepped back, tossing the bills from a distance. I couldn’t figure out what this guy wanted.

The intensity of his stare was so strong, I could barely lock my gaze with his. The small smirk pulling at the corner of his mouth made me feel like the queen I had walked out here, pretending to be. It made me want to dance harder and longer, but just for him. Maybe the gold outfit wasn’t so bad after all. Although, I think I could have come out in a jumpsuit, and this guy would still be standing here. He didn’t watch me like he was devouring my body. He watched me like he was about to devour my soul, but in a really good way. I closed my eyes for a minute and felt the beat moving through me, knowing he was glued to the end of the stage. I needed to get my head straight. There shouldn’t be a single person in this place that made me lose my cool, not even Mr. VIP sexy lips.

When the song finished, I picked up all the bills and looked up at the man. He bowed his head and walked back toward the VIP, stopping and talking for a moment with Reg. I hope he wasn’t one of Reg’s boys, not that he had many friends with money like that, but they were always douche bags, trying to stick their fingers where they didn’t belong.

I ran backstage and dropped the hundreds on the table, stacking them quickly, knowing I had to get out on the floor. I could almost not believe how much cash I was holding in my hand. I stuffed it into the envelope and into my drawer for now. I had to turn it in to Reg later on tonight. The bright lights backstage and the darkness of club blinded me for a moment. I fixed the straps on my bodysuit, definitely not wearing the string bikini out on the floor. As I walked along winking at the men in the chair, Reg motioned for me to come over to him.

“You have a VIP request to join the party, have fun with His Majesty,” Reg said with a coy smile, before slapping me on the ass and pushing me toward the ropes.

I glared back at him. He laughed before walking forward and smiling at the bouncer. I slowly approached the table where the dark-haired man sat. My heart picked up in speed, and heat rose in my belly. He motioned for me to sit, smiling kindly at me in a way I wasn’t used to. Awkwardly, I shuffled to the side and sat down in the booth, crossing my legs and leaning forward, trying to remember he was waiting for my seductive side, not my clumsy, young girl side.

“Would you like a drink?” he asked, motioning to the table.

There were several bottles of vodka and one bottle of whiskey lined up across the table. I made it a point to never drink alcohol with the customers, something Reg hated, but put up with. I shook my head. He pulled a mug from behind the ice bucket and poured me a cup of Turkish coffee. I felt slightly sheepish, but took the mug and sipped from it, happy to have something warm in the cold club air. I smiled awkwardly over my cup as he sat there staring at me. Was I supposed to give him a lap dance? I put the coffee down expecting that to be the next thing.

“What do you like to do for fun?” His dark eyes cut right through me.

“Oh,” I said, surprised by his question. “I like to travel, hike. Pretty much anything outdoors.”

“Traveling, I like that,” he said nodding his head in approval. “Where have you been?”

“I backpacked from Liverpool to here,” I replied. “But had to stop for financial reasons.”

“Your family, they don’t miss you?” His questions bordered on too personal, but I shifted in my seat and smiled sweetly.

“No, they have their own thing going on,” I replied, looking up at the clock. “You know, I really should go get ready for my next set.”

I put my hands on the table and stood up, looking down at my coffee. I guess I should thank him, but I wasn’t sure what to say. I smiled and turned to walk into the back.

“That won’t be necessary,” he said, grabbing my wrist. “I have paid a thousand pounds to your club owner for your exclusive company for the evening.”

I could feel electricity move from his hand through my body, and I was taken back by how overwhelming the feeling was. I liked his hand on my wrist, and I liked his sexy dark features and the way he stared at me. I shook the feeling away, knowing that I absolutely could not have those feelings for a customer. His hand tightened on my wrist, so I yanked it away, pissed that Reg would think it was okay to sell my services off to some stranger.

“Despite what you might think goes on in a strip club,” I said cutting my eyes at him. “I do not, nor will I ever, sell sexual favors for money.”

I raised my hands to my hips and looked at him with attitude.

“No, no, no,” he said, laughing. “Please, sit back down. I have never in my life had to pay for sex, nor would I start now.”

I looked at him curiously, not understanding what it was that he wanted from me. I didn’t fully believe that he wasn’t expecting any kind of favor, but since he had paid for my company, I figured I should probably sit down. He was an interesting man, obviously rich, but he had a way about him that was sexy and mysterious. I was not excited to be having these feelings for a customer at the club, but they weren’t something I could shake. I watched as he whispered something into his friend’s ear, who was standing close to the table but allowing us privacy. He sipped his coffee and looked back at me.

“But don’t mistake my words for lack of interest. If I were ever to pay, you would be the girl.” He smiled. “However, I can’t imagine there is a sum high enough in this entire country that would be sufficient for the honor of your, what do we call them, personal services.”

Heat shot through my chest, and I couldn’t control it. He had paid a stripper the best compliment he probably ever could, but it wasn’t that. It wasn’t the coffee, the pile of euros sitting in my desk drawer, or even his extremely expensive clothes and jewelry that made him attractive. It was the way he moved and the way he talked that did it. His eyes prowled over me as if he looked at a fine piece of art, too beautiful to touch, but too valuable to push away.

I could tell he came from a good family. His manners were impeccable, even in a place like this. His hair was styled just right, as if someone meticulously placed each strand of hair before setting it, and his skin was soft and smooth looking.

I sat back down at the table, knowing I should walk away, but feeling like it was just impossible at this point. There was a shimmer of mischief in his partially crooked smile that both scared and aroused me at the same time. I could feel the heat in my stomach as it moved down between my legs, and I crossed them as a warning to myself. There hadn’t been a man yet that could get me that easily, and it definitely wasn’t going to be some rich guy in a strip club while I pranced around in a gold spandex leotard. He scratched his chin and laid his hands in his lap as he fiddled with the button on his very expensive Armani dress shirt. Who was this guy, some kind of prince or something?

Chapter 4: Milos

 

Everything in my carefree soul wanted to reach down and grab her perky tits and wrap my hand around her blonde hair. But now was not the time. I had to let her see my regal side, the side I had been born and bred with, the royal side of me. I needed her to realize that despite the fact that I wanted to fuck her brains out, I was charming and refined, worthy of her attention. If I was going to get this girl to spend at least a year of her life as my wife and queen, I needed her to like me.

Sure, I could definitely see myself enjoying several hot sensual encounters with this sexy, bronzed babe, but I was still not going to cave to one woman for my deal. Besides, variety was the spice of prince hood, and I was not going to take that for granted. I did know that whatever I needed to do to secure this blonde bombshell by my side, I was going to do it. My inheritance and future depended on it.

I watched as she sat there, letting the hot coffee wash across her pouty lips before taking a sip. There was something innocent hiding under that sex kitten gaze, and either she truly didn’t sell her body, or she was really good at acting, which was good since I needed her to go from the pole to the throne. In fact, her indignation was turning me on in a way I hadn’t felt before, and though I appreciated her modesty by keeping her sexuality protected, I sure as hell hoped she was stern on that deal. I might not be looking to buy that pussy, but I was definitely looking to buy her charm, wit, and ability to walk through a room like a queen.

This girl, I was going to have to work at, though, and that was okay because without her, my plan will never work. I was going to have to seduce this girl with my charm and candor, not my crown, and though the crown was usually the easiest way, I could tell this girl didn’t give two shits about royal status. No, I was going to have to bring out the big guns for this one.

“What is your name?” I asked, pouring more coffee. “If you don’t mind telling me that is. I find it hard to believe your mother named you The Golden Goddess, though it does have quite a ring to it.”

“No,” she said chuckling, finally smiling and relaxing her shoulders. “My name is Adriana, but I don’t usually tell people that, for safety reasons.”

“Of course,” I replied. “Well, I promise you are safe with me.”

“What is your name?” she asked, and stared strongly at me, making it known she wasn’t down for games.

“Milos,” I replied, leaving it at that for now. Silesia was a small country, and the likelihood of her ever hearing my name was miniscule, but I didn’t want to take the chance. She wasn’t the typical no brain bimbo I was used to seducing.

“Milos,” she repeated. “I like that. So, tell me about yourself, Milos.”

I paused for a moment, glancing up at Brat who was hiding a smirk. I was pretty sure at that point, he knew exactly what I was up to. I wanted to be genuine with her, not completely lie, but I wanted to be vague at the same time. This kind of girl was not going to be impressed by stories of my twenty-five cars and lavish lifestyle. This girl was the type of person that needed to feel connected to a man if she was to trust them. My normal story about vacationing in the islands with six houses and the perfect views was not the one that would release the tension from those sexy freckled shoulders of hers. She was simpler than that, which oddly made the whole conversation a little bit more complicated for me. I wasn’t used to being simple, and I loved the fact that my life was filled with excess and bounty. But no, I needed to talk about myself as a child, even if it was more personal than what I told any other woman.

“Okay,” I replied, loosening up a bit. “I live in a small country not far from here. I grew up in an affluent family in a large manor in the country. I was a curious child and pretty much got my hands into everything.”

“It seems that hasn’t changed much,” she replied, smirking.

I laughed. “It drove my mother crazy. Still does, actually. When I was a kid, I had this favorite blanket, and I would take that thing everywhere. When it was bath time, they had to pry it from my fingers, practically. When I got older, my mother pulled it out of storage and held it up. It wasn’t a blanket at all. It was some tapestry she said I found on one of the adventures that took me to the west wing, where they kept old important family heirlooms. Apparently, it had been in my family for two hundred years, but my mother didn’t have the heart to take it from me. All that time, I was dragging around an irreplaceable heirloom and had no idea.”

I laughed at the memory, both to show I was human, and because it really was one of my favorite stories of myself. Adriana tried to hold back, but she burst out laughing as well, shaking her head and relaxing her body into the red velvet seats. Her smile was intoxicating, and I couldn’t help but stare. I even glanced over to catch Brat smirking and gazing at her. If she could get a smile from Brat, I knew she could enchant an entire Kingdom, including my hard ass mother who barely ever smiled.

“There were several times, my nanny found me hiding out in the stables, lost in the maze of holding areas and horse manure. That might be why I wasn’t allowed to bring my blanket to the dinner table.”

“Oh gosh,” Adriana said, wiping tears from the corners of her eyes and giggling uncontrollably. “Your poor mother. She definitely had her hands full.”

“Yeah,” I said, calming my laugh. “I was constantly curious. Today, it’s a different curiosity. I no longer dig through old boxes or get myself lost in the horse stables. Instead, I am curious about people, about where their minds are, and what their lives are like outside of the situation at hand. That’s what I was thinking while I was watching you dance. Who is this amazing girl when she wasn’t controlling all the men in the room with her seductive gaze?”

“Just me,” she sighed, still smiling. “Just a girl from Liverpool who broke free from the chains that bound me. I don’t mind this life, but it’s not forever. Don’t get me wrong. It’s nice sitting here chatting, but I want to be back on the road, exploring, learning, and meeting people from all walks of life. I guess you could say we are alike in that way. I’m curious about what lies around the next corner.”

“How do you do it?” I asked, looking at the glimmer in her eye. “Just walking from place to place with the things on your back, not knowing where to sleep or having your next meal ready for you. That sounds stressful.”

She laughed. “I’m not a vagabond. I would say more like a nomad than anything else. I travel with a safety net, my savings. Sometimes, I’ll sleep in a hostel, sometimes a nice hotel, if I really need the rest, and sometimes, I’ll pitch a tent in the country and sleep under the stars. It’s freedom in the purest form you can find these days. No nine to five jobs, no boss to shove you around, just you and your choices.”

“That actually sounds pretty amazing,” I said leaning back, thinking about my parents and their constant nagging.

“I don’t know,” she said, lifting an eyebrow. “You don’t seem tough enough to deal with it.”

“Ah, you underestimate me, Adriana,” I said. “Though you may be right. I do like my coffee served on a tray and a soft pillow under my head at night.”

I could see her start to relax. As she leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table and her chin in her hands, I took a moment to skim my eyes over her gorgeous body. She was fit but had curves in every spot I loved. Her big hips and firm ass were just what I liked when I was grabbing onto a woman in bed. I looked back up and met her gaze, realizing she had caught me combing over her voluptuous thighs. She didn’t say anything, but I saw a bit of pink rise up her cheeks. The fact that it didn’t bother her, and in fact, seemed to excite her, sent a tingling sensation into the pit of my stomach. I could feel my pants getting a little tighter, and I ran my hand across my hardening cock under the table. Be patient, Milos. Be patient.

“So, Miss Adriana, where do you stay? In Prague?” I already knew the answer, having flashed money in front of the owners face and causing him to spill everything he knew about this girl. But I wanted to hear it from her.

“Oh,” she said, rolling her eyes. “Reg has an apartment upstairs for all of us. It’s not free, by any means, but it’s cheaper than the flats out in town, if you can handle the constant chatter of a bunch of strippers.”

“Sounds miserable,” I said, realizing that might not be the best thing to blurt out, but it had already escaped my lips.

“It can be,” she said, laughing. “But sometimes it would nice to be alone.”

“Well, I have a proposal. I would like to offer you a nicer place to relax for the night. My family owns a hotel in Prague. It’s very upscale. You would have the run of the suite. There is a jacuzzi, sauna, and I promise the softest beds in the entire city. You deserve to rest comfortably, instead of being shoved into a tiny apartment with all these other girls.”

