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“I can handle it.” How the hell am I going to handle
it?
We take the elevator to the twenty-third floor, and
Sylvia shows me to my suite. There are floor-to-ceiling
windows, a master bedroom, a living room with designer
furniture and crystal a chandelier, and a gourmet kitchen.
There are two full bathrooms, and the master bath has a
Jacuzzi in it.
“Your items should be right up,” Sylvia says,
remaining by the front door. “And you will find that you
have everything you might need, including toiletries,
sleepwear, new underwear, clothing all in your size, and
other things. I’ll be in the suite next door, so if you need
anything at all, please don’t hesitate to ask. Before I
retire, is there anything else I can get for you, or do you
have any questions?”
“May I take a peak around the hotel?” I ask.
“I don’t see why not. Just remain indoors. You
might be hounded by paparazzi if you go outside.
Especially since that one idiot caught a whiff of you.”
“Of course. Thanks so much.”
“You’re welcome.” She leaves, and the door closes
behind her. Immediately, I find my phone in my purse
and call Claire. It rings three times before she answers.
“Hey, Jennifer. How are you?” she asks.
“Good. We just arrived in Miami.”
“Oh, my God. Can I tell you how jealous I am of you
right now?”
“It has been pretty amazing.” I tell her about my
new outfits, about the hotel, the limousines, and the
The Prince and The Escort
reporters. “That’s all. Well, also, I might want to murder
Erik’s mother.”
“Why, what happened?”
“I swear she has it out for me.”
“You must be a real threat then.”
“What they don’t know is that Erik and I have a
deal and that this is nothing but a deal.”
“With the way he was taking you in when he first
met you, I don’t believe that for one minute,” she says.
Could it be that she’s right? No, I hardly dare to
think of it. “Hey, one more thing. I just need to ask you to
not share what I tell you with anyone. There was already
a reporter that got my photo, and it might be all over the
news tomorrow.”
“Oh, God. Wow. That’s crazy.”
“I know,” I say.
“And don’t worry. You don’t even need to ask. You
know I won’t talk to anyone. What you say stays between
us.”
“Thanks. I knew you wouldn’t talk, but in case a
reporter shows up at Coffee and Go asking for you…”
“Holy cow! They might do that?”
“Maybe. Just don’t tell anyone—not even Jeremy—
and it shouldn’t be a problem.”
“Of course. As long as you promise to give me all
the juicy hot details when you get back home.”
I chuckle. “Well you’ll be disappointed then since
there won’t be any.” God, I wish there would be many! “So
not to change the subject, but how are Jeremy and you
doing?”
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She sighs. It’s not a happy sigh, rather a stressed
one. “We decided to be friends without benefits for a
while,” she says.
“What? Why?”
“He wants more than I can give him right now. He
wants to be exclusive, and I’m not ready for that. And
your comment, although it stung, it made me realize that
I’m not ready to be a special someone for him.”
“But you always complain about how horrible sex
is with other guys and how amazing it is with Jeremy.”
“I know. But I’m not ready for that kind of
commitment. I need to keep my options open, you
know?”
“No, I get it. And I’m sorry about my comment. I—”
“No, you were right,” she says. “I wasn’t being fair
to him.”
“How is he taking it?”
“He’s sad. I don’t want to hurt him, but I know he’s
hurting.”
“That sucks.”
“It’s ok. We’ll figure it out. Let’s talk about it when
you get back.”
“Ok. And before I go, how’s Gabby?” I ask.
“She’s sound asleep. I told her you were needed in
Miami for barista extraordinaire training.”
“Perfect. Thanks for covering for me.”
“Of course!” she says.
“Well, tell her I’ll call her tomorrow.”
“Will do. Talk to you soon.”
“Bye.”
The Prince and The Escort
Right as I hang up, there’s a knock at the door. My
dresses? With my phone still in hand, I head to the door,
and when I open it, to my surprise, I see Erik standing
outside. Alone. No body guards. For a moment I’m
speechless and then I turn breathless, and then I just
stand and stare at the sexiest man I have ever met in my
life.
“What, no body guards?” I finally manage to say.
That brings out a smile in him, his dimples doing
delicious things to my insides. “I’m sorry. Is it too late
perhaps?” He pulls at the back of his neck and glances up
at me.
I felt a little tired before I opened the door, but
now… ha, now I’m not sure I’ll even be able to get a wink
of sleep tonight. “No, not at all. Come in.” I open the door
wider and stand aside to let him in.
“I won’t take much of your time,” he says as he
passes.
Oh, please do!
I close the door behind him, and suddenly, I’m all
alone with Erik for the very first time since we met. I
approach him in the living room nervous, elated, full of
subdued anticipation.
“I trust you’re happy with your accommodations?”
he says.
“Yes. Can’t complain. I mean, I’d rather go for a six-
star hotel, but you know, they don’t make those.”
He chuckles. “I just finished speaking with Sylvia,
and she told me about the reporter. I wanted to apologize
about not being more forthcoming concerning what
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might happen to you. I should have prepared you, but
instead I just threw you into this situation without
warning.”
“It’s ok.”
He continues on as if he didn’t hear me. “There
might be a risk of the media fabricating a story between
us when we know that this is more of a mutually
beneficial deal. If they do, it’s not the first time it has
happened.”
Oh, yeah. Right. Mutually beneficial deal. My heart
sinks a little. A lot. But it also helps me get back in
business mode and out of hoping-for-something-to-
happen mode. Which is where I need to be 100 percent
of the time. “Yes, Sylvia told me.”
“Once it’s in the news, there’s no telling where
they’ll take it. I mean, last time I took a girl out, they
released a story saying she was a hooker. Ha. That made
my mother go completely insane.”
My belly squeezes with guilt. Because let’s be
honest here: an escort isn’t much better than a hooker. If
they find out I’m an escort…“Oh, God.” I look out the
window, but the amazing ocean view is completely lost
on me.
From the corner of my eye, I notice he takes a step
in my direction. Stay away. Stay away!
“Will you be ok?” he asks.
“I’ll be ok.” But will he? Will I create a scandal for
the Norwegian Royal Family? Will his mom go bat shit
crazy on me, on him, if she finds out about my secret? Am
I being too selfish, and thinking only about what I want,
The Prince and The Escort
what I need, which is to get my sister prosthetics? Then I
realize Erik might be alluding to the something else. “If
you’d rather I not go as your date, I understand.”
“No…oh no. It’s not that. I meant for your sake.
What I mean is, the media might continue to hound you
even if all this ends up being is just a couple of casual
dates.”
If? So he’s uncertain?
No.
I need to stop obsessively trying to look for any
shred of evidence that he likes me or wants me like that.
“I can handle myself,” I say, a bitter taste in my mouth.
I see my sister before me, her frail body stuck in a
wheelchair. She needs this. But is it unfair of me to not
tell him about my escort job? It is. Here he is making sure
I’m ok, telling me about the consequences this might
have. And I can’t even get myself to tell him the truth, a
truth that might hurt him.
Fuck it. If I can just lie low for a little over a week,
all my problems will just vanish. Prince Erik will go on
his merry way. I’ll have my sister’s prosthetics, and I can
go back to school and finally get my law degree, ensuring
my sister and me a stable future. With a little luck, no
harm will come of it.
