Princess's Temptation

  Princess's Temptation

  Nana Malone

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Alix

  Chapter 2

  Gabe

  Chapter 3

  Alix

  Chapter 4

  Alix

  Chapter 5

  Alix

  Chapter 6

  Alix

  Chapter 7

  Gabe

  Chapter 8

  Alix

  Chapter 9

  Gabe

  Chapter 10

  Alix

  Chapter 11

  Alix

  Chapter 12

  Gabe

  Chapter One

  Alix

  As a general policy, I didn't break the rules. It was really simple; follow them, and you should be rewarded.

  Unless you were me, because even when I followed the rules, bad things still happened. But I wasn’t going to focus on that. It was my friend Elena’s birthday, and instead of doing something lowkey at home, we were going out. I wasn’t opposed to going out, per se, I just knew Elena could be unpredictable, and I liked having a plan.

  Elena nudged my arm. "Oh, come on. Stop looking like you're going to the guillotine."

  "Sorry. I know, I know, this is fun. I'm ready to have a good time."

  Elena rolled her eyes and then clasped both of my shoulders with her hands. She was five foot one. Honestly, she was five foot even, but she always like to claim the extra inch, and I was happy to give it to her.

  "Alix, you are a bloody smoke show. You're beautiful, you're smart, and when you allow yourself to be, you are totally fun. Please, God, please, please, please, do not make these people turn you into someone who's boring and staid. Okay?"

  "Okay, I promise. I am here for the fun. You and I, out and about in the wild." I tried harder and forced my smile.

  "Nope, not that one. That’s the official Alix Winston grin manufactured for the public. Look, you've got that gorgeous skin, the most unusual eyes, and for one night, one night only, you, my dear, have freedom. I feel like William Wallace."

  We both laughed. “Oh God.”

  "They may take our Dolce. They may take our Louis Vuitton, but they shall never have our freedom."

  I laughed. "Elena, you're insane."

  Elena Kyriakos was a Greek heiress and one of the few friends my parents had allowed me to interact with since moving to Spain.

  Moving is the wrong word, darling.

  Okay fine. Ever since we'd been exiled to Spain. And because of security threats, making friends had been difficult. People were often distrustful. Or, on the flip side, they want something from us. We'd turn up with security guards and that would change the whole mood of the game. With Elena, I'd managed to ditch mine in favor of hers. Besides, the threat level on our lives had greatly decreased.

  Except after dinner, Elena had told hers to go back because they weren’t needed. I wasn’t thrilled, but security was the worst, and they did draw unnecessary attention.

  Also, they're there for your safety.

  Yes, safety and all that. Not that I was cavalier about my safety, because given what had happened to my cousin, Sebastian, and my brother Ashton trying to have him killed, I knew it was always a concern. And then there was also what had happened to Sebastian's wife, Penny. My brother had also tried to have her killed. And a psycho had tried to have my other brother Tristan murdered. It was a whole damn circus.

  I understood the importance of security. I did, honestly. I just… I was lonely. I was desperate for some kind of human connection, and well, it was Elena's birthday. So we were going out because that's what friends did. I kept telling myself that it would be fine and nothing bad was going to happen because I didn't break rules like daring to go out without security. But Elena did. All the time. What was the worst that could happen?

  "Okay, I am your fun director. Follow me for fun," Elena trilled.

  We climbed out of the limo. If her driver had noticed that the follow cars weren't there, he said nothing. Which I was grateful for, because look, I knew we were going to get caught. This wasn't going to be some big secret anybody was keeping.

  Besides, if I was going to make a case for living independently and petition to go back to the Winston isles, I needed to prove I could do this.

  Tristan had been allowed to go home, so there was a chance that I might be allowed to return, too. My parents had gotten settled in Spain, and there was really nothing left for them in the Winston Isles, anyway. But for me, home was in the islands. I was just a matter of filing my petition. But since I wasn’t yet twenty-one and would not get my inheritance until then, my parents had to be the ones to do it.

  My mother kept putting it off because she liked having me at home. But I just felt stuck. I wanted a new life. A different life where I'd get whisked away and live a whole different fairy tale. On my own terms.

  I was aware that I was a princess by birth and that I came with an inheritance. I was also aware that I’d been exiled from home because of my family's actions. Or rather, because of the actions of my half brother. I was in a gilded cage, complete with couture and all the benefits of great wealth. But it was still a cage, no matter how beautiful the trappings.

  As we climbed out of the car, Elena dragged me by the hand and jumped up and down. I tried to settle her. "You are about to pop out of your top."

  She was wearing one of those sequined strappy numbers that was sort of tied in the back, but she really couldn't wear a bra with it, so that meant jiggle city. She had lots of side-boob action going on, and some guys in line for the club were staring at her.

  You could tell one of them was trying to test his abilities for telekinesis, mustering really, really hard concentration. Luckily, he hadn't mastered that skill yet. Before he could find his inner magic powers with his eyes, or worse, his hands, I tugged her straight up to the bouncer of Ando's and smiled up at him. Ando's, luckily, had table reservations. I'd already set everything up.

