J. Cooper - Finding My Prince Charming

“I don’t want to be with a jerk.” I shook my head. “Just because we slept together once doesn’t mean anything. You’re such an asshole.” I walked away from him and put my hand in my pocket. It felt empty without him filling my palm.

“Where are you going now?”

“To lunch.”

“I will take you.”

“I don’t want you to take me.”

“Why do you always resist me, Lola?”

“Why don’t you get the hint?”

“You’re trying to make me pay for that first night, aren’t you?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about?”

“The money was a joke.”

“Sure.” I rolled my eyes.

“It was in poor taste.” His eyes searched mine. “Can we not start over?”

“I don’t think we can.”

“You’re a hard woman to please.”

“I think most women would be hard to please after you’ve called them a slut and warned them to stay away from your brother.”

He changed the subject. “How old are you, Lola?”

“I’m twenty-one.”

“Of course,” he groaned.

“How old are you?”

“I’m twenty-eight.”

“Can I go now?”

He grabbed my hands. “Stop flirting with my brother!”

“Why?” I looked into his eyes with my heart all aflutter.

“He will never marry you. He’s betrothed to someone else.”

“Betrothed?” I repeated dumbly.

“As a prince in Romerius, he has certain expectations.”

“He’s a prince?” My jaw dropped and then my eyes narrowed. “So wait ... Are you a prince as well?”

He nodded. “Yes.”

“And you’re betrothed as well?” My heart stopped for a second.

“I’m never getting married.” He laughed. “Not anytime soon.”

“I see.” I looked away from him.

“They call me the playboy prince.”

“Hence your weekends of fun.” I nodded in understanding.

“Exactly. One weekend, no strings.” His fingers ran to my face. “Though sometimes I make exceptions.”

“Exceptions?” I looked at him then as his finger ran along my lower lip.

“Sometimes I give certain women a second weekend.” He pushed his finger into my mouth. I bit down on it softly, sucking it instinctively. Our eyes stayed connected as I sucked, and then I realized where I was and who I was with and bit down hard. “What the—” he exclaimed and pulled his finger out of my mouth.

“Next time, I’d be more careful who you chose to proposition.” I tilted my head up at him. “You never know when it’s going to turn rough.”

“I wouldn’t mind it being rough with you.” He leaned towards me. “I can be very rough.”

“What?” My cheeks warmed up as he licked my lips.

“I can be so, so rough that I’ll have you crying and begging me for more at the same time.”

“You’re a pervert.” I caught his tongue between my lips and sucked on it for a few seconds.

“It turns you on, doesn’t it?” he whispered against my lips. “You want me to take you right now.”

I gazed up into his eyes and wanted to scream out, “Yes! Yes, I want you to take me!” but I didn’t. The part of me that was still offended and upset by his words was having none of it.

“No.” I took a step back. “It doesn’t.”

“Liar,” he whispered.

“Can I go now?” I turned around so he couldn’t see how much he was affecting me.

“We’re going to the museum, remember?” His tone changed. “You’ll enjoy it.”

“I’d rather go by myself.”

“But there’s no joy in going by yourself. I have to take you. I have to show you all the pieces you would miss.”

“You don’t know what I would miss,” I muttered, annoyed at how excited I felt at spending the afternoon with him.

“Come now, Lola. Let us call a truce for the afternoon.” He pulled me towards him again. “Can we not spend an afternoon together as two friends enjoying art?”

“Fine,” I sighed. “But if you call me a prostitute or warn me away from Sebastian again—”

“Let’s go.” He grabbed my hand. “No more idle talk.”

“You’re the one who ...” I started but closed my mouth as I realized there was no point in my going on about it. I was only going to make myself angry again, and frankly, I didn’t want to think about how rude he was.

I wanted to spend the afternoon learning about art from someone who knew a lot about the subject. It didn’t hurt that I still had the hots for him. I groaned inside as I realized that I still really liked him. I knew it was a mistake to go with him. I couldn’t see this going well for me. I was no match for Prince Xavier Van Romerius.

* * *

His View

Lola had more spunk than I thought, and she was smarter than most of the girls I normally dated. First, the narcissist comment had surprised me and impressed me. It wasn’t every day that someone was able to teach me something, especially when it came to art.

However, I’d been even more surprised when she’d told me I didn’t intimidate her. She was stronger and braver than I’d thought she was. She was going to make the chase a lot more interesting and a lot more fun. I hadn’t been lying when I’d told her that was making me mad. I was barely able to think about anything other than touching her. It aggravated me that she was making it so hard. Normally, women were all over me. Lola was different. I knew she wanted me, but she was also standoffish. However, she couldn’t fake her reactions when I touched her and kissed her. The way her body trembled against mine told me that she craved me as much as I craved her. Her body’s reaction to me told me all her secrets.

She was too young for me, of course. Twenty-one was too young to know the ways of the world. Especially my world. But I couldn’t stop myself from wanting her. As a prince I was used to getting what I wanted. And I wanted her. I wanted her to submit to me fully.

“You don’t mind walking?” Xavier gave me a quick smile.

“I’m not a complete fatass,” I shot back at him, though I think my comment wasn’t as strong as it could have been since I was panting a little bit. It wasn’t that I was totally out of shape, but I wasn’t in the habit of walking for miles.

“Do you want us to catch a cab or stop for a minute?” Xavier looked at me in concern and I could feel my insides flip-flopping. Why did he have to have those gorgeous green eyes?

“No, I’m fine,” I sputtered, though my calves were begging me to answer differently.