“I’m a big girl. I can take care of that myself,” I say,
ignoring the guilty knot festering in my gut.
“Ok then. Just wanted to make sure.” He stands and
watches me for a moment. “It’s going to be a long day
tomorrow. I should let you get some sleep.”
“You should,” I say.
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His eyes become serious, dark, dangerous, and he
watches me with such intensity it feels like all the air in
the room has suddenly vanished. “Good night, Jennifer.”
He takes a step in my direction, wraps his arms around
me, and pulls me into his embrace.
Oh! This is unexpected! I resist him at first. I can’t
let myself begin to feel things I shouldn’t. But as the
seconds pass, something bewildering happens: I begin to
relax into his hold.
His body feels firm against mine. I inhale a divine
cologne mixed with his scent. I’m in heaven. I can’t get
close enough.
Erik releases me all too soon, and I am left bereft of
his touch.
I gaze into his intense green irises, but I can’t look
him in the eyes for too long. My growing guilt could
become too overwhelming and I might reconsider and
come clean.
Oh, fuck it. I have to come clean. I can’t do this to
him. I can’t!
His hand reaches for my face, but before he can
touch me, I step back and open my mouth to tell him
about my dirty, ugly secret. But just then, my phone pings
with a message. I glance at the screen. It’s from Gary.
Jennifer. Good job last night. Ben would like to offer
you a long-term contract to be his permanent Escort for
the remainder of the year. He’s willing to pay you $10,000
per month to be available for dates at his beck and call. It’s
the best offer I’ve ever received from a client. I have
The Prince and The Escort
uploaded your contract through the Escorts and Lovers
website. Log in and fill out the contract ASAP. I knew I was
smart to hire you. You start Monday morning. ~Gary
“Is everything all right?” Erik asks.
“Yes, I… uh...” Holy. Fucking. Hell. $10,000 a month
to go on dates with Ben? And the “Escort” part means
Ben doesn’t expect sex. $10,000 a month means I can
quit Coffee and Go, can return to school, and get
prosthetics for Gabby.
It’s my ticket to the life I want!
I look into Erik’s eyes. God, his eyes are so dreamy.
And the memory of his embrace is still very fresh in my
mind. I want him to hold me again. For longer. I want to
feel his arms all around me.
But what I should do is tell Erik I can’t be his date
tomorrow. Be honest about who I am. Be a good person
who does the right thing.
“I hope you’re not having second thoughts,” he says.
He holds my gaze, and for a split second, I think I
see something in his eyes. Something that reminds me of
desire, or attraction, and playfulness. God, this is just so
wrong. If he knew who I was, a lowly escort, he’d send
me packing this instant. Still, I can’t let him go yet. I’ll go
on one date with him, then I’ll make sure I never see him
again.
“No second thoughts,” I say before I can come to my
senses.
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A look of delight flits across his handsome face, and
I feel like the dirtiest scoundrel in the world.
“I’m looking forward to it.” That part is so damn
true. But I hate myself right now.
“Good. I’ll come get you at 5:00 pm sharp
tomorrow,” he says with a nod. “Also, there’s one more
thing.”
“Yes…?”
“I’m going to have Anders guard your door while
you’re here,” he says.
“That’s really not—”
“It is and I’m not giving you a choice in the matter,”
he says, his voice firm. “Your safety comes first.”
Great. Now I feel like a girl locked up in a tower.
“I’ll show myself out.” He reaches to my face and
briefly strokes my cheek before heading toward the door.
I watch with longing eyes as he leaves. The second
the door closes behind him, I feel like the worst human
on the planet. And I am. I am certain of it.
I let out an exasperated gasp.
Ok, think, Jennifer. Get a grip! How can I make sure
he or anyone doesn’t find out about my job?
I pace for a few minutes, only coming up with very
stupid and very unhelpful ideas like getting a fake ID,
changing my name, and getting a face transplant in the
next twenty-four hours.
But then a thought comes to me. I know! I can get
an extreme makeover tomorrow. That way the media
won’t be able to track me down. If I look a lot different
The Prince and The Escort
than I usually do, how will the sneaky bastard reporters
find out who I am?
Yes, it’s the perfect solution!
I’ll spare Erik from embarrassment, spare his
family and mean mother from public humiliation, he’ll
have his dates for the events he needs, and my sister will
have her legs.
Now if I can only stop myself from wanting him…
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CHAPTER 7
The Brazilian bikini wax was a bitch. After my six
hours at the spa, I swear to God I don’t have any hair on
me anywhere other than on my head and eyebrows. And
no dead skin-cells left either. I’ve been waxed, scrubbed,
tweezed, and have had mud and seaweed and goats milk
all over my body. I didn’t realize being a prince’s date
would be so painful and require so much work.
I asked the hairdresser to lighten my hair to a
medium golden color. With the new color and the
dramatic make-up, I hardly can recognize myself when I
see my reflection in the mirror. Good luck paparazzi. You
won’t be able to figure out who I am. My plan is pretty
genius if I don’t say so myself.
After the hairdresser and make-up artists have
magically transformed me, Sylvia and I head up to my
suite, and she helps me into the red dress. Once I’ve
slipped into my shoes and the ruby and diamond
necklace is on my neck, there’s a knock at the door. I
glance at the clock. It’s 5:00 p.m.
The Prince and The Escort
Erik.
He’s here. Waiting for me, FOR ME on the other
side of that door. The thought of him causes my breath to
catch.
“Do I look ok?” I ask Sylvia, suddenly feeling
anxious. Or extremely excited. I can’t tell which one.
“Jennifer, you are the most beautiful woman I have
ever met.” She smiles and gives me a reassuring look.
Her compliment, however, does nothing to calm my
nerves.
“Ready?” she asks.
I nod, although I most certainly am not ready in the
least. Plus, I am still feeling rather guilty about not being
forthcoming with him. And it’s a done deal now. Right
before I went to bed last night I signed the contract to be
Ben’s Escort. There’s no turning back now.
Sylvia scurries over to the door and opens it. In
walks Erik wearing a black tuxedo with platinum
cufflinks. He’s hotter than a GQ model, and his sheer
masculine energy fills the suite. Oh, my! I hardly manage
to not fall all over myself at the sight of him. Seeing him
makes the deepest part of my belly clench with desire.
Just be normal, Jennifer. Normal.
His gaze meets mine, and he stops and stares.
“Jennifer. Wow. You look…You’re the most beautiful
woman I’ve ever met.”
I’ve never felt more beautiful than right in this
moment. Not because of the gorgeous gown I’m wearing.
Not because of the hours I spent at the spa. Not because
of the hundred thousand dollar necklace adorning my
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neck. No, it’s because I feel his compliment deep inside,
and I know he really means it.
I’m the most beautiful woman to him.
“You like the hair?” I ask, smoothing my waves.
“Everything. You look…” He steps in my direction,
reaches a hand out and places it on my shoulder for a
split second before he withdraws it. “They’re all going to
be looking at you.” He holds out his arm toward me and I
wrap my fingers around his elbow. I suck in a deep
breath.
