heart thumps at the sight of the bed. I know the flight to Stirling is only about an hour, but the thought of sleeping with the Prince is still fresh in my mind.
I sit down on one of the individual seats. I’m given a glass of champagne and a selection of hors d’oeuvres. Nuts, lox, and even a decadent chocolate truffle.
The Prince watches me from the long sofa, a grin teasing at his lips.
“What?” I ask, glaring.
“You look completely out of your element.”
“Can you blame me?”
“Just enjoy it, Rowan.”
Ugh, I love the way he says my name. I never want him to stop. I want to hear it whispered, gruff and low in my ear. I want to hear him say it softly as he wraps his arms around me. I want to hear him grunt it as he spills his orgasm inside me.
No. Stop.
I can’t think that way. That was a one-time thing. It’s not going to happen again.
I’m here for work. That’s all.
We settle in for take-off. Eyvar disappears into a door near the front of the plane, and I realize there’s a whole other, smaller, self-contained apartment up there. The flight attendants serve us more drinks—I opt for water, since I don’t trust myself with alcohol around the Prince anymore. The staff then disappears behind a door on the other side of the kitchen.
“Have you made any progress on the design?” he asks after takeoff.
Good. Work—that’s a safe topic.
I take a sip of water before answering. “I have. I think you’ll like the new iteration. Or at least, I hope so.” I smile, watching his eyes flick down to my lips.
Why does that make heat curl around my abdomen? Why do I never want him to stop looking at me like that?
My heart thumps, and I clear my throat. “This plane is incredible. It’s nicer than my place in Farcliff.”
The Prince makes a soft noise in response, his eyes still tracing the lines of my lips. His gaze runs down the length of my body, sending fire spilling through my veins.
Yes, I like that. I like when he looks at me. When we’re alone, with no one else to see us, I think I like it a bit too much. I turn to the window to watch the clouds rush by. It’s safer that way.
“Are you afraid of me?” he asks after a few minutes.
I frown, glancing at him. “No. Why?”
“You seem to want to stay as far away from me as possible.”
“Do you remember what happened last time I let myself get near you?”
His smile widens. “How could I forget?”
“This isn’t the same for me as it is for you, Your Highness,” I say, heart thumping uncomfortably. I straighten my shoulders, jutting my chin out at him.
He leans back on the sofa, stretching his legs. “What do you mean?”
“I mean, you’re a prince, right? Royalty? You can have whatever you want, whenever you want.” I wave a hand at the luxury around us. “Look at this plane. I arrived at the castle on the train, with no privacy and a seat half the size of this one.”
“I don’t understand what that has to do with us.”
“Of course you don’t.” I snort, shaking my head. “You don’t understand that for you, I’m just a bit of fun. I’m just a girl who walked into your life, who’s below your station, who has to do whatever you want me to do.”
“You don’t have to do anything I want.” His face hardens, jaw tensing.
I let out a sigh. “I don’t mean I was coerced. I’m just a girl who came to the castle. Just like a million others, probably. I mean nothing to you.”
“How would you know what you mean to me?” There’s an edge to his voice. An intensity to his gaze.
A lump forms in my throat, and I hesitate. Threading my fingers together, I squeeze my hands against each other. I take a deep breath. “You are in a position of power over me, Wolfe.”
He frowns. “Is this about the office? About the plane? I’m trying to help you.”
“It’s about the fact that I’ve worked my ass off to be a respected architect, and I don’t want you—or anyone else—to think that I’m here for other reasons.”
“You don’t think I respect you?”
Frustration bubbles inside me as I draw in a deep breath. How can I make him understand that my career means everything to me? It’s my lifeline. It’s the one thing that ensures I have to