“I don’t know,” she said, looking wary.

I could see the interest in her eyes, especially after mentioning the soft beds. Though I had other thoughts on what to do in that bed, she didn’t need to know I was included in the deal. I poured her some more coffee and sat back, glancing up at the stage, but finding no interest in the tiny girl grinding against the pole. The girl I was interested was sitting across the table, mulling over the idea of a relaxing night in a hotel with a stranger.

I knew I couldn’t offer to pay her. That would make her say no in a heartbeat, but I had a feeling our honest conversation was trying to sway her mind. She tapped her finger against her mug and looked around the room, as if the answer to the question would be shining brightly in the red lights and neon signs. Brat leaned down and whispered in my ear.

“It is getting late,” he said as he tapped his watch and glanced up at the girl. “We should be heading over to the hotel soon.”

I nodded my head and stuck my finger up, signaling I understood but to give me just a few more moments. The club was open until the wee hours of the morning, but I had exhausted my interest in watching other women dance around. My eyes landed back on Adriana as she looked up and gazed back at me. My interest was now that blonde hair and those sensual eyes.

Chapter 5: Adriana

 

This was a tough decision. Several of the girls, including Sveta, had gone home with clients before, but I always made it rule never to step foot outside of the club with a customer. What happened after the girls left the club was none of my business, but I was pretty sure from the influx of cash and the way they looked when they got back, they weren’t just grabbing a bite to eat or going for a drive through the city.

I wasn’t judging them in any way. Everyone had a different story, and most of them needed the extra money, but I just never found myself desperate enough to sell my body for a few Euros. I looked down at my cup of coffee and bit my lip, feeling Milos’s gaze running over me. I was used to men staring at my body. Although normally, it would make me feel a tinge of irritation. I felt nothing but heat knowing Milos was enjoying the sight of me.

My choices were simple. Either I said “no thank you,” dragged myself up to the apartment, put my headphones in, and tried to get some sleep on the thin spring mattress, or I said “yes” and go to the suite with plush beds, hot showers, and most importantly, privacy. I doubted that Milos had any intention of leaving me alone once there, but in reality, he was sexy as hell. A romp in the hay with his strong, tanned body wouldn’t be the worst thing that had ever come my way. On top of all of that, I was sure there would be an opportunity presented to make even more cash tonight, something that had been weighing heavily on my mind since my mother had tracked me down and called me, crying over the house.

When my grandmother passed away, she left her flat in Liverpool to my mother and me, so we would have a better place to live than the shitty ass apartment in the slums. My mother, being useless most of the time, didn’t do anything but lay around and get trashed, but I made sure to keep up with the normal maintenance of owning a house. I figured once my mother had shacked up with some dude, I’d end up getting the flat, which I was fine with. When she called me, though, all those dreams seemed to disappear in one phone call.

My mother, being the complete idiot that she was, realized I wasn’t there to give her money. Granted, it took her like three weeks before she realized I wasn’t just holed up in my room ignoring her. Needing money for more liquor and escapades, my mother took out a mortgage on the flat. How she did that with no viable income, I will seriously never know.

Either way, getting that panicked call from my mother was already shocking enough because she had the fortitude to hunt me down to this strip club. Adding fuel to the fire, she then told me the flat was in foreclosure, and if she didn’t come up with several thousand pounds in the very near future, she would be out on the street. Part of me wanted to hang up and tell her she did it to herself, but the other part of me still had a sentimental feeling for the woman that raised me, knowing she hadn’t had the easiest life. I also wanted to keep the flat so that I could inherit it and not have to shell out a ton of money to buy some crappy apartment when I finally settled down and went to work.

I told her I would do what I could and I hung up. She called several times since then to inquire how it was going, but I screened her calls, sending her an email instead. I wasn’t going to hand that money, even if I had it, over to my mother. I contacted the bank and was talking directly to them.

Milos had already dropped nearly a thousand Euros in tips, plus what he paid Reg, so I was pretty sure he wouldn’t hesitate to drop quite a bit more. And if there wasn’t any money involved, hell, I deserved a night of relaxation and possible hot steamy sex. I took a deep breath and looked over at Milos, who was waiting patiently for an answer.

“Okay,” I said taking a deep breath. “I’ll do it.”

“Excellent,” he replied. He smiled and took his jacket from his friend. He reached his hand down to me. “Shall we?”

“I’m going to change if you don’t mind,” I said as I stood. “I’ll be right back.”

I ran to the back and cashed out with Reg. His eyes grew big as he took his cut. Then I changed into my sexy black dress I had in the closet, and raced back out front. Milos stood under the large archway, smiling over at me. He was so fucking handsome, and part of me hoped he made a move tonight. The hotel was only a few blocks away, so we walked there. We took a special elevator up to the top floor, and I couldn’t help but notice everyone staring at us as we crossed the lobby, probably because he was the owner’s kid. The place was gorgeous and even more luxurious than he had described at the club. When we walked in, he tossed off his shoes and jacket. I rolled my eyes, not surprised a bit that he was staying here, too.

At that point, what else was I to do, other than just relax and soak it all in? He started the Jacuzzi, and since I had already been naked once in front of him, I didn’t feel weird at all about stripping down and jumping into the hot bubbling water. I watched as he handed me some champagne and set a plate of strawberries by the tub. His muscles shimmered in the dim lights over the hot tub, and I couldn’t help but watch as he dropped his pants, letting his cock roll out with the rest of him. I could feel my neck getting hot. Much to my surprise, he didn’t immediately jump on me. Instead, we sat and talked about my life and more hilarious stories about his childhood, and we drank two bottles of champagne.

I was definitely a bit wobbly when it was time to get out. He stood on the steps of the hot tub, holding open a towel and helping me get out. As I stepped, my foot slipped, and I fell into Milos, my arms wrapping around his neck. I giggled to myself, feeling the electricity return as our wet skin moved across each other. I felt his arms wrap around me tightly, and I pulled back, looking deep into his handsome eyes. A small, mischievous grin pulled at his lips, and he leaned forward, pressing his mouth hard against mine. Between the champagne and the atmosphere, I was helpless to fight off his advances and found myself kissing him back with heat and need.

His hands slid down me, dropped the towel to the ground, and pulled me against his warm, soft body. I felt his erection press against my stomach, and I immediately felt myself get wet. This man was unbelievably sexy, even in the way he kissed. His lips lapped over my mouth, tasting me with his tongue. He reached down and grabbed my ass, picked me up off the floor, and wrapped my legs around his waist.

He walked slowly back into the penthouse, water dripping across the floor. We walked into a darkened bedroom, and he laid me down on the soft pillow bed covered in satin sheets, smelling of rose and sandalwood. I pulled myself backward until my head rested on the pillow and watched as he crawled toward me, his arms flexing and his hard cock skimming the comforter underneath us. He oozed confidence, and I was immediately turned on at how he took charge and gave me exactly what I needed.

His hands grazed over my breasts, grasping them and kneading heavily. He dipped his head down and brushed his lips across my stomach, looking up and smiling as I whimpered quietly. Milos scooted back further, collapsing onto his ass, his knees underneath him. He lifted my ass into the air and pulled it close to his face. His warm tongue swiped across my lips, and I gasped, instantly wanting more.

He moved his hands around, pressing his two thumbs into me and parting my lips with his tongue. He ran his mouth over my wetness and across my clit, and I arched my back and moaned loudly. As my reactions intensified, so did his movements. I found myself grabbing tightly to the iron headboard above my head. He moved his face back and forth in my pussy, driving me closer and closer to orgasm. My breath was heavy, and my eyes were closed, feeling every inch of his tongue on my mound.

“God,” I moaned. “I want you so bad.”

I felt the smile spread across his face as he tapped my nub and nibbled it with his teeth. He set me down and reached across me into the nightstand, pulling out a condom and pushing it over his huge throbbing cock. He stroked the shaft several times, looking down at my dripping pussy. Watching him rub his hand up and down his dick made me want him even more, and I began to squirm closer to him.

“Is this what you want?” He whispered it, and all I could think was, fuck yes.

I nodded and bit my lip. He grabbed onto his cock by the base and moved forward, rubbing his thick length over my wetness. He was so fucking big, and even though I probably should have been scared of it, all I could think about was feeling the whole thing inside of me.

He pushed his head against my pussy and slid his cock slowly inside of me. He grabbed onto my hips and threw his head back. His cock was thick and hard, and it filled every single crevice inside of me. Immediately after, he started to thrust, pushing hard and fast against me. I felt my temperature rise. He slapped his hand against my clit, and I clamped my fingers onto my hard nipples. I screamed loudly, moaning and whining.

Over and over, he thrust inside of me, bringing it almost fully out before slamming his cock back into me. I reached up and ran my fingernails across his chest, gritting my teeth and grinding my hips as I did on stage. He groaned loudly, and he rocked his hips faster against mine.

I could feel myself reaching orgasm. My breathing sped up with quick, moaning gasps, getting louder with each powerful thrust. The explosion hit me, and I screamed out, arching my back and grabbing onto the bed. He growled when the heat of my wetness flow over his dick. He grabbed my hip and rubbed my clit harder with his other hand, sending waves of intense passion through my whole body. He pushed in hard, pulled out slowly, and then thrust with everything he had, holding it deep inside of me as he came. I could feel his cock bulging and pulsating against the walls of my pussy. I relaxed my muscles and watched him take in every last ounce of pleasure.

He pulled out and flopped down on the bed beside me, breathing heavily with his hands on his chest. A smile washed over him. He pushed me on my side and pressed up against me, his arm draped over my waist. I could still feel my heart racing and was pretty sure that had been the most intense orgasm of my life. My energy was drained, and before I could say even a word, I felt myself slip into a blissful sleep, surrounded by real gold, real luxury, and a real man.

Chapter 6: Milos

 

Last night was fucking amazing and worth every bit of small talk and romance that I had to put into it. Usually, my conquests were simple. Women put more effort into impressing me than I had to, not realizing I didn’t give a shit about their lives. I just wanted to fuck their brains out and move on. I had left the blonde beauty sleeping in the bed, figuring she was definitely tired after last night’s hot sex. It felt pretty good to see her eyes bulge as I pulled out my cock and shook it in front of her. Her tight little body took it in like a champ, though. I felt every inch of her as she orgasmed all over me. I shook my head trying to keep my dick from getting too excited. It was now business time, and I needed to make sure the mood was just right when I revealed my proposition.

I picked up the phone and called down to the front desk, ordering one of everything on the breakfast menu, a pot of coffee, and a carafe of orange juice. I snuck past the bedroom into the other room where I kept my clothes and picked out something casual but upscale. Not that I owned anything other than upscale. Once dressed, I went into the bathroom and started a condensed version of my morning routine, wanting to look suave but not intimidating, especially since she would no doubt look ruffled when she woke. The last thing I wanted was for her to feel uncomfortable or self-conscious at all before I handed her the news.

Telling someone you are a prince was nerve-racking enough for the other person, not to mention dropping a marriage proposition on the table. I gelled my hair into the perfect, coifed masterpiece and brushed my teeth. Then I flashed myself a smile and headed for the front door, having heard the elevator ding outside.

One by one, the employees quietly rolled in carts of food, from strawberry tarts to crepes filled with all kinds of different butters. They set them out on the large dining table and placed place settings at two of the seats, assuming that I had another guest with me in the suite. I guess they were starting to get to know me here. Although I rarely had a woman actually sleep over, unless I was too drunk to shoo her out afterward.

I looked over the table, feeling satisfied with such an amazing arrangement. Surely, this was not normal for a girl like Adriana and would far surpass her normal breakfast of granola bars or boxed cereal. As I sat down at the table, I looked up to see her shuffling from the bedroom, the satin sheet wrapped around her amazing body. My cock immediately got so hard it was almost painful. I reached down and pressed down on it. Now was not the time.

“Good morning,” she said, yawning. “I am starving.”

“Excellent,” I said.

I poured her a glass of orange juice. She pulled out a chair to sit down. She wrapped the long sheet underneath herself.

“How did you sleep?” I asked.

“Oh my God,” she said, rolling her eyes. “Better than I ever have, I’m pretty sure in the history of my existence.”

I laughed and watched as she served herself crepes and fruit, adding sugar to her coffee as I poured it. There was a small part of me that really enjoyed this girl. Between her spunky personality and the way she fucked, I started to think that a year of servitude with her wouldn’t be that bad. I grabbed a croissant from the rack of pastries and nibbled at it, knowing I needed just to come out and tell her.

“So, now that you have enjoyed my company, slept well, and all that, I have something I would like to tell you,” I stated. She stopped chewing and looked up at me curiously. “So, as I said, I do come from an affluent family, but it is a bit more complicated than that. My name is Milos Dobromil, Prince of Silesia. Well, to be correct, soon to be King of Silesia.”

“What?” Her face was priceless, and she sat with her mouth slightly hanging open. “Wait, you’re a prince? Like royalty? Like His Highness?”

“Yes,” I said, chuckling and placing a napkin in my lap. “A real, bona fide royal prince.”

“Where is Silesia?” she asked.

“It’s a small country just a few hours plane ride from here,” I responded. “It’s mostly countryside, and everyone lives in the Capital where the palace is.”

“The palace? Is that the place you got lost in the stables?”

“Oh, heavens no. That was at the manor house in the country, where we took a holiday.