“I’m nervous,” I admit.
“No need to be nervous,” he whispers. “I have a
feeling you’re a natural.”
Ha!
We head down the long hallway, three bodyguards
trailing after us. As we get in the elevator, I release Erik’s
elbow. I’m feeling particularly vulnerable without his
touch. But as the elevator starts to descend, he takes my
hand. It’s warm, comforting.
God, I wish I didn’t like it so much. I wish I didn’t
need it so much.
The doors ping open and we head into the foyer. As
we’re walking toward the door, Erik leans over and
whispers, “Be prepared for the paparazzi. Lots of flashing
lights. Lots of questions. Don’t feel you have to answer.
Keep your eyes to the floor if it’s too bright. Just follow
me into the limo. I’ve got you, ok?” He squeezes my hand.
I nod and squeeze his hand tighter. The exit doors
slide open. There’s an explosion of bright blinding lights,
and the reporters bombard Erik with question.
The Prince and The Escort
“Prince Erik, who’s the girl?” one reporter yells.
“And where’s Victoria?”
“Erik, I love you!” a woman’s voice yells.
The reporters are waving microphones and
recorders at us. The bodyguards gently shove them away.
“Prince Erik, where are your parents?”
More blinding bright flashes.
“Prince Erik, do you support this cause or is it just
for show?”
He ignores them all and heads straight to the limo
with me in tow. Once we’re inside, me sitting on one side
with Sylvia and Anders, him on the other with a
bodyguard on either side, the doors shut. Suddenly, it has
become much quieter, and all I see are dozens of flashing
lights outside.
“You good?” Erik asks. The limousine takes off.
“Holy shit that was crazy! Is that what you have to
live with?” I ask as we leave the sea of reporters behind.
“Not always, but when there’s an official event like
this one, this insanity is fairly standard.”
“I’m sorry,” I say.
He exhales sharply. “It’s not your doing. Besides,
I’m pretty much used to it by now.”
“Used to it or not, no one should have to live like
this.”
He gives me a resolute look. “It comes with my
responsibility. But I must admit, I envy your freedom.”
“Well, there’s not much freedom when I can’t even
pay my bills.” The words are out of my mouth before I can
stop them. Desperation is so not attractive. And I’m
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sharing too much. Feeling too open around this god of a
man.
“Is that how bad it is?” he asks, his voice soft.
Shit. I glance at Sylvia, who has her nose down in a
folder, busy reviewing the event itinerary. The security
guards are looking away. “Well, it’s not that bad. Things
are starting to look up.” With my new escort job. Ugh.
He gets a determined look on his face, eyes steely
hard, jaw clenched. “I’d be more than happy to help you,
you know.”
I twist my hands in my lap. “I appreciate it, but I’m
figuring things out.”
He nods, his lips squeezed to a line. He sits back
and looks at me across the divide, eyes ablaze. I start
breathing heavily, and as if out of the blue, the
atmosphere in the limo has shifted dramatically. Does he
notice it, too? I feel a shiver tingling up my spine and I
lick my lips.
“God, you’re gorgeous.” It seems the words just fall
out of his mouth without him being fully aware of them.
And he seems completely oblivious to the fact that there
are four other people in the limousine with us.
“Sylvia,” he says. “Switch places with me.”
She maneuvers to the other side, trading spots
with Erik without so much as looking up, her head still
over the itinerary.
Erik moves forward, then slips into the seat next to
me. His thigh rests against mine and he stretches an arm
behind me, relaxing it on the top of my seat. This is so not
good. So not good.
The Prince and The Escort
Holy shit it’s so damn good.
He traces my collarbone with his fingertips,
sending shivers through me.
“I’m pleased my parents decided to arrive in a
different vehicle,” he says.
Right. They probably didn’t want to be seen with
the American commoner, thinking it is beneath them.
Well, I’m actually relieved they’re not here. It makes the
evening a little easier to get off to a good start. And it
makes this intensely arousing interaction between us
possible.
He continues. “We’ll be sitting next to them at
dinner, but after that we’ll be free to roam around the
premises. Just the two of us.”
Oh, my!
“If it pleases you,” he says.
Oh, dear heaven above. How is it that I turn to
complete mush around him? “I guess I’ll follow your lead
in the roaming department,” I say.
His eyes flare ever so subtly.
I have a feeling the roaming part might not be such
a wise idea, especially since I made the decision and
signed the contract to be Ben’s escort. I shouldn’t be
cheating on Ben so soon.
But if Erik makes a move on me tonight, there’s no
way I’ll be able to resist him.
I’m so screwed.
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The Prince and The Escort
CHAPTER 8
We arrive at Governor Johnson’s mansion, one of
many limousines in the long line-up. The out-of-this
world abode looks like it was recently built, a French
Chateau inspired by Versailles.
The limousine stops in front of the red carpet, and
the door opens, two butlers dressed in tuxedos with
white gloves standing at attention. One of the butlers
helps me out, and Erik follows after. There are no
reporters present, thank God.
Erik offers me his arm, and gratefully, I take it. Will
I feel like a fish out of water at this event, or will the
other royals and dignitaries be more welcoming than I’ve
experienced? Either way, I’m going to enjoy it, fish out of
water or not. Well, as much as I can in this goddamn
corset of a dress.
We enter the foyer and climb the set of marble
stairs on the right. The crystal chandelier above the room
is ridiculous, and there are servants and maids standing
all around.
Once at the top of the steps, we get in line behind
Queen Maud and King Lars, along with other men and
women, probably all royals from what I can gather. Most
of the women wear tiaras, and the men are dressed in
tuxedos or ceremonial uniforms decorated with medals,
colorful sashes, and breast stars.
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As we move forward, I realize that we’re headed
toward the double doors at the end. Names are being
called. Will they call my name, a commoner’s name, too?
And then it hits me. Shit! I didn’t realize they would be
announcing my name in front of all the guest! This could
be disastrous. So very disastrous! So much for my
extreme makeover. So much for keeping a low profile. If
everyone knows my name, it doesn’t matter what I look
like.
We reach the double doors, and a man dressed in a
tuxedo announces, “His Royal Highness, Prince Erik of
Norway and Miss Jennifer Dawson.” Crap. Quadruple
crap! My entire fucking name is common knowledge now.
Anyone can look me up. Google me. See that I am one of
the escorts on the Escorts and Lovers website. And shit,
why didn’t I think to delete my profile? I’m such an idiot!
We move toward the stairwell, but instead of
enjoying this moment, all I can think about is come up
with a solution, quick!
Maybe I can log in on my phone and remove my
name from the website before anyone has a chance to
search me up. Yes! I’ll just find a quiet place as soon as
humanly possible, log on through my phone, and delete
my account. I already have a contract, so I don’t need a
profile to find more work.
We’re at the top of the stairwell now, looking down at
a huge gathering of the wealthiest, best dressed, stuffiest
group of people I have ever seen.
That’s when I see her.
Victoria.
The Prince and The Escort
The bitch princess. My archenemy who I know
would be thrilled beyond measure to find any sort of dirt
on me.
