Page 23 of Three's A Crown
“You do?” she asks, raising her brows.
I chuckle at her surprise. “Not many princesses talk to the bodyguard.”
She nods in understanding. “Guessing you’re used to them trying to use you to get to the prince.”
“You’d be right.”
“Not surprised. It’s veryHunger Games-esqueinside the ballroom, all these beautiful women vying for the prince’s attention, they will stop at nothing to get it. Does he have a praise kink? Everyone telling him what a good boy he is?”
I burst out laughing because Auggie must be ready to show himself from the shadows listening to what she thinks about him.
“I bet he gets off on people inflating his ego.” She smirks.
“His ego does like to be stroked,” I add with a chuckle, knowing how much this would be annoying Auggie.
“I’m sure you’re able to help out when the prince finds himself alone with no female attention,” she teases.
I still at her assumption. Did she just make an off-the-cuff joke, or does she think she knows something?
“Prince is hardly ever alone.”
She smiles and shakes her head.
“May I ask why you’re here? As you don’t seem to be too interested in the entire event?” I ask her.
She lets out a sigh. “Honestly?”
I nod. I would like her honest answer.
“Probably like ninety percent of the women in that ballroom. We are all pawns in our families’ game. Most are after the power, the money, the title,” she explains. “I need only the money to help my family.” She looks up at me with a pained expression on her face, embarrassed that she’s confessed the information to me. “I’m sure you’re well aware of our situation,” she adds.
I’m not going to deny that as I give her a nod. “I’m aware,” I reply. “But just so you know … there are others in the same position as your family inside.” Letting her know that she’s not alone, that not all the princesses inside are perfect.
“That may be so, but none of them are here standing in the dark with the prince’s bodyguard instead of the prince, are they?” Rosalie lets out a heavy sigh as she sidesteps me and begins to walk away, but my hand reaches out to stop her. She looks down to where our skin touches. The heat and electricity pulsing between us are difficult to ignore.
“Don’t go.”
“I want to stay, but I can’t. You understand why, don’t you?” Her face falls, and she closes and opens her eyes with a small sigh.
“I do,” I tell her honestly.
“Maybe if I was someone else, we could have had fun in the darkness,” she states before she steps away again.
“What if I made it worth your while, would you stay?” I ask, giving her a heated stare.
She bites her bottom lip as she mulls over my question.
Please sayyes. I want to keep talking to her.
9
AUGUSTINE
The little one has surprised me with her words and temperament. I thought for someone so young, she would be putty in Greyson’s hands, or she would run screaming like an innocent, back into the ball at my guard’s bold intentions. But her conversation with Greyson has been honest, intriguing, and sassy. I was surprised that she noticed the invisible mask I’ve been wearing during the ball, wishing that I could be anywhere else in the world than there in that moment. The fact that she too feels trapped by family, loyalty, and duty speaks to me on a molecular level. And that no matter how much Greyson turns on his charm, and let’s be honest, who the hell can say no to that man when he does, she told him honestly that if things were different, she would want him, but she must put her family first. I cannot deny that it speaks volumes of her character. Even if Greyson can’t convince her to play in the garden tonight, I think I might be interested in making a deal. I know I can make this marriage beneficial to both of us if she wishes.
But will she want Greyson?
That thought does shoot a string of jealousy through me, but it also has my dick twitching to life. I assumed my bride-to-be, would fuck me and I would fuck Grey. The option of maybe fucking them both at the same time had never entered my head until now.