Chapter 6 #2
She pulled on her sexy, silky, blue night gown. Perfect for a princess. It felt good on her skin.
Then she climbed into the big bed, nerves still shimmering with excitement.
She was all worked up and shifted restlessly on the sheets.
She imagined Rome’s hands on her body, him caging her to the bed. She sucked in a breath. Danger. Danger. Danger.
But her mind wouldn’t stop.
If he’d caught her, he’d have to punish her, right? Sofie closed her eyes and shivered. She let her hand drift down her body.
“Yes. Rome .” She arched. She bunched the nightgown up, then set her fingers between her legs.
She was already wet.
She stroked and moaned. When she pushed two fingers inside, she imagined it was Rome’s hand.
Sofie came hard, biting her pillow.
Oh. God . Sucking in air, she fell on her back and stared at the ceiling.
It was sad that her own touch was as close as she’d get to Rome making love to her.
She punched the pillow. Stop obsessing, Sofia.
She closed her eyes and willed herself to go to sleep.
* * *
Rome lay on his back in the guest room, the early morning light spilling through the cracks in the curtains.
He had one hand wrapped around his cock, pumping. His mind was filled with Sofie.
He groaned and imagined his mouth on her, between those slender legs. She wouldn’t be cool with him. She’d be hot and sexy, all that passion spilling out.
He groaned, stroking faster.
Fuck .
With a roar, he exploded. He tugged hard, coming on his gut.
Sucking in a breath, he sank back on the pillows.
Damn . He wasn’t supposed to be doing this. Picturing Sofie under him, taking his cock.
He scowled. He should consider having Vander replace him.
His gut rebelled. She was in danger, and he wouldn’t entrust her safety to anybody else.
He released a breath, scrounged up some control, then rose. He needed to clean up and shower.
When he came downstairs, he heard Sofia clunking around in the kitchen. He stepped in to see her at the coffee machine.
Her back was to him, her slim body wrapped in a blue silk robe.
Shit . His cock throbbed and he ruthlessly locked down the reaction.
She turned. That strawberry-blonde hair was a tangled mess around a makeup-free face, and her eyes were still sleepy.
He’d never seen her look cuter.
“Good morning,” he said.
She grunted and sipped her coffee.
His lips twitched and he took in the dark circles under her eyes. Apparently, princesses had bad mornings too. “Jet lag?”
She looked at him blankly, then blinked. “Yes. Jet lag.” Her voice was still husky with sleep.
“You going to be awake for your interview this morning?”
She waved a hand and sipped more coffee.
“Well, you have an hour.”
She nodded and flopped on the couch.
Slowly, as she drank more coffee, she started to show signs of life. She started going through a stack of mail that had arrived.
Suddenly, she froze, and let out a sharp gasp.
Rome strode over.
There was a letter tucked in between the envelopes. There was no postage, and just Princess Sofia written on the outside.
“It’s from him?” Rome asked.
She pulled in a breath. “That’s his handwriting.”
Rome mentally cursed. He had to have a word with the exterior guards. They needed to make sure things like this didn’t get through.
A spark of anger showed on her face. “How dare that bastard think that he can terrorize me.” She set her coffee mug down on the coffee table with a click. She ripped the envelope open.
Rome grabbed her wrist. “Let me—”
“No!” She tossed her head back. “I’m not letting him make me cower.”
Such inner strength . Rome nodded.
She read it and her face went white. “ Asshole .” Her tone was broken.
Rome snatched the letter from her, then scooped her up. He sat on the couch with her on his lap. “Hold on.”
She burrowed into him. “I…don’t hold on. A princess lifts her chin, smiles, and deals.”
“Today, you hold on.” He tightened his arm around her. She was so small.
She sighed, and her breath puffed against the side of his neck. “I can’t get used to this, because in just under two weeks you’ll be gone.”
He scowled over her head. The thought left a rock in his gut.
He flicked open the note with one hand and read the ugly words.
The asshole was escalating. Now he was detailing how he was going to rape and murder her. Frowning, Rome read the last line. I’ll leave you broken like Victoria.
“Who’s Victoria?”
Sofie let out a small noise. Her hands twisted in his shirt.
“Victoria Cavadini, one of my bestest, most beautiful friends.”
He remembered her talking about the Tori she’d lost. “The Victoria Foundation?”
Sofie nodded. “I named it after her.” She gripped his wrist, stroking his skin. He didn’t think she even realized she was doing it. Her fingers were so small and delicate compared to his.
“She was so much fun. She used to elbow me when I was being too serious. She made me laugh.”
“What happened?”
“Three years ago, she became the target of a gang of jewel thieves. Her family are Caldovan aristocracy, wealthy, with an amazing jewel collection second only to the Royal jewels.” Sofie paused.
“Tori was on a trip to Paris when they attacked her. They didn’t just take the jewelry…
two of them raped her. She never recovered. She didn’t give herself enough time.”
Rome heard the mixed emotions in her voice—fear, love, hate, anger.
He understood. He felt them, too. Every single day since the time a six-year-old Lola was snatched off the street by a predator.
It had been Rome’s job to protect his baby sister, and he’d failed. “I know it hurts, beautiful. Hold on.”
Sofie turned her face to his neck. He felt the tears on his skin.
“Tori took a bottle of sleeping pills.”
He tightened his arms. He wanted to comfort her, to take away the pain. He rocked a little.
“Her poor boyfriend, Lorenz, was heartbroken. I was heartbroken,” Sofie said quietly.
“I started the charity to help other victims of violence. I couldn’t help Tori, but I can help save others.
” She lifted her head and he saw her eyes were dry now.
“That’s why the jewelry exhibition is important.
It raises money and awareness for the foundation. ”
“You’re pretty incredible, Princess Sofia of Caldova.”
Pink spots appeared on her cheeks. “Hardly. I’m doing what anyone with my resources and influence would do.”
No . He’d met all kinds of wealthy people. He didn’t believe that for a second.
She glanced at her watch and squeaked. “I need to get ready for the TV interview.” She tried to scramble off him.
But Rome held her in place. Her robe parted, showing him a flash of slender leg. He noticed an ugly bruise on her knee. “What’s this?”
She stilled. “Ah, I’m not sure.”
He parted the silk a little more and he saw another bruise on her lower thigh.
“I must have got them doing yoga.”
Rome’s brows drew together. “I didn’t see you fall, or bump into anything.”
She waved a hand. “Maybe I bumped the dresser in my room. Yes, that was it.”
He got the distinct impression she was lying to him.
“Interview.” She leaped off his lap.
“Okay.” His phone pinged. He grabbed it and read the message from Ace. His eyebrows rose. “Well, I have some good news for you.”
She turned. “Oh?”
“The jewelry that was stolen, it was returned safely to its owner last night.”
For a beat, Sofia’s face didn’t change. “That’s great news.” Then she smiled, although it didn’t quite reach her eyes.
Rome was good at picking up little details, and he was quickly becoming an expert at reading Sofie. He frowned. Something was off.
“Truly, it’s wonderful,” she said. “I’m glad to hear it.”
“It looks like it was the work of Robin Hood.”
Sofie gasped. “The mysterious jewel thief?”
Rome grunted. He wasn’t a big fan of people taking the law into their own hands.
“I’m just glad the jewelry is back safe and sound.” She tightened the belt of her robe. “Now, I have to get ready or we’ll be late.”
“Takes a while to put the ‘princess’ mode on, huh?”
“It sure does.” She raced up the stairs.
Rome slid his hands into his pockets. The woman was such a fascinating puzzle.
But he liked her relaxed and snuggled in his arms most of all.
He was in so much trouble.