Chapter Twenty-Two
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
“You need a better plan, Gabriel,” Michel murmured quietly. “A heart-to-heart with your mother isn’t going to stop her from boarding that plane.”
Even as he spoke to his cousin, he couldn’t help glancing at Emma across the table. Her head was bent close to Sophie’s, her dimple winking in and out as she laughed. His heart seemed to melt and break at the same time. He couldn’t believe how close he’d come to making love to her in the very room where they all sat right now.
He was betraying her trust by keeping his identity a secret from her. He couldn’t betray her further by sleeping with her before telling her who he really was. But was his title what made him who he really was? No . He was his truest self with her—in ways that he could not be with anyone else. He liked who he was with her.
Wasn’t it the whole point to allow her to get to know him without the inevitable complications his title wrought? Didn’t they deserve to see where this led without those obstacles? He wanted to hold on to the simplicity of their budding romance—to hold on to being just Michel Chevalier for as long as possible. But regardless of what he wanted, Emma deserved to know the truth before their relationship went any further. That was what mattered the most.
“I’ll figure it out.” Gabriel didn’t sound particularly confident.
“You’ll figure it out?” Michel scoffed. “You were ready to break down my door half an hour ago.”
“That was before I knew you had more pressing concerns,” his cousin said with a subtle tilt of his head toward Emma. “I apologize for the interruption, by the way.”
“I’d rather be interrupted by you than Aunt Celine,” Michel muttered. “Which brings me back to my point. You need a better plan.”
“What I need is a miracle.” Gabriel dragged a hand through his hair. “Once my mother makes up her mind, no one could dissuade her.”
“We’ll find a miracle worker, then.” Michel lowered his voice. “If she comes to Los Angeles, you and I will be outed in a matter of hours.”
“You underestimate my mother.” His cousin laughed with doomsday humor. “It’ll happen in a matter of minutes.”
Michel felt Emma watching him and met her gaze. She offered him a sweet smile while nodding at something Sophie said. His gaze snagged on the plush curve of her lips, and he remembered how she’d caught fire in his arms. For a wild moment, he contemplated kicking everyone out to resume what they had started. But he nipped that thought before it could take root. He couldn’t make love to her until he told her the truth. Even as he steeled his resolve, his body yearned for her, and he shifted uncomfortably in his seat.
“Would anyone like some champagne?” He needed to distract himself. “Emma?”
“I’ll take a glass.” Her cheek dimpled again. God, he really liked her dimple. As he gaped at her like a fool, the champagne bottle hung limply from his hand.
“Why don’t I get that?” His cousin took the bottle and opened it with a soft pop. He poured Emma a glass first. “Sophie?”
“No, thank you.” She shook her head. “I’m not off duty yet.”
“Still as dedicated as ever,” Gabriel said, pouring two flutes of champagne and handing one to Michel.
If he didn’t know his cousin inside and out, he wouldn’t have caught the slight edge in his words. Sophie stiffened in her seat. It seemed she knew Gabriel as well as he did.
When Emma rose from her seat after taking a sip of her champagne, he and his cousin shot to their feet with manners ingrained in them.
Her eyes widened in surprise. “I just… um… where’s the bathroom?”
“Let me show you.” With a hand on her back, Michel led her out of the dining room. They walked wordlessly across the living room to the hallway. He stopped just outside of the bathroom and cleared his throat. “Emma, I apologize—”
She opened the door and shoved him inside before launching herself at him, her lips crushed against his. He backed into the wall to stabilize himself and cupped her face to kiss her back as electric heat combusted between them. If a single kiss could make him feel this way, what would it be like to claim all of her? He wanted her—all of her—right now.
He grabbed her arse and hauled her up against him. She moaned and ground her hips against him, making him growl low in his throat. Their teeth clacked as their kiss grew desperate and clumsy. It wasn’t until her trembling hands fumbled with his belt buckle that he came to his senses. He was past the point of caring about Gabriel’s and Sophie’s presence across the suite, but he refused to make love to Emma for the first time in a bloody bathroom. And not before he told her the truth.
Michel gripped her wrists even as he continued kissing her hungrily. But with the last of his willpower, he slowed the kiss down. If he didn’t, he would lose the little bit of sense he had left and bury himself inside her next to the toilet. Fucking hell .
“Emma,” he rasped when she tugged his head back with a whimper. He gave in and kissed her hard once before pulling away again. “Emma, I will never forgive myself if I make love to you for the first time in the damn loo.”
“This is a fine little room,” Emma countered, quite out of breath. “Fine enough to take afternoon tea in.”
He chuckled and pressed his forehead against hers. They stayed that way until their breathing slowed. He dropped a kiss on top of her head and let his hands trail down her arms before turning away from her. But Emma grabbed his hand before he could walk out.
“Soon,” he rasped, doggedly facing the door.
Michel wasn’t sure if he was relieved or disappointed when she released his hand. He didn’t linger to ponder the matter, and stepped into the hallway, closing the door behind him for good measure. He had to put as much distance as possible between Emma and himself before he barged back into the bathroom. He made a mad dash for the dining room and burst in there like his salvation lay inside. But he skidded to a halt when Gabriel and Sophie jumped at his sudden appearance. His cousin dropped his hand from Sophie’s cheek, and her half-closed eyes snapped wide open.
“What… Were you… Should I…” He jerked his thumb toward the living room. The tension between the two felt palpable. What the hell had he walked into? They weren’t kissing… Were they about to?
