Charlotte & Nate (Royals of Valleria #4) (7 page)

Pierre’s face remained smooth, though his smile was now clearly forced. “You American women, you always mistake proper culture and etiquette. I guess someone with your background wouldn’t know, but it’s customary to kiss goodnight in Europe. You’ll get used to it. Bonsoir.”

He started walking away before Charlie could respond. Fuming with anger, she turned and slammed the door, missing when he blew her a kiss from down the hall.

Inside her room, she tugged the robe even more around her, despite the fact she had remained covered throughout the whole ordeal. Her hair was still damp and, though she’d had a shower barely thirty minutes ago, she now felt dirty again. The heat of shame flushed her body, though she couldn’t understand why. She did nothing wrong, so why did she feel like this?

Pierre’s jab about her upbringing also stung. Hadn’t she heard it all before? Others had made similar comments to her face, some whispered behind her back. She knew some thought she shouldn’t be anywhere near a palace, especially after she covered Prince Nathaniel in cake. So how could Coco think she’d be right to run the whole kitchen?

Charlie had just collapsed on the couch, head in hands, comb forgotten on the floor, when another knock came at the door.

She sighed. “Go away, Pierre.”

There was a pause before a voice spoke. “It’s not Pierre.”

Charlie gasped and rushed to the door. She wrenched it open, though she knew who it was.

“Prince Nathaniel. What are you doing here?” He looked wonderful. His hair hung loose and was still slightly damp; he’d clearly had a shower recently, too. He looked just as sexy in casual clothes as he did in a suit with his hair pulled back.

His eyes raked down her body and her state of dress made her blush once more. Contrary to the way Pierre’s gaze had made her feel, the Prince’s perusal of her body made her feel beautiful.

She wondered what normal women felt in this situation; her body was made differently, and it took a long time to coax any sense of desire from it. She knew it was one of the reasons why she was alone. It wasn’t just her past that was broken; it was her.

“I apologize for disturbing you,” the Prince said and glanced down the hall, where Pierre had gone. “I didn’t consider that you might have been entertaining company.”

Her brows furrowed. “I don’t have any company.”

His head gestured down the hall, while his hands remained firmly in his pockets. “I saw someone walking away from you as I was coming down the hall.”

She gasped and blushed again. How much had he seen or heard? “As you said, they were walking away.”
Hopefully, for good.
“And why do you care?”

“I don’t know, but I do.” He sighed and pulled one hand out of a pocket and ran it through his hair. “I just came to see how you were.”

Charlie blinked. “You came to check on me?” She shook her head. “Why?”

“Because you were upset earlier, so I wanted to make sure you were okay. I also wanted to let you know that I thought your second cake was just as delicious as your first.”

“You did?” Why was her heart beating faster? One compliment had never sent her pulse racing like this before.

“My family loved it, too.”

“Really?” she asked breathlessly. The King and Queen liked her cake? “Oh my God,” she said suddenly.

His hands shot out and gripped her arms loosely. “What’s the matter? Are you okay?”

“No. I mean, yes, I’m fine. I’m sorry.”

“For what?”

“I didn’t curtsy or anything when you arrived. I think I forgot for a minute that you’re a prince.” And if that didn’t show her how little she qualified for Coco’s job, she wasn’t sure what would.

He, however, only laughed. His face broke out in a broad smile that brightened his face and had her breath catching. “I think that’s one of the nicest things anyone’s ever said to me.”

She wasn’t sure how to respond to that. When his face softened and his hand lifted to her cheek, she really wasn’t sure what to do.

“I didn’t mean to disturb you, Charlotte.” Why did her name on his lips seem like velvety chocolate being poured on top of rich cheesecake – decadent and addictive?

She swallowed. “I’m fine. Thank you for checking on me.”

“Was that man bothering you?”

“What man?”
Oh.
“It’s nothing.”

His eyes narrowed. “It’s not nothing. You referred to something earlier today, to someone trying to seduce you, or put pressure on you. Was it him?”

“Does it matter?” She shrugged his hands away from her body and stepped back. He didn’t step inside, giving her the distance she needed. He seemed to have enough respect for her to cede her wishes and not push where she didn’t want it.

He gripped the frame of the door on each side. “Of course it matters. If he did something to make you feel uncomfortable, he’ll be gone by morning, I assure you. You should feel safe here. If you don’t, we should talk about it.”

“I’d rather not.”

“I rather would.”

“Then I would say we’re at an impasse.”

“And I say that everything’s negotiable.”

Charlie sighed. “I’m a woman working in a professional kitchen. Sometimes, the men I work with think that means they can try something they shouldn’t. It doesn’t mean I let them get away with it. Why are you really here?”

“I can’t seem to stay away.”

She huffed a laugh and crossed her arms over her chest. “Does that line really work?”

“It’s not a line, not with you, Charlotte.”

“And does
that
line really work?”

He ran frustrated hands through his hair. “I just can’t win with you.”

Anger bubbled. “I’m not some prize to be won.”

He gave her an assessing look. “You’re absolutely right. You’re not just ‘some’ prize, Charlotte.” Why did his words – which did agree with hers – make her feel sad and unworthy?

“May I come inside?”

That he asked meant a lot to her. “No funny business.”

“I promise you, I won’t be laughing. Is that a yes?” She nodded and he stepped inside. When he left the door a sliver open, she felt relief; she wasn’t ready to be behind completely closed doors with him.

He walked up to her and cupped her face, rubbing his thumbs idly over her cheeks. “You’re beautiful, did you know that?”

She never knew what to do with personal compliments; she’d gotten so few of them in her life. Professional ones, she could handle. Personal ones, however, she really couldn’t handle them from a man, much less a prince. “Prince Nathaniel.”