She shrugged her shoulders like she was talking to herself. It was actually quite amusing. She shook her head and put her fork down, after finally swallowing her mouthful of crepe.

“My mistake,” she said, looking down at her coffee.

“Look, it’s really not that big of a deal,” I said, trying to calm her nerves.

“Not a big deal? I came home with a prince and fucked him in his royal bed, and now I’m sitting in his penthouse wrapped in a sheet.” She sounded slightly panicky.

“Adriana,” I said. “That isn’t why I’m telling you this. I have a proposition for you.”

“A proposition,” she repeated, as she looked up at me with one eyebrow raised. “What kind of proposition, because I’m pretty sure we already covered sexual favors.”

“Not that kind of proposition,” I said, chuckling. “My father passed away just a few weeks ago. Before he passed, he told me that in order to inherit the throne and everything with it, I had to get married. If I do not, the royal line will dissolve, and the entire fortune of our kingdom will go to charity. Obviously, I am not currently attached to anyone, and I don’t plan on doing so. I want you to marry me, plain and simple. Marry me and live in the lap of luxury for one year, until I have my mother off my back and the crown on my head. Then, you are free to go, and I will pay you a hundred thousand pounds, as a thank you for your service to my kingdom.”

“Wait,” she said, shaking her head and wiping her mouth. “You want to bring me to your castle, make me a fake princess, have me fake like I love you for a year, and then pay me a severance and send me on my way?”

“Pretty much, yes,” I said, realizing her way of explaining was much less complicated. “Although, technically, you will be actual royalty. There’s nothing fake about that.”

“Would I get a partial payment up front?” she asked.

I could see she was thinking about something, but I wasn’t sure what it was.

“We can do that,” I replied. “We could do five thousand after the first month, and every month after, with a lump sum of the remainder paid at the end.”

“What about sex? Do I have to have sex with you?”

“Again, I do not pay for sex,” I said. “Nor would I expect you to accept payment for sex. It will be completely up to you. Although with the passion we felt last night, I wouldn’t mind exploring that further.”

“What about my expenses while I am there? Surely, I cannot afford the royal lifestyle.”

“Of course,” I replied. “Everything will be taken care of, from your clothing to your wing of the house, and down to the expenses of the wedding.”

“The wedding,” she sighed. “We would have to have a full-out, royal wedding, wouldn’t we? And what about your mother? Surely, she would see right through this.”

“Leave my mother to me,” I replied. “She may be quick, but she knows it will bring a queen to the kingdom, and that is all she cares about. And yes, to the wedding. It is a tradition. That being said, you would be the future queen. Everything would be taken care of for you.”

“All of this is absolutely insane,” she said. She pushed out her chair and walked over to the floor to ceiling windows. “How do I get myself into these situations? I mean, you’re a good-looking man who happens to be obscenely rich and a member of royalty. Don’t you have some duchess or something that you can get hitched to, instead of a British stripper vagabond?”

“Sure, but I am looking for a business arrangement,” I responded honestly. “I don’t want the drama and headache of a serious relationship. Most girls want the fairy tale, and I am not Prince Charming.”

“Tell me about it,” she said under her breath.

I watched as she stared out over the city, the look on her face showing she was giving it some serious thought. I took a sip of my coffee and waited a moment before pressing her. I had to remember that while this was a saving grace for me, this was a lot to ask of another person, especially a woman with no aspirations for the throne.

“What do you think?” I asked.

“I think I need a minute,” she said over her shoulder. “You just dropped some big news on me. How many times in a woman’s life do you think a prince asks her to fake a marriage with him? This isn’t really in the lessons they teach you as a little girl.”

I smiled to myself, looking back at the breakfast left abandoned on the table. I didn’t want to push Adriana, but I was pretty taken back by her mastery of negotiation. I had a feeling she wasn’t done yet. I knew as soon as the papers hit the stand at home, my mother would be calling me, wondering why I jumped on a plane and got the hell out of the kingdom.

I was pretty sure the media had snapped pictures of me, not only getting tossed out of the two clubs last night, but staggering into the strip club, which was not going to please my mother at all. Luckily, Caspian did a really good job at not allowing press or cameras in the club. So I knew no one was going to see me tossing money at Adriana, but they may have gotten some pictures as we entered my parents’ hotel. That was easily fixable, though. No matter how much of a playboy I am, no one would really think that I proposed to a stripper from Prague.

I looked over at the window and saw the sunlight shining on Adriana’s blonde locks. Her dark roots peeked out in the bright daylight, and I realized she was just a girl. She was just as beautiful now as she was when I saw her dancing on the stage last night, and I knew, with a little care and some new clothes, she would pass for royalty in a heartbeat. The only problem was, I didn’t know if she was going to say yes or no.

I had assumed that because of her career choice, it would be easy to wave some money in front of her and watch her jump at the opportunity. Adriana wasn’t that kind of girl. She held on to her moral compass like it was her life. Still, no one else last night even slightly caught my eye, and this girl completely blew me away. She took command of the stage like a queen on her throne, and that is exactly the persona I needed to take back home with me, minus the red lights and gold bodysuit. Although, I wouldn’t mind her wearing that to bed every night. As she stood there, tapping her bare foot and biting her nails nervously, I wondered just what was running through her hot little mind.

Chapter 7: Adriana

 

I couldn’t even believe I was standing here, thinking about accepting this guy’s proposal. He wanted me to basically throw any morals I had out of the window and fake a marriage to him, ultimately lying to the queen, the kingdom, and everyone I knew. Not to mention the fact that I was pimping out my own hand in marriage, and for what? For 100,000 pounds and a cool, year-long vacation in a country I didn’t know, with a queen I was already terrified of?

On the other hand, I had just spent a really hot, sensual night with a real live prince, and he was offering me more money than I would ever see in a year, especially working for that douche bag, tight-fisted boss, Reg. Could I really spend an entire year in a country I had never heard of?

I mean, this guy was a prince, and more than charming. He was handsome, funny, and caring, but I wasn’t in love with him. This arrangement would force me to act like I was. I would be a real, but fake, princess. Who else could even start to say they had an opportunity like that?

I had always been such a great judge of character, but this hit me out of nowhere. This guy had something going on that he wasn’t telling me about, and it was making me really uneasy. What if he was a crazy person, hidden from the public by the royal guards? I shook my head, realizing I was getting a bit extreme here, but my mind was racing, and I just didn’t know what to do or say. I heard him behind me, tapping on the table, trying to be patient, and waiting for my answer. I took a deep breath and turned around to face him. He looked up and smiled his charming grin at me.

“Three,” I said, putting my hands on my hips.

“Three?” He looked confused.

“Pay me three hundred thousand pounds, and I will do it,” I said, and then held my breath.

When I had gotten to Prague, my naivety kicked my ass, and Reg took complete advantage of me. That was definitely not something I was going to let happen here. My fake marriage and a year of my life was worth way more than a hundred thousand, and he knew that. I watched his brow furrow, and he picked up his phone, scanning through different apps and counting things in his head. He shook his head and smirked, looking up at me.

“I’ll give you two hundred and fifty, but that is my final offer,” he said. “And I have to double check that with my attorney.”

I stood looking at him for a few seconds, not sure whether to jump on it or hold out. Unfortunately, prince or not, I was pretty sure he wasn’t going to budge any further. I walked over to him and stuck out my hand.

“Deal,” I said sternly, completely blown away that I had actually accepted his offer.

“Yes,” he said, jumping from the chair and hugging me tightly.

He let go just as the smell of his skin started to overwhelm me. I watched as he dialed his phone. His demeanor and tone of voice changed from charming to business in two seconds. He was talking to his attorney about the money, and I held my breath until he looked over and gave me thumbs up.

Two hundred and fifty thousand pounds. Holy Shit. I could pay off the mess my mother got herself into and still have plenty left over to set myself up really nice when I went back home to Liverpool. I’d love to continue my trip, but it seemed my trip had changed direction. Now, I was facing marriage and a kingdom to rule. Well at least, I’d watch Milos rule.

I looked up and realized I was sitting alone at the breakfast table with only the light banter of Milos conducting business in the background. I went from having breakfast with a prince to being completely cut out of the conversation, like I was nothing more than a business investment. I was educated, but the kind of legal jargon he was discussing was over my head. I took a deep breath and grabbed a croissant, wondering what came next.

At least I would have an amazing bed and an entire palace to roam around in. It shouldn’t be too boring, trying on all those fancy clothes and riding horses out into the country. I think I might find that palace life suits me. On the other hand, it may be more Marie Antoinette and less Cinderella. I could find myself tried for treason and beheaded on the steps of the palace. I laughed to myself as I pictured me wearing a giant gown, which of course they didn’t wear anymore, and a powdered wig, which hadn’t been in fashion for hundreds of years.

Milos walked from the back room, slipping on his shoes and walking swiftly across the suite. His face had completely changed, and I really didn’t recognize this man. He picked up his cell phone and called down to have his car pulled around. He breathed deeply and looked over at me, as if he had forgotten I was here at all.

“Oh,” he said, shaking his head. “Get dressed. The car will be downstairs in five minutes. The driver will take you to gather your things and then bring you over to the lawyer's office. I’ll meet you there, and we’ll get the contracts signed.”

“That’s very romantic,” I said, chuckling.

But his face didn’t change. In fact, I don’t even think he heard me at all.

I walked into the bedroom and scrounged around until I found my dress, figuring I should probably put my shoes on as to not look so suspicious. I did happen to notice the few people standing outside of the hotel the night before, snapping pictures as we entered, but he rushed me by so fast I didn’t have time to ask. At that moment, it all started to make sense.

Milos packed his bags and talked to someone on the other end of the line about his proposal. He wasn’t paying attention to me. I left the suite and went downstairs. As I walked into the large marble waiting area, I smiled at the girls behind the desk. They whispered to each other and stared. This was more than a little awkward. As soon as I hit the curb, I jumped into the town car parked out front, and we sped off to the Caspian. The driver was a nice, older gentleman, and he helped me out of the car.

“I’ll be waiting right here for you,” he said with a kind look in his eye.

“Thank you,” I replied, patting his hand and walking into the side door that led up to the apartments.

It was the middle of the day, so most of the girls were out and about, doing what they do, and the rest were down covering the day shift at the club. It was insane how many men staggered into the Caspian in the middle of the day, looking for their next lap dance. Sometimes, I wondered what these guys did with their lives besides pay strippers and put on nice suits. As I walked through the hallway, I paused at Sveta’s door, wondering if I should seek my best friend’s advice. Either way, I couldn’t just leave without saying goodbye. I knocked on the door and peeked inside. She was sitting on her bed listening to music and sketching, something she liked to do in her spare time.

“Hey, girl,” she said, looking up from her book and pulling her headphones off. “I saw you didn’t come home last night. Mister dark and handsome took you right out of the club.”

“I know,” I said, letting out a huge breath and plopping down on the edge of the bed. “It has been nuts, and I don’t have a lot of time.”

“Is he waiting for you?” She looked excited as she pulled the curtain back and looked down at the street. “Fancy town car, you coming to the apartment to get things, a frazzled look on your face. What’s going on?”

“This guy was not who I thought he was,” I said, trying to explain quickly. “It turns out he is a prince. Like a real prince. He is getting ready to take over as king of this small country, Silesia.”

“Oh, yeah,” Sveta said, nodding her head. “I’ve been there before. It’s really beautiful.”

“Here’s the kicker,” I said, taking her hands. “He wants me to marry him and fake our whole relationship for an entire year.”

“What?!”

“Yeah, and when it’s done, he’ll pay me two hundred fifty thousand pounds,” I said dramatically.

“Holy shit,” she said, her mouth gaping. “Well, what the hell are you doing here?”

“I came to get my stuff,” I said as I looked down at my hands. “I don’t know. It all sounds so wrong. Lying to everyone. Faking a marriage. There’s just something weird about it to me.”

“You are being insane,” Sveta said, slapping my hand. “Do you know how many girls dream of living in a castle and being a princess? Hell, I still dream about that happening. You have been through so much. You owe this to yourself. Live the dream, girl. Be a motherfucking princess.”

“You know what? Maybe you're right. Maybe I am overthinking this. So what if I have to pretend to love this guy? He is handsome, sexy, and really great in bed. So it shouldn’t be that hard. And the rest of the time, I get to live like royalty.” I smiled big at Sveta, thankful for her confidence.

“You get to live as royalty,” Sveta corrected me.

“Thank you, girl,” I said. I leaned forward and hugged her tightly.

“Oh, I’m going to miss you,” she whined, squeezing me tight. “You have to write me and send me pictures.”

“I promise,” I replied, feeling a bit emotional about leaving this life behind.

I said goodbye one more time, then jogged down to my room and pulled out my backpack and dusted it off. I went through my drawers and stuffed my clothes and shoes into my bag. Then I grabbed the three thousand pounds of lingerie I had hanging in my closet, and tossing it out on the counter in the main area for the girls to pick over. They were waiting for me at the lawyer’s office, and the last thing I wanted to do was get stuck talking to Reg, trying to explain why I was quitting and where I was going.