  "We're here for the Elena Kyriakos birthday party."

  He nodded and pulled apart the literal velvet rope, allowing us in. Behind us, in the line that wrapped around the building, I could hear girls screaming. And I sympathized with them. Their feet hurt, and the night air had a mild bite. Certainly not warm enough to warrant all the miniskirts on display, my own included. But I had let Elena dress me, which meant my top was backless, my leather leggings too tight, and my Manolo's a mile high, so I was grateful for a sitting area.

  We were meeting some other friends who, I knew from the texts, were already there waiting to surprise her. At least I hoped she would be surprised, because planning anything without Elena knowing was difficult.

  Her other friends were nice enough. I called them the heiress set. Rich, beautiful, young. The world was literally their oyster, and none of them chose to do anything with it except lie around and travel to the Maldives. Their only goals in life were to be rich and idle. And then to chase their beauty once they hit the age of thirty. I, on the other hand, wanted to do things. I had my whole life in front of me. I just didn't know what I wanted to be.

  I ignored the pang I always had when I thought of home. We breezed by a table where a group of guys sat. One in particular had dark curly hair, a jawline made of granite, and his silver eyes met my gaze. I glanced back at him for a second but kept walking. We weren't there for me, and getting into any entanglements with guys without our security on hand could get messy.

  Despite ignoring him, I could still feel his gaze on my back, the intensity of it, like a tingle crackling up my spine. He was watching me.

  When we reached our table and the girls all jumped out, screaming surprise, Elena clapped and was laughing. She looked so happy. My gaze flickered back to that table, and he was still there staring at me. Mr. Tall, Dark, and Possibly Dangerous. When I stared back, he lifted a brow and then gave me the devil's own grin. Lopsided. Part smile, part smirk, as if he was well aware that his cut jaw, gorgeous eyes surrounded by a thick set of lashes, straight Roman nose, and slightly too full lips made him stupid hot and extremely compelling to look at.

  And he was staring at me. My skin flamed, but I refused to look away. But when Elena grabbed me, I jerked around. "What?"

  "You're the best Alix. I love you."

  I grinned. "I love you too. Happy birthday, babes."

  "We are going to get so wasteeed1”

  Her scream was part giggle, part wail, and all the girls around us screamed. Already, I could feel the headache pinching behind my eyes, but this was for Elena. For her, I could do anything. The hot guy in the booth ten feet away, was not my concern. Besides, I was off guys. My goal was to get home, to return to the Winston Isles. Meeting someone here was not at all what I wanted. So best to keep my eyes on my friends and stop attempting to eye-fuck Mr. Tall, Dark, and Possibly Dangerous.

  Chapter Two

  Gabe

  Gabe

  She was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. And the level of confidence in her stride was off the charts. She hadn’t backed down and stared at me right back, her gaze only leaving mine when her friends called to her.

  "Gabe, I see you, you sly devil. We're on a boys’ night."

  "Since when has the boys’ night not included finding women?"

  Michel laughed. "Good point, good point."

  Michel managed a security company for a private entity here in Spain, but he was formerly of Her Majesty’s Service. He was the one who'd gotten me my job that I'd s
tart next week.

  I’d wanted to get out of London. Nothing like a bad breakup to make you want a sudden change of pace. Caroline had been beautiful, stunning, actually. And then she'd walked into our bedroom one day and just said that she wanted more from her life. She didn't want to be with someone like me. She hated that I worked in security. She was always worried that I was going to get shot at. Even though I'd gotten the impression when we first got together that me being in the military was part of my appeal.

  I was excited about the new job though. The money was good, and I would get to use my skills from the Royal Air Force. I would still be flying for Her Majesty if I hadn't gotten injured.

  I had my whole life ahead of me, and I had to utilize the skills that I had. Caroline had wanted someone better positioned and better paid. She wanted to go somewhere in life, but apparently, not with me.

  She wanted a life littered with trips to the country and holidays abroad to somewhere that wasn't just fancy but with the right people. She wanted connections I did not have.

  The breakup was amiable enough, and I wished her well. Even though I had been on the verge of proposing.

  Michel snapped his fingers in front of me. "Snap out of it. I can see right now that you're doing that thing where you're thinking about how you ended up here. Stop it. You got the new gig. Smile. Life is good."

  I raised my glass. He'd ordered scotch, and God, I hated the taste of the stuff. But I was grateful, so I raised my glass. "In case I haven't said it enough, thank you."

  He shrugged. "I'm French. We've all broken hearts or had our hearts broken before. You are not the first. But I understand it, so I was inclined to help. And it's a cushy job too."

  I shrugged. "Cushy or not, doesn’t matter. I just needed to be out of London."

  "You think you might have your own shop one day?"

  I shrugged. "I like the idea of making the calls, getting the best equipment. Not just the bare minimum, you know? I want my team to be properly equipped and have what they need. But I don't think I want all that managing bullshit."

  He laughed. "Oh, we have the real crusader. The one who wants all the bright things but does not want to lead."