We make eye contact across the divide, and she
gives me such a menacing glare that I feel like she might
poison me with her hatred toward me. It’s the same
expression she gave me right before our catfight back in
Orlando. Just like then, now it makes my skin crawl and
my fists tense.
“I didn’t realize Victoria would be here.” I’m barely
even able to get the words out I’m so upset.
Erik’s eyes widen, then narrow to slivers as his
gaze scans the crowd. When he sees her with another
man, a prince most likely, his jaw muscles clench and he
exhales sharply.
“Don’t worry,” Erik says. “She’ll behave.” He shoots
his mother a disapproving look, and his mother smiles
back, an expression of satisfaction on her face.
What. The. Hell? Was she involved in bringing
Victoria here? The nerve!
Erik takes a step down, but my feet refuse to move
because I refuse to move them. Huh. Funny how that’s
working to my advantage at the moment.
He places a hand behind my back and gently
nudges me so I have to take a step forward or I’ll stumble.
And before I know it, I’m walking down the red-carpeted
stairwell with Erik while men and women nod and smile
and greet us with a sense of awe and curiosity in their
eyes.
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I force a faint smile, but it’s hard to act all happy
and social when I feel like throwing up. When I feel like
my worst secret can be exposed at any moment. When I
feel like I’m entering a den of dragons.
After we arrive at the bottom of the steps Erik
guides me away from Victoria, away from his mother, and
takes a detour toward the bar. Once at the bar, Erik asks
for a double whiskey on the rocks. I feel too sick to my
stomach and I have too much on my mind to drink
anything.
“I need to use the restroom,” I tell Erik. But what
I’m really going to do is delete my profile from Escorts
and Lovers as fast as possible so Victoria, or anyone else,
can’t find anything on me.
“Will you be ok?” he asks.
“Yes,” I assure him.
“I’ll wait for you here,” he says with an comforting
nod.
I make a beeline toward the restroom and lock
myself in one of the stalls. Under any other
circumstances I would be oohing and aahing over the
luxurious furniture, the fantastical architecture, the sheer
perfection of this place. I mean it’s ridiculous. Even the
toilet looks like an actual throne. But all I can think is
how I have to erase my account. Eliminate any and all
incriminating evidence against me.
I fetch my phone out of my purse. My hands are
shaking. Hurry, Jennifer! Just as I go to put my password
at the Escorts and Lover’s website, I fumble my phone and
it tumbles into the toilet with a splash.
The Prince and The Escort
“Shit! Shit! Shit!” I pick it up as fast as I can, but it’s
soaking wet. “No! Dammit! No!” The phone is still on.
God, maybe it won’t… I continue to type in the password
as fast as I can. Not a second later I’m logged into my
Escorts and Lovers account. Hurry! I go to the settings, my
fingers scrambling. I scroll down. Where’s the damn
‘delete account’ button?
There!
Suddenly, the screen flickers. Then it goes black.
Fuck! No!!! I watch the screen for a few more moments,
hoping it will turn back on. I give it a shake. But it
remains black.
Oh, God. Oh, God.
Slowly, I slump down onto the toilet seat in defeat.
Ok, it’s not a disaster yet, I tell myself. I can go back
to the hotel after the evening and delete my profile then.
No one else here will be getting on the internet before
then, right?
Fuck. This is so not good.
Seeing there’s absolutely nothing else I can do
about this now, I stand up. I can handle this. I just need to
keep my head on straight and focus. Everything will work
out, I tell myself. Although there’s that sinking feeling in
my stomach that says there’s a chance it won’t.
I take a few deep breaths and let out as much
anxiety as I can.
Feeling defeated, but knowing there’s nothing I can
do about it now, I head back to the bar. Erik’s eyes light
up and he offers me a scintillating smile when he sees
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me. God, he’s so gorgeous it hurts. Why does he have to
be so wonderful?
“Ready for dinner?” he asks, drawing me in for a
cheek-to-cheek hug.
Oh… This is so nice. How is it that I feel at home
with him? And so soon? I’ve never experienced anything
like it.
And yes. Oh, yes. With him, I’m ready for anything.
The Prince and The Escort
CHAPTER 9
Thankfully, dinner was pretty uneventful. Erik’s
parents didn’t so much as acknowledge me, which I guess
was just as well. I’d rather be invisible and despised at a
distance than be the target of their public humiliation.
I think.
Once dinner is done, Erik escorts me into the
ballroom where long tables line the walls and are decked
with bubbling champagne flutes and decadent desserts
like a chocolate fountain, éclairs, fancy cakes and cookies,
and more.
Tango Pour Una Cabaza starts to play from the
musicians in the corner. The melody tugs on my
heartstrings, reminding me of simpler days when I took
dance lessons at school and my parents were alive.
“Oh, my God. I love this song!” I whisper to Erik.
“You tango?” he asks, his right eyebrow rising.
“Do you?”
“I’ve had a few lessons,” he says.
I feel like there’s something he’s not telling me. “I…
I took tango classes when I went to the University of
Florida.”
He gives me a smoldering gaze. My heart stars to
race. Sheesh. How does he have this effect on me?
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“Come.” He holds out a hand, and the second I take
it, he whisks me to the center of the dance floor.
Oh, my. He absolutely has had a few lessons. I can
already tell by the way he leads me as if he is in full
command of his and my body. And the touch? I feel a
surge as if from electricity.
The other guests are turning their attention to us,
but he doesn’t seem to notice them at all, only stares at
me with unnerving intensity. I secretly hope Victoria is
watching. Because damn, the sexual tension in the space
between the Prince Erik and me is off the charts right
now. I can’t imagine what it will feel like when we finally
start to dance.
Firmly, he takes my hand in his and presses the
other to the small of my back before pulling me in. I hold
my breath. He leans his forehead to mine and gently
rocks me back and forth. I gasp at the closeness, and at
his refined touch that has me suddenly breathless.
With the next beat of the music, he guides me
backward and presses his cheek to mine. Short stubble
caresses my face. How the hell can stubble be so damn
intoxicating?
He leads me across the dance floor, dragging out a
few of the steps, milking every note of its exquisite
sensuality. He swirls me, then dips me as if I weigh
nothing at all.
Oh, my. He’s so strong!
Once he pulls me up again, I rise up onto my toes
and lean against him, and he drags me across the dance
floor, one languid step after another. Next, he lifts me
The Prince and The Escort
high up in the air and spins me around before setting me
onto the dance floor again and pulling me dangerously
close.
“It would seem we move together in perfect
synchronicity,” he says, securing his strong hand at my
back.
Oh, God. His touch… his touch makes me want to
move my body, my hips, in ways that would be highly
inappropriate in this social setting. “Yes,” is all I’m able to
say.
He spins me around so we are facing the same
direction and we walk to the beat, his hands pressing at
my lower belly, my back to his. Holy hell, it’s so sexy, and I
can’t help but imagine for a split second what it would
feel like if he were to bring his hand lower. Deeper. Right
to the V between my legs.
One last time, he swivels me around so I face him,
and I hook my leg around his torso. He lunges back onto
one leg, our hips pressing together. Staring into his eyes, I
see the penetrating passion there. My breathing turns
erratic. He’s so goddamn good at commanding my body it
makes me want him in every way.
