Kyle dropped his hand from Catherine and stepped forward. Her eyebrows pulled together as she watched him.
“I’ve already offered to show her to her rooms.” Alex placed a hand on my back.
“Is that so?” Kyle glared at Alex. “Is it the same room Melissa used? Or the one Lora or Maggie stayed in? Maybe the room Adriane used the last time she stayed at the palace? How about the one Tabitha used? Maybe that was the same room Melissa stayed in.”
“Kyle!” Catherine gasped. Alex’s fingers stiffened against my back and I knew he was worried how I would react to a list of his conquests.
“I see pedigree has no bearing on whether or not you’re an asshole.” While it bothered me to think of Alex with all those women, I was more disgusted by Kyle’s behavior. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to get some rest.”
Kyle sputtered, apparently surprised I had spoken up. Catherine looked at me with something close to jealousy and awe. Alex nudged me gently toward the exit. I left Kyle staring after us while Catherine watched thoughtfully.
Chapter Seventeen
Will America’s Duchess Fit in with the Other Royals?
—Celebrity Talk Magazine
“I apologize for that.” Alex ground his teeth when we were in the hallway.
“Don’t. It’s not your fault.” I was barely paying attention to the direction we went. I was so tired I had to focus on putting one foot in front of the other. I was also mentally chanting the list of women who had been with Alex, the image of him and Melissa flashing in my head. He stopped at a door and turned the ornate handle.
I stepped inside and looked at the giant bed and lavish furnishings. My bags had been unpacked and nightclothes were laid out on the mattress. I turned to look at Alex.
“Thank you. I guess I’ll see you sometime this week.” I bit my lip. I had no idea what the rest of the week held for me. Much less the rest of my life.
“Are you forgetting something?” Alex raised an eyebrow.
“What are you talking about?”
“Your dress.” He nodded toward me. “Or do you think you can manage on your own?”
I frowned. As much as I had complained about having to wear it, I was sort of fond of the dress and didn’t want to rip it. I looked up at him and nodded once before turning around so he could see the zipper. He closed the door behind him and moved toward me. I reached down to undo the belt at my waist but his hands slid around and closed over mine before moving them out of the way so he could do it. Slowly he pulled the belt from the loops and tossed it onto the bed. His fingers tugged the zipper at an almost torturous pace. His knuckles dragged along my spine the whole way and I shivered in response. When he slid the zipper over my bra I took a deep breath, but he never hesitated.
I knew I should stop him once he reached my waist, but I didn’t. I closed my eyes, enjoying the smell of him and the feel of his hands on me. I heard him take a deep breath of his own and he stopped the zipper just above my panties. I could feel his hands shake just before he let go and stepped away.
“I think you can take it from there.” Need mixed with frustration in his voice.
“Thank you for helping.” I took a step forward, clutching my dress to my chest as I turned around.
“How long are we going to play this game?” He was irritated and I didn’t blame him. He wasn’t the only one feeling frustrated.
“I’m not going to be another conquest, Alex. I don’t do one-night stands. I’m not that person.”
“And I’m not looking for a notch in my bedpost.” He took a step toward me.
His words scared me more than if he was just looking for a quick tumble in the sheets. Falling in love with Alex would leave me open to too much hurt. Anything I had with him would be short-lived. He’d eventually have to move on and marry someone who could help him rule a country. I looked around the room, at a loss for words. Refusing to say the words that would reveal my cowardice.
“Samantha, none of those women stayed at the palace.” Alex looked at me with serious eyes. He had taken my silence for something else. “At least they didn’t stay