“Let’s grab a coffee.” He gave me a smile. “I could do with some caffeine.”

“Well, if you need it.” I shrugged and said a silent prayer as we walked into the small coffee shop.

“Would you like one?” he questioned me and then frowned.

“I didn’t realize that would upset you ...” I questioned his frown. “Don’t stop on my account.”

“No, it’s not you.” He looked out the window and sighed. “I just saw someone.”

“Oh, an ex?” I ignored the jab of jealousy that hit me.

“No.” He laughed then. “Not an ex.”

“Max?” I questioned again. “Where is Max, by the way? I haven’t seen him.”

“He’s gone back to my country.”

“That’s quite literally your country isn’t, it?

“Please tell me you’re not impressed by the fact that I’m a prince.”

“Okay, I’m not impressed.” I grinned and he laughed. “I guess they’re making anyone a prince these days.”

“I guess they are.” He stared at me with amusement in his eyes. “See, you’re not having such a bad time, are you?”

“I can’t say there’s no place I’d rather be than here.”

“Don’t spoil the afternoon by being petulant.”

“Fancy word for a fancy man.” I rolled my eyes and he grabbed my hands.

“Don’t make me kiss you and teach you a lesson.”

“How can you teach me a lesson by kissing me?” I raised an eyebrow at him.

“I’ll show you.” He leaned down and pressed his lips against mine tenderly. I was surprised by the lightness of his touch and then by the warmth of his tongue as it entered my mouth. He took my tongue in his lips and sucked on it gently before deepening the kiss.  I felt my head growing light as his fingers played with my hair. I reached out to grab his shoulders, but he slowly withdrew from me. I sat there panting slightly and feeling dazed.

“Now you understand.” He grinned and pulled out his wallet. “What do you want to drink?”

“You can choose.” I blushed and looked away, not wanting him to see how right he was. I really didn’t want to like him. Everything about this situation screamed heartbreak waiting to happen.

“I guess I’ll get two lattes, then.”

“I wouldn’t say no to some shortbread cookies as well.” I grinned and he laughed. “What’s so funny?” I narrowed my eyes at him.

“I don’t meet many girls that ask for cookies.”

“Oh, what, they ask for cupcakes? Are cookies too expensive?”

“They ask for salads normally.” He winked and me and walked away as I blushed. I wanted to call out to him, What sort of dumbasses are you dating that ask for salads at a coffee shop? but decided to keep my mouth shut. No point getting into a sparring match with him. I was pretty sure I’d lose.

* * *

“Thanks for the coffee.” I smiled at Xavier as we left the coffee shop. “It was good.”

“Do you feel like you have more energy now?”

“Oh, yes.” I lied, then yawned.

“Oh, Lola.” He grinned. “I guess the caffeine content wasn’t high enough for you.”

“Sorry, I didn’t get much sleep last night.”

“Why not?” His eyes narrowed.

“You know.”  I shrugged, not wanting him to know I’d been thinking of him all night.

“Did you have a date?” His voice grew hostile. “Were you in—”

“I didn’t have a date.” I cut him off. “Not that I couldn’t have if I wanted.”

“I told you my brother is not—”

“Oh, shut up, Xavier.” I sighed. “If I hang out with Sebastian, that’s between us. I’m fed up of hearing you try and warn me off every other day. It’s annoying.”

“I’m just trying to help ...” he began, and I could see from his expression that he was disgruntled.

“Don’t try to help me outside of class, Professor. It’s not wanted or needed. And it’s definitely not appreciated.”

“You’re not so timid anymore.” His lips twitched as he stared at my heated face.

“I was never timid.” I glared at him.

“That’s true.” He paused and licked his lips slowly. “You do like to give as good as you get, don’t you?”

“It’s not hard when it’s not very good.” I smiled at him sweetly and his eyes narrowed.

“Are you trying to rile me up, Lola? Do you want me to prove to you how good I am?”

“I don’t have all year.” I replied tartly and he laughed.

“Come, let’s go to the museum.” He grabbed my hand. “I want to see your face when you look at the art.”

“Why?”

“It will remind me of the look you make when you come.” He whispered in my ear. “The look of exquisite pleasure and raw emotion.”

I gasped at his words and pulled away from him. There was something so desperately inappropriate about Xavier, and while a part of me hated that about him, the other part of me absolutely loved it.

* * *

“Welcome to the National Gallery.” Xavier extended his arms as he pointed at the grand white building in front of us.

“It’s huge.” I looked up at the white building in awe and then ran up the steps and stood on the balcony overlooking the city.

“That’s Trafalgar Square.” Xavier ran up behind me and pointed to the enormous black lions in the center surrounding a tall statue of a man.

“It’s amazing. I’ve seen the photos before, but never imagined I’d see them in person.”

“Do you know who Trafalgar was?”

“Not really. I know he had something to do with Napoleon right?”

“Napoleon Bonaparte?” He looked at me with a straight face.

“I think so.” I bit my lower lip. “But Napoleon is French and we’re in London, so I don’t know.” I shrugged. “Tell me.”

“Well, my question was slightly tricky.” He laughed and grabbed my hand. “See the statue of the man? His name is Nelson. Lord Nelson. And the column was built for him for his success against the French during the Napoleonic wars at the battle of Trafalgar.”

“I knew it had something to do with Napoleon.” I stuck my tongue out at him and he laughed.

“Indeed you did.” He leaned towards me and kissed my cheek. “Let’s go inside now so I can impress you with my knowledge of art.”

“You don’t need to impress me,” I said quietly, and he stopped and stared at me for a moment before smiling widely.