Page 19 of A Royal Mistake
Scheisse. She’d never ridden before. He should’ve gone slower, taken the turns more gently. The ride had probably scared the hell out of her.
He reached for her helmet at the same time as she did. Their fingers brushed, sending a current of electricity straight to his balls. The sensation was intensified by the muffled laugh that came from inside Pippa’s helmet. She pulled it off and shook out her long golden tresses, a brilliant smile lighting her face.
“That was amazing,” she said, sliding off the bike.
So much for scaring the hell out of her.
He grinned and swung his leg over the back of the bike as he dismounted. “Glad you enjoyed the ride. You had me worried there for a minute.”
Pippa laughed again, and this time the sound was loud and clear. “Are you serious? It was incredible.” She dropped her helmet on the seat of the bike and Henry did the same with his. “Their Majesties will probably kill me when they find out, but it was so worth it.”
Verdammt. Here’s hoping the palace has a nice dungeon.
She threw her arms out as if embracing the air and spun around with reckless abandon.
“Oh, wow. Look at the stars!” She tipped her head back and stared up at the night sky. Out here, away from the blazing lights of the palace, the stars shone brilliantly, a million sparkling gems burning bright. “They’re beautiful.”
They weren’t half as beautiful as the woman before him.
“I take it you rarely see stars over the palace?” he asked, fisting his hands and stuffing them in the pockets of his trousers so he wouldn’t do something stupid like tangle them in her hair.
“No.” There was a regretful note in her voice as she lowered her gaze and met his eyes. “Too many lights between the palace and the city, but this place is amazing.” She gestured to the overlook. “How did you find it?”
He shrugged and moved to the edge of the cliff. The palace was visible in the distance, as was the capital, but it all looked smaller and dimmer. Softer, even. “Pure luck. I was out for a drive—I do that sometimes to clear my head—and ended up here.”
“Well, I’m glad you found it.” She stepped up beside him, her shoulder brushing his as she looked out over her country. “Thank you for sharing it with me. This is exactly what I needed tonight.”
“Of course. I’d be happy to bring you back any time you want.”
A quiet laugh escaped her lips, and out of the corner of his eye, he could see her shaking her head. “Palace security might have something to say about that, though I must admit, this is rather exciting. I’ve never given security the slip before.”
Shock raced up his spine, and he wheeled on Pippa. She was in her twenties. She’d attended university and travelled the world. “Are you telling me you’ve never ditched your bodyguards?”
Pippa turned to face him, her slow blush illuminated by the pale light of the moon. “I know it must sound ridiculous, but no. They’re with me every minute of every day, and unlike my brothers, I never learned the art of sneaking out.”
“That’s… intense.” He couldn’t imagine living under that kind of microscope. He’d been fortunate to avoid the personal protection officer burden altogether, but to never have a true moment of privacy or be able to make decisions without someone watching your every move?
Hell, even the paparazzi left eventually.
“Sarah—my bodyguard—is like family,” she said, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “But, yeah, being watched all the time is bollocks. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve wished for a different life.”
He couldn’t fault her for wanting a little piece of normalcy. He’d been damn lucky to carve out a relatively ordinary life for himself, free from bodyguards and tabloids and royal protocol. Of course, he’d paid for the privilege with blood.
She gave a self-deprecating laugh and crossed her arms over her stomach, clearly embarrassed by the admission. “Most girls want to be a princess, and I just want to be most girls. How’s that for irony?”
“Never apologize for your feelings.” Guilt tore through him like a tsunami, shredding his conscience. Christ, he was an Arsch. She was sharing one of her greatest frustrations, and he couldn’t even tell her his real name. “Everyone has a right to agency and autonomy. No child should have to grow up in the spotlight with the demands of royal life thrust upon them.”
“Can you try explaining that to Their Majesties? Seriously. How is it that my parents, who’ve known me for twenty-three years, can’t understand me, but you can?” Her eyes lit up and a mischievous grin curved her lips. “Maybe I was switched at birth.”
“That sounds like wishful thinking,” he teased, returning her easy smile. “I’d say it’s because we have a lot in common, you and me.”
“Is that so?” Pippa challenged, voice low and husky. She licked her lips, the tip of her tongue darting across the pink flesh in a sweet temptation that spoke directly to his cock. Then she took a half-step toward him, stopping when they were just centimeters apart. Her eyes appeared black as midnight when they locked on his, but he didn’t miss the desire churning in their dark depths.
Scheisse. He should definitely not kiss the princess, because despite what his cock thought, it was a terrible idea.
Fuck it. Just one taste.
He met her halfway, closing the gap between their bodies. Her breasts were flush to his chest, and he could feel the beat of her racing heart as she looked up at him from under her lashes, full lips parted in invitation.