Here. Now.
The music ends, and the applause of the crowd
brings me back to the moment. I step back and finally
inhale a breath.
‘That was…” He shakes his head as if in disbelief.
“Again. You surprise me, Jennifer.”
I want to tell him how much I want him, but
instead, I look away.
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“I think we should roam the premises. What do you
think?” he asks.
That is a very bad idea, but as I suspected, there’s
not a chance in hell I’ll able to tell him no. “I’d love to,” I
reply.
He takes my arm in his and leads me to the back of
the room and out through the doors leading to the
balcony. The evening is warm and humid, the skies partly
cloudy above. We walk past several couples,
acknowledging them with nods, and make our way
toward the stairwell leading to the garden grounds. This
evening is turning out to be oh, so wonderful.
That’s when I notice Victoria standing at the top of
the stairwell with her date. She scowls at me, then heads
in our direction.
Fuck. All my good feelings are gone.
“Good evening, Erik,” she says. “I’d like to have a
word with you in private.”
“I don’t think so,” Erik replies.
“It’s concerning my mother,” she continues, her
bottom lip quivering.
Erik pauses for half a second, then nods. “Wait here
for me,” he says to me, then moves to a secluded corner
of the balcony with Victoria. I wonder what that’s all
about. Was the what Queen Maud was referring to when
she mentioned the sensitive events concerning them?
Well, maybe I can make friends with Victoria’s date.
Victoria’s date nods toward me, then walks off.
Swell.
The Prince and The Escort
“You’re being used by my son, my poor dear,” a
woman’s voice says. “It’s so very obvious.”
I spin around and face Queen Maud. Oh, hell. This
evening is turning into a rollercoaster of emotions.
“Excuse me?”
She sips her champagne without looking at me.
“But you’re not entirely innocent in the matter either, I
suspect. All you commoners ever want is attention from
us. And yes, I must admit that you did stir some attention
today wearing that red dress and that sleazy Tango. But
trust me when I say that it’s not the kind of attention you
want.”
“Erik picked the dress,” I say as coolly as I can.
“Yes, he always likes to dress his date in
inappropriately revealing attire.”
I’m starting to realize that it doesn’t matter what I
say to Queen Maud. Her goal is to make me feel shunned,
inferior, and unwelcome.
I don’t want to spend another second in this
woman’s presence, so I start to walk away. She grabs my
elbow, and her face is inches from mine. She smiles,
feigning friendliness, but her eyes are as cold as ice. “Just
you watch. Tomorrow Erik will be back with Victoria and
all you will be is a forgotten commoner.”
I pull my arm away and take a step back, then bow.
“Good evening, your highness.”
I storm down the steps, anger welling up inside.
How can she be so cruel? I just hate her. Hate. Her!
“Jennifer!” Erik yells behind me. But I don’t stop. I
hate this place. I hate this entire set up. I don’t want to be
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here with these people. They aren’t my kind. And maybe
Queen Maud was right. Maybe Erik will go back to
Victoria. Was that what they were talking about? I reach
the bottom of the steps and continue into the garden, my
fists clenched at my sides.
“Jennifer!” Erik yells. He runs up beside me.
“Whatever my mother said—”
“This whole thing is ridiculous, can’t you see?” I
throw my hands up in the air as I’m storming down the
paved walkway.
“This is the drama I hate,” he says. “I hate how—”
“And it seems you have unfinished business with
Victoria, so I really shouldn’t be here. Why don’t you go
back to her.”
He steps in front of me, stopping abruptly. I almost
collide with his chest but stop last minute. “Victoria’s
mother is dying of cancer. Please believe me when I say
it’s one hundred percent over between us and it has been
over for a lot longer than we’ve been broken up. For me
at least.”
“I just... I can’t. I don’t belong here!”
“What are you talking about? You’re the belle of the
ball, and I feel like the luckiest man to have you by my
side.”
His eyes are completely serious. He feels lucky?
“You belong here because you’re here with me,” he
says. “You make me feel like I can stand to be around
these people for more than a few minutes.”
I stare at him in disbelief for a few moments. I
continue to walk, but my pace has considerably slowed
The Prince and The Escort
down. Soon we reach a section with beautiful red rose
bushes growing in a Fibonacci spiral.
He takes me to the center of it, then turns to face
me. “Do you know how amazing it was to dance with you
back there?” He reaches up to my face and removes a
strand of hair.
Oh. He felt it, too.
“And your beauty has me completely mesmerized.”
He moves closer and his gaze drops to my lips.
Oh, God. Is he going to…
“You have me completely mesmerized.” He moves
in closer and closer.
My breath hitches. He reaches to the back of my
neck.
Oh my.
He’s too close.
Way too close.
Not close enough.
When I look into his dark eyes, my body jolts to a
start.
Then he tilts his head, and seals his mouth with
mine. With a perfect balance of aggressiveness and
gentleness, he kisses me. His tongue dips into my mouth,
tasting me, savoring me in long, slow circles.
I register that my hands are in his hair, and that his
cock is hard and presses against my lower abdomen.
Holy… The prince is hard for me. He wants me, Jennifer,
the girl who works at Coffee and Go. I pull him closer, and
he deepens the kiss, growling as his hands tug on my
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back. God, his hands, his tongue, his scent… It has me
losing my mind completely.
His heart thumps wildly against my chest, proof
that he really, truly desires me, and that the kiss is having
as much effect on him as it is on me.
Every nerve inside me tingles, and the heat of his
body mixed with the slow, passionate kisses, has me
feeling dizzy, making me feverish with lust.
I reach my arms around his neck and tilt my head
back as he pecks kisses down my chin and neck. Oh… oh
God! My heart rate is beating triple time. The deepest
part of me is throbbing with burning need. Need to have
him buried deep inside me.
Suddenly, there’s an explosion up above that makes
me jump. I look up into the sky and bright red, white, and
blue fireworks light up the black dome above. Erik turns
me around so we’re both facing the fireworks, then he
wraps me in his arms and holds me.
Bursting lights of explosion, that’s how I feel on the
inside. That’s how Erik makes me feel when he touches
me. Does he feel the same, too?
For several minutes, we stand and take in the
dazzling light show in silence.
The grand finale starts, and the heavens are lit so
brightly it almost feels like daytime. I gasp in delight. I
glance up at Erik. He’s not looking at the fireworks. He’s
only gazing at me with an expression of wonder on his
chiseled face.
“What?” I ask, feeling my cheeks flush hot as I avert
my eyes.
The Prince and The Escort
“You are utterly enchanting,” he says. “I don’t think
I’ve ever met anyone as genuine as you.”
Genuine? Ugh. I stiffen where I stand. I’m a liar! An
escort. Shit. What am I doing? If he knew who I really
was… I can’t let this go any further.
“We should get back,” I say. “They must be waiting
for you.”
“They can wait,” he says. “I don’t want to let you go
just yet.”
“I guess I’m feeling a bit tired,” I lie. Because the
truth is that I don’t remember ever feeling this awake,
this alive, this unreasonably excited. That kiss… it
awakened something in me that has been dormant my
entire life. And it felt exactly like I believed my very own
fairytale would feel like. But it’s all built on a lie. And I
hate myself right now.