I pulled the envelope of cash from my drawer that I had been saving, took a couple thousand pounds out, and shoved it in my pocket. The rest, I sealed up and walked to Sveta’s door, smiling as she sang loudly to herself. I pulled my backpack up on my back and slid the envelope under her door, before walking to the exit and taking one last look around. It was crazy that a drunk mom and a crazy backpacking trip brought me here with these people, and now, a real prince and a crazy marriage was taking me out. I wasn’t sad in the least to be leaving the red lights and loud music behind, but the experience was definitely something I would never forget. I kissed my hand and pressed it against the door before closing it and jogging down the steps.

When the bright sunlight hit me in the face, I took in a deep breath, knowing I was about to do something that would change my life for the better. I handed my bag to the driver and looked at the front of the Caspian. Let’s just hope that this new choice would be for the better, with none of the worse.

Chapter 8: Milos

 

“Is she upstairs?”

“Yes, sir,” the driver said on the other end of the phone. “She is in her apartment gathering her things, and I am down here waiting for her.”

“Good,” I said. “When you are done, bring her to the lawyer’s office.”

“Yes, sir,” the driver responded.

“Oh, and make sure she changes her clothes,” I said, before hanging up the phone, looking around the suite, and hopping into the elevator.

I had set up an impromptu meeting with the attorneys who were drawing up the paperwork while I was making my way to their office. There were a lot of things to cover, from the amount settled upon and her obligations, to what she couldn’t do while sitting as the princess of Silesia. She would never make it to queen, since her blood was not royal and by the time my mother died, Adriana will be long gone. Either way, I didn’t want to take any chances for confusion. It was important that I handled this meeting completely professionally, showing the attorneys I was serious and showing Adriana that this was a business agreement, not a romantic tryst or a game to be played. As I walked through the lobby, I held up my hand at the flash from a camera. I looked over at the desk and pointed.

“You,” I shouted. “No media in the building.”

The girl jumped and ran around the desk, shooting the reporter from the premises. I stood inside, waiting until I saw the car pull up, before jogging out and jumping inside, quickly shutting the door. We were only three blocks from the attorneys’ office, but I didn’t want the press following me. So I took the car instead of walking. When I arrived, I was greeted by the head attorney, who sat me down inside a conference room made of glass walls, boasting a large screen television and huge mahogany table in the center. I looked at the secretary. She smiled at me and poured me a cup of coffee. Her legs were long, but her hips were nowhere near as curvy and sexy as the stripper’s.

I looked up as someone walked into the lobby, and I saw that it was Adriana. She smiled, dressed in a plain black dress that came below her knees and tall black heels. Her hair was pulled back in a ponytail, and the leftover ringlets from the night before cascaded down her back. She actually looked like a professional, and a sexy one at that. I held the door open for her, watching her ass jiggle as she walked past and had a seat at the table. She looked nervous, but I kept my professional demeanor.

“Miss Jones,” the attorney said as he walked through the doors. “So good to meet you. This won’t take long, and then you two can get on your way.”

The lawyer sat a huge stack of papers down in front of us, and I watched Adriana take in a deep breath, trying to pay attention to what he was saying. As he went over every section, she would stop him, asking specific questions about terminology and definitions. Though I could see his weariness, I actually found it kind of cute. However, by page forty, her eyes had glazed over, and she had resorted to just sticking her hand out and sloppily plopping her name or initial on the line he pointed to. I didn’t blame her, though. This was boring as hell but vital to protecting her, me, and my kingdom. The signed copy would be sealed in their vault and would be the only copy in existence. When the year was over, and she was paid, the contract would be destroyed, allowing me to keep my secrecy.

When the last signature had been made, the attorney thanked us, took my check, and we headed outside to the car. We climbed inside, sitting across from each other, and I pulled out my phone to check the time. We were doing well. We would actually make it to the jet with plenty of time to make it back to the palace by dinner time. I looked across at Adriana as she watched the cars passing out the window. She looked nervous and almost lost in her pretty black dress, sitting in a town car and watching her future zoom forward with no control. I knew exactly how that felt. I went to say something, anything to comfort her, but my phone buzzed in my lap, and I picked it up, grimacing at my mother’s name on the screen.

“Hello, Mother,” I said answering.

“Milos,” she replied angrily. “Why in God’s name would you think it was a good idea to go jetting off to Prague just a week after your father’s funeral? And to top it off, you were photographed being thrown out of two clubs last night. Did nothing I say to you about your father’s wishes sink in at all?”

“Calm down, Mother,” I replied. “I am currently in route to the airport, with my fiancée, and we will be arriving within a few hours.”

There was silence on the other end of the phone, and I didn’t know whether to laugh or wonder if I had finally killed the old lady. She was really smart, and I knew she would have questions about this, but I also knew she really wanted the royal family to stay in one piece. I cleared my throat to break the silence.

“Well,” she said, sounding pleased but suspicious. “That is definitely the best news I’ve gotten in a while. I will have to start planning a wedding then, I suppose. Do you have any requests?”

“No, Mother,” I said, chuckling. “I will leave all the planning of this wedding to you.”

Adriana’s head snapped up as I spoke, a look of discontent on her face. Regardless of what Adriana wanted, my mother was going to insist on a big wedding, and I wasn’t going to disappoint her. If nothing else, it would keep my mother busy and off my back while I was home. When the conversation was over, I hung up, and I realized it had been the first cordial conversation I had with my mother in years. Maybe this marriage thing wasn’t such a bad deal, after all. My mother would be happy, the kingdom would be back in order, and Parliament would stay off my ass.

We pulled into the hangar bay where the jet was parked, and I sighed with relief. Finally, I was going to be able to relax for a bit, and if I had my way, relieve some of the tension in my pants. When we parked, I got out of the car and walked around to escort Adriana onto the plane. I stood in front of the stairs with my arms wide in the air.

“This is my favorite place,” I said enthusiastically. “I do all my best thinking here. No one bothers me while on board, and usually, it is taking me somewhere exciting and new. Come. I’ll show you around.”

Adriana chuckled at my excitement and took my hand as I helped her up the stairs and onto the plane. The stewardess smiled as I passed, reminding me that my hot few hours on the way to Prague with the brunette from Australia should have prompted a staff change. But oh well. It was what it was. I had called ahead to let the captain know of my fiancée’s attendance, and the staff had been lectured on the importance of keeping their thoughts to themselves.

“So, here is the main cabin,” I said, as we stood and looked over the carpeted expanse of the plane. “We have a bar over here to our left, a couch for lounging just over there, and our main seats here to the right.”

Adriana smiled, nodded her head, and lifted her eyebrows. She didn’t seem the least bit impressed, which kind of bothered me. I knew she probably hadn’t seen anything like this before, but understanding that everything was happening so fast, I just took a deep breath and showed her to her seat. We stowed our things away and buckled up.

Adriana gazed out the window while we taxied the runway, and I noticed her white-knuckling the arms of her seat as we took off. I wondered if she had ever flown in a plane before. Wanting to relieve some of her tension, I motioned to the stewardess to bring us some wine.

“What do you think so far?” I asked, crossing my legs as I looked at her.

“It’s all a bit overwhelming,” she replied with a forced grin. “But don’t worry. I’ll get used to it.”

“Come here,” I said. I unbuckled my seat belt and reached for her hand. “Let me show you something.”

We walked to the back of the plane and through the tall wooden double doors. I leaped forward and landed on the huge, king-sized bed and down comforters. One might think that I kept this bed here for one reason, which was the reason on my mind while I stared down at Adriana’s long, sexy legs. But that was not always the case. I took long flights all over the world, and I liked to have a place to sleep while I traveled.

“Why don’t I help you relieve some of that tension?” I whispered, biting my lip, and feeling my erection get harder. “Put your wine down and climb on in here with me.”

She looked around the room quietly, no indication of what she was thinking on her face. Then she walked back to the doorway and looked down at me.

“No, I think I’ll just enjoy the flight from the cabin,” she said, a cool smile on her lips.

I couldn’t help but chuckle to myself as she walked away. The slit in the back of her dress came dangerously close to her ass. Her stockings were sheer, with a black line running up the back of both of them, and her heels had tiny bows at the top. She looked absolutely incredible, and all I wanted to do was get her out of all that and add her to my mile-high club list. But, seeing as sex was optional in our arrangement, I couldn’t really do anything about her lack of interest.

I climbed up on the bed, slipped my shoes off, and crawled under the covers. I painfully rubbed my hand down my cock, feeling the burn of rejection. After the night of passion we shared, I thought now it would be in the bag, but this girl was going to make it hard.

I had gotten the business end of what I wanted, but she was not going to make the other part easy in the least. The carefree part of myself wanted to completely forget about it, knowing there was no lack of pussy in my life, but the other part of me yearned for her wetness, her moans, and the way she looked at me as she orgasmed in the sheets.

For the next couple of hours, I tossed and turned, trying to take a nap while enduring the endless suffering of a gigantic hard on. I watched out of the door as Adriana sat quietly, her legs crossed, and her hands resting in her lap. She definitely knew how to be regal and contemplative, but she also knew just what to do to drive me crazy. The line between any type of relationship and business had been drawn, and she was not going to let me forget it. The question now was, how do I get her to forget it, and how easy will it be to seduce her back into my bed?

Chapter 9: Adriana

 

To say everything was moving at warp speed would be an understatement. I stepped out of the car that drove us from his private airstrip and out into the courtyard of the palace. I was left completely breathless. The castle was enormous, and I felt like the whole of Prague could fit in just one wing. The outside was stunning, with large stone arches, light green rooves, and three tall towers that made me feel as if I was standing inside of a fairy tale. The amount of servants that stood on the steps, ready to welcome me, was staggering, and I assumed they were just a minuscule percentage of who actually worked for the kingdom.

“My dear,” Milos said, as he handed me my purse. “This is Byron. He will be showing you to your quarters and getting you settled in.”

I shook my head, not even noticing Milos slip off in the other direction. Byron smiled at me kindly, and I nodded my head and smiled at the servants who curtsied, one by one, as I passed them. Byron walked quickly through the sweeping halls, and I hurried to catch up. I glanced into the dozens of rooms I passed as I went and gawked at their magnitude. There were ballrooms, dining halls, maids’ quarters, and kitchens. And this was all before I had even reached my wing of the palace.

“This wing will be yours,” Byron said as he opened the large engraved doors.

I stepped into a large sitting area decorated with large, framed paintings of what I assumed to be royal family members. There were ornate vases scattered throughout, and a large pinstriped couch perched in the center, just in front of the fireplace. The rugs covering the marble floors gave a hint of the culture that I would be experiencing during my time in Silesia. There were so many things to see, explore, and admire, but everything seemed to be moving forward without a moment to take a breath. I stood in the large room looking up at the high-domed ceiling, clutching my purse.

“My Lady,” Byron said. I looked up to find that he was standing by another set of large doors. “Deep breaths. It can be a lot to take in at first. Let’s get you settled.”

I smiled and nodded my head, still looking around as I followed him into the halls beyond the doors. There were over a dozen rooms in my wing, and I wasn’t really sure what I was supposed to do with them all. We made our way past the gold-ornamented bathrooms and around the corridor, where we entered into my bedroom. Byron carried my luggage in and sat it by my king-sized, four-poster bed. I looked around in awe. The room was so large you could fit two of my flats from Liverpool inside of it with ease. It had its own dining area, living room, and sleeping quarters, as well as the largest fireplace I had ever seen.

“Before you unpack, however, the Queen requests an audience,” Byron said kindly, bowing his head.

“Oh,” I said with surprise and nerves. “Well, let's not keep the Queen waiting then.”

We made our way across the castle to another large set of doors, where two guards sat perched. I thought to myself that I would need a map to find my way back. Fortunately, as arrived, I was introduced to a trove of servants that would be attending me, and they seemed to go wherever I did. Surely, they would be helpful.

We stood in front of the large doors, and immediately, I became more than nervous. I clasped my hands in front of me to keep them from shaking. Byron opened the door and stood to the side, allowing me to slip into the room. It was like my sitting room at the front of my wing, except larger, and it smelled of hot tea and perfume.

“Ah,” a voice said from the center of the room. “You don’t know how excited I am to meet you.”

A beautiful woman walked toward me, dressed in a long skirt and suit jacket with a small rose pinned to the lapel. Her arms were open wide. Her hair was peppered with gray, but I could see the same smile on her face as I saw on Milos the first time I met him. Her eyes were kind but stern, and she grabbed my shoulders, leaning in and kissing each of my cheeks. She pulled back and took a good long look at me, as though she were making sure I was a suitable fit to become her daughter-in-law.

“You must be exhausted,” she said, taking both of my hands and pulling me to the center of the room. “Things tend to move a bit faster inside the castle than they do on the outside. Milos will be along momentarily.”

She motioned for me to sit in the chair facing her couch. I smiled and tried to sit as gracefully as possible, tucking my legs underneath my chair with my ankles crossed. I had no idea what I was supposed to do or say, so I just sat there watching the Queen’s servants rush around the room, preparing tea. Queen Zora smiled thankfully at her servant as she handed her a cup and sat back on the couch.

“How are you adjusting so far, my dear?” she asked.

I didn’t know what to say, and I felt like my mouth was stuck shut. I took in a deep breath, but before I could talk, the doors swung open, and Milos made his usual grand entrance.

“Mother,” he said loudly. He walked over and bent down to kiss her on the cheek. “You look as lovely as always.”

“Ah, Milos,” the Queen said in a loving tone. “We were just talking about how she was adjusting.”

