Stealing His Princess by Goode, Ella (classic novels txt) 📕

Is this some Vieth trick? To lure me in to giving her more? I told my valet that the Vieths weren’t prostitutes. There was no sex for money trade, but seduction is their tool and perhaps this one is playing hard to get. It doesn’t matter. In the end, I’ll win.

Chapter Eight Mackenzie

I can feel his eyes on me as I try and eat my dinner. It takes everything I have not to turn to look at him. I can also feel Milly staring a hole into the back of my head. She’s not going to say something to me in front of everyone. So as long as I stay around people, I’ll be safe. That will work for now, at least. It’s only a matter of time before she catches me alone. I can’t avoid her forever.

“So what happened on the terrace?” Paulina asks. With only that simple question I can feel my face is heating. “That good?” She laughs, taking a bite of her seabass. I push my steak around my plate, not feeling hungry anymore. The only thing I feel now is confused.

“We kissed,” I admit. “It was really good.” I lick my lips, thinking about the way Sov tasted. When his mouth was on mine, I’d forgotten where I was. Everything else melted away and it was only him and me.

I was a normal girl enjoying her first kiss with a way too handsome man. An experience I thought I might never have when I lived with my father. Karin had changed all of that for me, and now I’m allowed to do as I please. I am free. Well, to a degree, I suppose. I am out from under my father’s control. If it was up to him, he would have sold me off into marriage a long time ago. That’s all he ever saw me as: a bargaining tool.

I ran away from home the first chance I got, but I wasn’t made for living on the streets. Karin had come into my life at the exact time I needed her, and the rest is history. She put me through school and gave me an opportunity. But what I didn’t get to do was normal teenager stuff. Things like dating.

“Why do you look like someone stole your kitten then?” Jewels jumps in, wanting the details too. “I thought the plan was to meet a man tonight. Have some fun.” She wiggles her eyebrows at me. That had been the plan. Then it started to feel wrong.

“He was trying to have sex with me out on the balcony with his guards right there,” I whisper. My face is heating even more.

“That sounds hot.” Paulina smirks.

“Not to a virgin who thinks she’s kissing Prince Charming,” Jewels points out. I think she might be right, but I lie to myself anyways.

“I didn't think he was Prince Charming.” I roll my eyes. “It started off good and then it felt cheap.” I can’t hide my disappointment. I also don’t want to say too much because I don’t want them to feel as though I’m being judgmental toward them.

“He might have gotten lost in the moment. Forgot where you were or something. I mean, that dress is killer. Half the men in here are checking you out.”

“He really tried to cut the dress from you?” Paulina tries again, making Jewels laugh. Even I smile this time. “He must have been out of his mind from the little taste you gave him.” Servers come by to take our plates and replace them with dessert.

“That man is staring at you like you’re the only thing he wants to eat.” I drop my fork, suddenly realizing what Sov was talking about when he said he was trying to eat. The fact that he was talking about me had gone right over my head. My fork hits the plate with a loud thud, causing everyone to turn our way. I swear I want to bury my face in my hands.

“Oops,” Jewels says loudly like it was her. “I get excited over dessert.” She shrugs and takes a bite of the chocolate cake. I bump my shoulder into her as a silent thank you. She winks at me, letting me know she’ll always have my back.

“Well, if you want him off your plate for the night, I think Milly is about to go in for the kill.” I jerk my head up at Paulina’s words. A pang of jealousy hits me out of nowhere. I watch as she makes her away across the room and heads right toward him.

“I can’t watch this,” I mumble, standing. I don’t want to see Sov being charmed by Milly. There is no way he’ll be able to resist her. And I know for a fact that she’ll give him what he wants tonight. That thought makes me feel sick to my stomach.

“Mac.” Jewels grabs my hand to try to stop me. She stares at me for a moment, her mouth going tight. She nods and then lets me go. I make my escape across the room. I tell myself not to look back, but I do.

Sov is now standing with Milly in front of him. She has her hand on his chest. Why couldn’t I be fun and free? Have a wild night with a prince? When I exit the ballroom, I slow my steps, realizing I forgot my room key. Dang it.

I find myself taking the stairs all the way to the top floor. I must be a masochist wanting to see if he takes Milly back to his room tonight. I take a seat on the stairs. If he comes back to his room alone then maybe he had gotten lost in the moment.

That kiss had started out like a fairy tale. He kissed me with such passion. If he is always so bold then how come he’s never been caught before? When I