  I laughed. "You sound like my brother."

  My brother, Nial, had always called me the reluctant leader. And maybe that was true. I didn't want power. I'd seen what power could do to people. But somehow, no matter where I was, leadership has already been foisted upon me.

  Michel leaned over. "I will say, you do have excellent taste in women."

  I glanced back at the brunette. I couldn't really tell her skin tone in the dark, but she was certainly more olive toned than her friends. Even in the low light, I could tell that. Her hair was thick and glossy brown, falling over her shoulders. Trim, athletic with a strength about her. Elegance as well, not to mention generous curves that made my mouth water. But for me, it was the sheer confidence that she wielded like a weapon.

  The tingle at the back of my neck told me she was watching me again, and I slowly turned with a smile on my face, catching her, holding on tight. The look she gave me wasn't one of invitation. It was more of curiosity.

  Fuck me, I couldn't look away. The way she parted her lips made me want to know what she secrets she held back. Could I kiss them off her tongue?

  Michel cursed under his breath. "So what you're telling me is that at some point you're going to ditch me for that beautiful woman over there."

  I turned back with a grin. "Well, we’ll see where the night takes us. Right now, it looks like she's off to party with her friends."

  "You are a patient man."

  "I am nothing if not patient. Besides, let her have her night. I'll keep an eye out. If she looks like she's leaving, then I'll make my approach. But for now, let her enjoy."

  Michel laughed. "I've always said the best way to nurse a broken heart is to get someone else to mend it."

  I snorted a laugh. "I don't think that's the saying, mate."

  "Isn't it? It should be."

  "So said the Frenchman."

  He shrugged. "I am indeed very, very French." He said that as he winked at one of the waitresses walking by. He gave her an appreciative glance, but it wasn't overdone or lascivious, just a look that said he saw her, he appreciated what he saw, and then he kept his eyes mostly respectful. It was an art.

  I could only laugh. "You are, indeed, very French."

  And while the waitress had been beautiful, all of my conscious and unconscious attentions were focused on the brunette in the semi-private booth with the pouty lips, broad smile, and confident gaze that would likely sear me to my soul.

  Chapter Three

  Alix

  "I'm going to go get another drink."

  Elena sloppily wrapped her arms around me. "Oh, what for? Have the waitress bring it."

  The truth was I’d had enough. Elena's friends were nice enough, but it was loud, and noisy, and I really didn’t want to take a bunch of pictures with people I barely knew only to have them ignore me while they posted said picture to social media immediately. This wasn't my idea of fun, really. Elena seemed to be having fun, the time of her life, really, but I just needed a moment.

  The crowd waiting outside had been artificial, as there had been next to no one inside when we arrived. But slowly, it had filled up over the last hour or so. When I made it through the crowd to the bar, I flagged the bartender down, and he gave me a nod and a smile to let me know he was coming for me. Just then somebody to my right waved him down. "I've got whatever she wants." And he waved what he probably thought was a very impressive black card around.

  "That's all right. Thank you, though. I'll get my own drink."

  He shook his head. "Nope. I've got your drink. Besides, how else am I supposed to entice you to talk to me?"

  I frowned. "Then, for sure, I've got my own drink."

  His heavy brows drew down over pale, flat eyes. "I'm just trying to talk to you. You don't have to be such a bitch."

  I swiveled on the stool to tell him all about himself, when a deep voice from behind me said, "If you know what's good for you, you'll vacate your seat."

  The shiver up my spine told me exactly what I needed to know. Even if I didn't know him. Even if I knew nothing about him. For all I knew, he could have a voice like David Beckham. But still, I knew it was the guy from the other booth who’d stared at me earlier.

  Both me and the guy on my right turned to face him. I smirked. "Thank you for the assist, but I'm okay."

  The guy with the black card scowled at him. "Yeah, what she said. We're talking here. You wait your turn."

  With a sigh, I turned to the guy to my right. "No, we were already done. It doesn't matter how many drinks you buy me, I'm not voluntarily hanging out with you."

  "I knew you were a bitch."

  I grinned. "Yes. I have been called that on occasion. You wouldn't be the first. How very unoriginal."

  He scowled at me and then he did the unexpected, grabbed my arm, wrapped his meaty fingers around the muscle, and squeezed. What happened next could only be called a coordinated attack, except that we hadn't spoken about it before. As the idiot squeezed, the guy from the booth placed a hand on his shoulder, right where it met the neck, and did some squeezing of his own. The guy winced as I took the glass he’d been drinking out of and aimed the liquid contents for his face.

  One-two punch. And then Mr. Tall, Dark, and Probably Dangerous must have added something extra to his grip, because the guy on the stool winced and tried to shy away from him, only to be held even tighter. "Now, vacate the seat. It's mine."

  And just like that, the seat next to me was emptied and then quickly filled by a long, tall drink of lean muscle. "Well, I'm glad to see you didn't need me."

  "I told you I didn't need you."

  He grinned and nodded. "All right, then maybe you would prefer my company."

  I wasn’t ready to relent. "You didn't need to do that. I had him under control."