“My sweet Adriana is used to constant motion,” he said with charm. “She is a school teacher in Prague. Well, she was, until I swooped into her life. We’ve been dating for several months now, but we wanted to keep it quiet. She teaches elementary English, and the children really adore her. So, she wanted to make this transition as easy on them as possible.”

I sat there listening to Milos, not realizing he was talking about me until he smiled and took my hand. I was going to have to remember all of these lies he told, if I was going to keep up this charade for a year. He continued to gush about me to his mother. I stared at the large portrait of whom I assumed was his father. They looked identical. The only difference was the King’s peppered black and gray hair, showing his seniority.

“It was hard to tear her away, since she is involved in so many volunteer programs, and the community relied on her for so much,” Milos gushed. “But alas, I was able to talk her into bringing that sweet and caring demeanor to Silesia, with the hope that she can make the same difference in our kingdom as she has for the people of Prague.”

“That is just lovely,” the Queen said, sipping her tea. “Now, I know our time is limited today, since I must get the plans ready for the dinner in your bride’s honor for tomorrow night. Let’s talk briefly about the wedding.”

“I don’t want to wait,” Milos cut in. “It must be something we do immediately.”

“While I appreciate your enthusiasm, a royal wedding can take months to plan,” the Queen said, with a knowing laugh.

“Then cut it down, Mother,” Milos responded, standing and looking around. “This Kingdom has been through enough change with father’s death. I would like to get the wedding complete and on to business.”

“Milos,” the Queen said with a disappointed look.

“Mother, you are resourceful. Let’s say a week. I want to be married within a week. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a honeymoon to plan.”

Milos looked down at me and nodded before sweeping out of the room as quickly as he had entered. I looked down at my hands, feeling slightly uncomfortable with how demanding he was. The Queen set her cup on the table and sighed deeply.

“He is so frustrating sometimes,” she said. “When he gets something in his mind he is more than stubborn. But, that being said, it may be a crazy week for you, my dear, but I will make sure you have as beautiful a wedding as I possibly can.”

Feeling that this meeting was over, I stood and turned to the servant to show me out. I stopped and turned back to the Queen, who was putting on reading glasses and looking down at some papers on her desk.

“Thank you, Your Grace,” I said with the best curtsey I could muster.

She looked up over her glasses and smiled, nodding her head at me as I turned and left her chambers.

From that moment, and for the next week, my life was hard to even recognize as my own. Each morning, I was greeted with breakfast in my chambers and then presented with a laundry list of things to do for the wedding. From dress fittings and cake decisions, to décor and even picking which set of Royal China to use, I didn’t have two seconds to breathe. The seamstress took my measurements, and by the next day, I was dressed in whatever was handed to my servants that morning. I didn’t even have a chance to unpack. I’d thrown my bags into the closet, promising I would get to them later. By the end of the week, I was more than a little exhausted by everything.

Queen Zora was always so gracious, but as she ordered the staff around and glided through the palace with purpose, I started to understand why she and Milos clashed so often. She was like the reformed version of Milos. She knew exactly what she wanted, she didn’t take no for an answer, and she won almost everything with the use of her wit and charm. The biggest difference between the two was she understood her responsibility to the kingdom, while Milos lived in his own little world.

By the time the wedding day arrived, I was so exhausted by the week, that the only thing left was my nerves. Standing at the back of the cathedral, waiting for my entrance cue, was the first quiet moment I’d had since I arrived. To be honest, the only thing my mind wanted to do was take me out of all this.

What had I gotten myself into? In the beginning, it sounded like a great idea, but now that the wedding was about to happen, I realized I was in deeper water than I could swim in. I felt like I was barely staying afloat.

The music began to play, and the doors to the church opened slowly. My mind raced, and my hands began to shake. I immediately thought about running, just turning and bolting from the church, out into the countryside, and not stopping until I was out of Silesia’s borders. But as I stepped into the light of the stained-glass windows, I looked up to the front, and my eyes met with Milos’s. His warm smile filled my chest with excitement. Without even thinking, my feet began to move forward.

Every step I took brought me closer and closer to this man that I wasn’t even sure I liked, much less loved. However, as if his smile and warm eyes were a drug, I was drawn to him, oblivious of everyone around me. With every step of my small heeled feet, I moved closer to my place in the Silesia Kingdom, next to the devilishly handsome, future king.

In that moment, I could see nothing but my future, blinded by the grandeur of my own unbelievable life.

Chapter 10: Milos

 

My mouth hung open as Adriana stepped into the holy lights, shining through the stained-glass windows of the cathedral. Her dress was as elegant as any royal bride I had ever seen, with its modest fitted top, large layered gown, and sweeping train. Her face was shrouded by a thin veil that flowed down over her and ended at her chin. The small glimmering tiara sitting atop her boundless, cascading curls sparkled in the light. She was an absolute vision in white. Oddly enough, nervousness ran through my stomach, as if she were an angel floating toward me.

Immediately, I stood up straight and fashioned a smile on my face, realizing my sentimentality was getting the best of me. However, as she moved forward, escorted by my Godfather, the Duke of Silesia, I couldn’t help but think that this was still her day, regardless of how fake it may be. With the shimmering décor, and the endless rows of adoring noble subjects, pressing their eyes toward our commitment to one another, I decided to let loose a bit and allow myself to be immersed in the lie, even if only for one day. I would treat her as my true bride, and even if it does not affect our state of existence, it will definitely affect the way the press views our nuptials.

The service was long and daunting, but I couldn’t help but notice how Adriana kept her eyes on mine and her hands relaxed at her sides. Her demeanor immediately calmed me, and I went through the ceremony with ease, bowing when I should, kneeling when I should, and finishing our vows with a sweet and tender kiss. As we pulled away from each other, Adriana smiled, the romance of the moment catching me off guard. I grabbed her hand and turned her toward the audience, raising it high in the air and smiling as big as I could muster. It was done. I was married. The rest of the event should be a breeze, and I would get to see how Adriana handled meeting so many people of importance.

After about a million pictures and time with my mother, we made our way around the Great Hall, speaking with dignitaries and introducing Adriana to the heads of state. I watched as she curtsied with grace and spoke with an air of charm just subtle enough that everyone she met fell in love with her instantly. She was even more than I expected out of fake bride, and I smiled and shook my head, impressed.

We approached Brat and his sister, Zlata, and I pressed my hand against the small of Adriana’s back and watched as she chatted briefly with Brat. Zlata stood staring at my bride, waves of jealousy flowing around her. She looked at me and smiled.

“Congratulations,” she said sternly. “Who knew you would settle down, and with a school teacher no less? It’s charming.”

I grinned, without looking at Zlata, and stepped forward to listen to Brat talk with Adriana about the event and the nobles in the room. I could tell Brat had been won over instantly. As I leaned in to whisper to Adriana, he winked at me with pride. It took a lot to impress Brat, and his reassurance took away any fear I had at the moment.

“Dance with me,” I cooed. I grabbed her hand and pulled her out onto the dance floor.

She laughed wildly as I spun her around, showing her every royal dance, step by step. It was as if we were all alone in the castle, just enjoying each other’s company. I wasn’t sure what had changed. Maybe the stress of binding her into a contract had been lifted, or the enchantment of the evening had finally set in. Whatever it was, I felt myself relax and give in to the moment.

The chandeliers sparkled overhead, lit with hundreds of candles, and the ambiance of the room was beyond expectation. My mother nodded to me approvingly from her table, and I smiled as if there was a true contentment within me.

As the reception began to wear down, I pulled Adriana close and danced to one last slow song of the evening. The lights sparkled in her eyes, and I could tell that she, too, had gotten lost in the grandeur of the night.

I could see her smitten look, and I decided that tonight she would be treated like a real bride. I grabbed her hand and stepped back slowly, pressing my finger to my lips. We backed out of the large doors and went running down the halls toward my wing of the castle. Our laughter echoed through the empty halls, as if we were teenagers hiding from our parents. We slowed as we reached the doors. I flung them open and turned to Adriana.

I saw a flash of shyness cross her beautiful face, and I stepped forward, picking her up and turning toward the room. Over the threshold, we stepped, and she giggled playfully in my arms. As I set her down, the guards closed the doors behind us, and we were instantly alone. She reached up and pulled at my bow tie, which was unraveled and hanging around my neck. She turned and pulled her hair away, signaling for me to pull down her zipper.

I unclasped the top and slowly opened her dress, holding her hand as she stepped out of the billowing gown. She stood in the light of the fire burning in my fire place, covered in the tiny threads of the white negligée she had put on before dressing for the events.

I stepped forward and pulled her close, tipping her chin toward me and pressing my lips hard against hers. I felt her body relax as I held her in my arms. The passion of the night swept us away in that one moment. Her breath began to pick up as I ran my hand up her side and over her perked breasts. I stood back up, pulled away from her lips, and grabbed her wrist. I led her through the great room and into my bedroom, where white rose petals had been sprinkled over the floor and across the bed. The suite had been prepared for our wedding night, and I was glad to see it reflected the same tone as the rest of the day.

Adriana’s eyes glimmered in the firelight. She reached up, pulled the pins from her hair, and let it fall, cascading over her shoulders. She sat down on the bed and pushed backward, flashing me just the edge of her white lace panties. Immediately, I could feel my cock begin to swell.

I undressed slowly, allowing the tension to build between us. Slowly, I climbed up on to the bed, crawling forward until I lingered on top of her body. I fell slightly to my side, intertwining our legs and running my hand up the cool satin of her lingerie. My mouth fell to her neck, and she tipped her head back. I tasted her skin with the tip of my tongue. My hand moved down, pulling up her satin skirt and pushing down into her panties. She was wet and hot, and I could hear her muffled moans as I ran my fingers through her wetness.

She reached her head up and pressed her mouth hard against mine. I swirled my fingers around her clit, pushing two fingers inside and pulling back out before circling them around for another round. I wanted to taste her, and I wanted her to taste me, to feel my cock pushed down her throat. But I wanted this night to be about her, so I held back the urge.

I sunk down, lifted up her skirt, and ran my tongue down her stomach. She wiggled underneath me, and I hooked my fingers in her panties and pulled them from her body, tossing them to the side. God, she was so sexy. As I lowered my head into her juicy wet mound, I reached up and kneaded her breasts, listening to her growing moans. Slowly and sensually, I lapped at her pulsing clit, feeling her body begin to tense. She reached down and pulled on my hair. I looked up at her beautiful face.

“I want to make you come,” I whispered.

She let go and fell backward, spreading her legs open even further. I grabbed her thighs and pushed them outward as my aggression increased. I rubbed my lips across her mound. Over and over again, I massaged her clit, nibbling slightly before sucking it deep and hard. Her back arched, and her moans turned to screams. I could feel her erupt in my arms, and I tasted her juices as they flowed from her body. I didn’t stop. She grabbed onto the bed, letting the orgasm wash over her body. My tongue flitted across her pussy, and I reached down to stroke my rock-hard cock, readying myself to fill her fully.

Her muscles began to relax, and I pulled my face away and began to move my body upward. I rubbed the head of my dick against her wetness, but didn’t push it in just yet. I hovered over her face. She began to grind her hips against my shaft, begging with her body for more. I pressed my mouth against hers, this time with lust and need, letting my tongue explore her taste.

I groaned as she moved her hips hard and fast. Though it was sensual, I found myself challenged to give her as many orgasms as her body could handle. I reached down and lifted my shaft upwards, laying it down between her lips and letting her rub her nub against it. She moaned in extreme pleasure. I wanted to push into her, hard and fast, but the thought of making her come from just the feeling of me against her was so arousing, I couldn’t help myself.

I lowered my hips against her and began to match her movements, feeling her wetness surrounding my shaft. I had every intention of bringing her to orgasm with the motion of my hips, but she had other ideas. She shifted her hips and reached down, grabbing my dick and shoving it inside of her.

I groaned, and my lips curled up into a mischievous smile. Her forwardness turned me on like crazy, along with her ability to take control when I was least expecting it. I grabbed her hips and turned over on my back. Adriana straddled me and pulled her negligee from her body, revealing herself to me. She began to ride me slowly.

At first, she pressed her hands against her thighs and swirled her hips wildly over me, feeling my body rub against hers. Then, showing she wasn’t ready to give in just yet, she leaned back, reached between my legs, and massaged my balls. I helped control the movement of her body with my hands.

I ran my fingers up between her breasts. They bounced around with each movement, hypnotizing me. She moaned loudly, her head back and her eyes shut. I reached forward, taking her right hand and placing her fingers on her clit. I pulled my arms behind my head and flexed my pelvis, pushing in deeper and enjoying the sight of her pleasuring herself while pressing down hard, as if she couldn’t get enough of my cock.

The sight alone was almost enough to send me over the edge, but I took in a deep breath and steadied my thoughts. Tonight was not a race to the finish. It was a slow, steady crawl. And while she rubbed her nipples and caressed her breasts, bouncing up and down on my dick, I could tell she didn’t want this to end any sooner than I did.

Under the flickering lights of the fire, our erotic shadows danced across the ceiling. I settled in, ready to take Adriana beyond any pleasure she had ever experienced.