“Oh, of course. You must be overwhelmed by all the
pomp and circumstance,” he says.
I nod, averting my eyes.
“I’ll take you back to the hotel then,” he says.
“That’s really not necessary. They probably need
you here and I wouldn’t want to—”
“Erik! Erik!” Victoria runs toward us, a look of
extreme distress on her face. She stops right in front of
Erik and grips his shoulders. “Your father… he’s… he had
a heart-attack!”
Erik’s face turns stoic, but I can see in his eyes the
overwhelment and worry there.
“They’re putting him in an ambulance out front. If
you run, you might be able to make it,” Victoria says.
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He glances at me, conflicted.
“Go!” I yell.
He hesitates for half a second but then nods, and
before I know it he’s sprinting up the stairwell toward
the mansion.
“Will his father be ok?” I ask Victoria.
Victoria gives me a scowl that sends chills down my
spine and makes me feel two inches tall.
“That’s none of your concern.” She steps toward me
in a threatening manner, her light blue eyes seething
disgust. “You might think that your new gown and your
new hairdo makes you a part of this world.” She pokes
me in the chest with her perfectly manicured pointy red
fingernail. “And everyone else might be fooled, but I
know there’s something you’re hiding. I know your
secret.”
“Leave me alone,” I say, slapping her hand away. “I
don’t have any secrets.” But fuck. Does she actually know
my secret, or is she bullshitting me?
She gets in my face, her pristinely powdered nose
two inches away. “You can try to cover up your inferiority
with buckets of make-up and put on as much perfume as
you want, but a true royal like me will always sniff you
out and recognize you as the phony you are, as the want-
to-be you know you are. And if you don’t vanish on your
own, I’ll make sure Erik and everyone else knows what it
is you’re hiding.”
Before I can come up with an insult of my own, she
spins on her heel and walks up the steps, leaving me
feeling like a ball of shit-bundled nerves.
The Prince and The Escort
She knows.
She knows! She must have looked me up on her
phone and found me on the Escorts and Lovers website
the second she heard my name announced.
And what’s worse is, she’s right. I am a phony.
I’m a liar. And I don’t belong here.
I stand frozen for what feels like hours, wondering
what to do. It’s then I notice Anders watching me in the
distance. How long has he been there? Was he there
when Prince Erik kissed me? Is there no goddamn
privacy anywhere?
I just want tone alone.
As I start to climb the steps, tears well up in my
eyes. I hate Victoria. In fact, I hate all these people. Erik
left. I can’t fucking be here!
I can’t do this. I won’t!
Once inside the mansion, I keep my head down,
meander through the crowds, and make my way into the
foyer. With my eyes down, I ask one of the butlers how I
can locate my ride. Anders takes over and tells me he’ll
arrange for my limousine to come pick me up.
Great. Will he be coming with me?
“I’d prefer to go alone,” I say.
“Prince Erik insisted I make sure you’re safe,”
Anders says.
Of course he did. But did Erik ask me what I
wanted? Have I no say in the matter?
The limousine arrives and Anders helps me get in. I
try to keep my emotions at bay, but about halfway back
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to the hotel, I can’t hold it all in anymore and I start to
sob.
Anders hands me a white handkerchief, which I
accept with gratitude. God. I must look like a hot mess to
him. I’m embarrassed about him seeing me like this, a
stoic, tough, beefy bodyguard of all people.
All the rest of the way I cry. I cry for myself. For this
stupid situation. For having lost my parents, for the
hopeless condition my sister is in. I cry because I will
probably never be able to find anyone as wonderful as
Erik, and now I’ll have to live the rest of my life realizing
it. And I cry because I am a phony, and Victoria knows it.
And I have to cut Erik out of my life completely before he
realizes it.
Why? Why is life so cruel? So unfair?
It doesn’t matter. I have to get out of here and never
look back. I’ll leave tomorrow morning and return to the
real world.
The first thing I do when I get back to my hotel
suite is to take my phone out from my purse and place it
on the counter to dry. God, I hope I can get it to work
again. I wish I had memorized Claire and Gabby’s phone
numbers. But I didn’t, and they’ll probably start to worry
about me when I don’t call.
And my Escorts and Lovers profile…. I need to
delete that pronto. I might never see Prince Erik again,
but I’ll be damned if I give Victoria the satisfaction of
showing him my profile. There must be a computer with
an internet connection somewhere in this damn hotel.
The Prince and The Escort
I open the closet and pull out a white button-up
shirt and jeans. Something sparkly catches my eye. Huh.
A black sequin bikini. A relaxing swim just might be the
thing to help me feel a little better, to unwind from this
disastrous evening and help me forget about Victoria and
that whole catastrophe. Erik probably won’t be back
tonight, and maybe not even tomorrow. A swim will feel
good. After I delete my Escort and Lovers profile I’ll see if
I can find the spa area.
I pull on the bikini, the jeans, and the shirt, fighting
my tears all along. I goddamn hate Victoria. But deep
down, I’m more mad at myself for actually being the
fraud that she thinks I am.
I head into the hallway and nod at Anders
Just then I see Erik walking toward me, two
security guards trailing behind him.
Shit. I’m a mess.
I dry my tears as fast as I can, hoping Erik won’t
notice I’m upset. To distract myself from my own misery,
I try to read in his expression if he is distraught or not.
He seems calm, but tired. It must be good news that he’s
back from the hospital already.
“How’s your father?” I ask.
“He’ll be fine. Fortunately, it wasn’t a heart attack.”
I squint.
“He had a panic attack.”
“Oh. Thank God. I mean, that’s not good, but at least
it’s not as bad as it could have been.”
He nods. “He’s been very stressed as of late, so
many pressing issues and decisions to be made. He’s too
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damn stubborn for his own good and has refused to get
help to manage his stress despite my mother hounding
him about it.”
“How are you holding up?” I ask, placing a hand on
his shoulder.
He brings his palm to his cheek and lets it drag
downward. “Honestly, it was stressful. And I must
apologize. I should have asked you to come with me but I
wasn’t thinking straight.”
“Nah, it’s ok,” I say.
The crease between his eyebrows deepen. Then his
eyes soften. “You’ve been crying.”
I quickly avert my eyes. “It’s nothing.” I swallow
again and again, trying to keep the tears at bay. But it’s of
no use and a tear tumbles down my cheek. I hate it
because I don’t want him to see me like this. And I can’t
tell him why I’m really upset.
He places a hand on my shoulder. “Jennifer, what’s
wrong.” His voice is tender.
I can’t answer, because my throat has clamped
shut, and if I try to speak, only squeals will come out.
“Does it have something to do with Victoria?” he
asks.
I whisk my tears away and give him a subtle nod.
He grimaces. “Damn her.”
“No one has ever treated me so…so—” I start.
He reaches caring arms around me, bringing me
into a warm embrace. “I know you know this already, but
she’s trying to make you feel exactly how you’re feeling.
She’s the kind of person that enjoys whipping people
The Prince and The Escort
with her mind. In fact, her favorite thing is to tell people
that she knows all their secrets to try and control them.”
