Prince Liam’s drawl sends a flood of irritation through my body. He steps into view, grinning at me through the bars. He looks different. He changed out of his princely clothes into a pair of khakis and a navy-blue polo. There might as well be a photo shoot for a boarding school nearby. He looks like he’s ready to go to a WASP convention. The smirk only slightly mars the wholesome image. The door slides open, his smile winks through the bars passing over his face.
All right, Daisy. This is your chance to straighten out the mess you made. Apologize. Grovel at his fucking feet if you have to.
But I can already feel anger boiling in my chest as his arrogance practically steams off his body. My skin grows hot under his persistent stare, and I fidget on the concrete slab that’s supposed to be my bed.
“Usually I buy dinner before the handcuffs come out.”
Dick. “What the hell is wrong with you?”
“What is wrong with you? I give you a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and you turn it down.”
“Seriously? You honestly think fucking you qualifies as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity?”
“You could’ve told all your friends that you fucked a prince.”
“I’m sorry, but fucking a prince isn’t exactly on my bucket list.”
“You’ve got to straighten out your priorities, love. It is an honor to sleep with me.”
“Like you honored that boat full of sluts in the Italian Riviera?”
Liam’s eyes widen slightly before he regains his composure and leans closer, his eyes somehow hotter than before. “Looks like someone’s been paying special attention to my extracurricular activities.”
Special attention? Give me a break. “It’s pretty much impossible to avoid the Dirty Prince’s sexcapades on my Facebook feed.”
He brightens at that. “Dirty Prince,” he muses. “I’m glad I’m famous wherever you’re from.”
“You’re only as famous as your next dick pic.”
“I’ve never shared a dick pic on social media. Is this your way of asking for one? Sorry, love, but pics of the crown jewels are by appointment only.”
If he says luv one more goddamn time…
“Oh dear. You don’t look very happy with me.”
“Can you blame me?” I explode. “Guys like you are used to having everything handed over to them, and you know what? I’d get a better lay from an average Joe.”
“Ouch.”
“You can dish it out, but you sure as shit can’t take it.”
He clicks his tongue, shaking his head as he sits down on the slab next to me. I shrink away, even though my body pounds with the filthy things he hissed in my ear.
“I’ll take anything you give me, love.”
“Good God.”
“Slapping is not that far from spanking. I consider it foreplay.”
“Keep me out of your kinky sex fantasies.”
He reaches around my back, touching my handcuffs. One of his fingers slides over the raw skin, and I turn my head toward him. The smell of his cologne suddenly hits me, all aquatic and male. I’m aware that my heart is beating very fast. He’s gorgeous, but he’s a bastard and a womanizer.
“I think that’s exactly where you want to be. Handcuffed and at my mercy.”
Damn him, but I can’t deny the quiver of excitement running up my leg at the very suggestion. “Yeah, that’s exactly what I set out this morning to do. To find and fuck you.”
He gazes at me without humor. “Was it?”
“No.” I’m tired, my shoulders hurt, and I desperately want out of this cell. “Could you please take these off?”
“Do you promise to be good?”
“Yeah, whatever.”
A flush fills my cheeks as he squeezes my wrist and reaches back for his pocket. Warmth slowly spreads through my skin at his light touch, and he tries to hide his playful little smirk from me. Then suddenly the metal breaks from my skin and falls away. He gathers the handcuffs, shoving them in his pockets. I rub my wrists.
“Sorry about the restraints.”
“When am I getting out of here?”
“I’m getting a kick out of your impertinent questions, as well as your complete disregard for members of the royal family.”
“You had the slap coming from a mile away.”
My insides freeze. A mile away. Why don’t you just tell him you’re American, idiot!
Prince Liam looks unperturbed. “Would you have rather I left you there in the clutches of that mob? I did you a huge favor by bringing you here.”
He’s absolutely right. If I had been left there alone, the crowd would’ve made mincemeat out of me. “Thanks.”
“You know what a more appropriate thank-you would be?”