“You can call me ‘Nate’ if you want to.”

“I couldn’t.”
Especially if she got Coco’s job.
“I can’t.”

“Won’t, more like.”

“What are you doing?” Her body was remaining still, even while her hands itched to run through his hair. “I don’t know what you want from me.”

“I want to kiss you, Charlotte.”

She tangled her hands in the end of her robe. Holy hell, she was only in a robe. “Don’t.”

His dark brown eyes searched hers. “Don’t kiss you?”

One of the hardest things she did was shake her head and say, “I don’t want this.”

“Don’t want men?”

“You.”

He winced. “You really know how to hurt a guy, don’t you?”

“I’m not trying to hurt you. I’m trying to keep myself from being hurt.”

“You think I’ll hurt you?”

“Maybe not intentionally, but, I, uh, I know your reputation. That’s not what I’m looking for.”

“What reputation is that?”

She tried to pull away, but he held on, forcing her to face him. “I just don’t want to be a notch on your bedpost, okay?” She needed more than a casual fuck, even if it would be with a prince. She needed someone who wanted her, not just a body that didn’t seem to work right in bed. “I mean I work at the palace, and you’re a prince who wants to kiss me. I mean, is this even real?”

“Oh, yes, Charlotte. It’s definitely fucking real.” He pulled her face towards his.

She expected him to take what he wanted, but he didn’t, not like Pierre. Instead, his full lips brushed softly against hers, asking, maybe even pleading for permission. He was close, so close. His scent, expensive and addictive, whirled around her while his taste taunted her. She sighed, giving up or giving into the kiss, she wasn’t sure which.

His angle shifted and his lips pressed firmly against hers. His hands still held her head, but it was a loose hold; she knew she could step back and he wouldn’t stop her. When his tongue licked the seam of her lips, she opened for him, and she tasted her cake on his tongue. Blueberry buttercream had never tasted so damn good.

Her hands tentatively touched his bare arms, caressing the soft hair and unmoving tattoos. He was warm, so warm. She’d never felt so much warmth from a man before.

His lips left hers to trail kisses down her neck while his hands slid to her hips. She arched her head back while her breath caught, giving him more room. Her hands shifted up to his shoulders and toyed with the ends of his silky, damp hair.

“Was that real enough for you, Charlotte?” he whispered against her ear, his low voice sending a shiver through her.

She started to say his name, but realized she wasn’t sure what to call him. Prince? Your Highness? Nate didn’t seem quite right. It felt as though a bucket of cold water had just been poured over her.

She pushed away and turned her back towards him. “Please leave.”

An unexpected hand on her back caused her to jump. “I’m sorry, Charlotte. Did I hurt you?”

Not yet
. “No. I just don’t think this is a good idea.”

“Kissing each other?”

“Any of it.”

His hand rubbed her back in small circles; she wished she didn’t find it so soothing. “I like you, Charlotte.”

“Why?” she couldn’t help but asking.

“Because you’re talented and beautiful and a hundred other things. I’m physically attracted to you, I’ve made no secret about that.” He stepped closer and whispered in her ear. “I’d love to slide this soft robe off your body and kiss every exposed inch of you before I watch you orgasm over and over again.”

She swallowed, knowing multiple orgasms were practically impossible for her, except in dreams.

“Besides the physical, I want to know more about you. I realize a relationship between us puts you in a more precarious position than me.”

Relationship? He considered casual fucking a relationship? She was so confused. Shaking her head, she said, “I don’t understand. Aren’t you just looking for a warm body? Somebody to fuck?” Though she’d never winced when cursing before, cursing now, to a prince, she did.

He turned her gently to face him. He didn’t look upset at her language, just a little sad. “I might have been looking for a casual fuck before, but now I know that I’m looking for more. I think that more might be with you.”

Her eyes widened. “Is this another line?”

“No,” he said firmly. “I’ve been with other women, I won’t deny that, but I never treated them with disrespect. I would never treat you that way, either. You fascinate me, Charlotte Wyler.”

“I do?”

“I’ve never met anyone quite like you.”

To her, that statement cut deep to the bone. She’d been singled out her whole life when she couldn’t quite fit in, and by men when they realized they had to work for her passion. “I guess I can say I’ve never met anyone like you, either.”

“Because I’m a prince?”

“Well, yes, partly. Look, I just don’t see the point in pursuing this.”

“You don’t trust me.”

“No.” She didn’t add that she rarely trusted anyone. “Do you trust me? Who’s to say I won’t just go to the press and tell them I was propositioned by a prince?”

His gaze was even when he spoke. “You could. You’d have every right to. The papers would print it, because they’ve printed things like that before. If you did go to the press, though, I’d realize I’m not as good a judge of character as I think I am.”

“So, you think I’m trustworthy?”

He reached for her hands and them loosely in his. “I do. So does Coco, and a kitchen full of staff. A lot of people trust you, Charlotte. I’m just asking you to give me a chance, that’s all.”

If she was honest with herself, she’d liked the way he held her, as if she were something fragile that deserved extra care, and she really liked the way he kissed her. “We’d have to keep this a secret, though, right? I mean I don’t want anyone thinking I’m sleeping to the top, and I’m sure you don’t want to be seen with me.”

His hands tightened on hers. “That’s where you’re wrong. I do want to be seen with you, but I can understand if you don’t want to be seen with me. My past will, unfortunately, reflect poorly on you.”

“Do you regret how you’ve lived your life?” It was a bold question, but she wanted the answer.

“Some parts, yes, very much. Other parts, definitely not. I regret how the women I’ve been with were treated by others for being seen with me. So, you see, I can understand if you want to keep things between us for now. Just know that I’m not hiding anything.”