Wait, so Victoria doesn’t know my secret? That’s
just one of her manipulation tactics? I feel some of the
stress melt from off my shoulders. “Yes, she did mention
something like that.”
“I wouldn’t believe a single word that comes out of
her mouth. Seriously. Don’t listen to her.”
“How the hell did you date her for so long?” I ask.
He shakes his head. “She has her good sides, too.
And for the longest time she was able to hide her less
endearing sides.”
I swallow hard.
“Unfortunately, you’re caught in the crossfire
between us,” he says. “I’ll make certain she never talks to
you again.”
Ugh. I can’t keep doing this.
“I really just… I think we should just call things off
and cancel next weekend. You’ll have an entire week to
find another date for your next event, and… I can go back
to work.” My insides revolt at the thought of not seeing
Erik again. But if this evening taught me anything, it’s
that it’s damn fucking time to face reality. It’s time to get
real about who I am and where I belong.
“Let’s calm down and then decide,” he says. “Where
were you headed?”
“I thought I’d take advantage of the pool,” I say,
omitting half the truth. “Where were you headed?”
“To see you. I can’t seem to reach you on our
phone.”
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“Yeah, it…uh… it isn’t working at the moment. It got
wet.”
“Ah, gotcha. Well, I have a pool. Care to join me?” he
asks.
His invitation makes me freeze. Alone in a pool
with Erik? No! No! No! My reasonable and good side
screams.
“I…” We shouldn’t, is all I can think.
And I absolutely shouldn’t, for all the right reasons.
In fairness to him… To protect myself from developing
more feelings for Erik… and also to avoid what might
happen between us, which I know without a shadow of a
doubt will be absolutely heavenly… magical… divine…
“I’d really enjoy your company,” he adds. “But
there’s not pressure.”
My innermost part clenches with abandon need.
My body demands for me to go.
And despite the decision I so firmly made, the good
and reasonable decision, I nod.
He takes my hand in his, the skin-on-skin contact
casting a spell on me that I simply cannot break.
I’m so going to regret this in the morning. But right
now, I couldn’t care less.
The Prince and The Escort
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CHAPTER 10
Of course the Prince Erik has the entire goddamn
penthouse all to himself, with three bedrooms, four
bathrooms, a gourmet kitchen, a living room, and a
terrace with a pool and a hot tub sitting atop the most
amazing view, overlooking the ocean.
First we stop in the kitchen and Erik pours me a
glass of red wine. Sipping my wine, I head outside while
he changes into his swim trunks. Palm trees and plants
line the walls, and to the left, a fountain sprouts out of
the Jacuzzi.
Thank God the security guards are waiting outside
Erik’s door. I’d feel extremely awkward if they were
watching us.
I place my half-empty wineglass on a table, then
step out of my jeans and pull my shirt off, tossing them
onto one of the lounge chairs. The sliding doors open,
and out steps Erik wearing a white robe.
When he sees me, he stops and stares, letting his
gaze drink me in. His mouth opens a little, and he licks
his bottom lip as his eyes smolder with desire. “Damn,
Jennifer.” His voice is low and husky.
“Stop looking at me like that,” I say, feeling my heart
rate increasing by the second. Or I won’t be able to control
myself.
“Like what?” he asks, his eyes still lusting after me.
“Like…like that!”
The Prince and The Escort
He moves toward me, deliberately, his stare
intensifying, causing my breath to quicken into short
little pants.
“Like I want you?” he asks.
He wants me? The prince of Norway—the future
king of Norway—wants me? Shit. I know I shouldn’t have
come. This will only lead to too much of a good thing
which will mean disaster. “Erik…”
“Fuck, you’re so beautiful.” Once he’s standing right
in front of me, he takes my hands and lifts them to his
shoulders. He runs his fingertips down my bare upper
arms, down my sides, then down my waist, causing me to
quiver in delight. This is such a bad idea. So. Very. Bad.
Slowly, he lowers his face to mine and nips at my
bottom lip, teasing out a sigh from my mouth. “You have
the sweetest lips.”
This is all too much to handle. If he keeps this up I
won’t be able to control myself. Scratch that. I already
know I can’t control myself. “You’re not going to swim in
your robe, are you?” I say, trying to break the spell he has
cast on me.
He takes a small step back and lets his robe drop to
the floor. Now it’s my turn to gawk at his godlike
physique. Broad defined shoulders… narrow hips… a six-
pack… a chiseled chest my fingertips are aching to touch.
However, I quickly look away, not wanting him to
accuse me of doing the exact same thing I just faulted
him for.
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“Jennifer.” His voice is direct and deep, vibrating
within me. I look him in the eyes, and there’s a hint of
mischief in them. I get the feeling he’s up to no good.
Or way too much good.
He produces a wicked grin, then growls, and before
I know it, he has tossed me over his shoulder, is running
toward the pool, and jumps in. I scream as I go down, his
actions completely unexpected.
In an instant, warm water surrounds my body, and
as we sink, Erik lets go of me. When my feet hit the
bottom, I push against it and swim to the surface. He
crests the water a few feet away and whips his head to
the side so drops go flying, showering across the surface
of the azure pool.
“Oh, my God! You’re…you’re in so much trouble!” I
laugh.
“I hope so!” His eyes darken and he swims toward
me with ferocious speed, a predator after his prey.
Shit! I squeal, trying to get away from him before
he catches me, but he’s way too quick. Within a second,
he has me in his arms and is tickling me mercilessly. I
laugh and scream, kick and push against him. But he’s too
strong to escape.
“Stop! Stop!” I laugh, feeling excited, giddy, and
completely euphoric.
He stops, wraps an arm around my waist and drags
me with him to the pool’s ledge. With one arm on either
side of my shoulders, he cages me, his hands gripping the
edge behind me. I hold onto his arms so I don’t sink. His
The Prince and The Escort
biceps, oh, they feel like rocks. The slick skin on his legs
moves across mine, and he wraps an arm around me.
“I like seeing you smile,” he says. “I like hearing you
laugh.”
He’s so dangerously close. Wet Erik, oh he’s sexy:
smooth skin, dark, glistening hair, vivid eyes. He whisks
the water off his face with a hand.
He presses himself against me. Desire burns deep
within me, and he gets this wild look in his eyes. I feel his
erection between my legs. Oh. Oh, fuck!
That look along with his hardness makes me lose
all inhibition. And I can’t help but do something rash. I
reach into the water, and squeeze my hand down the
front of his swim trunks. Oh my, oh fuck! He’s huge, my
fingers unable to wrap all the way around. I’ve only ever
been with one man, and he was nothing like Erik. Erik’s
size is intimidating…but more than that, his size makes
me want to plunge him into me, feel him, experience him
buried deep inside me.
Encircling him with my fingers, tugging at him
gently, I see his eyes roll back into his head. And it’s all
me pleasuring him, the Prince. Watching his euphoric
expression makes me greedy with need and my strokes
quicken.
He lets out an unencumbered grunt. “Easy. Easy. I
need to make you come first.”
At first I refuse to let go of him, but then he
snatches my hand away, and holds it behind my back as
he slips a hand down into the front of my bikini bottoms.