“My prince. I mean… Michel.” His royal guard scrambled to her feet. “I… I will stand guard outside in case you need any further assistance.”
Sophie rushed past Michel before he could respond. He wasn’t sure if he could respond. He had never seen his friend lose her composure. With his mouth still gaping, he turned to his cousin.
“I guess we’re even now.” Gabriel’s cheeks were flushed, but his sardonic smirk was back in place.
“So I did interrupt something,” Michel murmured, almost to himself.
“Yes… no…” His cousin plowed his fingers through his hair. “Hell if I know.”
As Michel moved to step deeper into the room, he felt a hand on his arm. He turned to find Emma standing behind him just outside the dining room. Her lips still looked swollen from their kiss, but she had fixed her makeup and tidied up her clothing. She looked flawless. His eyes dropped to those lips, and he had the urge to muss her up again.
“Michel,” she said quietly. “I should head home.”
“Yes, of course.” He walked her to the front door, keeping a respectable distance between them. He didn’t trust himself to touch her right now. “Should I call a car for you?”
“There are such things as rideshare apps, you know.” She held up her mobile and gave him a cheeky grin.
“I apologize again for the… interruption.” He lowered his voice as they stopped at the door. “And I’m sorry I can’t see you home.”
“No worries.” She gave him a featherlight kiss and echoed his earlier promise. “I’ll see you… soon.”
He longed to pull her body flush against his and claim a proper kiss. Instead, he forced himself to hold the door open for her, because soon was much more complicated than what he’d led Emma to believe.
Sophie stood outside his suite, her unshakable professionalism restored. He nodded at her. She nodded back, then addressed Emma. “Let me get the elevator.”
“Thank you, Sophie,” Emma said before looking up at him. “Good night, Michel.”
“Good night, Emma.” He clenched his hands at his sides so he wouldn’t reach out for her.
Michel watched her walk to the elevator and give Sophie a warm hug, whispering something to her. Then she waved at him once and got in the elevator. His royal guard had a smile on her face as she returned to his side.
“Have I mentioned that I like her?” Sophie said, still grinning.
“Once or twice,” he replied dryly. “What were you guys talking about?”
“None of your business”—she bowed her head with utmost respect—“my prince.”
He smirked. “So you’ll tell me all about it later?”
Sophie didn’t dignify his teasing with a response as she opened the door to his suite. “Do you need me to stay and help strategize about Princess Celine’s visit?”
“Christ, yes. Stay, please.” Michel marched into his living room and bellowed, “Come on, Gabriel. We can’t let Aunt Celine loose in Los Angeles.”
“Why, cousin, you make my mother sound like Godzilla,” Gabriel drawled as he walked out of the dining room, spooning chocolate mousse into his mouth. “But I must admit it is a rather apt comparison.”
Michel snorted, and Sophie ducked her head to hide her smile. A dopey grin spread across Gabriel’s face as he stared at her. His cousin was completely besotted with his royal guard. It was so obvious. How could he not have seen it before? He and Gabriel needed to have a nice chat once they put out this fire.
“There is one person who could convince Aunt Celine to stay,” Michel said as the three of them settled around the large sectional.
“Obviously, yes.” His cousin dragged a weary hand down his face, his half-eaten mousse forgotten on the coffee table. “But the king has a hard time saying no to his little sister. I don’t know if he would intercede on my behalf.”
“You know who he has a harder time saying no to?” Michel paused meaningfully. “ Your little sister.”
“Marion?” Gabriel grimaced. “That brat wouldn’t help me out of the goodness of her heart.”
“No, but she’ll do it for a price,” Sophie countered.
“You mean like a bribe?” His cousin’s eyebrows shot up before his face split into a slow grin. “Now you’re talking.”
“She’s always idolized you, Sophie.” Michel leaned back on the sofa and crossed his legs. “Coax her to name her price.”
“It won’t be cheap.” She pulled out her mobile as she got to her feet.
“That’s what my dear cousin here is for.” Gabriel thumped Michel’s back. “I just hope Marion asks for something that Antoine can procure.”
Michel cocked his head and glanced blandly at his cousin. “I’m glad you’re so comfortable spending my money.”
“I wouldn’t go as far as comfortable, but untroubled would be an apt description.” Gabriel quickly sobered as Sophie headed to a quiet corner of the living room with her mobile to her ear. “Do you think this will work?”
“It has to. I can’t have Aunt Celine descend upon us and blow everything wide open.” Michel’s eyes rounded in dismay when another thought occurred to him. “God, if your mother catches scent that I’m trying to get out of my engagement to Isabelle, my father will be the first to hear of it, and my time here will be over.”
His time with Emma would be over. Emma . His breath caught in his throat, and panic lodged itself in his chest. Had he done enough to convince her that they belonged together? No, he needed more time. The thought of leaving without her gutted him. He pressed the heel of his hand into his chest. What was wrong with him? He wasn’t even sure if she was the one.
But that wasn’t true, was it? He smiled like a fool whenever he thought of her. When she was near, his heart pounded against his ribs as though it wanted to jump into her arms. And when he touched her… held her… he felt as though he was truly home. If he wasn’t in love with her already, he knew he could fall in love with her. She was the one. Hadn’t he known since their first date?
“Breathe, cousin.” Gabriel unfurled himself from the sofa and headed for the wet bar. He returned with two tumblers filled with amber liquid. “This is going to work.”
Michel accepted his drink and took a long sip. “Yes, it will.”
He would tell Emma the truth and do everything in his power to win her heart. Because life without Emma wasn’t an option anymore.