Page 13 of The Princess Trap

“Fair enough,” he sighed, and she graced him with a smile. As if she was proud of him for being so reasonable. How would it feel, he wondered, for a woman like Cherry Neita to hand him all that glittering power of hers? To willingly submit?

If he asked, she’d probably say she’d rather die. But he wouldn’t ask.

She would.

Ruben settled the bill as she slid on her coat, doing up the neat little buttons. He’d taken pity on her and pushed her shoe over, beneath the table. Neither of them mentioned the fact that he’d effectively stolen it in the first place.

As they left the cozy warmth of the cafe, Ruben reached out to catch Cherry’s arm. She turned towards him, and she was so ridiculously beautiful, he almost forgot to breathe. His body screamed,Kiss her.

But, for once, he managed to ignore his baser instincts. Instead, he simply said, “Two questions.”

“What?”

“First: you don’t think I should sponsor the Academy.” Ofcourse, he hadn’t intended to, but she didn’t need to know that. “Why not?”

She rolled her lips inwards. Shifted from one heel to another. “I don’t want to discuss that.”

Fair enough. But she hadn’t denied it—and that was all he needed to know. His suspicions were confirmed.

He would not be partnering with the Academy for his Trust’s scholarship.

“Alright,” he said. “Second question: if I wait for you, after work—will you come out with me again?

“No,” she said immediately.

Fuck.

But then she continued. “I’d have to get changed first. I don’t dress like this all the time, you know.” She smiled. “Maybe you could come back to my flat. While I get ready.”

Ruben shifted, trying to lessen the sudden pressure of his cock against his zip. It didn’t help; not with the way she was looking at him, mischief and challenge and lust in her eyes. So he just said, “Yes. I will most definitely come with you.”

“Good,” she said softly. And then she turned on those high heels and headed up the street.

Chapter Five

For Cherry, Ruben put up with Tabary for a whole day. He smiled and nodded and feigned interest, and a couple of times he caught Hans giving him approving looks.

Of course, his friend’s approval was revoked soon enough.

“Why are we hanging around in a school carpark?”

“Does it matter?” Ruben shifted lower in his seat, even though the Hummer’s windows were tinted. Not as dark as he’d like, but there were national regulations to be followed. Of course, he could always travel with a royal congregation and be exempt from regulations. But that would amount to pissing all over his last bastion of privacy.

Children had begun pouring out of the Academy half an hour ago, but Ruben had waited. Next came a trickling of staff, and still he held off—because she’d asked him to. He’d like to go up to the admin floor of that monstrous tower andcarry her down the damn stairs, but she’d insisted that he wait out here.

Which was fair enough, he thought grudgingly. But the animalistic side of him, the instinct that had caused him so much trouble throughout his life, wholeheartedly disagreed.

Fetch her. Now. It doesn’t matter who sees.

He ignored the voice inside his head and sank deeper into his seat.

“Your Highness,” Hans said.

Ruben sighed. Coming from anyone else, that title suggested respect. From Hans, who’d been calling him ‘Ruben’ forever, it signified an impending lecture.

“Don’t start,” Ruben said bluntly, slipping into their mother tongue. His eyes scanned the car park. He felt slightly unhinged. Was he really so eager to see this woman again?

Yes. Embarrassingly eager. Hurry up.