Étienne opened my door and I jumped out, then carefully helped Hannah down. I held her hand as we made our way to the two SUVs waiting for us on the dirt road. We climbed into the backseat of the lead vehicle and we were off, leaving the helicopter behind.
“So is this what life as a prince is like? Exotic vacations and fancy vehicles?”
I laughed harshly. “Hardly.” Then I stopped and thought about how different my life must seem compared to hers. “Well, sometimes, I guess. I’d never really thought of it like that.”
“Really?” Hannah glanced out the window at the passing scenery that had turned to large trees the higher in elevation we climbed. “It’san amazing life. You’re lucky.”
“Depends on how you look at it, I guess. What’s that saying? More money, more problems?”
“Come on, Luc. You can’t deny that this isn’t amazing. You’re staying in a penthouse suite sixty floors up at the Commonwealth. Heck, thebalcony of your hotel roomis bigger than my apartment. We just got off a freaking helicopter. You can have anything you want without liftinga finger. What’s bad about that?”
“It’s easy to get lost in the sparkle and promise of money and prestige. And there was a time not long ago that I played that card every chance I got. I’d party with my boys on the Continent, and there was nothing I couldn’t do. Even when I was playing at being a soldier, I was still His Royal Highness Prince Lucien when I was on leave. The press, the women,the connections. No one ever let me forget it.”
Hannah winced as the SUV rocked over the rough terrain. “That doesn’t sound that bad. Do you know how many hours I’ve wasted standing in a line outside of the new ‘it’ club? Hoping that the bouncer will finally let us in?”
“And when you got in, was it everything you thought it would be? Or did the shine wear off after an hour or so and it justbecame another annoyingly loud club where no one could talk and everyone was just standing around looking at their phones?”
Hannah laughed softly. “I can see your point.”
“It took me losing my brother to see how lonely my life was. All those friends who loved to go out clubbing with me haven’t called in months.” Now it was my turn to stare out the window. Maintaining eye contact with Hannahbecame too invasive the deeper our conversation got. “Not everything I want can be bought. Nothing will ever bring Julien back.”
Hannah sucked in a breath. “Oh, Luc. I’m so sorry. In all the insanity of the morning, I’d forgotten about your loss. I swear I wouldn’t have teased you about having it all if I’d thought about it.”
I lifted a shoulder and gave her a half smile. “It’s okay, Hannah.I know you didn’t mean anything by it.” The cab of the SUV rocked as the road increasingly go worse. “I think we’re almost there.”
Silence filled the vehicle as my deflection ended the conversation. I didn’t know what to say. I definitely didn’t want to continue talking about the sad little princely existence. Reflecting on how alone I was in my new palace life was depressing. And whiny. NothingI wanted Hannah to focus on. But before I could think of anything to say, the SUV came to a stop. After a few seconds my door opened, and I stepped out, then helped Hannah down as well.
She gasped as the meadow my men had found came into view. Surrounded by towering pine trees and adjacent to a tiny spring, the scene was idyllic, and so far from what I’d thought of in relation to Las Vegas. Butit was perfect.
I accepted the blanket and radio from Étienne as the rest of the guys unloaded a few coolers from the second SUV. “Merci,Étienne. Give us two hours and wait for me to radio. I do not want any more awkward interruptions.”
“Oui, monsieur.”Étienne’s lip quirked as he fought a smile. “I believe we all got that message this morning. Enjoy your lunch.”
“Ta gueule!”But I laughedas I told Étienne to shut his mouth. I was surprised that Étienne of all people would tease me. He was usually so straight-faced and proper. Dimitri was the jokester of the group, but he’d been left behind to coordinate with my temporary assistant.
Étienne gave me a genuine smile as he nodded to me, then bowed toward Hannah. “Enjoy your afternoon,monsieur. Mademoiselle.”
In minutes Hannah andI were left alone in our picturesque meadow as the guys loaded up and drove away. We had only the illusion of privacy, as I knew they were only a few hundred meters down the road, but after the zoo of people in my suite this morning, this felt like the promised land.
Hannah echoed my thoughts out loud. “I’ve never been out here before. It’s so gorgeous. Kinda feels like the Garden of Eden.”
“You are wearing entirely too many clothes for that scenario.”
“Is that what we’re doing out here?” Hannah smiled mischievously. “You’re suddenly in the mood for mountain sex?”
“I wouldn’t turn it down.”
“You’d have to catch me first!” Hannah danced away with a smile on her face and in her eyes.
I couldn’t resist the lure. I took three steps in her direction as Hannah squealed and tried todeke me. She feigned left, then darted right. But I didn’t spend years playing football for nothing. I deked her back—faked into her left, spun around, then caught her in my arms. Hannah squealed and laughed but didn’t try to break free. She was exactly where both of us wanted her.
I kissed her softly at first. Our lips moved in sync as Hannah opened her mouth to me. Her tongue shyly caressedmine, and I held it together right up to the moment that she whimpered in my arms. Then, like a conquering warrior, I devoured her. Our kiss turned urgent. Hannah’s hand fisted in my hair; her fingers bit into my scalp, and I welcomed the burn. I suckled on the tip of her tongue, milking it with my mouth. My dick throbbed incessantly, making my pants feel uncomfortably tight.
I pulled back andbit off a curse. “Fuck me. This was so not the plan.”
Hannah’s head fell back as my lips cruised down her neck where I licked and suckled, leaving a love bite to mark her as mine. She groaned. “You had plans?”
“Mmm-hmmm. We were going to lay out the blanket. Nibble on some tasty food.And thenI was going to have my wicked way with you.”