Immediately, he finds the slippery skin between my folds,
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and pushes two fingers into me. His thumb finds my
sensitive knob and he swirls it deftly around and around
and around.
Oh, God. Oh, God! My mouth drops open, but no
sound other than my breath manages to escape.
“What you do to me,” he says.
He crashes his lips to mine, and his tongue finds
mine in a slow, erotic dance. His fingers start to move
inside me, slowly at first, then faster, intensifying my
pleasure. I pull back so I can catch my breath, but instead,
a moan tumbles from my lips. Peering into his irises, I see
his desire for me, his need, and how much he wants
this—wants me.
His fingers move faster and harder, each blessed
stroke bringing me so high I think, surely, I’m going to
explode. But I wind tighter and tighter, my insides coiling
around him as he brings me right to the brink.
Oh, shit…oh…
I can’t take it anymore. I can’t take anymore. I…
Finally, I feel the release approaching, and just as I come,
the orgasm raging through my entire body, I cry out. I
reach higher and higher, each wave pushing me to the
next level, to more intensity, to a place higher than I have
ever been. Finally, I reach the peak, and I let out one final
cry.
The aftershock of the orgasm gusts through me,
and I shiver in delight. He stops moving his fingers, then
pulls them out of me.
“If you knew how beautiful you looked just then…”
he says.
The Prince and The Escort
I’ve never wanted anyone like this. It’s as if instinct
has taken over and I have no other option than to do as
my body tells me, which is to make myself one with him.
But before I can make my move, he shifts so he’s
situated beside me and places his hands on the edge,
facing away from me. His back is broad, and as I study the
hills and valleys of his muscles, I find I want to touch him
again. I don’t think I could ever get enough of him.
He pushes himself up and climbs out of the pool,
water cascading down his back. He reaches a hand out
toward me, and right as I take it, he pulls me up in one
fell swoop.
“Come with me to the bedroom?” he asks.
I can’t help but nod.
He cups my face with his palms and kisses me
passionately as he moves me backward toward the
sliding doors. Still kissing me, he opens the door and
guides me inside.
I vaguely register that we’re in the bedroom. The
back of my thighs hits the mattress, the white sheets
silky soft against my skin.
His hands roam my wet body and I shiver, every
inch of my skin rising with goosebumps. His hands… oh…
Oh, how I wish his hands would slip between my
legs and that his fingers would shove inside me again. Or
better yet, that he’d remove his shorts and plunge his
now extremely hard cock into me, ruthlessly.
“Breathe,” he says.
Right. I didn’t realize I was holding my breath in
anticipation. I exhale and try to release the tension, but
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it’s oh, so difficult to do when lust is threatening to
overpower me.
When I look down, his hard-on is tenting his shorts.
I open my left leg to the side, and his gaze slides to
between my legs.
His breath hitches.
His hand slips into my bikini bottom.
Lower. Please, just a little lower.
I lift my pelvis up a tad.
“Fuck, Jennifer.” The skin on his face grows taut. His
eyes are hooded over a lustful gaze, and his hand slides
up to my breast and squeezes it.
I arch back and let out a groan.
More, please more…
All of it. I want all of him.
He gives my breast one last squeeze, and then his
hand slides into my bikini bottom again to my clit while
two fingers delve into me.
I gasp in delight. But I need more.
I grab around the wrist of the hand that’s inside
me, shoving him deeper, harder.
I can’t wait.
It’s torture.
With his fingers still inside me, I impatiently undo
the front of his shorts. I slide my hand into his swim
trunks and wrap my fingers around his cock. When I
stroke him, he moans. God, I could easily become
addicted to his cock. To him. To all of this. My mouth
waters. I want to taste him. Smell him. Have him buried
deep inside me as he ravages me.
The Prince and The Escort
He gives me a gentle shove, and as I fall into the
mattress, I let go of his glorious cock, no longer able to
reach it.
“Why the frown?” he asks.
“I want you in my mouth,” I say.
“Later.”
He pulls his swim trunks off and they drop to the
floor, then he climbs onto the bed, straddling me. His
cock looks so swollen, as if he’s at his breaking point. I
made him that hard, that swollen. It’s all for me.
His eyes turn molten, possessive, dangerous,
promising a great deal of pleasure, more than I’ve ever
experienced.
Within a nanosecond, Erik’s lips are on my neck, on
my cheek, on my lips. He presses me down into the
mattress by my shoulders, confining me.
“Shit, you have me so high, it’ll be difficult to
control myself,” he says.
The prince having a difficult time controlling
himself around me? Oh, my!
“Give me all you got,” I challenge.
“Fuck, Jennifer.”
He rakes a hand through my mane, tugging hard. I
gasp, the pain causing tears to sting my eyes.
The ache makes my pussy spasm.
He reaches between my legs with his free hand and
slides two fingers into me again. Right away, he pulls his
hand out and inserts the two wet fingers that were just in
my vagina into his mouth.
He sucks, moaning.
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Shit, that’s so damn sexy.
I run my fingernails across his broad back and
hook one of my legs around his narrow torso, clamping
him, forcing his cock closer to my throbbing opening.
“Not yet,” he says. “I need to taste you more.” He
sits back and places his hands on my knees, spreading
them apart. His cock stands erect, and just the sight of
him being so hard for me causes me to wince in
desperation.
“Be patient,” he says.
With a pained expression, he lowers his head, and
when his tongue meets my hypersensitive knob, I suck in
a sudden breath.
He twirls his tongue around and around and
around, torturing me. Pleasuring me. Bringing me so
high. The dull ache deep inside is too strong.
“Ah!” I throw my head back and grip his hair,
staggered whimpers rising from my throat. With his lips,
he clamps my clit, gently sucking, tugging.
I’m on the verge, again, on that precipitous edge.
I’m so close.
He climbs on top of me, and before I can gather my
senses, he shoves his cock into me. The fullness is almost
too much to handle, yet he glides in seamlessly—I’m so
wet, dripping.
Animal instinct takes over, and I thrust upward
again and again, meeting him as he drives into me. For
every passing second, I climb higher and higher, and then
it’s as if a lightning bolt from heaven strikes right in my
The Prince and The Escort
innermost part, sparks, explosions, eruptions deep
within.
I wail like a wild animal, a new or hidden part of
me unleashing, any sound or emotion unable to be
contained.
His mouth finds mine again, my scent, the taste of
my arousal, all there, robbing me of logic and thought,
diminishing me to a being of pure emotion and undiluted
lust. Each languid stroke increases the sensation.
He speeds up, each shove more forceful than the
last. He lifts up onto his elbows and stares into my eyes
with a possessive gaze.
It’s then I lose all inhibition.
“Erik! Erik!” I yell, a hundred explosions detonating
at once, my final pinnacle.
As if his name on my lips is his undoing, he calls my
name as he pours into me with four final, deeply
penetrating thrusts.
Slowly, he collapses on top of me, his chest rising
and falling against my breasts, his labored breaths
gusting against my cheek. In complete silence, he holds
me like this for a few moments longer.
The powerful orgasm has my body feeling
completely spent, but even so, I can’t help that I want
more of Erik.
So much more.
***
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