Chapter 11: Adriana

 

I lowered my body down, over and over again. I could feel his cock pulsate inside of me. The sensual surroundings of our room and the unfiltered passion coming from both of us added to the buildup. I could feel myself reaching another orgasm. I ground my hips against him, feeling feverish in my attempts to have him as deep as he could go. My juices were running down his shaft, and with each clash of our bodies, the sound of our skin colliding echoed through the large, dark room.

I looked down at him, biting my lip and scanning his huge biceps as he watched me intently. His eyes were almost as dark as the night. I put my palms down on his chest and pushed down, feeling his skin massage my clit. As I pushed in deep, that orgasm I had held at bay exploded, sending pleasure through my entire body. I threw my head back and arched my back, screaming loudly. I felt him grab my hips and pound his dick into me, over and over, heightening the orgasm.

My body shook and twitched from the intense arousal, and I fell to the side, letting him pull me close against him and enter in from behind. He reached over and lifted my leg, wrapping it back around his legs as he spooned me, thrusting slowly through my intense wetness. He groaned loudly in my ear as his cock plunged into the warm river below.

Before I could even uncloud my mind from the most recent round of orgasms, I felt that familiar warmth in my stomach. Breathing heavily, I rested my head on the pillow and concentrated on feeling every inch of his shaft as it moved in and out. His smooth hand rubbed across my hip and stopped on my hand. He pushed my arm down and placed my fingers on my sobbing wet clit, but I moved back and grabbed the base of his cock, feeling it slide through my hands as he pulled it out and plunged it back into me. He growled at the extra sensation, and I immediately pulled my fingers up and began rubbing fast and hard against my clit. I wanted another orgasm, and I wanted it bad.

As soon as he felt my hand tighten and my fingers move savagely over my nub, he too began to feel the need to increase his movements. What began as a sensual turning and twisting of bodies quickly became a race to orgasm. His hands clamped down on my hips as he thrust, and I could feel his teeth pressed gently into my shoulder.

“I want to feel you come,” I screamed out. “I want it so bad.”

“Yeah, Adriana, come with me, baby,” he growled loudly.

I bit my lip as we moved and pushed our bodies further than I had ever experienced. His cock reached its hardest position and began to pulsate. I couldn’t hold back any longer, and I screamed out, grabbing the sheets and thrusting my ass backward.

I let the orgasm wash over me, and I could hear him groan loudly and press one last time, hard and deep, before releasing. His body tensed behind me, and his hands dug into my hips. We sat perched at the height of ecstasy for several moments, before crashing into each other, a pile of lust in the center of his huge, soft bed. All I could think was, wow.

He curled his body around mine and pulled the covers over top of us. I could no longer pretend to be awake and full of energy. I slipped into a deep sleep, feeling the comfort of my new husband’s arms wrapped around me. Although I was always aware that this marriage was a sham, at that moment, there was a part of me that let it feel real, even if it was just for a moment.

Several hours later, when my eyes opened and adjusted, I realized that was exactly what it was, just a moment. I reached along the soft sheets but found that Milos was gone. I was alone in his unfamiliar chambers.

I laid there for several moments, staring at the shadows dancing across the walls from the fireplace. There was an uncomfortable unfamiliarity about my surroundings. So I pulled myself from the bed and grabbed a robe from the side table. I wrapped the soft, warm cloth around my body and tied the straps tightly around my waist before slipping from the room and out into his sitting area.

The castle was cold at night, and I blushed as I opened the main doors, finding my servants waiting outside in the hall. They said nothing, just bowed deeply to me and walked quietly in front, showing me back to my wing of the palace. It was uncomfortable knowing they had seen Milos leave his bride on their wedding night, but it was even more uncomfortable that I knew deep down it was all a game.

“Would you retrieve my things from the Prince’s chambers?” I asked.

The head servant smiled kindly and bowed her head, still silent in the night. I nodded and walked through my sitting area and directly back to my room. I grabbed a towel and almost rushed to the shower. The main bathroom was luxurious, with smooth marble countertops, ornately designed tile floors, and gold fixtures. The shower was a large open area, and I stepped underneath the waterfall of hot water, breathing in the steam.

I washed my hair and my body, taking an unusual amount of time to scrub the layers of makeup from my face. As if washing was just another distraction from my mind, I continued until my skin was red and warm to the touch. The luffa fell from my hands, onto the tiled soapy floor. The water continued to cascade over me, and an empty feeling filled my chest. It was as if all the magic of the day was over and had completely left the room, leaving an uneasy reality in its place.

That reality infiltrated everything for the next couple of weeks. I did my best to stay out of the way, out of the Queen’s chambers, and out of my own lonely mind. Milos was gone, nowhere to be seen. I knew he had traveled somewhere, since his plane was no longer in the hangar.

The servants were kind, but I found no comfort in their words or actions. I was shown the stables, where I was given my own horse. That kept me going during that long period of silence. I would take my horse, Nelly, out into the countryside, riding for hours, not paying any attention to the time of day. At first, it was hard to get used to the constant following of the guards, but after a while, I didn’t even notice them. Instead, I filled my time with the Silesia countryside and taking walks through the town. I found the people of the country warm and inviting.

Two weeks had passed since our wedding day, and I still had not heard from the Prince at all. I checked the papers to see if the media had followed, but I found nothing there, either. The Queen was gone, tending to the business of the Kingdom, and I was left alone to my own devices, something I didn’t mind much.

During the day, I had taken Nelly out for a ride, but the dark storm that moved over us in the afternoon forced me back to the castle. I laid in my bed that night, listening to the rain through my bedroom windows, unable to find sleep. Finally, I decided a warm glass of milk was what I needed to help me fall into a dream world. I dressed and decided to get it myself. A walk through the castle to clear my head would give me something to think about, other than Milos and this whole ridiculous debacle I had gotten myself into.

As I rounded the corner into the main area of the castle, I looked up to find Milos staggering through the hall. He was obviously drunk and couldn’t seem to find his way to his own wing of the house. I shook my head and sighed as I approached him, putting my hand under his arm and supporting some of his wobbly weight. He smelled like whiskey and cheap perfume, and a strange tinge of jealousy pierced my chest. We said nothing to each other as he stumbled toward his chambers. The guards opened the doors and shut them behind us.

“You are so sweet,” he slurred.

He grabbed my arm before I could turn and leave. I felt anger rise in my throat, and I slapped his hand away, feeling nothing toward his advances.

“How dare you,” I said. I choked back angry tears, wanting to appear strong. “You’ve ignored me for weeks, and now you think you can stumble into the castle and have whatever you want?”

“What did you expect?” He pulled back, an irritated look on his face. “You do remember this is a fake marriage, right? You signed the contract, and there was nothing in there that said I had to spend time with you.”

“Why did you seduce me that first night, then, if you didn’t feel anything toward me?”

His actions were astounding, and I was completely taken back by his rough self-absorbed demeanor.

“It was all part of the plan, my dear,” he said drunkenly. “I knew you were too dewy-eyed to resist my charm. I wanted to drive the nail in and fuck you, so you would have no qualms about saying yes to my proposal. Besides, if I was going to be stuck with you for an entire year, I wanted to try you out first.”

Those words wounded me like a knife. Even though I knew it was a sham all along, I didn’t realize that Milos was such a cold-hearted asshole. Tears burned at my eyes. I reached back and slapped him hard across the face. He reached up, put his hand to his cheek, and peered at me angrily.

My heart skipped a beat. He pushed me hard up against the wall, pointing his finger in my face. I kept my face composed, so I didn’t show fear, but at that moment, I felt like I needed to get the hell out of there before things turned ugly. Before he could even speak, I kneed him hard in the balls and added one last slap for good measure. He leaned over, grabbing his crotch and groaning. I turned and bolted from the room, not even looking at the guards as I passed.

Down the corridor, I flew with my bare feet slapping against the marble floors. I heard the servants trotting along behind me, but they slowed as I ran into my sitting area. I heard the doors shut behind me. I had never been so disrespected in my entire life, and the feeling became very overwhelming. Tears flooded my eyes, and I fell to my knees on the plush Persian rugs. I pulled my hands up to my face and sobbed gently into them.

The pain in my chest deepened, and I no longer knew what to do. I felt truly hopeless, and I wondered how I could possibly endure an entire year in this place. I was alone, and I’d never felt more alone in the world.

Chapter 12: Milos

 

My eyes stayed clenched as my alarm blared across the room. I had to get up. I had been gone two weeks, and everyone was starting to get suspicious. My head pounded from the copious amounts of whiskey I had drunk the night before. However, as I opened my eyes, my mind was distracted from the throbbing headache by the horrible, pulsating pain in my balls.

I reached my hand down and cupped them, curling into a ball from the stomach ache everything had given me. I reached over and grabbed my phone from the side table as it buzzed noisily. I pressed the button, and a text from Zlata, thanking me for last night, popped up on the screen. I cringed when I saw it. Not only was she my best friend’s little sister, she was a complete rich bitch. I had zero desire for her in my life, though it seemed I had given her some sort of attention the night before.

I tossed the phone to the side and pulled myself from the bed. I looked for my robe that seemed to be missing. The shower called to me from the sleek marble walls, and I tripped through the doorway, stubbing my toe and cursing under my breath. I climbed into the hot water, and I felt my senses start to re-emerge, which would have been good if the memory that popped into my head wasn’t a terribly cringeworthy one.

I had been a complete and total asshole to Adriana the night before. I mean, I was an asshole all the time, but usually, it was masked with some sort of royal charm. This time, however, I could remember not holding back in the least. My throbbing balls and red cheek made perfect sense, but I couldn’t help but chuckle at Adriana’s verbosity and strength.

The truth was, I felt terrible about what happened, but I had disappeared on purpose. Between the romantic and nostalgic feelings I had felt during the wedding, well, fake wedding, and the peace I had in my chest while making love to Adriana that night, I feared waking up to her would be the end of life as I knew it. Her beautiful smile and early morning hair would have been the end of all of my freedom, so I fled.

I took the jet and flew off to the city, ignoring her, and drowning thoughts of her beautiful face in liquor and strippers. But no matter how much I indulged, no matter how many shots and lap dances I got, I couldn’t get Adriana off my mind. None of the sexy voluptuous broads I paid to distract me did anything for me. It was miserable. So, I returned to Silesia and, apparently, had blown the entire thing.

The water was beating down hard over my body, like my conscience had been doing the entire time. Visions of my outburst and terrible words whirled around in my head. I leaned forward, hoping the rushing water could wash it away. Adriana was a stripper nomad who came from a broken home in Liverpool. There was no way she was right for me. Even if she was the right girl, I had blown that to smithereens last night. I had no idea if there was any hope that it could be fixed at this point.

However, seeing that I was going to be dealing with Adriana for the next year, I figured that I should probably make an effort to fix what I did last night. I breathed deeply as I turned off the water and jumped out of the shower. I quickly dressed in something comfortable and casual and called to one of my servants. I ordered them to make sure that one hundred dozen roses were delivered to Adriana’s room while she was out. I had seen her ride out of the stables as I dressed, so I knew she wouldn’t be back for some time. I also ordered them to send me word when she had returned so that I could be in her chambers when she arrived back.

I sat impatiently waiting for her return for several hours before a guard stuck his head in the room and nodded to me. I pulled on my shoes and ran through the castle, wanting to get inside before she saw me. As I entered the room, I was overcome with the smell of roses. The bright red flowers filled every crevasse of her sitting area. It was incredibly romantic, and I was even impressed at the thoughtfulness I was capable of at times.

My nerves were raised to the highest point I had felt in years as I watched the door handle turn. I stood up straight and fiddled with my hands, unsure of where to put them. Adriana walked into the room, looking down at the floor, but she stopped at the smell of the bouquets that filled the sitting area. Her eyes got big as she looked around at the blooming buds, but her face was stern and straight as her gaze fell upon me.

“Before you say anything,” I said, raising my arms and stepping forward. “I owe you a huge apology. I was not in my right mind, and what I said last night was cruel and uncalled for. I am hoping that we can take note of last night’s events but move forward, finding a positive way to interact with each other in the future.”

“The flowers are beautiful,” she replied as she stooped down and took in a long whiff of one of the bouquets. “I love them. Thank you. And though part of me wants to stay angry with you, I would agree that we should move forward.”

“Tour the grounds with me,” I replied, without thinking. “There is so much beauty here, and I would like to guide you through it.”

She nodded her head with a slight smile. I walked forward and stuck out my arm for her to take. She looked at me strangely at first, her expression unreadable, but hooked her arm through mine and turned toward the doors.

We walked through the palace, and I pointed out different historical artifacts that seemed benign at first glance. I could see that the history of the place intrigued her, which excited me since I knew everything there was to know about the past and our kingdom. I pulled her out into the gardens and kept her as close as she would allow. We strolled through the bushes and blooms my mother had worked so hard on. Adriana was surprised to know that the Queen had put her own hands in the dirt and created the gardens herself.

“My mother was always fond of foliage and flowers,” I explained. “She started this garden when she first came to the palace. She used to tell me how it was so lonely here, at first, but she found solace in planting. After a while, she became the full-fledged Queen and had to hire gardeners to take care of the grounds, but you will still find her out here every spring, helping to keep the place beautiful.”

“That is really lovely,” she replied. “I have always loved gardens. They brought me hope as a child, and even though I had no room for one in Liverpool, I would draw out my plans for the future. I am determined to one day have a garden at my home, though probably not this grand.”

