Page 66 of The Princess Trap

“Exactly! So she’ll notice that we’re in thesame room!

“Why would she notice that?”

“You think she doesn’t watch you like a hawk?”

He was trying not to laugh. Cherry looked genuinely worried. He didn’t think she’d be pleased if he laughed. “Okay,” he said slowly. “But why would she care?”

Cherry blinked. For a second, she looked stumped. Then she said, “Icare.”

“About what?”

“About your sweet little grandma knowing I’ve been fucking her grandson.” She batted at his chest. “Get out. Go back to your room.”

Ruben grinned. “But youhaven’tbeen fucking me. Not really. Why don’t we—”

“Ooooh my God, will you stop? Get out!”

“Fine, fine.” Ruben threw off the blankets and tried to bite back the huge, shit-eating grin he could feel spreading across his face. Then he caught Cherry staring at his naked chest with a rather vacant expression and stopped trying to hold back the grin.

He was in love, and the object of his affections didn’t hate or regret him, and appeared to enjoy the sight of his chest. Really, what more could a man ask for?

All of her.

He shoved that thought aside.

“Next chance I get,” he said, “I’m fucking you.”

“Piss off.” She sat up, scowled at him, and grabbed her phone from the bedside table.

“Are you saying no?”

She rolled her eyes. “If you don’t get out, I’m never speaking to you again.”

“You know, Cherry, weareengaged. There’s really no needto be embarrassed—”

She threw a pillow at his head. He left. He was happier than he’d ever been in his life.

His good mood didn’t last.

Ruben was on his way to breakfast—and already late for his lunch meeting a city over—when Demi appeared out of nowhere to grab his arm.

“Jesus Christ, woman.” He slapped a hand over his heart, leaning against the hallway wall. “Where the hell did you come from?!”

“Study,” she said shortly. “I need to talk to you.” And then she dragged him off into the study he never used, displaying far more strength than was natural for a woman of her size.

He shut the door behind them and frowned down at her. She looked like someone had died.

Then she said, “The king has summoned you.”

The last of Ruben’s good cheer evaporated. “Tell him I said get fucked.”

“Oh, really?That’swhat you want me to do?” Demi threw herself into the chair behind the room’s huge desk and gave him a look. “Shall I email his assistant, or call to pass on the message directly? And while I’m at it, would you like me to invite your sister over for tea? Since apparently you’retryingto make your life hell?”

Ruben pinched the bridge of his nose. He’d been awake less than an hour, and already his head was pounding.

Fucking Harald.

“I thought we had another week,” he said finally.