Free Her Secret Prince by Madeline Ash Page A

by her look of unashamed desire.
    The direction of her gaze said she was okay moving fast. There was something else.
    “I thought youwanted to stop,” he murmured.
    She looked up, a bold snap of her eyes. “I do. But discipline has never been my strong suit.”
    “Don’t look at me for help.”
    “You’re right.”
    He smiled, loving her bluntness as she tugged her eyes away and grabbed her luggage.
    Pulling open the front door, she said, “It’ll work if I just don’t look at you at all.”
    *
    “Okay, this isn’t working. You need to tell me not to sleep with Jed.”
    Dee stood in line for the women’s bathroom at New York airport, on the phone to Alexia. The flight from LA had been excruciating. No touching, no teasing, and with Jed’s minimalist approach to talking, no distractions from her body’s ache to have him inside her. The onward flight to France didn’t bear thinking about.
    Nordid her resistance once they landed.
    “Don’t sleep with Jed,” her friend answered dutifully.
    “No. You need to actually convince me.”
    “Give me the reasons why not, because you’ve left me in the dark on this one.”
    Dee leaned against the tiles. The blonde woman next in line had shifted to stand side-on, all the better to eavesdrop.
    She said, “Backstory: he’s still dazzling. He smiles at me—smilesat things that have made so many other men frown. He’s artistic, and compassionate, and has the sexiest man bun I’ve ever seen.”
    The blonde darted a glance at her, frowning.
    “His hair,” she specified, lowering the mouthpiece slightly.
    The woman blushed, caught out, but nodded. On the other end of the line, Alexia said, “Not sure if you noticed, but none of that’s negative.”
    “Exactly why I’vecalled you, my friend.”
    “Right. How do you think it could go wrong?”
    “He’s been back in my life for just over twenty-four hours. Too soon, and he might think we’re friends with benefits. He might think it doesn’t mean anything. He might be happy to pack up and leave me again without a backward glance.”
    “Got it. Continue.”
    The line inched forward. “Then there’s his track record. He’s alreadyleft me once, right after I told him I loved him. Sure, he’s promised not to leave without warning. But he promised that last time, too.”
    “Not a man of his word,” Alexia stated, as the blonde shook her head, disapproving.
    “He’s never felt settled in one place. He’s a traveler. He can stay still, but he doesn’t like it. Even if something became of us, I could never trust he wouldn’t get itchyfeet.”
    “To be avoided at all costs. Dee. You can’t sleep with this guy.”
    She appreciated her friend’s effort. As the line moved forward again, she said, “And I’ve never been in a long-term relationship. This is the end of flings for me. I want to feel important and for someone to tell me that they love me and not leave afterwards.” To her annoyance, her voice thickened on those last words.
    “Oh.” Alexia’s breath sounded sad. The blonde looked sympathetic and gave her arm a quick pat. “I’m so sorry you’ve—”
    “Don’t make it worse. Bounce me back up.”
    “Um.” Her friend hesitated. “Do you think he’d make a good lover?”
    “Lord, Alexia, how’s that question supposed to help?”
    “It’s not. I kind of just want to know.”
    Unhelpful as it was, Dee fought a smile. “I swear the imagery in my headjust undid the good work of this entire conversation. He’d be like no one else. Those lips, God, and I felt him when we kissed, hard as an iron bar.” Heat welled between her thighs just remembering. “Add the fact that he’s creative…well, thanks for not helping, Alexia.”
    “Okay, I know. Check your gallery for that photo I sent you.”
    Obliging, Dee lowered the phone and brought the image up. Shesnorted, amused, and flipped it to show the woman. “I was stupefied,” she explained with a chuckle, and raised the phone back to