“I’m sure it will be lovely,” I said, as I stopped and turned toward the giant obelisk in the center. “This is a monument for the wars that Silesia fought many years ago. It is because of those men that we have such a peaceful country now. My father was a patriotic man, and he liked to see these kinds of memorials built on the palace grounds. He even had an entire park built in the city in honor of those men. I’ll show you sometime.”

“That would be lovely,” she replied with blushing cheeks.

We continued through the garden and down the hill to the moat that surrounded the castle. It was less of a booming waterway and more of a large stream that flowed around. My canoe was still sitting on the side of the tree where I had left it months before. When my parents would get too strict or angry at me, I would retreat to the moat and row myself around, pretending to disappear into Silesia, running away from royal life. Adriana watched as I flipped the canoe over and dusted it off before pulling it down into the water. I reached forward and grasped her hand. She stepped gingerly into the rocking boat. She sat down on the center stool and watched as I pushed us into the water and grabbed the oars.

“When the castle was first built, we didn’t have the technology that we have today, so they built this moat to protect the castle from attacks,” I explained as I rowed along. “That bridge to the left used to be a drawbridge, but after the threat of foot attacks had diminished, my great-great grandfather had that permanent stone bridge put in place. He wanted the kingdom to feel open and unguarded, giving the people of Silesia the feeling of family with the royals.”

“That is amazing,” she said. She gawked up at the stone bridge’s belly as we passed underneath, going into the shadows and then back out into the sun. “There is so much history in your country. It is inspiring.”

“As a child, I used to imagine the knights on horseback crossing the bridge, defending our freedom,” I said, chuckling. “It was like a fairy tale for me. Now it’s more like a burden, but that is my own line of thinking, I suppose.”

“If I lived here, I would roam all around, finding every nook and cranny of this place,” she sighed, looking around. “To someone who never experienced something so magnificent, it’s quite overwhelming but has brought out the curiosity in me all over again.”

The sound of the water soothed my chest as we rowed along in the mossy waterway. The sunlight hit Adriana just right, and it sparkled through her golden curls. She smiled as we passed several ducks swimming along, and I felt a strong warmth in my chest for her and her beauty. There was something about this girl that pressed at my core, and I didn’t know what I was going to do with that feeling. While I was away, I couldn’t get her face out of my head, and since I had returned, the feeling had grown even stronger. Her vibrant smile and adorable giggle had a way of lighting up the world around her, and it sucked me in immediately.

“Did you enjoy your time here as a child?” She was curious about my life, and even though I wanted to tell her everything, something still held me back.

“It was a lot of politics, even as a small child,” I explained. “But on those few rare moments I was able to slip away from the castle and the teachers, I would transform the world around me into a story that suited me better than fancy suits and noblemen. My father would tell me stories of, what he called, the true noblemen of the old days. They were warriors, not stuffed shirt snobs that took their tea a specific way. Those stories made me want to be a true soldier. Well, at least when I was younger.”

I could tell Adriana was holding back a smirk as we rowed along, talking about my childhood fantasies. I guess if I were her, I would have a hard time reconciling the child I described with the man I had become. However, as we pulled to shore and walked into the second part of the gardens, I couldn’t help but find that part of me felt like that young boy again, and I knew it had to be Adriana who made me feel that way.

Chapter 13: Adriana

 

With such an enchanted place creating the perfect backdrop, it was difficult to keep my mind locked in behind that wall I had built up since everything happened. Milos was back to being that absolutely charming Prince he had shown himself to be since the beginning. Hearing the stories of his childhood and watching as his eyes lit up through the stories he told was almost too much to handle. I was sure that it had to have been difficult growing up in the spotlight, always being hounded by media, and having your family expect perfection from you. It made sense that Milos had a difficult time just being himself without shrouding it with charm and fake smiles. But still, his inability to let loose with me on a regular basis made it hard for me to really trust him. The last thing I wanted was to spend another night like the night before, alone in my chambers with a broken heart, fearing my choices.

After we had finished rowing through the mossy moat, Milos pulled the canoe back up on to the shore, and I watched as he tipped it against the large willow on the edge of the banks. He walked toward me with a pleasant smile on his face, and I followed him toward what looked to be a hedge maze. As we rounded the corner into the tall covering of the bushes, he took my hand, and immediately, I felt heat rise into my belly. We walked along quietly, feeling the pull between us as it grew stronger and stronger with each step. The maze was perfectly trimmed and hedged all along the path, and I felt like I had wandered into a magical world hidden on the castle grounds. There were small birds tucked beneath the thick grasses, and I looked around in wonderment as we moved deeper and deeper into the maze.

The sun was shining high in the Silesian sky as we walked hand in hand. I looked up at Milos who flashed me a mischievous smile before darting forward, pulling me through the twists and turns of the maze. Though I was completely lost at that point, I could tell that Milos had memorized the entire maze. As we made one last left turn, Milos sprinted forward through the long tunnel, laughing childishly. I smiled and chased after him.

As I reached the end, I watched as the tunnel opened up into a beautiful courtyard. The ground was green and mossy, and in the center, was a beautiful fountain that allowed the waters of Silesia to billow over the round marble ball on the top.

“This was where I had my best ideas,” he said loudly as he reached his arms over his head. “They never could find me in this maze.”

“It’s beautiful,” I said.

“It is,” Milos said as he turned toward me, his eyes darkening.

Butterflies erupted in my chest and stomach as his face grew serious and he walked over to me. He lifted his hands to my face and leaned down, pressing his lips hard against mine. I couldn’t resist and allowed myself to fall into his kiss. His mouth was warm and needy, and all I could think was that I wanted more. He reached his hand around my waist and lifted me up into the air as he kept his lips firmly pressed against mine. His tongue slipped between my lips, and I opened my mouth and allowed him to taste my tongue. Milos reached down and scooped me up in his arms, and he knelt down into the moss. For a moment, he hovered with his hands clutched beneath me and his lips moving wildly over mine. Slowly, he ducked down, and he set me gently down in the grass and pulled himself over me. The moss was cool and soft beneath my body, and I looked around for any sight of prying eyes.

“Relax,” he whispered into my ear as he fiddled with the buttons on my dress. “We are all alone out here, and I don’t want to wait to taste you.”

His words were like fire. I melted under his fingertips immediately. There was something wild and erotic about fucking him in the open. I gazed up at the blue skies, not knowing when someone could walk around the corner. Milos sat up, finished unbuttoning my dress, and looked down at my body as each side of fabric slid down beside me. He ran his hands down my bare breasts and felt my hard nipples in his palms.

I arched my back and licked my lips as his hands continued further down my stomach and rubbed over my moistened mound through my silk panties. I moaned softly as I grabbed the grass and moss at my sides. I could see Milos restrained himself, as he tried to prolong this session and make me beg for him to be inside of him. What he didn’t realize was I had already seen that coming and built my resistance strong.

I watched as Milos pulled his polo over his head, and his muscles flexed and glimmered underneath the afternoon sun. I bit my lip as he scooted down and began to move his mouth over my stomach and pulled at my panties with his hands. I lifted my ass in the air and watched the silk material sparkle down my legs and into a pile in the grass. The cool breeze washed over my sopping pussy, and the warmth of his mouth around it pushed me into a tizzy. Slowly he pushed his tongue into my wetness and ran it up and down through my pussy. The feeling was almost enough to make me explode right there but I took a deep breath and opened my legs wider, letting him know he was invited.

He groaned as he sopped it up. “I love the way you taste. You like my tongue on you?”

“Yes,” I moaned as my back arched again.

“Move those hips like that stripper you once were,” he groaned. If I hadn’t been completely immersed in ecstasy, I might have taken offense, but his dirty talk aroused me more than even his tongue could.

I picked my hips up from the grass and grabbed onto his hair, shoving him into me and grinding against his face. His smoothly shaven skin was soft against mine, and I felt him reach up as he slid two fingers inside of me and rubbed his other hand up my body between my tits. I pushed harder against his head as I moaned loudly and fucked his face in the grass and moss. He groaned into my pussy as my wetness continued to increase until it was dripping from my body. Faster and faster he fingered me while he ran his tongue over my clit and plunged in with his fingers. I could feel the orgasm building higher, but I kept it suppressed, wanting to feel more of his mouth.

He sat up and began to quickly unbuckle his pants, obviously giving in to the urge to plow into me, but I sat up and pushed him down, pulled off his clothes, and sat on his face. He grabbed my hips and groaned as my pussy grazed over his mouth. I reached out and grasped his rock-hard cock in both hands and leaned over, taking it into my mouth. His groan vibrated through my mound, and I screamed out, feeling myself close to the edge. I lifted myself upward trying to gather control, but he grabbed my hips and pulled me back down onto his face. I sat up and ran my hands up my breasts, giving in as I ground harder against his mouth. As I reached my peak, he began to finger me hard and fast while he sucked on my clit, which caused my orgasm to spiral out of control. I arched my back and squeezed my tits, screaming loudly.

Just as my body began to untense, he pushed me down him until I hovered over his cock. I bit my lip and slid down the shaft. I felt him filling me up completely. He growled loudly behind me and grabbed onto the ground below him and watched me grind on his cock as I faced the fountain. I looked around the open space in front of me and became aware of how public we really were. However, instead of feeling timid and tense, I felt completely aroused and pushed down his shaft, harder and faster. There was something free and erotic about sex in public, something I didn’t know that I liked until that moment.

“Bend forward,” he growled as he pushed on my back.

I reached forward and grabbed his ankles as I pushed backward and forward over and over. He reached up and grabbed onto my ass and ran his thumb through my cheeks. I moaned loudly at the sensation, making him grab my hips and push me forward and back at a faster pace. Milos sat up slightly as he ran his fingers down my back, before pulling out of me and pushing my body down on the ground. He grabbed my legs and slid them apart and leaned into my body as he thrust forward through my wetness. I laid my cheek on the cool ground and reached my arms forward, digging into the soil with my nails. I moaned loud in short bursts that matched his motions. He reached underneath me and pulled my ass higher in the air. I spread my legs outward and steadied my knees underneath.

Slowly, he pulled in and out, feeling my sopping pussy contract and release around his massive erection. I could tell he was holding back, and I arched my back, giving him more access to go deeper. I wanted it so bad, I could taste it, but he wasn’t willing to give in to the pleas my body was making. I could feel every inch of his cock as he slid it slowly in and out of me. He grabbed on to the back of my neck and pushed in deep with a loud groan.

“I want to make you come,” I moaned.

“You will,” he gasped. “But not until I feel that wetness around my cock.”

It was almost like we were playing a game to see who could make each other go first. Part of me wanted to feel another release like the last, but the other part of me wanted to win at this game. I looked back at him and caught his eyes. I put two fingers in my mouth and sucked hard on them before I pushed them down between my legs and started rubbing my clit. He bit his lip and shook his head as a coy smile erupted on his face. He knew I was playing right along with his game.

“God, you are so fucking sexy,” he said, chuckling as he pushed hard and deep.

I took my hand and pushed him from behind me and turned over on my back with my legs spread wide apart.

“Give me what you got, Prince,” I said with a cocked smile.

“I don’t know if you can handle that,” he whispered as he leaned in close, stroking his cock.

“Show me,” I teased. My hands ran through my pussy and up to his dick. I pulled hard and watched as his shaft slid into my wetness.

We’d had sex several times now, but at that moment, even I was unsure of whether I could hold out any longer.

Chapter 14: Milos

 

My shaft dripped with Adriana’s wetness, and I looked down at her, not wanting to stop, but definitely feeling my control lessen by the second. She was so fucking hot. I had been with hot women before, but this girl drove me nuts. Usually, I would fuck a girl once and be done with her. My attention would move on to something else, but not with Adriana. When I was not with her, I couldn’t get her off my mind, and when I was with her, all I could think about was her hot naked body. It was like I was under some sort of spell, and even though I had told myself that I would give us some space, feeling my shaft slide in and out of her evaporated that restraint in an instant.

Adriana’s soft hands grazed over my stomach as I moved inside of her, trying to bring her to orgasm. She bit her lip and tipped her head back, grinning at the feeling of me deep inside of her. Her wild eyes and billowing curls looked absolutely amazing against the bright colors beneath us, and at that moment, she was the only girl in the world. She moved her hips in a winding motion as I thrust deep inside of her, before slowly pulling out and going back for more. Her wet pussy was so inviting, and I could still taste her on my lips. I reached down and grabbed her hips, giving her strong short bursts of my cock as I gritted my teeth, trying not to pull out and blow my load all over her bouncing tits. I set her hips down and pulled out for a second, giving my cock time to cool off.

“No way,” she said, smiling as she wagged her finger at me. “That’s not fair. No breaks for you, mister. Now, fuck me harder.”

Holy shit, she knew just what to say to me to make me move. I smiled mischievously at her as I picked her hips back up and jammed it in as hard as I could. She flung her arms out to the side and arched her back, screaming in pleasure. The grass beneath her fingers was raked back as she clawed for some sort of release, a release I was planning on giving her very soon.

“More,” she moaned. “Give me more.”

I pushed harder and harder into her, trying to break her resolve and feel her come, but as the heat in my belly pushed downward, I wasn’t sure if I was going to last that long. I growled low in my chest as I bent over toward her and pulled her mouth against mine. She moaned softly into my mouth as my body pushed against hers. Without warning, I had laid down into her, and she wrapped her legs around me, grinding while I pushed deep inside of her. She moaned louder and arched her back, exploding around my cock. I could feel the warmth of her wetness gush over me, and immediately, I felt my own orgasm begin to creep up. I reached down and grabbed her hips and thrust hard and fast until I could feel my body tense and my cock swell. With one last thrust, I released, feeling my dick pulsate inside of her dripping pussy. Pleasure shot through my body, and I closed my eyes as I groaned loudly into her mouth.

I laid there, still inside of her, for several more moments until finally, I was able to use my body again. I kissed her lips as I pulled out and sat up on my knees, wincing internally as I felt a twinge of guilt push against my chest. I reached down and helped to her feet, handed her the panties on the ground and stood while we got dressed. She smiled sweetly as she buttoned the last few buttons over her breasts, covering up her skin. If I had it my way, we wouldn’t leave this maze for at least another hour. However, as the uneasiness in my stomach built, I knew it was time to walk her back out.

I leaned in and kissed her on the forehead, unable to shake the pull I felt for her. She was so beautiful, and as she stood in the bright sunlight, I couldn’t help but allow myself to feel for her for just a moment. However, as we walked arm and arm back through the maze of bushes, that moment faded, and my guilt turned to fear. We stepped out of the maze, back into the garden, and walked slowly toward the castle doors. She leaned her head against my shoulder, and I could feel the fear as it turned to panic.

“We should have dinner together tonight,” she cooed. “We could set up out here and eat under the stars.”

“That sounds lovely,” I said as I mustered an excuse. “But unfortunately, I can’t. I have a dinner meeting with some of the council. I’m sorry, darling. Rain check?”

She shook her head with a disappointed look on her face, and my fears started to mix with guilt again. I walked her back up to the castle doors and kissed her on the cheek, trying to avoid eye contact. I could tell she wasn’t sure of my choice of excuse, but I turned and walked away without another word. The last thing I wanted was for us to have another fight. I was too pent up at that moment and knew I would be defensive and cruel. I stood at the bottom of the stairs and watched as she took a deep breath and turned toward the castle. Once I had seen her enter the palace, I made a beeline for my quarters.

I couldn’t move fast enough to escape the fear bulging in my chest at that moment. I searched the room for my phone and called down to the servant’s quarters, asking for a car to be pulled up out front. I gathered some clothes into a bag and headed out the back way, so as to not be seen. I needed to get away and get away fast. Fear was driving me absolutely insane. There was no way I could let myself feel these feelings. I would end up stuck in a marriage, and my freedom would be gone.

I jumped into the town car out front and set the course for the capital, where I could get into a hotel, get changed, and head out to the bars. While the car moved further from the palace, I pulled my hands through my hair with frustration. I had let myself go with this girl, and I should have known from the beginning. She was too beautiful, too smart, and way too charming for me not to have feelings for her. How I thought I could get away with this, I didn’t know, but I was kicking myself for getting into this situation. Whether I liked it or not, which I had made sure to not think about, this woman was my life for the next eleven months.

For an entire year, I was going to have to continue to torture myself, trying to keep my hands off of her. Who was I kidding? If I continued to fuck her and bolt, she was eventually going to call me out on it or leave the castle altogether. Regardless of contracts, Adriana was no fool, nor would she sit around and let someone like me screw with her head. There were too many men out there that deserved a woman like Adriana, and I wasn’t one of them. Part of me knew that was true, while the other knew I was making up excuses to feel better about leaving. The all-out truth of the matter was, she scared the hell out of me with her radiant smile and perfect body. Just the way she arched her back sent waves through my cock, and thinking about her kind nature, well, that was just a double threat.

Once I arrived at the hotel, my mind had calmed a bit, and I was just ready to get out and do some drinking. Nothing cut a woman from your mind quicker than a fifth of whiskey and some sexy girls. After changing into one of my best suits, I took a shot for the road and headed down to the capital for some fun. The bars were packed, and there were beautiful women everywhere. As I sat at the bar talking it up with two buxom blondes, the only thing I could think of was Adriana and what she was doing at that moment.

The frustration of this woman in my mind was driving me absolutely mad. So, I paid my tab and moved on to the next bar. Bar after bar, woman after woman, I repeated the same cycle. I had a few drinks, tried to focus on the sexy women in front of me, and then in frustration, moved on to the next place. I tried whiskey, I tried brunettes, I even tried drinking a martini, but nothing was shaking the thought of her from my mind.

Eventually, I ended up at a strip club, a strange place to get my current stripper wife out of my mind. I ordered bottle service and invited two of the strippers over to join me. By that point, I had drunk my fair share and was feeling loose and ready to mingle. However, as I slid my hand over the stripper’s tight thigh, Adriana’s gorgeous smile flashed through my mind. I saw her as she laid in the moss and grass earlier, haunting me with our amazing afternoon together.

I pulled my hand back and poured another shot, hoping I could drown out this ghost in my mind. The way she looked at me was refreshing and pure. It was as if she was seeing me and not anyone else. I wanted to be the man she deserved so badly, but I was terrified of cutting off my freedom and sinking myself into something so beautiful.

I forced my hand back over the stripper’s leg and ran it up her thigh, grazing her pussy with my fingers. She looked over at me and winked, and I knew if I wanted her, I could have her right here and right now. Even though my mind was on this stripper, my cock was having none of it, and I felt absolutely nothing in my pants. Fuck, Adriana had gotten me so deep, my own cock was revolting against me. In my drunken haze, I thought maybe if I just got in one good lay with someone else, these thoughts would stop haunting me, but it looked like that wasn’t going to happen.

Instead, I started to drink way heavier than before. By the time the strip club closed, I was three sheets to the wind, trying to focus on the sidewalk under my feet as the two strippers helped me toward the hotel. I groped at the blonde’s tits and watched as she ran her hand up the outside of my pants. I shook my head as she pouted at me, noticing my dick didn’t react to her at all. I didn’t know if it was the alcohol or Adriana, but something was making damn sure I wasn’t able to have any fun that night.

The alcohol didn’t help me get rid of Adriana, but there was definitely something else that would, a complete liquor blackout. That’s exactly where I headed, and quickly. From there, my mind started to shift in and out of consciousness, and all I really remembered was bits and pieces of crossing the lobby and leaning against the elevator wall, hoping I didn’t puke everywhere. It was like a bad movie with random scenes flashing through it, and nothing making much sense at all. As soon as my feet hit the penthouse floor, my mind went blank, and nothing else besides Adriana’s sweet smile passed through.

 

Chapter 15: Adriana

 

I laid in my bed and watched as the rain ran down my window. I had hoped Milos would have come into my room during the night, but he hadn’t, and I woke up alone as usual. Outside of my bedroom chamber, I could hear the servants scurrying about, cleaning up as they whispered back and forth. It was strange for me to hear them at all, much less whispering in low tones outside of my door. I pulled myself from the bed, curious as to what all the noise was about. I opened my bedroom doors, still dressed in my pajamas, and stared out at the girls who froze instantly and looked down at the floor.

“Okay,” I said putting my hands on my hips. “What’s going on?”

I looked at each of the girls, but everyone refused to look me in the face. I walked forward, toward the head servant, and noticed she was clutching a newspaper in her hands. There was obviously something these women didn’t want me to see.

“All right,” I sighed, holding out my hand. “Give it to me. It can’t be that bad.”

The woman looked up at me but didn’t move, obviously not wanting to be the one to hand me the paper. She took a deep breath and met my eyes as she handed it over and shooed the other girls from the wing. She stopped at the door and looked back at me.

I opened the paper and stared down at the picture on the front page. It was Milos with two girls strung around his neck. He looked completely wasted and the headline read, “Trouble In Paradise?”

Slowly, I crumpled up the paper and threw it hard at the floor. That’s why he never came to my room. He was too busy screwing some dirty whores in the capital. To make matters worse, he made the front page of the paper, which humiliated me and showed he didn’t give two shits about the price I had to pay for this whole ordeal.

“Can I get you anything, Your Grace?” The servant obviously felt terrible, but I was glad I had seen the paper in the privacy of my own room, instead of in front of the Queen.

“No, thank you,” I said, shaking my head.

How could I have been so stupid? I had really given a piece of myself to him in that hedge maze in the gardens, and he’d given me the same thing he always did, absolutely nothing. He had taken my forgiveness and wiped his ass with it, making me look like an idiot. I went back to my room and laid down in the bed, resolute to not get up for the rest of the day, and that is exactly what I did.

Several days passed and still, I heard nothing from Milos. Either he was too drunk to care or he was hiding out, knowing he had to face both me and his mother when he returned. Whichever it was, it wasn’t boding well for him with the kingdom or the Parliament. One good part about being the girl no one pays attention to is the sheer amount of information you get from just walking the halls past the royal council and members of Parliament.

While I was in self-induced exile, I figured, what better of time to go through the bags I had brought with me? Slowly, I pulled my old clothes from the backpack and laid them out. I grabbed my toiletry bag, excited to finally find my favorite body spray. I opened the case and dug around, running my hand across a tampon and stopping in horror. I dropped the case and ran over to my phone, pulling up the calendar and shaking my head. My period had been like clockwork my entire life, and I realized at that moment, that I was more than two weeks late. I had forgotten my birth control pills in Prague and vowed to reorder here, but with the wedding and everything else, I had completely forgotten. Immediately, I started to panic, wondering if I was, in fact, pregnant with Milos’s child.

I grabbed one of my old pairs of jeans and sweatshirt from the bed and threw them on, pulling the hood up high. I peeked out of the door and called the head servant over and whispered into her ear. I needed her to discreetly get me into the city so I could go to the store. I told her it was private but of grave importance. She thought for a moment before she reached through the door and grabbed my arm. I followed her into the servant quarters and out the back door where she had parked her car. She drove me slowly into the city as I hid my face, and parked outside of the local drug store. I walked in with my head down, not wanting to be noticed, and grabbed a pregnancy test. A sick feeling washed over me as I handed the money to the girl behind the register and glanced over at the Prince and his whores on the cover of every magazine there.

When I got back to the palace, I ran to my chambers and locked the door. I sat in the bathroom, staring at the instructions for several minutes. Then I made the decision to just take the test. When the test was soaked and set on the counter, I paced the bathroom floor and waited while the minutes clicked by slowly. I looked down at my watch and realized it was time. I got closer and closer to the test and shook my head, not believing what my eyes were seeing. Clear as day, there were two lines, which meant I was pregnant.

I dropped the stick in the sink, backed up, sat down on the edge of the bathtub, and shook my head. Tears started to pull at my eyes, but I knew this was no time to lose it. I grabbed the test and walked out into the bedroom, where all my stuff still sat.

I needed some fresh air to clear my head, so I threw my sweatshirt and sneakers on and headed out to the garden. The night air felt amazing, and I stood in the garden under the evening sky, just breathing heavily. I couldn’t believe I had been dumb enough to get myself into this situation. I had no idea what to do, and I had no one to talk to about it.

“Nice night,” Brat’s voice echoed behind me.

“Hey,” I said as I opened my eyes and mustered a smile. “It is. It’s beautiful tonight.”

“You okay?”

My face must have been white as a ghost. “Me? Oh, yeah. Just thinking about everything.”

“I’ve wanted to ask you something for a while, but we haven’t had a chance to be alone,” he said as he walked up next to me. “How do you really feel about Milos?”

“Oh.” I was taken back by the question. “He is an ass.”

“Yes, he is,” Brat said, laughing.

“But I know he is good on the inside,” I said, letting go of my anger. “He does have good intentions from time to time, but he covers them up with this playboy façade. He makes me laugh.”

Immediately, I regretted saying that. I gave in to my urge to tell someone I had feelings for Milos. Before he could respond, his phone rang, and I heard Milos’s voice on the other end of the line. The two men were speaking Polish, so I couldn’t understand what they were saying, but Brat glanced down at me nervously before hanging up. He chuckled and shoved the phone in his pocket.

“It was really lovely seeing you, Princess,” he said as he turned and walked away.

I stood there for several moments, trying to decide my next move. but the only thing I could think was to go back to the castle and eat some dinner. As I climbed the palace steps, I was met by Brat’s sister, Zlata, who looked like she had been standing there waiting for me. I smiled at her as I passed, but stopped abruptly as she pressed her arm in front of me. I turned my head toward her and smiled sarcastically.

“Hello, Zlata,” I said as I looked at her snide face.

“You don’t fool me for a second,” she replied as she crossed her arms. “I know there is something fishy about this whole situation. You don’t deserve that man, and when I find out what your secret is, I’m going to expose you.”

“Zlata, if you spent more time worried about your own life, you might actually be married by now,” I stated. “Now, if you will excuse me, I have things to do.”

Zlata scoffed in my direction before she marched out the doors and down the steps. As soon as she was out of sight, I breathed deeply at the fear that had risen in my chest. I could play coy all I wanted, but if she found out my past, I would be the next face all over the tabloids. I reached down and pressed my hand against my stomach, thinking about the repercussions that could bring to my future child’s life. I immediately took off for my chambers, grabbing one of the servants and letting them know I needed a private audience with the Queen immediately. After I had packed a bag, knowing I had to get away from the palace, I wrote Milos a letter and sealed it in an envelope.